How to Build a Pro Touring Car

Classic pro touring cars feature aftermarket suspension and wheels.

Pro touring cars are classic vehicles that have been built to handle like sports cars, and are capable of driving from coast to coast without problems. Put simply, they are classic cars or even trucks that handle like brand-new sports cars. The process of finding the right parts for the build is a challenge on some cars. Pro touring cars can use the original engine from the car or an updated engine and transmission, depending on whether the car's original engine still runs.

Things You'll Need

• Aftermarket wheels and tires
• High-performance suspension

Instructions

1. Tune up the vehicle's engine if it is still in good running condition. If the vehicle was purchased without an engine as a project vehicle, then you may wish to install a late-model engine into the car or truck. If this is the case, avoid using rare engines. This will make finding replacement parts easier if the car breaks down.

2. Install a suspension lowering kit on the car. These high performance suspensions lower the ride height of the vehicle significantly, and also stiffen the suspension to make cornering performance more responsive. The ideal look for a pro touring vehicle is to have the top of the tire be even with the wheel well lip. The stiffened suspension will prevent the car from bottoming out, and the right wheel selection will keep the tire from rubbing inside the wheel well. The suspension lowering kit will include the shock absorbers, spindles and either rear suspension springs or lowering blocks.

3. Install front and rear aftermarket sway bars onto the car to replace the original sway bars. This will reduce the vehicle's tendency to roll through turns, stabilizing the cornering performance.

4. Install aftermarket wheels and tires on the car. This is the most dramatic change in appearance that the car or truck will receive. To maintain the sports performance of the vehicle's suspension, it is beneficial to install slightly larger wheels on the car. For instance, many vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s were originally equipped with 14- or 15-inch steel wheels. Changing these wheels to 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels fitted with sports tires dramatically improves handling.

5. Upgrade the vehicle's brake system. Many cars and trucks built prior to 1980 were equipped with only drum brakes. Use a conversion kit to update these brakes to oversize four-wheel disc brakes.

Tips & Warnings

• Pro touring vehicles are all about distance and comfort. The better quality suspension parts you use on your vehicle, the better the vehicle's ride quality will be.

References

• "How to Build Pro-Touring GM Street Machines"; Tony Huntimer; 2004
• "How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle"; Mark Savitske; 2011
• "How to Make Your Car Handle"; Fred Puhn; 1976