Autocrossing your chevy truck....who wants to?

[68GMCCustom]

I'm building my truck as a "toy-driver" (to me meaning a performance & handling truck)....cosmetics is the least of my concerns for the time being. It'll be at the TX events if I don't run into any problems that would keep me from going. I t won't have all the handing upgrades I'd like for it to have...but it'll have some power!

[hotrodhomi]

Here are some autocross sites for the SF Bay area peeps.
http://www.baautox.com/forum/index.php
http://sfrscca.org/content/view/4555/32/

[Hotchkis]

Hey Rob,

Congratulations on getting on the SpeedHunters website. They did a great job with the writing and photography. Our favorite photo is the one of all the Hotchkis suspension prominently displayed.


Just kidding!

They are all great photos!

You’re out at almost every event on the west coast that has a few cones laid out. We see you out at all the Good Guys events and now out at the Optima OUSCI event outside of Vegas. What’s your favorite Good Guys venue? How did the Optima event compare? I heard that you beat Camaro Performers Magazines’ Steven Rupp with his famous “Bad Penny” ’68 Camaro on the autocross. That must have been a nice feather in your cap, since nobody would ever suspect a truck with some easy to install suspension could beat a Camaro with Corvette front suspension and state of the art custom rear suspension…especially a Camaro that has been so dialed in by a team of specialists. Congratulations!

[68Stepbed]

Does the Hotchkis kit use regular or dropped spindles? Can I use my current 2.5" drop spindles and 1" drop springs with the tubular control arms?

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

Does the Hotchkis kit use regular or dropped spindles? Can I use my current 2.5" drop spindles and 1" drop springs with the tubular control arms?

Matt -

Great question!! and the answer is "yes", we are using a 2" drop spindle and our own 2" drop spring for a big block, because the first run of Hotchkis TVS kits are for small block equipped trucks (front spring rate on the Hotchkis kit is for a small block truck.) but all the parts are usable on BB trucks, just the front springs are for small blocks, softer rate. You will want to get the shock relocation brackets at the same time, this corrects the angle and geometry on the shocks in a lowered application, which allows them to operate correctly!!

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by PCHRODS

Matt -

You will want to get the shock relocation brackets at the same time, this corrects the angle and geometry on the shocks in a lowered application, which allows them to operate correctly!!

Any pics of those relocaters?

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Any pics of those relocaters?

http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search

[SCOTI]

I'd like to see them installed. Hard to tell from the linked pic.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I'd like to see them installed. Hard to tell from the linked pic.

Photos are in the installation instructions from Hotchkis' website:

http://www.hotchkis.net/_uploaded_fi...ons209file.pdf

[Tom Vogel]

Thanks Alvin;
Now can someone tell me the compressed and fully extended length that is required in the shock (with the tubular control arm and the relocator)? I dont want to replace my Alston double adjustable shocks.

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Thanks Alvin;
Now can someone tell me the compressed and fully extended length that is required in the shock (with the tubular control arm and the relocator)? I dont want to replace my Alston double adjustable shocks.

Tom,

Here are the lengths for the shocks.......hope this helps!!

Hotchkis Bilstein Shocks:



FRONT LENGTH (EYE-TO-EYE):

FULLY EXTENDED: 15-1/2”

FULLY COMPRESSED: 10-1/2”



REAR LENGTH (EYE-TO-EYE):

FULLY EXTENDED: 18-3/8”

FULLY COMPRESSED: 12-3/16”

[djw32]

Originally Posted by Hotchkis

Hey Rob,

Congratulations on getting on the SpeedHunters website. They did a great job with the writing and photography. Our favorite photo is the one of all the Hotchkis suspension prominently displayed.


Just kidding!

They are all great photos!

You’re out at almost every event on the west coast that has a few cones laid out. We see you out at all the Good Guys events and now out at the Optima OUSCI event outside of Vegas. What’s your favorite Good Guys venue? How did the Optima event compare? I heard that you beat Camaro Performers Magazines’ Steven Rupp with his famous “Bad Penny” ’68 Camaro on the autocross. That must have been a nice feather in your cap, since nobody would ever suspect a truck with some easy to install suspension could beat a Camaro with Corvette front suspension and state of the art custom rear suspension…especially a Camaro that has been so dialed in by a team of specialists. Congratulations!

That is a great picture!

[djw32]

Rob,

Are you running ECE drop spindles?

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by djw32

Rob,

Are you running ECE drop spindles?

Actually we are running WESTERN spindles. They were supplied by Baer when they prototyped the 6 piston kit on our truck. I have no idea where they got them from. But if we didn't have those we would have ECE's!
Posted via Mobile Device

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by Hotchkis

Hey Rob,

Congratulations on getting on the SpeedHunters website. They did a great job with the writing and photography. Our favorite photo is the one of all the Hotchkis suspension prominently displayed.


Just kidding!

They are all great photos!

You’re out at almost every event on the west coast that has a few cones laid out. We see you out at all the Good Guys events and now out at the Optima OUSCI event outside of Vegas. What’s your favorite Good Guys venue? How did the Optima event compare? I heard that you beat Camaro Performers Magazines’ Steven Rupp with his famous “Bad Penny” ’68 Camaro on the autocross. That must have been a nice feather in your cap, since nobody would ever suspect a truck with some easy to install suspension could beat a Camaro with Corvette front suspension and state of the art custom rear suspension…especially a Camaro that has been so dialed in by a team of specialists. Congratulations!

Thanks!! In response to which events I like the most....well honestly I like all of them!! But if I had to choose goodguys would be my favorite by far, a.) there are more of them b.) have a truck class c.) the people at these events are awesome.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved OUSCI, this is where the big boys play. We got an opportunity to run with some of the finest pieces of metal on the planet. And unknowingly found out once we got there we were quite competitive. Being able to finish in the top half of the field and have the fastest truck there was awesome!! Bad penny....yes that felt pretty good to put that hatch mark on my belt! Next year should be even more fun now that we are proudly part of the H-team!! Hopefully we can put the 69 in the winners circle a few times in 2011 !!
Posted via Mobile Device

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by PCHRODS

...... Next year should be even more fun now that we are proudly part of the H-team!! Hopefully we can put the 69 in the winners circle a few times in 2011 !!

I would think that having the pros at Hotchkis tune your ride should give you a nice advantage. You gotta love a big old truck that spanks the G-machines.

[PCHRODS]

Working with Hotchkis as been an awesome opportunity to say the least. But when you order product from them their customer service is very knowledgable and top notch!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[protouring70]

Hey, this is one of my first post. But have been a member over @ Pro-touring.com and Lateral-g.net. Pro-touring is doing events all over now. The biggest one I participate is in Pigeon Forge, tn. And you have alot of the big guys turn out, like DSE, AirRide, Baer Brakes just to name a few. Check out the site to get dates for events!!! It is lots of fun.

[caviness]

hey,Rob
how about e few more pics of your chassis from under like on lift,for the ones that might like the same setup,to see a little more detail,and let me know a little more on the brake setup.

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum protouring70, glad to see you join here. As you have seen, the P/T bug is spreading in to the classic truck crowd. That fire here is being fueled by standouts such as Rob Phillips from Phillips & Company Hot Rods, and Rob MacGregor from No Limit Engineering.

Take a look in our Suspension Forum when time permits. You will find a LOT of the industry pros drop in there to relax and discuss suspension.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by protouring70

Hey, this is one of my first post. But have been a member over @ Pro-touring.com and Lateral-g.net. Pro-touring is doing events all over now. The biggest one I participate is in Pigeon Forge, tn. And you have alot of the big guys turn out, like DSE, AirRide, Baer Brakes just to name a few. Check out the site to get dates for events!!! It is lots of fun.

I went to the Pigeon Forge event (RTTH) in 08 & loved it despite the lengthy drive.

[protouring70]

Those guys are really stand up people. It is a fun event.

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by caviness

hey,Rob
how about e few more pics of your chassis from under like on lift,for the ones that might like the same setup,to see a little more detail,and let me know a little more on the brake setup.

Sorry haven't been on the site in a while, so i am trying to catch up on all the posts. The truck will be over at Hotchkis on the 12th for their Chevy Truck show, and I believe it will be up on the lift so I will shoot some photos for you so you can see what it looks like.

On the Brakes: we are running Baer 6S 6 pistons calipers up front with 14" rotors and a Baer Single Piston in the rear with 13" rotors. Because of the crazy unbalance of these trucks 80% of the braking is done up front, and the rears just help the truck sit down. This setup is actually about as close to perfect as you can get from a performance stand point. Not sure if you saw the TRUCKIN' THROWDOWN issue of Truckin Mag, but we blew everyone away in the brake stop challenge. Check out this video, this is a 60-0 stop.

YouTube - Truckin Magazine - Truck Shoot...

[gcrtech]

Glad to see others who want to race their trucks. I'm new to this site but I've been working on old chevs forever. I'm currently building a 68 GMC for the Targa Newfoundland Rally, check it out targanewfoundland.com. It's a week long race on the public roads and nobody has done it in a truck yet. The GMC has a smallblock, 5spd, 4 wheel disc brakes, lowered 4/5 and a full rollcage. Hope to have it finished for this falls race as it is the tenth anniversary. Lots of helpful info on this site.

[68Stepbed]

Rob, yeah I read the Throwdown article in Truckin'. Congrats on the win! Also congrats to Rob(No Limit) and to Mike(orange 67) on getting the mag coverage. I just thought it was so cool that the 2 67-72's present came in 1st and 3rd. The top 3 wer also board members. How cool is that?

Rob, are those Baer brakes a bolt on system or did you have to make some mods to make them fit? Do they still use the 5x5 bolt pattern?