Does anyone know of any sites specially dedicated to OBS trucks? I am learning a lot here, but I also want to see what OBS owners are doing with suspension, brakes, etc.
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Does anyone know of any sites specially dedicated to OBS trucks? I am learning a lot here, but I also want to see what OBS owners are doing with suspension, brakes, etc.
What are you calling old body??? 99-07 is old now.....:lol:
I'm sorry fellas. I should have been more clear. I am looking for some sites that deal specifically with '88 -'98 full size Chevy/GMC trucks.
what is it you want to know?
As I've said in some other posts, we are trying to build a truck that is capable in acceleration, handling, and braking. I'm hoping to find some sites that feature the OBS trucks and mods that have been made to improve them in these areas. There is plenty of info on this site about swapping the LS1 into our project, but not much on suspension, brakes, etc., that applies to the OBS.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.
what year truck?
yeah fullsizechevy.com/forums or gmfullsize.com/forum/ i'm a member of both. Been on FSC since '02. What year specifically is your truck, what sort of performance are you looking for, what is your budget?
The goal for this project is to build a truck that is capable of making a 12.0 or quicker quarter mile pass, run 130 mph in an open road race, handle well in competitive autocross, and brake as well as the last Camaro/Firebird models available. In short, we are trying to build the truck to run, drive, and stop like a Camaro or Firebird.
I know it seems odd to do this with a truck when it would be sooooooooo much easier to just start with an F-body and add the bolt-ons from there. However, my dad bought the truck new, and he is quite attached to it. Also, due to some medical issues following a bad accident 5 years ago, I am not able to get down into a car that sits low like a Camaro/Firebird, so we picked the truck to make it easier on me.
The truck we are starting with is a '91 Chevy SWB. It originally had a 350 TBI/700R4 combo, but that is long gone now. We are planning to install an LS1 from an '02 Firebird with all the common bolt-ons like headers, dual exhaust, FAST manifold, 90 mm throttle body, valve springs, cam & lifters, etc. We have also discussed adding a 100 hp dry shot for drag racing.
The truck is also treated to all the common static suspension lowering stuff from the 90's: Bell Tech drop springs, dropped spindles, flip kit, shocks, etc. We are planning to add sway bars, Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks, a complete front end rebuild with all poly bushings, a quick ratio steering box, etc. The truck will run 17" Impala SS rims with Grabber UHP Z-rated tires weight rated for trucks/SUV's. If all that doesn't get us where we want to go, we are considering adding a Nascar Truck style rear suspension and having a buddy who fabs circle racer frames add a rack and pinion front end.
We already have the truck, the engine/trans, fuel system, wheels, tires, and the additional suspension and steering parts. The truck has already been shaved and painted with a good base/clear paintjob, and the interior is complete and in good shape, so the money will go toward making it go fast, stop hard, and corner well.There is no real budget for the project at this point, though I would guess we will spend around $10k more before we are finished. We have a 2 year time frame in mind.
So, that is a very long explanation of the plan and the starting point. I am trying to do as much research as I can to find out what others have done and what worked well.
That will help us know if we are headed in the right direction.
I am reading forums on this site, performancetrucks.net, fullsizechevy.com, and pro-touring.com. What I am finding is that most everyone on the truck-only forum boards talk exclusively about their motor swaps and drag race or dyno performance. That is helpful, but we need to find out more about other performance aspects of these trucks. So, if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Have you thouht about going to an air-ride suspension setup? 100% adjustable in the cockpit and I think they now have a truck-arm suspension kit out for the rear. They showed older Chevelles on the track with a stock suspension and then installed the air-ride suspension kit and their times went waaaaay down on a slolom course.
making a rc '91 with a bolt on LS1 and 100 shot run 12's should be cake.
My '92 with a low compression 347 and spray is close to being in the 10's.
Thanks for the ideas, fellas. We are very interested in anyone's ideas or suggestions.
RedHeartbeat -
We are looking into the suspension components from Air Ride Technologies. They have a complete front and rear kit that would do amazing things for our project. However, the cost and the weight are two concerns we are looking at right now. Popular Hot Rodding built a stout mid-70's Camaro with bolt on suspension mods and ran it on a skidpad, slalom, and braking test. They then bolted on an air suspension and completed the same tests. The car was waaay faster on all the tests. However, it also added almost 300 pounds to the car, which would be a deterrent in drag racing. The cost was also pretty high, close to $6500, for the complete set up. That would cut into our budget pretty badly. Still, we are not ruling anything out at this point.
TRTTurbo -
Is your truck naturally aspirated, or are you running a turbo setup? We are hoping to run NA if possible, mostly for packaging and expense purposes. I would be very interested in knowing your exact combo, or whatever you are willing to share.
Keep it coming guys. We want to hear from anyone with an idea or a suggestion.
check the video in my sig to see it run.
Its a '92 rcss, 8.8:1 iron block 347 (bored out 5.3), Patriot st.II heads, 244/248 .612 .615 114+3 cam ( wrong cam, but we were bored and thought we would stick it in), ported exhaust manifolds (no LT's available for this swap), 2.5" back to X pipe and 3" over the axle duals, truck intake, 200 shot, 3:73s, Detroit true trac, 3200 Vigalante, built 4L60e.
Best time was 7.32 @92 with 1.64 60ft. (stock leafs in the rear)
I dont have that combo anymore. I now have a LQ4 block, stock 241 heads with Patriot springs, 232/236 .601 .595 113 cam, 3000 TCI. I expect to be faster NA because of the compression and as fast on just 100 wet shot.
TRTTurbo -
Very impressive numbers and video. It took me a minute to calculate what your 1/4 mile numbers were; nobody runs 1/8th mile around here. Still, very, very impressive.
I also appreciate your willingness to give up all the specs on your combination. That is really helpful.
You seem really knowledgeable. I'm going to post another thread in a minute for some basic info explaining the various blocks and heads I keep reading about. I'd like you to throw some info in there as well. :tacos:
should be about 11.50 @ 115