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Hi guys, I've been out of the muscle car scene for several years while my AAR sat in hibernation. But I have a little more time and funds now to start enjoying it again.
I'd like to make it an awesome handler after driving my buddies 70's Corvette. I have been using the search feature to view past threads, to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can, however there is so much info that I'm overwhelmed with so many opinions, etc....
Here's where I'm at: I detest the look of radials on an old car, however I've accepted the fact that if I want this thing to handle decently I'm gonna probably have to go with radials, and I also hate the looks of rims larger than 15", that I won't stray from. Even short 50 series tires I'd like to do without if I can (I'd prefer 60% or taller). How much would 60 series tires on 15" rims hurt cornering? This is just a street vehicle, I'm not going to do roadracing on a course or anything - I'm just after late model handling.
I'm interested in the XV Motorsports Level 1 package - have any of you guys have firsthand experience with that setup? Or would I be better off pursuing a different avenue??
I realize I may be asking for too much (wanting the old school look of a jacked up car AND making it handle), but just curious what you guys would have to offer, Thanks!

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Hi guys, I've been out of the muscle car scene for several years while my AAR sat in hibernation. But I have a little more time and funds now to start enjoying it again.
I'd like to make it an awesome handler after driving my buddies 70's Corvette. I have been using the search feature to view past threads, to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can, however there is so much info that I'm overwhelmed with so many opinions, etc....
Here's where I'm at: I detest the look of radials on an old car, however I've accepted the fact that if I want this thing to handle decently I'm gonna probably have to go with radials, and I also hate the looks of rims larger than 15", that I won't stray from. Even short 50 series tires I'd like to do without if I can (I'd prefer 60% or taller). How much would 60 series tires on 15" rims hurt cornering? This is just a street vehicle, I'm not going to do roadracing on a course or anything - I'm just after late model handling.
I'm interested in the XV Motorsports Level 1 package - have any of you guys have firsthand experience with that setup? Or would I be better off pursuing a different avenue??
I realize I may be asking for too much (wanting the old school look of a jacked up car AND making it handle), but just curious what you guys would have to offer, Thanks!

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This might seem mild but goes with your 15 radials and actually "looks" very stock unless you know what to look for.

-Hollow Hellwig or Hotchkis front sway bar ($200-300)
-leave your AAR rear sway bar in and AAR rear leafs.
-11.75 disks using the ~$40 bearing spacers Dr Diff sells and a used 11.75 pin type caliper adapters, around $60-80. Then two new ~$60 11.75 rotors.
-1.06 to 1.12 T-bars ($350)
-Moog 7103 offset upper control arm bushings installed for more caster ($40+ install): https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post5400257
-11/16 tie rods $175
-Poly strut rod bushings
-Firm Feel rebuilt steering box. $330
-Quick Ratio E-body pitman if you think it's slow steering. Doesn't work with certain headers. ($300)
-Koni ($575) or QA1 Shocks

That will be a different handling and feeling car than you have now. You will feel the difference. And if you painted the Koni shocks, 90% of the people looking under your car wouldn't know it's been modified at all until you told them what to look for. Compare apple to oranges as most kits don't include brake or steering gear related stuff.

-If you are willing to lower the rear (AAR's are raised in the rear) use Firm Feel lowering front hangers

Run 245/60/15 BFG Radial T/A up front. Running a 15x8 will help support the tire sidewall better too. I ran 60 series tires with that basic setup above and it wasn't the end of the world.


Excellent, this is the type of info I was looking for.....
I studied the XV website, one thing that really catches my interest are their chassis stiffening products (lower rad support, inner fender braces, etc.)...will I really have to start pushing the car to notice any advantages of that bracing?? Personally, I think that would be a fun project installing the bracing and making it look like the factory did it...
the

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Hi guys, I've been out of the muscle car scene for several years while my AAR sat in hibernation. But I have a little more time and funds now to start enjoying it again.
I'd like to make it an awesome handler after driving my buddies 70's Corvette. I have been using the search feature to view past threads, to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can, however there is so much info that I'm overwhelmed with so many opinions, etc....
Here's where I'm at: I detest the look of radials on an old car, however I've accepted the fact that if I want this thing to handle decently I'm gonna probably have to go with radials, and I also hate the looks of rims larger than 15", that I won't stray from. Even short 50 series tires I'd like to do without if I can (I'd prefer 60% or taller). How much would 60 series tires on 15" rims hurt cornering? This is just a street vehicle, I'm not going to do roadracing on a course or anything - I'm just after late model handling.
I'm interested in the XV Motorsports Level 1 package - have any of you guys have firsthand experience with that setup? Or would I be better off pursuing a different avenue??
I realize I may be asking for too much (wanting the old school look of a jacked up car AND making it handle), but just curious what you guys would have to offer, Thanks!

---

This might seem mild but goes with your 15 radials and actually "looks" very stock unless you know what to look for.

-Hollow Hellwig or Hotchkis front sway bar ($200-300)
-leave your AAR rear sway bar in and AAR rear leafs.
-11.75 disks using the ~$40 bearing spacers Dr Diff sells and a used 11.75 pin type caliper adapters, around $60-80. Then two new ~$60 11.75 rotors.
-1.06 to 1.12 T-bars ($350)
-Moog 7103 offset upper control arm bushings installed for more caster ($40+ install): https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post5400257
-11/16 tie rods $175
-Poly strut rod bushings
-Firm Feel rebuilt steering box. $330
-Quick Ratio E-body pitman if you think it's slow steering. Doesn't work with certain headers. ($300)
-Koni ($575) or QA1 Shocks

That will be a different handling and feeling car than you have now. You will feel the difference. And if you painted the Koni shocks, 90% of the people looking under your car wouldn't know it's been modified at all until you told them what to look for. Compare apple to oranges as most kits don't include brake or steering gear related stuff.

-If you are willing to lower the rear (AAR's are raised in the rear) use Firm Feel lowering front hangers

Run 245/60/15 BFG Radial T/A up front. Running a 15x8 will help support the tire sidewall better too. I ran 60 series tires with that basic setup above and it wasn't the end of the world.

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thats the magic recipe

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How much money are you willing to spend?

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And how much are you willing to cut and weld on a facory AAR?

I forgot to add but frame connectors should be included on that list.

There's a lot of little stuff that is sort of additive. Not one will be really huge, but a few together add up to something you can feel.

Everything is amplified at the track. There are things you do to take care of issues on the track that I don't know you realize on the street. Your feelings Tom Q. ??

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And while you have the welder out for the sub frame connectors make a gusset for between the steering box to the K frame. Once you put big rubber on the front the box will move around a bit when you are turning. Easy to do at the same time as the sub frame.

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....Marty, I forgot that one!, you are so right, esp after a few hours on a track, the box bolts can loosen up or break,....I had it happen

Mike

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Seeing we don't have a suspension and handling forum here, although there's other sites, most are GM oriented,....I have a question for fellow "canyon carvers",....Cal-Tracs? pros/cons on a course, not a strip, anybody utilize them? mod them,

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.............I'd stay away from XV's kit. I've heard nothing but bad things about their delivery times and customer service. The Lvl 1 kit isn't bad for the $ though.

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I have had nothing but good luck with them I got the wrong front sway bar and I didn't realize until a few months later and they picked up shipping both ways for the correct bar, no problemo. I haven't installed it yet so I cannot comment on that perspective yet though.

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How much money have you allocated for making an AAR handle like it is suppose too? Street?? Road Course??? How much money???

First money spent is for tires, wheels, shocks and brakes. 15 inch wheels limit the tire choices severely to the point of why bother. Tires really really count. Is this a fashion show or are we going to do some apexing?

Tires/wheels & shocks are where you start. 16x8 wheels on 4.5 offset. 255-50-16 v rated tires.
Is this a fashion show or are we going to do some corner carving?? You don't need expensive calipers to stop or rear wheel disc brakes either.

There are better ways to spend your money than a "package" as one size does not fit all. I spent about $5600.00 on hardware including tires and wheels [$2200..]and it the set up I have now was accomplished incrementally over several years..
It works well as the car does not drive like a race car on the street yet drives the track like a race car...

My predator [barracuda] would love a big piece of watermelon...

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, but he did mention "handling" and " not road course" use I believe. He also mentioned his train of thought I believe got started after driving his friends Vette, if it was a ZO6, then just sell the AAR. However one thing not mentioned yet is street driving a 15" Bias tire vs a radial in the wet, its just scary IMO, especially a nice AAR driven hard with wide tires and no ABS.