Driveshaft/half shaft loops, rollbars, wheels...

[Ken]

Driveshaft loop on a C4...

Anybody have experience wiith installing a driveshaft loop on a C4? :confused

 

[Ken]

I want to run skinnies on the front...

...but seeing as how I already upgraded my fronts to 13" rotors and Baer dual piston calipers what will fit?

I am running 16" Weld Racing Draglite XP's on the rear and would like to put Weld wheels on the front as well. Y'all know me by now -- I'm compulsive about symmetry. :L

So, am I going to have to talk to the manufacturer or has someone got experience with skinnies on the front of C4s?

_ken

 

[Mad-Mic]

Ken i see them all the time on mostly stock bodied 90+ series vettes with high hp running at the track. if they are 93+ vettes don't they come with 13 inch rotors? i never asked about what brake caliper they are running but i'm sure someone here might be able to help you if not weld themselves

 

[Ken]

I just looked at Weld's site again and see that they make a Draglite XP in 17-inch, but I still need to know the offset I'll need. My rears were 5-inch but that was to keep the tire inside the wheelwell. The fronts, being skinnier, won't pose that problem, so I should be able to get away with the 4.75-inch standard offset I imagine.

_ken

 

[Ken]

I'm not getting anywhere here! (Again.) :eyerole

Ok, one of the other guys (Todd) who races with the WCCC, runs 15-inch wheels on the front (15 x 3.5).

The front rims are the standard Weld 15" x 3.5" rim, and they will fit over any brake system considering the rim only goes inward 1/2"... it shouldn't have a problem with any caliper or rotor combination made ... they just bolt right on too ... no spacer necessary.

I have to get my hands on a wheel somehow to see if it'll fit. Weld Racing isn't very forthcoming with a list of dealers either. It's simply a matter of lucking out and finding someone who carries them. Hell, I can get my hands on Centerlines or Americans just about anywhere, but not Weld.

Also, I didn't realize a roll cage would run close to two-thousand dollars! :eek

Man, if I can't sell my motorcycle I'm gonna be dead in the water soon.

_ken

 

[vettn94]

Ken, if you go over to the Corvette Forum there are a few guys over on the Drag Racing forum who run skinnies. Look for a guy named John Panuzzo he may be able to help you out, he was running skinnies on his 95 and I'm pretty sure the 95's came w/ 13" rotors in front.
$2k sounds really high for a roll cage

good luck

 

[Vettelt193]

I agree with the statement about them fitting over any brake cobo, because they don't go over the brakes... they stay ouside the brakes...

 

[Mad-Mic]

4 point 6 point or 8 point cage? i just want to say it's a price well paid for. i seen a few accidents in "home made" to "tube framed" cars and some fatalities at the track. it's well worth it to get a reputable Rod Shop to put one in. i seen a 66 duece 2 flip running 11.50's with a not so good one and killed the driver fliping thru the traps cause his rear blew up. i seen one in my friends 84 tube framed vette blow the motor going thru the traps throwing oil down on the track under the rear wheels and the car getting a bit sideways then pulling the chute. by the jerk of the chute with the car out of center made it roll several times and walked away after running 8 flat at 160+ mph. this is one safety device i wouldn't chince on since your putting it.

 

[Ken]

From Baer:

Ken, I'm sorry I have asked around and have no luck. If you have any questions please call.

bill koppinger
602-233-1411 ext 15

Hello. I installed a Baer "Track" front brake system on my 1987 Corvette back in March of 2001. I have no problems with the system; it works just fine thank you. I do have a question I am hoping you could help me with though.

In the process of setting my Corvette up for drag racing, I would like to put skinny front wheels and tires on it. I am currently using Weld Racing "Draglite XP" wheels for the rear and would like to use the same manufacturer for the front to balance the appearance. Weld has wheels that meet my needs, but determining if they will fit my application has been difficult. Weld has not responded to questions, and those I've talked with who have used the wheels, are running the stock brake setup. The offset or backspacing would not be all that much, so clearance with the caliper should not be a problem there, but clearance at the circumference has me concerned. Needless to say there are no dealers nearby that carry Weld wheels in stock, and I would like to avoid having to ship them back if they won't fit.

I know you are not able to determine the compatibility without having the wheels on hand, but I am hoping maybe someone in your sphere of racing acquaintances may have an answer.

Thanks for your time.

From REBS Specialties:

Ken,

A 10 point built to NHRA spec would cost you 1900.00 in chromoly tubing and 1500.00 in mild steel. The chromoly tubing would be approx. 85lbs lighter than the mild steel. We would be able to do this for you in the later weeks of December and it would only take a few days.

Thanks
Greg
GPE RACE CARS

From: "KJ Stapel" <kjstapel@gte.net>
To: <gperacing@msn.com>
Subject: Roll cages...
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 01:01:01 -0800

I'm interested in a roll cage for a 1987 Corvette coupe, NHRA spec, installed (I already have the interior stripped).

Is it possible to get an estimate, and if you could install it, when would installation be possible?

Thanks.

Thanks for the tip on the CF Nick, that's where I got the info about the fifteen-inchers, from Todd Drane (he's a CF member, I don't think he's a member here).

Thanks Bob telling me they stay outside of the calipers, but I sure wish I had a wheel handy so I could try it out.

Thanks Mike for your concern for my safety. REBS seems to be the place for quality work.

Thanks for the input guys, I really need it.

_ken

 

[Ken]

I ordered wheels and tires today. I'll let y'all know how it works out, but you already know that.

Now, I just need someone to come forth with some advice as to how to mount a driveshaft loop in a C4. Hell, if it goes quick enough, I'll have to think about loops for the half-shafts too, but I have to be in the sub-ten-second bracket to need those.

_ken

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Ken,

Check this out

Also the PN he used is this:
The Summit part number is SUM-G7900, cost $24.50.

 

[Ken]

Very cool Jeff, exactly what I needed. Thanks!

Haven't seen much of you around lately, are you still limited as to when you can get on here? Hope all is going well.

_ken

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Very cool Jeff, exactly what I needed. Thanks!

Haven't seen much of you around lately, are you still limited as to when you can get on here? Hope all is going well.

_ken

Ken,

Yes Everything is going good!! Reason I am not posting as much is the company I work for (Motorola) has 2 campuses near me (actually more but I only deal with these 2). One in Arlington Hts. Il (where my Desk and PC are) and one in Schaumburg. Well for the last 3 weeks I have been assigned to a project that is basically in Schaumburg, so up until last week I had no PC. I now have a Laptop temporarily so I can check email and check the forum every great once in a while, but I have been swamped with work.

When I get home I have a 10 week old son to attend to, so I do get on here from time to time when my wife is home from work, but I try to limit my computer time in the evening.

Hopefully I will be around a little more now..

Jeff

 

[Ken]

It's good to have you back. And I just got off the phone after adding the loop to today's order. Thanks again.

_ken

 

[Ken]

Jeff, have you been to the Dragvette site? He has some half shaft "retention loops" for the '63 thru '82 Vettes, bit nothing for the C4. Will I be able to adapt his loops to my spindles do you think?

_ken

 

[Ken]

Steve at Dragvette replied to my query about his retention loops...

...(he) can sell (me) one of the weld up ones and (I) would at least have a good start on a set.

Back to letting my mechanic come up with something, eh? What is it with finding anything C4-specific? :eyerole

I'm tellin' ya, there's a big market that's ripe and ready to be developed out there for the C4s. For years now, there have been shops devoted to solid axles, mid-years and C3s, it's time for the C4 market to open up. The C4 is about the most affordable Corvette, and many have accumulated enough mileage to require extensive service.

The aftermarket supplies enough stereo and alarm systems, a multitude of bells and whistles, and more chrome-plated gee-gaws than we need already. Performance issues and related equipment all seem to be geared toward the C5 in the Corvette community, while in the drag race family the Corvette applications seem to stop at the '82 model. What I need is someplace where I can get my C4 stuff addressed.

I wish, I wish... I wish I had the backing somehow to start a shop dedicated to the fourth-generation Corvette. "The Fourth Generation--Parts, Service and Accessories, WITH A SMILE!"

_ken

 

[Ken]

I'm having the damndest time finding somthing in a 17-inch for my front set-up. The only wheel that'll clear the caliper is going to be a 17-inch wheel, which is what I figured. The problem is the wheels are 8-inches wide, and I can't find 17-inch drag front runners that will fit that rim width. Hell, I can't find any drag front tires in a 17-inch period!

I can find a 225/55/Y17R from Michelin (among other manufacturers) that will fit an 8-inch rim. They, however, weigh in at around thirty pounds, versus about fifteen pounds each for the drag front tires. :eyerole Got any ideas? :confused

_ken

 

[Burnnrubber]

Ken, looks like you ordered a D-Shaft loop already, maybe you can use this link for a reference...
http://www.zfdoc.com/c4SafetyLoop.htm

 

[Ken]

Yeah, that part is covered Jim. Thanks for the link though.

What I need still is an idea for mounting the half shaft loops. I think I want them toward the center of the shaft, so that in the event I do lose a u-joint, on either end, it'd be contained. How I'm going to go abount mounting them is the question. :L

_ken

 

[Burnnrubber]

Very carefully of course Ken!
I guess I've not looked at the area around the half shafts enough to even make a hip shot call on this one. I'm guessing someone has already paved the road though. Good luck with your loops...
BTW, Did you ever get that Be Cool radiator installed?