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| Q: What are the largest size tires I can fit underneath a first generation Camaro? | |||
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A:
With the stock suspension, the largest front tire is a P245/45R17 on
an 8 inch rim or a P245/45R16 on an 8 inch rim. Areas to watch for signs of tire/wheel contact are; tire inner sidewall to subframe under full lock steering, wheel inner to stock upper control arm during full lock steering, tire outer sidewall to fender lip especially on 1969 models. The largest rear tire is a P275/40R17 on a 9.5 inch rim. |
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| Q: What's wrong with the stock suspension on a first generation Camaro? | |||
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A: The first generation Camaro front suspension design is dated
compared to today's advancements in suspension theory. One of the most important contributors to today's advancements is tire technology. Suspension design and tire design are not independent of each other. Unequal-length double a-arm suspensions have made tremendous improvements, along with improved tire technology, and each car's generation improved on the last. The factory 67-69 Camaro/Firebird and 68-74 Nova experience positive camber gain on the outside (loaded) tire during cornering. This is largely due to the front suspension's low roll center. Don't confuse low roll centers with low roll angles. The vehicle rolls about a roll axis determined by front and rear roll centers. The roll axis pictured from the vehicle's side view is usually higher at the rear and lower at the front for solid rear axle suspension with independent front suspensions. The greater the distance between the roll axis and the car's center of gravity height, the greater the roll. It works as a "lever arm". The longer the arm, the more the car rolls. The more the car rolls, the greater the positive camber gain on the outside wheel while cornering for first generation designs. Bad news! The outside tire during cornering should ideally gain less positive camber to allow the tire to use its full contact patch. Other areas for improvement, in addition to roll center placement, include camber and caster curves. Initial caster settings for first generation Camaros are approximately +1.5 degrees. Today's performance cars have 2.5-3.0 degrees of initial caster. The stock Camaro caster setting is limited to additional caster because alignment shims must be used to gain greater caster. One way to improve this is to use an offset upper control arm. Higher steering efforts and greater straight line stability will be noticed |
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Q: I have a lot of play in my
steering gear, and the steering feels too light. What can be done to improve it? |
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A:
Detroit Speed and Engineering offers a 600 steering gear, giving you
rack and pinion steering performance with a bolt-in steering gear. This steering gear can be used to replace the common GM800 series power steering gear used from 1964-1992. it comes with two different finishes; bare (ready to paint) or coated. Click here for more info |
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Q: I
used the Dick Guldstrand template to relocate my upper control arms in my first
generation Camaro. I drilled new holes and cut away the old holes. Will your upper control arms work with this setup? |
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A:
Yes, you can use our tubular upper control arms with the Guldstrand
relocated points. Our tubular upper control arms will work in the stock mounting location, or with re-located upper control points. |
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