I'm trying to figure out if I can get my ride-height set right from the get-go. I hope my calculations are somewhat accurate. I'm trying to achieve 4" ~ 4.5" ground clearance to the bottom of the crossmember.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/6362/SUSP1.JPG

I partially assembled it with no height adjusters installed (just the 9.5" 700# AFCO springs). The crossmember sits 2.5" off the floor. Adding approx. 1750 pounds of sprung weight, will drop it about 2.5".

(700# x 2 = 1400#/inch)
1750/1400 = 1.25" compression
1.25 x 2 (because the lower ball-joint is 2x the distance away from the pivot) = 2.5" lower
2.5 - 2.5 = 0" cross-member to ground.

The height adjusters are 2.875" high at their min. height.
2.875" x 2 (lever of A-arm again)= 5.75" clearance at the crossmember
WAY TOO HIGH!!!! That's almost stock height :D

I'm thinking I should cut 3/4" off the height adjusters, and get it down to about 4.25".

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/uploads/6362/SUSP2.JPG

Details:
Spindles - Stock Chevelle Disc - $150/pr
Ball Joints - Howe "Tall" B-Js, top & bottom - $340/set
LCA's - AFCO, stock geometry, but very beefy $300/pr
UCA's - SPC (formerly "Pole Positions") Adjustables from SC&C $269/pr
Springs - AFCO 700# 9.5" - $85/pr
Height adjusters - Speedway Motors - $58/pr

I partially assembled it with no height adjusters installed (just the 9.5" 700# AFCO springs). The crossmember sits 2.5" off the floor. Adding approx. 1750 pounds of sprung weight, will drop it about 2.5".

(700# x 2 = 1400#/inch)
1750/1400 = 1.25" compression
1.25 x 2 (because the lower ball-joint is 2x the distance away from the pivot) = 2.5" lower
2.5 - 2.5 = 0" cross-member to ground.

The height adjusters are 2.875" high at their min. height.
2.875" x 2 (lever of A-arm again)= 5.75" clearance at the crossmember
WAY TOO HIGH!!!! That's almost stock height :D


This is where a spindle with about 2" of pin drop would come in handy, I'll email you a parts list when I finish and confirm everything works properly.

Derek, looks fantastic, bet it will handle like its on rails. Are you going to a dennis68 rear set-up, edelbrock uppers and some version of his lower control arms? Keep the pics coming. Daren :thumbsup:

How could you paint over those pretty purple speedway springs? :D

Good luck with everything!

Lookin' good Derek!

:thumbsup:

Joe

This is where a spindle with about 2" of pin drop would come in handy, I'll email you a parts list when I finish and confirm everything works properly.
Cool, but I do not intend to change anything on this for a while. Next year I plan to upgrade to 13" brakes, so I may be willing to make some more changes then. :cool: At this point, my suspension budget is gone, and I need to focus what little money I have on getting the LT1 in and running.

Derek, looks fantastic, bet it will handle like its on rails. Are you going to a dennis68 rear set-up, edelbrock uppers and some version of his lower control arms? Keep the pics coming. Daren :thumbsup:
Yes, rod ends in all the control arms, and the wolfe racecraft spherical bearings in the rear end housing. Unfortunately, my budget is getting very thin, so I may have to run my current setup for a year - stock uppers and SSM lift bars on bottom.

How could you paint over those pretty purple speedway springs? :D
Actually, they were the bright yellow ones from AFCO :eek:

I will also be removing those ugly stickers off the lower arms :D

How do height adjusters work? I image it as a 2 piece cup that screw together and you unscrew it to raise the height. Can you ajust them with the springs being in? or do you need to pull out the spring to ajust them?

Why didn't you use drop spindles?

Bri, the adjusters are just as you envision. There is a very large threaded tube with a cup welded to it that sits in the upper spring seat; the nut that is threaded on has a flat for the spring to sit on. No, the adjusters cannot be set in place; you need to remove the spring to set height. There are components known as weight jacks that allow in place adjustment but are much more difficult to install and involve cutting up the frame and welding them in place.

Derek is not running drop spindles at this point (I'll talk him into that later) but they would help overall geometry by allowing proper x,y,z placement and lowering the CoG by a lowered ride height with no negative side affects.

Derek is not running drop spindles at this point (I'll talk him into that later)
Hey buddy, you've spent enough of my money for me. ;) :D

Yeah, just wait till I get the front together and take you out on the track. We'll see how fast I can get the Visa out of your wallet. :waving:

Yeah, just wait till I get the front together and take you out on the track. We'll see how fast I can get the Visa out of your wallet. :waving:
Lucky for me, there's a few thousand miles between us :D

Speaking of Visa... what is the 16-digit code, expiration date, and security code on yours? Your SSN and your mother's maiden name will work also ;)