Heidts' 4th gen F-Body IRS (photo/video)

[Bru]

I'd really love to drive one of these with the Heidts IRS conversion. Honestly, I've gone through my TA's suspension with Koni yellows, Strano springs, Strano sways, double adjustable LCAs, handling torque arm and more, and think it's a pretty stout package for bolt-ons and stock-style 10-bolt. Surprisingly predictable on rough on/off-ramps, though it took some shock tuning to get there - when the rears were stiffer, it would bounce and oversteer all over the place. Driving something like a 5th Gen 1LE Camaro back to back with a Mustang Boss 302 made it clear where the IRS has its advantage in planted-ness and predictability, but I'm unsure if that would translate as simply an add-on to an existing platform. And, well, $5,400 is now a ridiculous amount of money to spend on one of these cars - until it gets to Terminator levels of gold collectibility, however.

1993-2002 CAMARO & FIREBIRD IRS - HEIDTS

Here's the installation guide. Definitely not bolt-in.

http://www.heidts.com/wp-content/uploads/IN-229.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4XSOI70Eak

Click to read more...

 

[CMNTMXR57]

That isn't too bad a price for what you're getting when you compare it to just getting a strange 12-bolt which is in the what, $2,500 range?

 

[Bru]

You also have to consider cutting up the rear of the car, where most traditional rear end upgrades are pretty much bolt-in deals. I've read 20-plus hours for the install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z83jxyUuvTo

 

[DEEZUZ]

Damn. Even their test car has rust lmao

 

[Bru]

I saw that too

 

[Bru]

The only way I see this making sense is putting it in a pristine Firehawk where at car shows there are little mirrors showing the underside of the car.

 

[The Beast]

The only way I see this making sense is putting it in a pristine Firehawk where at car shows there are little mirrors showing the underside of the car.

Come buy my hawk so u can get this IRS

 

[Bru]

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

so you spend all that money and hack of the back half of the car...in hopes to handle like a stock $10k c5 would? It'd be easier just to buy a beater c5 for the track if that's what you want

 

[FESTER665]

If the install were that involved for my fox body I wouldn't have done it. Plus it's cheaper to find a used IRS to bolt in than an entirely new kit.

I've heard rumors that Heidts is now doing the tubular rear control arms for Kenny Brown on the termi IRS since KB was having issues with their fabrication originally....

 

[Bru]

If the install were that involved for my fox body I wouldn't have done it. Plus it's cheaper to find a used IRS to bolt in than an entirely new kit.

I've heard rumors that Heidts is now doing the tubular rear control arms for Kenny Brown on the termi IRS since KB was having issues with their fabrication originally....

How did the driving characteristics change when you went IRS?

 

[FESTER665]

How did the driving characteristics change when you went IRS?

No clue, the car hasnt driven yet.

I just know Im done with the straight line stuff and just wanted my car to handle really well overall. I thought about doing the entire MM rear end but then decided to put in an IRS with full FTBR kit installed.

 

[daturbosix]

thats gonna hurt his 60ft!

 

[Lead Pipe]

I love the rotted out undercarriage on the BHF video. Such 4th gen.

 

[Pressure Ratio]

Modding a car versus it's value never works out. It's always a losing proposition. But yet we still mod cars all the time. If you think this is a better route than a newer car then do it.

If you don't plan to sell the car anytime soon what does the value of the car matter. It should be more about money spent versus the amount of enjoyment gained.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

As funny as this sounds, my prediction is that the IRS kit will ultimately be more collectible than most fourth gens ever will be. They're not going to make a ton of them, and they'll be sought after by people who lived through the 90s like a lot of rare 60s to early 70s speed parts are.

 

[SMKE EM]

Looks like they took my advice from earlier this year. The 3rd gen variation requires dumping the exhaust before the rear end.

I told them this year at thirdgen expo to think about allowing the exhaust under the center section and out the back.

Looks like they finally did it

 

[FESTER665]

Luckily I just needed to buy a 2004 Cobra cat-back kit for my shitbox.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

holy shiaaat.. whos gonna do this winter science project

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

terrible looking Rear exit exhaust.

Will keep my solid axle and go in straight lines

 

[EmersonHart13]

This is awesome.

 

[CMNTMXR57]

Yea, knowing about hacking the shit out of the back half of the car for install... Pass.

I'd just stick with the Strange 12 bolt.

 

[Pewter-Camaro]

Damn. Even their test car has rust lmao

That's not rust.... this is rust

Yes this is the current state of my 160k mile z28.

I have to agree with others just buy a used vette if you want to carve corners. This is just too Damn much work to do to a 4th gen

 

[Thirdgen89GTA]

Looks like they took my advice from earlier this year. The 3rd gen variation requires dumping the exhaust before the rear end.

I told them this year at thirdgen expo to think about allowing the exhaust under the center section and out the back.

Looks like they finally did it

Yeah. I mentioned that to them the first year. The no rear exhaust is a bummer. Not that I’m gonna drop 10k on an IRS swap for my GTA.

I’d sooner move to a c5z.

Most guys who want an IRS in a f-body drop a c4 irs in there. It goes right in for the most part. But there is fab work to be done.

You can fairly easily put a c4 front suspension on a third gen too.

 

[YoushallgoFo]

Ive got all the suspension bits on my car also, stranos, konis etc. Car is still all over the place if the road isn't perfectly smooth. While this would be awesome, the $ would be better spent elsewhere on my z.