Camaro/Firebird question

Alan Chapman · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:34 pm **Posts:** 22

Anyone know what the max wheel size available from the factory (or factory orderable from SLP) was for the non-WS6/SS Fbody cars? I'm picking up a 97 Formula which has the stock 16 inch wheels and was wondering if there was a bigger wheel option that would be legal in F Stock.

Thanks!

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Sun Sep 05, 2004 10:20 pm

Alan,

I don't have the answer but I don't understand your "factory orderable from SLP" comment. AFAIK the SLP options were for the WS6/SS cars that aren't in FS. Only factory (Pontiac in this case) wheels would be legit for FS. Pardon my ignorance if I'm wrong.

Alan Chapman · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:34 pm **Posts:** 22

You could be right Dick and probably are, but I didn't want to rule out the possibility that some of the options like bigger wheels could have actually been ordered for non WS6/SS cars. IMHO it doesn't matter if Pontiac sourced them or SLP in principle, since they would have still been "factory" options. I remember when I had my SS I noticed the 1LE parts were legal in FStock, many of which were "better" than the SLP parts on my SS. :shock:

I'm not pretending to know the answer. SCCA or whoever could have made the decision that no SLP parts can be run in Stock class even if they were orderable for that model from the factory, but I don't know of anything "in principle" that would prevent it, especially considering the Stock class legal 1LE parts.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:37 am

Alan,

You might want to post your question on team.net and/or the Evolution list. Or simply contact GH Sharp or Sam Strano directly. This may not be a good week (unless you so on Monday/Tuesday) since many folk will be heading to the Pro Solo Finale and the Nationals which start this weekend. AFAIK the 1LE wheels required conversion of the car to complete 1LE specs . . . for the same year as the car itself. This kind of stuff gets tricky in Stock classes. Similar problems with "port" options for imports. All this said, the "impression" I've had as a Mustang owner was that the F-bodies had 16 inch wheels and still were usually faster than Mustangs with 17's. However, I wasn't running my car in Stock (C Mod is much more fun) so I wasn't paying a lot of attention.

Alan Chapman · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:34 pm **Posts:** 22

Dick,

Thanks for your input. I didn't realize the 1LE stuff required the complete conversion. I'll take your impression on the wheel sizes as good enough evidence for me. It would be nice to have 17s for the street and be able to run street tires sometimes, but I guess that's not going to work

As an aside, I wonder why the SS/WS6 cars are bumped out of FStock while the 1LE is not. All that makes an SS what it is is the badges, 17 inch wheels, a different swaybar, and a RAM air system that supposedly gives 20 more horsepower. I don't see how a RAM air system is going to give much more power in an autocross! Granted an SS can optionally come with better suspension packages, but even the Level III I don't recall as being significantly (or any) better then the 1LE stuff.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:40 am

Alan Chapman wrote:

As an aside, I wonder why the SS/WS6 cars are bumped out of FStock while the 1LE is not. All that makes an SS what it is is the badges, 17 inch wheels, a different swaybar, and a RAM air system that supposedly gives 20 more horsepower. I don't see how a RAM air system is going to give much more power in an autocross! Granted an SS can optionally come with better suspension packages, but even the Level III I don't recall as being significantly (or any) better then the 1LE stuff.

1) Politics
2) Wider wheels, something like an inch wider. that is a significant difference in stock class.
3) final assembly. The SLP goodies are essentially an "aftermarket" option. The cars get shipped from the assembly line to the SLP folks where final assembly is done. Putting the SLP cars in stock would be like putting Rouch Mustangs in stock class.

Last time I ran f-Stock at a national event most everyone was running 245/45-16 Hoosiers. The LT1 cars can pull off the taller sidewall 275 Hoosiers, but the LS1 likes the better gearing of the small tires. I'm pretty sure the 16" Hoosier line has changed since then, so I can't confirm it. Post out on SCCA forums and I'm sure guys like Sam Strano or Mike Johnson will reply with their setup. The top FS people don't really have any secets.

Scott

Alan Chapman · **Joined:** Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:34 pm **Posts:** 22

Good info Scott, thanks.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:23 pm

Alan,

An additional reason for not putting the SLP cars in FS was that the SEB could not get any reliable definition of how the cars were going to be equiped as I recall. Too undefined a car to class except in one where it wouldn't have a chance of dominating. The 1LE's were well defined due to the factory approach. Note that in F Stock, the approach "forever" has been to class all the V-8 "pony cars" in the same class and let the "best of the breed" dominate except for very special versions. Very different from so many other cars/classes where "everybody" wants a new class for their old car when a better version comes along. Pony car folks just get the version they think is best or accept the results of what they have.

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Camaro/Firebird question

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