77-96 GM B body

Hello everyone!

I just regestered for the forums after being a reader for many months. I have seen some discussion on here about the pros and cons of the P71 Fords. I love big cars and want to get my feet wet in AutoX or possibly even RallyX. My main goal is to develop some driving skill before I go spending a ton of money prepping a car. I know there are better platforms out there, but I keeping coming across great deals on these cars. ( $200-$600 for running/ driving V-8 cars). So what I am asking is do these cars hold much promise in either category. I have found that there are some 9C1 Chevys in the local junkyards that could donate some nice sway bars and heavy springs.Thanks for the opinions.

I drove a roadmaster once and it didnt seem like a performance car to me, really heavy and soft, and the worst steering feel of any car i have driven. But, lots of people do track them, so with some suspension upgrades and doing something about the steering it would probably be alot better.

Start with a 9C1. If you like the box, look for 89-90 9C1's. Thanks to the short trackers there are sway bars and springs galore. If you like the bubbles look for a 94-96 9C1. LT1 engines are easy to make big power, and most of the same suspension from the earlier cars swaps over as well.

PErsonally, I want an 89 9C1, LQ4, T-56, gutted, caged and fulls sspension work for a track day behemoth..... but that's just me.

yes they are soft stock , Ours runs 9c1 springs chopped 1 coil , 9c1 steering box and a few other goodies (285 Pilot sports).

It had no problem running away from my moms 95 5.0L mustang and for what it is , it handles really well.

makes a good tow car too. Ours served us well on the way to the $2008 challenge

There was a couple of guys near Chicago who ran Impala SS's that were ridiculously fast around the autocross track. They ran at Salt Creek Sports Car club events in E-Street prepared.

I totally want to find an old two-door B body (which, by definition, would be a "box") and outfit it with niner-charlie-one stuff. I think I could talk my buddy out of his 9C1 spec parts on the field car. Yeah!

The problem is finding a B-body with more steel than Iron Oxide these days.

Clem

I am on my 4th Roadmaster right now, a '96 LT1 sedan. I adore it. I have been enjoying it way, way more than my P71. Plenty of torque, just a few bucks away from better-than-Impala-SS suspension... I have SS wheels with Sumi HTRZ3s right now on a stock FE1 suspension. I have much more grip than handling, if you know what I mean.

i had on my 78 cadillac deville everything impala SS - springs, sway bars, 3.08 posi with disc brakes, wheels. it could take turns like no giant cadillac should.

After owning and playing with some 'box' era panther cars the opportunities with the chevy b-bodies look so much brighter. They actually made some performance minded parts for them (SS) and had the extra displacement a car of that size really needs. If the b-bodies are like panthers, the parts are cheap and quite durable too.

I particularly like this manual swapped, hydroboosted, 77 coupe. http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50698

That car is SOOOO right. Definite NASCAR vibe without all the stigma that usually goes with it.

Those are some pretty nice examples. I have been holding out for a 2 door Pontiac of late 70's vintage for a 455 swap.

The one car in particular that prompted me to ask the question was a 77 Buick Lesabre that a neighbor has. It a 403 Olds powered car with 400TH trans and a 8.5 corporate rear. I can buy this car for $350. I know the Olds 403 arent powerhouses, but at 175hp and over 300tq that could be a fun beater. A rev limiter would almost be a must to keep the block intact.

The body is a little rough with various dents and creases on every panel. This is why I asked about rallycross. I know it would never be competitive, but might be a lot of fun for little cash.