david_351

Hey Everyone, I've been looking to get into autocross competively. Im from Calgary, Canada, and I put a post in the local board here on TGO asking for some locals to point me in the right direction as far as finding events etc. I just bought an 87 L98 IROC this week and am looking to build it as a pretty much dedicated race car. I would like it to be ready for next season, whenever that starts around here, May I'm guessing.

After looking threw the rules and what not, Im thinking street touring or street prepared is what I want to build for. I have to decide soon as I need to put together a build plan.

Either way, I will be pulling the engine and giving it a freshening up as it has 290.000KMS on it, or like 170,000 ish miles. It still pulls like snot and handles like a go kart, but either way I'd like to freshen it up. If I can get away with just bearings and pistons stock size without any over boring I will, if not I will take it up to a class allowable overbore.

As far as the transmission goes, I would like to try a season on the 700R4, I know autos are outside the box for auto crossing, but I want to give it a go, I'm not fully aware of the allowable tranny mods/ changes either. Ie even though a T5 was never factory available with an L98, could I swap one in and still be in one of the classes I mentioned? But like I say, I would like to try a season on the automatic. As far as mods, such as looser converters, shift kits. Manual bodies etc, what type of things are allowable? Also, I am VERY much aware of the importance of keeping an Auto cool, so is it legal to run a big Trans Cooler? I figure with TPI torque I should be able to get away with manually shifting the auto between 1-2. Probably mostly 2nd for most courses. I would also like to hear feedback from anyone who has auto crossed an automatic third gen. And again, at very least I will be rebuilding ,my transmission. One more trans related question, as far as paddle shift conversions, would this be legal in street touring or street prepared?

The car will be trailered too events too, so Im not so worried if I wreck something, I have adequate skill and the necessary tools to do all of my own work, except any machining that may be required.

I know the biggest factors in auto crossing are seat time and good tires, but that aside, in general are third gen f-bodies competitive in their classes?

If anyone can answer some or all of my questions I thank you!

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Im pretty sure a T5 would be allowed. They allow things that are on your generation of car for the most part. Im pretty sure if you had an 82 with 15's, you could put, for example, factory 16x8 IROC wheels on it. If you're not drag racing and you dont power shift it a bunch a T5 might work out well for you. But just be aware the L98 is strong enough to blow it up if you ever put competition tires on it and get too aggressive with the clutch.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

If you're going to run in auto-x organizde by a major organization you need the rule book and follow if to the letter. Your car will be scrutinzed closely by officials and other drivers. Or you can find a more relaxed local club to get started. As far as running with an auto (which I do) I think it works well for auto-x. You can work both gas and brake at the same time and change gear faster than most can change a manual. But all the mechanics aside the most important thing is you. What experience have you had? Unless you're already a really good driver you won't be close to competitive. Don't wait until next year start now. Again, unless you are already an accomplished driver, the car is way better than you are and it'll take you some time to be able to get out of the car all it can do even in stock trim.

DesertFox

Trust me they only start taking a serious look at you when you start winning.
If you've never autocrossed before just gout and have a good time. Once you've got car control down then start worrying about what you've got.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Good point. You'll know you're doing well when they stop laughing and start looking.

paul_huryk

A manual transmission is definitely allowed in autocross - since the majority of the cars there have them.

I'm not going to get into the engine part, but when it comes to handling, the 3rd gens can be very competitive in their classes. The most important item is the amount of rubber on the track - the more the better! That said, a set of 275-40-17 tires on appropriate wheels will give you another level of grip compared to a 245-50-16 (OEM size) at the races.

GCrites80s

When you have a co-driver and they run while you work, you get to hear all kinds of insights about your car. Not so much at SCCA events, but if you run even decently well with a somewhat stock appearing car at a single-marque event such as PCA they can crap their pants. The reputation of our cars to outsiders was cemented in either 1982 with 165hp engines (still cool cars if you ask me), small tires and no chassis work such as SFCs or for younger guys, the '90s/early 2000s when a lot of the 3rd gens got hillbillied out. A mildly modified IROC or WS6 is easily capable of making jaws drop due to misinformation.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

PCA. 'Nuff said.

paul_huryk

That is one great point you bring up!

I think the general car enthusiast world looks at the 80's cars as a low point in terms of performance and has no real idea how modern these cars can perform with only a few modifications. There is also a "performance fetish" when it comes to newer cars performing better than old ones, which is a sign of mental weakness (in terms of knowing car history).

Stick a set of 275-40-17 tires, a 13" brake kit, and update your suspension (poly bushings, subframes, & adjustable dampers) and you just got some major attention...

GCrites80s

I was a PCA member for 6 years, and it a lot of times is still a lack of knowledge about the third gens rather than any kind of snobbery. Although I had owned my IROC and been into cars for 11-12 years before getting involved with owing a Porsche, let me tell you that it was an all-consuming ownership experience. Those cars are nothing like ours and it took years of study before I can really say that I understood the cars mechanically and the culture associated with them. I can see why those guys already have enough to learn about and deal with to spend a lot of time learning about other cars, especially if they weren't car guys before. The kind of people that join clubs and participate in competition are much less likely to have the kind of attitude that people who are into Porsches simply because they are expensive (mine wasn't expensive to buy, just to fix) and are considered high-status cars by many. A lot of the latter are indeed choches.

NagleMac

iTrader: (1)

I autocrossed a 305tbi Automatic this past season. Leave it in "2" and go. WS6 sway bars with polybushings and endlinks, lakewood shocks/struts, an open element air cleaner and a thrush muffler were my only upgrades. I was with new 'stangs, some bmw's and other a couple other camaros and even tho i didn't get first (i only made 5 races this year), I was in the running. These cars will surprise you if you know how to drive them right. Sounds like you'll be more modded than i was, so you should do well.

Homer23

OP, hopefully you attended a few races already. If you are competing in SCCA sanctioned auto-x or another organization similar, a cheaper route is to have your car in a Street Touring class. It is much cheaper to prep a car to those specs and still have fun.

And it needs to be repeated that you need to drive (a lot) first before worrying about building it to be the ultimate cone dodger.