Taking The Silverado To The Local Road Course Circuit Today

[5.3Avalanche]

Ok, so my buddies all reserved a local road course in Dunnville Ontario called the AUTODROME to go race around on tonight with their cars. I'm inbetween cars right now and only have my Silverado. They're bugging me to go for a spin on the track. Here's what I'm working with and I'd like some feedback on how baddly my brakes are going to melt and how much I'm going to get spanked.

 

 

2008 Silverado

5.3L with FlexFuel (aluminum block)

Z60 sport suspension

4-speed auto

4x4 with auto mode or 2wd

3.73's

GMPD catback

stock Goodyear Eagle LS-2

stock front discs and rear drums

 

Here are some of the cars I'm running against; I hope to atleast be able to beat the Acura on a lap:

 

12 second Turbo cavalier, with coilovers, exhaust, etc

RX-8 with tein suspension, Borla catback, K&N intake and R comp tires

V8 Stang GT with exhaust, intake etc.

Celica GTS with coilovers

stock 350z

Corolla XRS

4 cl. Acura EL (slowwww),

V6 Stang with exhaust, intake etc

stock RX-7

Here's a picture of the track

 

Thanks guys. Any input is appreciated.

[2000DV4.8]

Curves aren't exactly a truck's strong point, so I'd say you won't be setting any track records, but it'll definitely still be fun as hell. And if you do beat anyone, you can rub it in their face that they just lost to a 5,000 lb. brick.

[Wingnut]

Probably closer to 6k lb brick

 

And I bet you beat one or two of those cars if there's any amount of straight track for you to play catch up.

 

And who in the hell turbos a Cavalier? That's like a paraplegic buying $200 running shoes.

[zxcv]

Hahaha, I imagine you'll probably beat the Acura on the straightaways but in the turns you'll probably be dead last.

[Zembonez]

Hahaha, I imagine you'll probably beat the Acura on the straightaways but in the turns you'll probably be dead last.

As sweet as the truck is, the cars will spank your butt if they have anything resembling real drivers. They can carry HUGE amounts of speed through a corner (compared to a truck anyway) that a truck simply can't handle.

 

On a road course this will be your biggest obstacle... but MAN! What a load of fun you is gonna have! I am jealous.

 

EDIT: MAKE THAT DOUBLE JEALOUS!

[Lincoln30]

Your gonna have fun. I took two laps in my 99 on MSR (Motorsport Ranch) a number of years ago. We didn't even time the laps b/c we know they would be horrendous. Just make sure to push the cold tire pressures up quite bit. I added 7psi to run 45 cold instead of my normal 38 but if you have an HT tire instead of an AT tire then you might need more since their sidewalls tend to be "squishier".

 

A few hundred lbs of sandbags in the bed wouldn't hurt either but they might not let you run with anything in the bed.

[Wingnut]

Sand in the bed? I don't think I'd do that. It will not only make you noticeably slower, if you get a little out of shape, it will take an act of congress to straighten you out before you're off-roading.

[Lincoln30]

Trust me on this, balance is more important then power on a road course (you really want both but it's not always possible). Obviously, the sand has to be bagged and tied down so it doesn't move around.

 

It's really a moot point since most places won't allow it.

[Wingnut]

Trust me on this, balance is more important then power on a road course (you really want both but it's not always possible). Obviously, the sand has to be bagged and tied down so it doesn't move around.

 

It's really a moot point since most places won't allow it.

 

While I see your point...I still don't know that I'd do it (like you said, I don't think they'd let him anyway).

 

But I'm also in the camp of people that won't put weight in the back of my truck in icy weather either. It gives the truck too much kinetic energy once you lose control, it takes a LOT more effort to straighten it out when compared to an empty bed. That's just me though...I know that I'm in the minority...I've tried it both ways, and my opinion is to get the proper tires and screw putting a bunch of crap in the back that (in my eyes) makes the truck more dangerous.

[5.3Avalanche]

Probably closer to 6k lb brick

 

And I bet you beat one or two of those cars if there's any amount of straight track for you to play catch up.

 

And who in the hell turbos a Cavalier? That's like a paraplegic buying $200 running shoes.

 

Curb weight of my truck is 5365 lb according to Motor Trend.

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks...ndra/index.html

 

Dimensions/Capacities Wheelbase 143.5 in Track, f/r 68.1/67.0 in Length x width x height 230.2 x 79.9 x 73.7 in Turning circle 46.9 ft Curb weight 5365 lb Weight dist, f/r 59/41% Payload capacity 1635 lb Towing capacity 7500 lb Seating capacity 5 Headroom, f/r 41.2/39.2 in Legroom, f/r 41.3/34.3 in Shoulder room, f/r 65.2/65.3 in Pickup box L x W x H 78.7 x 62.4 x 21.0 in Width between wheelhouses 50.6 in

[5.3Avalanche]

Here's a quote from the Motor Trend article that I'm hoping will help my handling:

 

Once clear of jarring potholes and broken city streets, however, the better steering and crisper responses of the Silverado provided big pickup entertainment bettered only by Dodge's Ram SRT10 or Ford's F-150 Lightning. With forethought to the lackadaisical throttle response, you could even steer a bit with your right foot, something Grandma Toyota would never allow in the Tundra.

 

I'm impressed by the handling of the Silverado with the Z60 package on the street, but still fear there will be major understeer on the track. Many are surprised at how flat my truck is while cornering as compared to trucks with other suspension packages (Z85, Z71 etc). I'll be switching between 2x4 and autotrac to see what works best. I'll take the trip out there tonight and if the weather holds out, I'll give it a run. We'll be doing timed laps so we'll see just how baddly I lose. Hopefully I'll get some pics too. Thanks for all the input guys. Unfortunately, I'm the most comfortable having as light a truck as possible and will not be adding rear ballast. Also, I'm used to the weight bias as is so adding sand in the rear would offset my knowledge of how the truck handles at the limits now.

I've searched all over the net on different forums, youtube, streetfire etc., and have yet to find anyone else running a stock NBS Silverado on a road course so I'm really going into this blindly.

[Wingnut]

Probably closer to 6k lb brick

 

And I bet you beat one or two of those cars if there's any amount of straight track for you to play catch up.

 

And who in the hell turbos a Cavalier? That's like a paraplegic buying $200 running shoes.

 

Curb weight of my truck is 5365 lb according to Motor Trend.

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks...ndra/index.html

 

Dimensions/Capacities Wheelbase 143.5 in Track, f/r 68.1/67.0 in Length x width x height 230.2 x 79.9 x 73.7 in Turning circle 46.9 ft Curb weight 5365 lb Weight dist, f/r 59/41% Payload capacity 1635 lb Towing capacity 7500 lb Seating capacity 5 Headroom, f/r 41.2/39.2 in Legroom, f/r 41.3/34.3 in Shoulder room, f/r 65.2/65.3 in Pickup box L x W x H 78.7 x 62.4 x 21.0 in Width between wheelhouses 50.6 in

 

 

Throw in a couple of hundred lbs for fluids/gas, and a couple of hundred for you (give or take of course), and you're a lot closer to 6 grand than 5.

 

And definitely keep us updated, I'd LOVE to run just about anything on a road course. Even big red Fred!

[5.3Avalanche]

Probably closer to 6k lb brick

 

And I bet you beat one or two of those cars if there's any amount of straight track for you to play catch up.

 

And who in the hell turbos a Cavalier? That's like a paraplegic buying $200 running shoes.

 

Curb weight of my truck is 5365 lb according to Motor Trend.

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks...ndra/index.html

 

Dimensions/Capacities Wheelbase 143.5 in Track, f/r 68.1/67.0 in Length x width x height 230.2 x 79.9 x 73.7 in Turning circle 46.9 ft Curb weight 5365 lb Weight dist, f/r 59/41% Payload capacity 1635 lb Towing capacity 7500 lb Seating capacity 5 Headroom, f/r 41.2/39.2 in Legroom, f/r 41.3/34.3 in Shoulder room, f/r 65.2/65.3 in Pickup box L x W x H 78.7 x 62.4 x 21.0 in Width between wheelhouses 50.6 in

 

 

Throw in a couple of hundred lbs for fluids/gas, and a couple of hundred for you (give or take of course), and you're a lot closer to 6 grand than 5.

 

And definitely keep us updated, I'd LOVE to run just about anything on a road course. Even big red Fred!

 

 

Isn't curb weight the weight including all fluids?? I thought "dry weight" is quoted to imply no fluids. Regardless, you're probably correct as I'll add another 200lbs to the mix from my own weight. But then again, I'm taking out the spare and my catback system should save a few pounds over the stock steel system.

[Wingnut]

There's no telling what you'll come out at. Some tracks have a scale though, so you may be able to find out.

[asilverblazer]

My truck weighs 5600 with out passengers, I weighed it.