Anyone autocross their B-Bodies?

Once my Belvedere is done I plan on taking it to some open drift days. I got some front and rear sways off of one of my dad's friends, not sure about size, he gave them to me for free so I'm not going to complain. Going to keep drums in the rear but am going to switch to front discs. C-body tie rods, all poly bushings, and when I go from the drag strip to the street/drifting I'll swap in the 1.18 firmfeel torsion bars. Out back I just have 3800lb ss springs.

I found a hydro-boost set-up and I'll use Willwood 12" front and rear disk brakes. If need be I'll work on clearance work on the inner, outer fenders maybe flaring slightly and wheel backspacing to get everything close. It would be fun to run 325's 345's on all four corners. If I do that I'll go with the 13-14" bigger brakes.

derrickmanx1 said:

I found a hydro-boost set-up and I'll use Willwood 12" front and rear disk brakes. If need be I'll work on clearance work on the inner, outer fenders maybe flaring slightly and wheel backspacing to get everything close. It would be fun to run 325's 345's on all four corners. If I do that I'll go with the 13-14" bigger brakes.

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Great idea, it would be cool, sorry can't stay & talk, need to get stuff ready for dinner... talk to you soon...

I keep changing my mind on upgrades due to the fact my stock suspension needs sooo much help with all of the tie rods, arms, steering gear, k-member, steering shaft, no sway bars. I really want the RMS alterkation kit and replace all of the BS old worn out crap.

Do not run the SS springs with a rear sway bar, unless the front bar is at or above 1 3/8 inches. The oversteer was very bad, but the wheelspin issues were gone.

What about the steering gear? Who makes a good one that will make it feel like a newer car? I was wondering about the pst pitman arm and idler fast ratio steering set-up. Is anyone running it and did it help out?

Flaming River makes a stock location style manual box, you can put a quick ration pitman arm on it as well, it will help some/allot...

Firm Feel has stage one, two and three factory gear boxes that can be used in conjunction with fast ratio steering arms.
http://www.firmfeel.com/powerst_b.html

Borgeson makes a power steering box that is supposed to mimic modern feel. (it uses a modern gearbox adapted for our mounting)
http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/catalog/P_S_Conversion_6272_Mopar_11_8_Sector_Shaft-p-1722.html

If you are using headers be sure the fast ratio arms will clear them. I know TTI states if their headers will work with the fast ratio arms.

Got the hydro boost ordered today. Got some caps upper control arms and adj torsion bars from Budnicks that will be coming soon. Now just need the rest of the k-member and other stuff.

derrickmanx1 said:

Got the hydro boost ordered today. Got some caps upper control arms and adj torsion bars from Budnicks that will be coming soon. Now just need the rest of the k-member and other stuff.

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I haven't got a check yet, I'm still waiting... it's MRE-Capps adj. tubular upper Control arms poly bushed & MRE-Capps O/S alum. strut rods {lol...not adj. torsion bars ??, misprint ??} & when I get the $$$, clears the bank etc., the stuff will ship ASAP, ready to go & waiting.................... derrickmanx1 when I was looking & getting stuff ready, I have other poly bushings for stock type full build kit & the MRE-Capps proper pin for lower CA using poly bushing too, you may like, cheap also, call me or PM me, let me know if you interested, you can send me more $$$...LOL...

Got my strut rods and UCA's today. I can't wait to give them a try.

derrickmanx1 said:

Got my strut rods and UCA's today. I can't wait to give them a try.

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Good luck & have fun...

Get the fast ratio idler and pitman from Firm Feel. I did and they're now on my '68 Satellite. Amazing difference in steering response. Not quite like a modern car due to an entirely different front end design back then, but still very good. I also run a stage II firm feel box that helps. Only trouble with the long ratio arms is header interference, but I'm running iron manifolds, so no worry.

derrickmanx1 said:

What about the steering gear? Who makes a good one that will make it feel like a newer car? I was wondering about the pst pitman arm and idler fast ratio steering set-up. Is anyone running it and did it help out?

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Thank you definately doing the firm feel 3.

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What about fiberglass fenders and hood? Do you guys think it's worth it?

derrickmanx1 said:

Thank you definately doing the firm feel 3.

What about fiberglass fenders and hood? Do you guys think it's worth it?

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yes if your racing/auto-crossing it,
the extra weight off the nose,
would help weight distribution & weight transfer, less body roll,
help shock functions/wear & help braking functions/wear for sure also...

I'd also suggest moving the battery to the passenger side rear of the truck
& a safety cut off switch too,
it will help move weight to the rear also,
Every pound you take off the front & put in the rear,
is like doubling the weight added to the rear, in weight distribution...
Every pound you remove off the frontend also,
is like adding 1/2 pound in weight distribution to the rear also,
especially on these front heavy/front weight biased cars...

I did a Unisteer Power Rack & Pinion {Omni style IIRC} on my 68 RR,
it was a bolt in, just cutting & drilling to the column shaft,
it was $1000 + shipping, a few years ago from Year one...
I won't really recommend it thou...
It works great, BUT needs the bump-steer corrected slightly too,
but there are kits out there, that will help to fix that issue too & IMHFO,
it handles/steers & feels by far/way better than the OEM suspension & steering stuff, ever did,
even with the bigger 1-3/8" sway bar up front & the 1" sway bar in the rear
{especially since it/they never had a sway bar in the rear} along with the Edelbrock EIS gas shocks etc....
With no real problems so far, other than header selection is very limited,
only the TTI 383178c would/will fit, the pan clearances limited also {I'm making custom headers}
also which oil pan you could use too, but with a stock type oil-pan, no issues...

I have a Milodon 7" x 7 qt. B-Body oil-pan, that looks like it will work fine, when I get around to it anyway...

too many other things going on right now

good luck, with your