That's called Chicagoing a bolt. It'll take more then just removing the knurls. I've done this already and got -2.5 degrees. I turned them down in my lathe. The draw back is the tire to strut clearance.
These will not get or allow 1.7-2.5 camber. The ones I made by turning down the oem bolt allowed me -2.5 degrees. But you'll come close to the tire to strut clearance depending on your tire and wheel sizes.From what I can see there a little smaller in diameter, so you can get a little more adjustment out of them.
The Auto X class I'm in, I can't run camber plates, so this is a alternative
At MSR Houston I run the following setup on the alignment with 305/315 Cup 2s on aftermarket wheels in R spec dimensions. I have run a square 305 and 315 setup also, came back to 305/315 based on my driving style.
That's a lot of toe in at the rear just over 1/4"?
Awesome post! Thanks for sharing all those details. I plan on some more HPDEs at MSR Houston and TWS (and Cresson if I can swing it), so I'll start with your specs and work from there.
Hi Scott,
, that said I love the GLOC/Carbotech pads on my other Cobra)
We have much of the same mods just different brands. FTBR offeres awesome parts. James is a great guy!Hi Scott,
I corrected the rear toe in to -0.26 total, forgot to at the (-) sign. I started at -0.30 in on the rear toe and backed off a little as I increased the rear camber to -1.3. For my driving style and the tracks I attend, these are settings that work extremely well for me. As I said, based on driving style, car setup and mods, your mileage will vary.
As for the mods -
Front suspension:
Maximum Motorsports CC plates (nothing against Vorshlag, just did not see the need for the extra dollars since I am in HPDE and not racing the car)
FTBR adjustable sway bar end links
GT350R front springs
Rear suspension:
FTBR subframe bushing kit
FTBR adjustable sway bar end links
FTBR adjustable vertical links
FTBR adjustable toe links
FTBR Upper Control Arm assemblies
FTBR Lower Control arm Spherical Bearing assembly
FTBR Knuckle Spherical Bearing assembly
Steeda IRS Subframe alignment kit (modded)
GT350R springs
GT350R swaybar/bushing
Chassis:
Steeda Front 2-pt G-Trac Brace
Steeda IRS Rear Subframe Support Braces (cherry on top)
Steeda UltraLight Jacking Rails
Brakes:
KNS Ti front brake pad shims
17-4 PH Stainless front caliper studs
Stock Pads for most events (tried GLOC R16/12 combo, based on my braking style the stock pads worked just as well and are a easier on the ears,
Pagid RS29 F/R - ran these at TWS this past weekend, wow, just need to earn more money to afford them the rest of the year.
Castrol SRF - my fluid of choice for HPDE.
Spiegler SS Lines - F/R
Cooltech Brake Deflector Kit
Engine:
JLT V3 oil catch cans (both)
Livernois V2 Track Tune
Exhaust:
Borla
Interior:
SRP pedals
MGW shifter
Steeda clutch spring
Schroth Quickfit Pro Harnesses
Wheels/Tires
Project 6GR - R Spec with Pilot Sport Cup 2 305/30/19, 315/30/19 F/R
Stock Track Pack Wheels - RE71R - 305/30/19 F/R (rain/standing water)
Forgeline GA1R - On order, hoping for a March track debut.
Tires Sitting in the Garage - Tested and need to use them up before buying more Cup 2s, lol.
Hankook R-S3 v2 305/30/19 f/r
ContiForceContact - 305/30/19 /325/30/19 f/r (really good in the rain, cold tolerance not as good as the RE71R)
Nitto NT-01 - 305/30/19 /325/30/19 f/r
P Zero Trofeo - 305/30/19 f/r (325/30/19 coming)
Still to try -
ARP 100-7732, 100-7733 Studs with the new Forgeline wheels and wheel spacers for a true square setup.
I am still working on a few other items like swaybar bushings, debating on the FRPP differential bushing kit, Watson 4-point roll bar, rear seat delete and dialing in the alignment settings once the new wheels arrive.
I have been a big FTBR fan for a long time. Bruce knows his stuff, and his parts transformed my '00R and '03 SVT Cobras, plus made a huge difference on my son's Boss 302.
I run the Cup 2s at 35 hot, which is my target. I have not exceeded 36 hot as that seems to be the point where they start falling off. The amount of track days are dependent on driving style and the track attended. My last set, I had 6 track days and around 1100 street miles.
Subjectively from inside the car at two different tracks now, a big yes. Objectively, I will compare lap times at the next event in a couple of weeks at the same track I was on before I added the braces.
I have a very smooth driving style also. I am not into tossing the car around as it slows you down. ;) I did two events with the car in the stock configuration, just switching out tires to get a feel for the car and what tire worked best for my driving style and abilities.
^this is why if you really plan on tracking your car not to buy a GT350R.I have a very smooth driving style also. I am not into tossing the car around as it slows you down. ;) I did two events with the car in the stock configuration, just switching out tires to get a feel for the car and what tire worked best for my driving style and abilities.
I did not like how the rear end still had some squirming and wanted to slide out a little if upset in turn. So I did everything but the Steeda Strut braces at once, knowing that was probably going to happen anyway with the alignment I wanted to run and the inherent weakness in the IRS bushings and link designs.
The car is completely different and running on the same track in similar conditions I picked up over a second a lap as the ability (confidence) to enter the corner quicker/deeper and exit earlier with full throttle on was greatly improved. This was on a fairly short 1.7m track. I will have time differences on the other tracks over the next six weeks.
That said, I probably should have tried the Steeda IRS braces and subframe alignment kit with a revised alignment first before doing the bushings. Not that I would have stopped there as I firmly believe the bushing and link designs are in real need of improvement, but to see how well they worked with the stock suspension based on a subjective analysis with them installed after the bushings.
As for the NVH, there is a slight difference, but not much at all. The FTBR items are designed to provide as close to stock experience as possible while increasing performance. I do not notice it on smooth roads, even in sport mode, but there is a difference on rougher roads and those that are uneven. I am not going sugarcoat it, but it would never keep me from daily driving the car if needed. Of course, between the exhaust and turning up AC/DC, it does not bother me regardless of road conditions.
What I do know is that at the last event, driving against another GT350 and a GT350R with similar drivers or better on the same tires, I was anywhere from two to four seconds a lap faster on average. And this was my first time on this particular track with the car, the others already had a few events on this track.
Part of that is the track suits my driving style and I came up to speed quickly, but most of it is the changes to the car. The rear end is "really" planted now and throttle on capabilities right after apexing is so much better now. I had to relearn when to throttle on and I can do it in a more aggressive manner also. The last benefit, I love trail braking where appropriate and I no longer have any concerns with the car doing it.
