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

[PCHRODS]

Hey everybody! As some of you may know we've been racing the wheels off our 69 C10 at several events this year with huge success!!! Our whole ]motive for doing this is not only to have a frickin blast, but to try and get other truck owners involved as well. We have participated in over 15 events this year alone with several 2nd place finishes, a 1 st place finish in the TRUCKIN' Magazine "throwdown" on stands now, and a 26th place finish at the optima ultimate street car invitational, out of 52 cars. So it is possible with a truck. I have seen a a few new trucks pop up here and there, but I'm a little disappointed, we build these bad ass trucks, but for what? Trailer to shows for everyone to see, cmon people let's take them out and use them!! That's what we built them for right?! We could have built a camaro or a mustang but we didnt we built a truck because it's in our blood! Our trucks can out run camaros and mustangs all day long, I know I've been doing it and knocking people off their feet because our truck weighed in at 4280 lbs without me in it! If you are interested in trying some racing of a new caliber let me know I would love to see some more truck participation!! Email me if you want some more info on when and where the best events are or if you want to know the best suspension set ups and combos!!

Rob Phillips 69 pro-touring c10
Rob@pchrods.com
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[SactoJim]

Well I'm interested. Just picked up my new project, though it may be awhile before I start on it and get it to where I'm happy with it, nothing wrong with starting to map out the direction I wanna go. It will be a short box and LS power with auto or manual. Want the nostalgic looking truck with a drop similar to my Blue 72 with probably 18's all the way around. I want it to also be a comfortable driver that won't jar your fillings out of your head. There's a great thread on handling in the suspension section that has lots of good info. I'd love to be able to drop the coin for the new Hotchkis kit, but not sure that will be a reality.......what's the best "bang for your buck" to get this thing to handle as well as it can?

[Zoomin]

I'd love to know what you invested in your truck to get it to do what it does.

[oldblue1968chevy]

these things are sweet! i watched a few 6772 at GG

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

sweet truck

[Bennett68C10]

I'm interested as well. My intent is to build my project with my limited funds so I could Autocross it. Just like SactoJim I too can't afford the Hotchkis suspension. I do plan on running their front/rear sway bars with my 5/7 mix match drop I have. For brakes I have the McGaughys 13" big brake kit for the front but will be running drums in the rear for now. I just want to get out there and try it out and have some fun but my truck is far from finished so in a couple of years i will give it a try. I live in NJ and i think Englishtown Raceway Park has Autocross. I'm on the fence with rims and tires as I would like to run 20's with some sticky tires but i'm guessing 18's would prob be better for autocrossing. Nice job on placing first in the Truckin throwdown, I just got the magazine. You have a beautiful truck and I can only hope that someday mine can look and compete at the level yours does.

[PCHRODS]

Zoomin-

That's a good question! Now keep in mind we "finished" the truck in 2007 as a show truck cruiser, to make it race worthy you could easily do it in steps or drop all the pennies at once, but not everyone is open to that option so here is what we did to make it handle like a slot car!

- Hotchkis TVS $5500
- Afco dbl adj shocks $1200 optional TVS kit comes with shocks
- AGR quick ratio box $400
- kuhmo xs tires $ 1000

Now on an entry level basis I would start with hotchkis springs and swaybars obviously the whole kit is the best way to go. We have tried just about every worthy suspension component out there and there is some stuff that sort of works but hotchkis nailed it. They weren't the first to market with a suspension for c10's but they definitely are the best. 2nd add-on would be tires a suspension is no good without tires to keep it planted, then the gear box would be third. Now with all that handled and the truck rocketing around cones and apexes, now you need to be able to stop, brakes are just as important as everything I listed above.

Hope this helps! I will work on a more detailed list for you guys this was just of the top of my head!
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[Bennett68C10]

I have what probably is a dumb question about tires. How wide would you say the tires need to be front/rear. Is wider always better? Also what aspect ratio would be best, 35 series, 40 series, 45 series..... Sorry i'm a newb when it comes to this but i'm really interested.

[PCHRODS]

We run a 345/30/19 (13.5" wide) out back and a 285/35/19(11" wide) up front wider is helpful but if you go to wide you need some horsepower to move them otherwise te truck will push instead of follow your lead! A 305/30 or 305/ 35 seems to be a good fitment without a custom wheel. And a 275 or 285 is a good front. You dont want to go to tall on the side wall or you can "roll" the tire on to the sidewalk while cornering which is not ideal. Equals less tire tread surface on the ground which results in some nasty understeer!! Try and stay in the 35 to 30 series tires for handling!! A tire with a 180 or greater tread wear rating is requires at most events some are 200 or higher. We run the kuhmo's at goodguys events and a Pirelli pzero at events requiring a 200 TW or higher. Go with a 200 TW rating such as a nitto or fallen tire they are cheaper than the pirellis and an awesome blend of race/ street tires!

Hope that helped with your tire question!
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[Bennett68C10]

Thankyou for the info it helps out a lot

[barryvanhook]

I'd love to see SactoJim's truck running an autocross with the tool box and rack intact!! How cool would that be??

[Ackattack]

A few years ago I did some autocross racing in my trans am/formula/corvette and I build my 68 as a multipurpose "pro touring" rig, so you betcha I'm gonna get out there and kill some cones. I still have some bugs to iron out, but I will be out there some time.

[yob2kanobe]

Sounds interesting. You got any pics of that bad boy PCHRODS?

[68Stepbed]

Rob, what kind of trailing arms are you using? I noticed the Hotchkis kit doesn't include them. It also seems that they have two panhard rods. Why two?

I'd love to do some AC with my truck. I drive alot of the windy, curvy roads in this part of the country, and it handles really well. It would be fun to see what it can do on a flat track. Other than GG events, I don't really know of anywhere else in this area doing anything like it.

[Tom Vogel]

Have you thought about changing out your seats? I like my stock buckets for looks too... but Im considering aftermarket performance seats for better latteral support.
As a side note, do the Hotchkis lower control arms require a different shock? I dont want to ditch my Alston double adjustables...

[PCHRODS]

Ok I'm gonna answer te last 4 questions here:
Trailing arms are early classic enterprises they are square tubing instead of the weak stock ones. $300
The double pan hard bar improves roll center, a single bar still allows te diff to move side to side under compression and rebound theirs eliminates that
Seats: we went with cobra "daytona" seats, these run about $550 ea, but if you want to stay put in the seat thus is a must!! We also designed a harness bar that bolts in for these trucks to allow the use of a 5 point harness, to also keep you stuck in the seat so you can concentrate on driving rather than holding on!
On shocks: the Hotchkis kit uses a shock relocation bracket to correct the angle of the shock in a lowered application so it can perform to it's full potential. Which moves the upper mount about 1.5"-2" upward. If your shock is long enough this shouldn't hinder a problem.

I will try and get some pics up over the holidays you guys can see the truck in action and some suspension and interior shots as well!
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[barryvanhook]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

Other than GG events, I don't really know of anywhere else in this area doing anything like it.

Check with any nearby SCCA groups or sports car clubs (MG, Triumph, etc.) ... they often are involved in autocross or solo events.

Barry

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by barryvanhook

Check with any nearby SCCA groups or sports car clubs (MG, Triumph, etc.) ... they often are involved in autocross or solo events.

Barry

I've done some checking around, but all I can come up with is road courses at Road Atlanta and somehwere in Virginia. Road courses would be fun, but my truck wouldn't do well at all at something like that.

[68GMCCustom]

I plan on killing some cones with mine someday....got to get it back on the road 1st tho.

[PCHRODS]

I seen alot if comments regarding the price of the hotchkis kit. Yes $5500 may seem like alot to drop at one time. All I can say is that it's worth every penny if you want an unmatched ride and handling!! I looked at it like this, when I was building our 69 in 2007, as most if you may know there are a ton of companies out there offering different suspension components with only one thing in mind.....ride height. By the time you mix and match all the right pieces to build a suspension package of your own out of everyone elses nic nacs, you spend $2500-4000. But half the time you don't realize it because it's spread out over time and through several different vendors. Hotchkis has over 3 years in testing and development in a suspension that covers all the bases!! Ride height, ride quality, and most importantly handling. Trust me I was in the same boat many of you are with "holy crap, $5500?!?" then I got to see all the pieces and drive their test truck. One drive in their 68 c10 and the first words out if my mouth were, "when can I get one???" if you have to save up for a year to buy one.....all I can say is do it!! You won't be dissappointed!! If anyone is in the los angeles area and wants to take it for a test spin, keys are yours, if you really want to see what a squaking about! Or if you are at an autocross and want to ride shotgun on the course don't hesitate to ask me for a ride!
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[OhOneWS6]

Your missing the closing "]" on your [/IMG] tag in your first post. Looks like it got moved in front of the word "motive"

[PCHRODS]

Originally Posted by OhOneWS6

Your missing the closing "]" on your [/IMG] tag in your first post. Looks like it got moved in front of the word "motive"

Thanks for fixing that for me, not sure why it did that.....stupid iPhone!
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[Bennett68C10]

I would love to use the hotchkis kit but i already have all my suspension pieces in boxes waiting to go onto my frame. I'll have to use what I have for now until oneday I have the money to throw down on the complete hotchkis kit. Believe me I drool over that kit all the time. I will be using their sway bars though. After my truck is done i can start purchasing one piece at a time from that kit until i have the complete kit.

Hey rob if you ever bring that beast to Jersey I would love to go for a ride in it.

[ksjh1316]

Man I miss taking something out to kill cones. My little 75 MGB was a blast and easily ran better times than all the muscle cars

[Jacfourteen]

Looks like fun! You have any videos of the beast in action?