[Project] Track day/American Iron

[nooncha]

Hey guys,

This is going to be my big project. Turning my 99 V6 Firebird into a track ready racer for the American Iron Series. I hope to get the car completed within the next two years and already have quite a bit of work ahead of me this summer.
Current mods to be installed this summer are:

Moser 3.55 Rear End
Driveshaft Safety Loop
Adj. Torque Arm
SCCA/NASA Spec Roll Cage
Subframe Connectors
Strano Springs
Koni D/A Shocks all around
3 qrt. Accusump
and of course stripping as much weight out of the car as possible.

I plan on updating this as much as possible with as many pictures of my hopeful progress. I also purchased a new TIG and with easy access to a mill and lathe I plan on making many components myself. Gotta try to get some sponsorships!

Anyway, here are some pictures so far

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Roll cage and Front Springs:
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Rear Springs and Shocks. Most of the fluid leaked out probably due to age. The lowering springs, track days and auto-x's probably didn't help either lol. There was almost no rebound when I pulled them out.
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Front Shocks. Rear was put together today, but still waiting on replacement upper rubber mounts for the front.
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[bri2203]

Awesome project! Very similar to mine. Looks like you already upgrades the LCA and rear sway bar.

[JoeliusZ28]

Similar to my goals as well, nice project!

[ruckusz28]

Cool stuff. Cant wait to see the progress!

[nooncha]

Awesome project! Very similar to mine. Looks like you already upgrades the LCA and rear sway bar.

Thanks! I have adj. rear LCA's, panhard, front and rear sway bars already. Right now with the Koni's I am in an inbetween stage. Until I have a new daily, I can't go completely crazy with this just yet. I do plan on replacing the Koni's with Penski piggyback coilovers. I have ordered some LS1 spindles to chop up and take measurements from for new front upper and lower control arms. I do plan on making my own adjustable uprights as well.

Similar to my goals as well, nice project!

Thanks! I would definitely like to see you at the autocrosses this year. I plan on making it to every one.

I was able to put the front koni's on yesterday, and will post some pictures later. I have gained some rideheight with these new springs and shocks. The difference between those old shocks and springs compared to these new ones is night and day. It definitely feels like its using more of the tire in the turns.

[nooncha]

Nice weather today and now I have my interior carpets removed in preparation of the roll cage. I do not plan on putting the plastic trim back in. If anyone is interested I can post pictures of those pieces for sale. I don't have space for them so they'll go real cheap.
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[BP_Z28]

This project will be awesome to follow.

Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk

[nooncha]

Track Day/American Iron

Some progress from earlier today.


All the equipment set up to install the cage before my trip to Florida in May to pick up the Moser rear end.
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Removed wire harnesses and placed the main hoop in while I had help with me. Eager to see what the final product will look like. Its going to be great when its all welded in! I plan on making an aluminum top for the car to replace the T-Tops. So if anyone is interested, I will 2 sets available soon (one from my old car). All removed interior trim pieces are for sale as well.
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Removed the antenna and stuck in a nut and bolt to plug the hole. It will do for now since I don't feel like doing bodywork just yet.
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Now to get the base plates ready for the main hoop.
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Need to mark it to bend so I have more weldable surface. Gotta spread the load!
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Drivers side seemed easier to do than the passengers.
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My air compressor would run out of pressure with less than a minute of sanding. Then I'd wait for 5 minutes until it builds up again. I am looking into a new compressor because this is taking much longer than it should.
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Took about 30-45 minutes to finish what you see below (sanding only). But at least this side is done and I'll begin tacking and cutting the main hoop to fit tomorrow.
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Drivers side
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Still not completely done with sanding. It will have to wait for tomorrow.
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[JoeliusZ28]

Looking awesome man, ive got all the events marked on my calendar, hopefully ill run into you at one!

[bri2203]

Where did you buy the pre formed hoop?

I am not a fan of how narrow it is.

[nooncha]

Where did you buy the pre formed hoop?

I am not a fan of how narrow it is.

The roll cage is an AutoPower brand. The entire thing is angled backwards about 10-15 degrees in that photo, so it looks much narrower than what it really is. I have to cut it to length, but when it is in almost vertically in its final position, it will be much closer to the frame of the car.

[SoulTerror]

Looking good.

[nooncha]

Track Day/American Iron

I won't be able to make the first autocross at the Silverdome due to my car not being finished yet, but I plan on attending the first track day at Waterford Hills Raceway on May 25th (I believe thats the date).

New seats came in. Passengers side on the left, and drivers on the right.
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Two 5 point harnesses with camlocks from RJS Racing Equipment.
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The main roll hoop finally cut to length and tacked in place.
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Tacking in plates for the main roll hoop braces
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Cutting the braces to length in preparation for notching.
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Cut and notched braces to length. Used simple geometry to determine the lengths that I needed in order for the end result to come out as close to the plate as possible.
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Tacked all together in to be welded fully when removed from the car.
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Removed and completely welded together
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I like it when they come out nice
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Had to remove the dash in order to put in the forward bars. This was a PITA. Took my brother and I 1.5 hours to remove it, and we still managed to damage some portions of it. :/ I am not looking forward to putting it back in.
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Forward bars held in place with magnets. They need cutting and notching. I plan on hopefully finishing it this weekend.
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View with the doors closed. I'm very excite!!
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I plan on putting in an aluminum roof to replace my t-tops. So I will be selling those after I complete it if anyone is interested. Forward bars are meeting at the node on the main roll hoop with the main hoop braces. Gotta love those load paths, cages love load paths. Excess aluminum will be used to make a diffuser or new dash and have ordered some HDPE Polyethylene to make a splitter. Pics will follow of the design and progress.
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[Fox Slaughter]

Not to throw a wrench but Viking Performance makes coilovers all around of the Fbodies now. I have their coilovers on the front. They didn't have the rears when I got mine. It was 1000 for front coilovers and rear double adjustable shocks. So probably close to that for 4 coilovers.

[nooncha]

Not to throw a wrench but Viking Performance makes coilovers all around of the Fbodies now. I have their coilovers on the front. They didn't have the rears when I got mine. It was 1000 for front coilovers and rear double adjustable shocks. So probably close to that for 4 coilovers.

This is my first time hearing about them. The closest I've found for coilovers were QA-1's, but those weren't what I wanted. Nothing I can do about that now. I do plan on eventually getting some Penske 8300 DA Remote Canister dampers and making my own front CA's. The Koni's are fine until then because its still a "daily driver"