What to do with a '69 Camaro Z28?

[White & Nerdy]

I have a '69 Camaro Z28 that needs some help. It has no irreversible upgrades, so just over 390hp. Stock transmission because I hate gear whine. Sports Soft tires. Suspension lowered as far as it'll go, but all other variables are at default.

It's basically a good car but I think I added too many parts all at once without stopping to measure the effects of each one. Because I wouldn't even know where to begin with drivetrain & suspension tuning.

It seems to have a lot of grip, but starts to understeer a little after turn-in. It also seems to let go and spin quite suddenly when dropping into banking (i.e. some corners on Trial Mountain) or running over rough terrain (some curbs at Trial Mountain), and once that happens it usually can't be gathered back up.

So. Is it too low? What drivetrain parts should I use for that power level? How much of it is my cruddy driving?

(Every time I begin to entertain fantasies of opening my own tuning garage, something like this happens that reminds me how bad I am at both driving and tuning...)

 

[Lambob]

curious, why are you lowering the suspension as far as it will go, on a track that is the epitome of elevation changes?

 

[krenkme]

I would start by getting it off the ground. From your settings raise the front 5, and the back 15 (example, if you have here bottom out at, lets say -15/-15, change it to -10/0 ). Next front roll bar to about 4-5. Last change your LSD settings to 12/18/10. See if that at least gets you going in the right direction. I'm not at home so other suspension setting will have to be made by you. Hope it helps

 

[XDesperado67]

Lowering it all the way isn't the real problem here. You can run a car fully lowered on any track but you have to make other adjustments to the suspension when you do so. First the stock suspension settings tend to be very soft and when you lower the car it has less room for travel. To compensate you need to increase the spring rates. I don't have the stats for the car in front of me currently but as a general rule with a front heavy car like the Camaro I'd bring the front spring rate up to around 13-14 as a starting point and the rear spring rate up to around 7-8. Next the stock settings don't have any camber on the wheels. Again because of weight distribution and drive layout I would give it 1.6-2.0 front camber and 1.0-1.2 rear camber as a start. Hope this is some help to you and good luck.👍👍

 

[White & Nerdy]

curious, why are you lowering the suspension as far as it will go, on a track that is the epitome of elevation changes?

It's not for Trial Mountain specifically, that's just a track I like to use because it has a little of everything. Elevation changes, long & short straights, just about the only thing it's missing is a sweeper.

Will try suggestions and post back when I have a chance.

 

[oppositelock]

I'd reconsider using the customizable tranny, noise be damned. Almost all the stock muscle car gearboxes are borderline useless. You're probably banging off the rev limiter on any decently long track.

 

[viperbeatsvette]

Buy a dodge charger, problem solved ^^

 

[White & Nerdy]

I'd reconsider using the customizable tranny, noise be damned. Almost all the stock muscle car gearboxes are borderline useless. You're probably banging off the rev limiter on any decently long track.

Actually seems pretty well matched to about 390hp. There aren't too many tracks where you can top 140mph with that kind of power, Grand Valley maybe, but not many others.

And I'll deal with any amound of ridicule - and losing - to hear that incredible sound.

Come on PD, give us an adjustable street box. Extra drivetrain loss, whatever. It'd be worth it for this car.

 

[Lambob]

Actually seems pretty well matched to about 390hp. There aren't too many tracks where you can top 140mph with that kind of power, Grand Valley maybe, but not many others.

And I'll deal with any amound of ridicule - and losing - to hear that incredible sound.

Come on PD, give us an adjustable street box. Extra drivetrain loss, whatever. It'd be worth it for this car.

I agree, the tranny whine is piercing, but when you setup some nice gear changing ratios to fall back into 5100rpm with stock LSD and racing slicks on the Nordschleife online, (TCS:0), it's a glorified tire squelching smoke show in all of it's 73 corners, clouding your opponents (in BMW's, whatnots) vision all the way to the finish line, it is totally worth the gear whine.