17 GT350R setup

[Etchhead]

All new to forum, but have been researching quite a bit. You are all so knowledgeable on this platform. I come from 996tt, Radical RS3, and 997 GT3 all of which saw some fun DEs and club racing.

For our club (www.cfra.net) I've been on their race team and will migrate over to this new car as soon as it arrives next month. My intention is to have fun with it and learn it while getting the appropriate upgrades to make it race eligible for fall.

Our club requires one-piece race seat, rollbar (or cage), 6-pt belts, fire extinguisher, and tow hooks. All other upgrades just help you compete or ease the "consumable" budget.

I've been researching but haven't seen clear answers so thought I'd put out a quickset of questions and hope you all can steer me the right direction.

-Tow Hooks- what is the best option for the R while still retaining reverse light?
-Camber- what is max I can get out of stock? Beyond that plates are needed. Ford suggests -1.75 for track, plates get you much better. What do you shoot for?
-Brake pads/rotors sound good. Just need to change fluid?
-Everyone track their Cup2 or switch to Hoosiers/Slicks?
-I had custom bars built in the Porsches from TC Design in San Jose- may go that route again. Others use bolt-in from Watson or other?
-Wheels, love the OEM but too nice for track! Need good/light/black/affordable.
-Front splitter, same as wheel... I brake shit. Any good aftermarket that fits R?

I'm so excited about receiving my new car! I just sold my built 2002 996 World Challenge Turbo from GMG and wanted to get a NEW purpose built car with warranty and didn't feel like selling the kids to afford the GT3RS.

Mine is White with Blue/red strip and Tech package.

Thanks for insight here!
Mark

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[DirtRoadTrip]

Here's some thoughts, just my opinion:
1. Tow hooks: for the front the Ford performance part is a good option. The Watson racing rear positions the hook behind the license plate and retains the reverse light.
2. You'll need camber plates. I have Maximum Motorsports, but other guys run Vorslag.
3. Mixed opinions here...some stay stock, many switch to Ferodo or G-Lock (search both for vendor links). Stock Rotors are good a relatively cheap.
4. Most are using Watson bars or Cool-Tech bolt-ins but either can be welded. Custom is always a good option.
5. Apex Racing Wheels is offering a 19x11 square setup (search the group buy on this site)
6. That's a tough one. There's the Carbon2Carbon splitter, but you may also consider an APR splitter combined with a base GT350 splitter. Or just run a base splitter (cost is like $400 to replace when you break it).

 

[Spacebird]

I'm just getting into the HPDE world and I've been doing a lot of research. From what I found and a few opinions:

Tow Hooks: I just installed the ZL1 steel version in the front. Some folks have questioned the strength of the aluminum/titanium version. I was able to install mine so that I didn't have to modify the grill. Supposedly the Ford Performance version does require trimming the grill. If I had to do it all over again I would probably get the Ford Performance version. I recommend that you have the dealer install the unit. It's a huge pain in the ass.

Camber Plates: -1 degree is as far as I could get with the stock setup. I managed to severely wear the outside of my Sport Cup 2s over the course of 9 ~30 minute sessions. The Ford Performance Racing School uses Maximum Motorsports camber plates on their cars. I decided to go the same route based on that tacit endorsement, and the fact that the Vorshlag are more than twice the price. I got mine for under $240 delivered.

Wheels: Many R guys use the stock wheels for the track, and swap out something else for the street. I don't drive my car enough on the street to warrant that in my opinion. If I do damage the wheels on the track they should be covered by track insurance. I think the street is a much more dangerous environment for those wheels than the track could ever be.

Splitter: You're going to scrape it. Again, I think the street is a much worse environment than the track for the thing that hangs low. I would like to think that Ford will get their shit together and allow R owners to buy replacement splitters at a price that is commensurate with the cost of production. The price sure seems artificially inflated, perhaps to prevent non-R owners from easily and cheaply replicating the look and performance of the R.

Good job picking the right color

 

[1mic]

OP, how do you like that Radical? My brother and I considered getting one since we've left ICC shifter karts, but decided to find a Stohr WF1.

Do you miss any of your GT3s?

 

[fuhrius]

cfra is a great group. I don't race with them but am a member / drive with them.
I'd love to hear more about your SR3...I've driven them a few times...what a hoot.

regarding your rollbar, if you're local and have Tony build it, that's what I'd do. In fact, that's what I did. Work of art.
Vorshlag makes great-looking camber plates.

 

[FogcitySF]

Do the Vorshlag or Maximum Motorsports camber plates increase the front ride height? I've seen other applications on the Vorshlag in particular where they claim there is no ride height change, but there is a small increase due to the size of the bearing. Incidentally in some cases, that also reduces front spring travel. Don't know what experience has been with GT350 and Rs

 

[JT1]

Do the Vorshlag or Maximum Motorsports camber plates increase the front ride height? I've seen other applications on the Vorshlag in particular where they claim there is no ride height change, but there is a small increase due to the size of the bearing. Incidentally in some cases, that also reduces front spring travel. Don't know what experience has been with GT350 and Rs

I'm curious about this as well.

Also curious since the Vorshlag allows track side adjustment, would they allow one to change to track alignment at the track, and then change back for the ride home?

I have a non R if that matters.

 

[honeybadger]

If I had to do it all over again I would probably get the Ford Performance version. I recommend that you have the dealer install the unit. It's a huge pain in the ass.

[MENTION=19886]Spacebird[/MENTION] - How come you'd go with the FP version over ZL1?

 

[Spacebird]

[MENTION=19886]Spacebird[/MENTION] - How come you'd go with the FP version over ZL1?

So my dealer could install it

No idea if the FP hook is even any good. I'm just emotionally bruised from the install.

 

[Etchhead]

cfra is a great group. I don't race with them but am a member / drive with them.
I'd love to hear more about your SR3...I've driven them a few times...what a hoot.

regarding your rollbar, if you're local and have Tony build it, that's what I'd do. In fact, that's what I did. Work of art.
Vorshlag makes great-looking camber plates.

I'm now posted up in Portland but wouldn't mind send car down for Tony/Joe treatment. Would love to see pictures of your setup if you can share!

 

[Etchhead]

All great feedback and comments. So I'm sold on camber plates and would like to adjust on my own if possible.

Radical was a BLAST, but it comes at a price. I was always working on it trackside and when not doing that my wrench was. Inswear it was made of balsa-wood. Drop one wheel off track and entire splitter rips off... twice AND takes fiberglass with it. Mine was a right hand drive with stick shift (not paddles).

Miss the power delivery of the GT3 so am excited about the Ford as I also wanted a warranty!

 

[fuhrius]

I'm now posted up in Portland but wouldn't mind send car down for Tony/Joe treatment. Would love to see pictures of your setup if you can share!

here ya go.

 

[fuhrius]

and a better shot of the krinckle finish, which I dig, and the amazingly tight fit.

 

[Etchhead]

and a better shot of the krinckle finish, which I dig, and the amazingly tight fit.

TC make some beautiful systems and know how to setup a car! Looks gorgeous and know it's a very safe system. I had the Sam bar style in my TT and GT3. In the GT3 it was powder coated white and that really set it off. Thinking about the same for this new car. My picture is failing to load for whatever reason..

 

[fuhrius]

TC make some beautiful systems and know how to setup a car! Looks gorgeous and know it's a very safe system. I had the Sam bar style in my TT and GT3. In the GT3 it was powder coated white and that really set it off. Thinking about the same for this new car. My picture is failing to load for whatever reason..

agreed on how well they're made. I was tempted to do red or something that shows it off better but also appreciate the how well-blended / OEM feeling this finish is. Tony also recommended it for how well it stands up to abuse (cosmetically).

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