So I had started a thread on this topic, with an old Dodge Intrepid bodied late model/sportsman chassis that a friend picked up (he's the money, I'm the mechanic). Turns out it needed far more work than was financially wise for what we'd have as a result. At the end of the day, we traded it for some parts that will help up complete the new (to us) car.
It's an ex Winston/Nextel Cup car, driven by Matt Kenseth, around the time of his 2003 championship. Just a roller, and hasn't seen track time in many years. Here's a link to some more detailed images of what we're starting with. https://www.flickr.com/photos/159431164@N04/albums/72157701905635375 I'll keep this thread updated with our progress.
If anyone has any tips about road course setup for these cars, any advice is appreciated.
There's a lot of these cars around but the RR version is different from the OT version. Sometimes only the suspension parts are different but I have seen stock cars where the mounting points on the chassis are in different places for the oval version then the road course version. There should be enough ex-NASCAR mechanics around that should know what needs to be done.
In reply to BMWGeoff :
There is no magic. All that is different is weight bias and suspension settings.
Oval track keeps weight on inside as much as possible. Road race will shift the weight towards the passenger side as much as possible.
Tire stagger ( difference between inside tire diameter and outside tire diameter is one major consideration, road race wants them similar or identical)
Spring rates in general will be softer on road race cars. Harder on the outside of oval cars.
Camber and caster will be different on left and right side on Oval and the same on road race cars.
Im pretty sure NASCAR outlawed different suspension lengths on the left and right side but measure to be sure.
The rear axle might have different camber on the rear tires. I vaguely remember that going on about that time.
Fuel filler will be on the passenger side unlike an oval. Road races brakes will be much better cooled than oval track brakes. High speed oval ( Daytona, Talledaga ) car will have no cooling for brakes.
Oval cars are different based on which track/ tracks it’s intended for Indy and Pocono are generally the same car. Short track cars are different from high speed ovals like Texas/ Atlanta. Etc.
See if there is any useful info here https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/late-model-stock-car-conversion-to-road-race/43268/page2/ or page 1. After that thread - paging bosco to the white courtesy phone.
This is definitely an oval chassis.
-Upper control arm lengths are different, and the front clip is offset to the left.
-No evidence that there was any brake cooling ducts
-Wheels and tires seem to be the same on all corners
looks like a decent amount of work ahead of us, but it should be fun none the less.
In reply to BMWGeoff :
As long as the lower arms are the same or can be made the same squaring up the suspension shouldn’t be an issue.
The rear suspension sounds like a high speed oval with large radius turns.
A relatively easy way to check what you have is square up the front suspension make all 4 tires the same diameter and then make a pass or two at the local drag strip. You don’t even need to do a drag strip start just run it out and if it’s not pulling to the left at the end of the strip you should be OK.
This is cool why aren't more people doing this.
In reply to trigun7469 :
I think in part people don't realize how much of a bargain these can be.
In reply to BMWGeoff :
WRL Endurance group allows these to race, if Champcar did, I would be looking for one.
In reply to BMWGeoff :
willing to share how you acquired? and for how much? going to attempt to get it street-legal / tagged?
In reply to Go_Gators :
We got it from someone who builds cars for the NASCAR Pinty's series in Canada. I don't know how long he had it, or why he had it, but we got it for $5k. No drivetrain, and looks like it hasn't been on track in at least 10 years, longer if you go by the dates on the seat belts. No plans to make it street legal, though there is a tube frame truck in the Toronto area that has done it.
BMWGeoff said:
In reply to trigun7469 :
I think in part people don't realize how much of a bargain these can be.
While some former NASCAR cars are a bargain, more of them were involved in heavy wrecks that ruined them for competition and they were patched back together and turned into show/promotional cars by the sponsors.
Next major component has been acquired: 6.0L LFA (LS2 hybrid truck engine) and LS3 cylinder heads are on their way to the engine builder. While we're not building for NASCAR Cup power levels, 600 hp should be enough to have a good time.
