Anyone running the QA1 coil overs and/or rear shocks??? Are these anygood for the street? How well do they tune in as far as ride and handling?

I have the double adjustable coil overs on the front and the 12 way adjustable Stocker Star shocks on the back. QA1 makes an excellent product. I'm very happy with them although I could use more spring on the front. The Big Block coil overs come with a progressive rate 365-465 lb spring which is a little light for me.

Installed the QAI Coilover on the front of my '69. Using stock rebuilt uppers/lowers with Polygraphite bushings. Mine are the single adjustable type. With my big block/alum head motor, the standard big block springs are fine so far. Can't beat the combined feature of ride height and shock adjustability. Once you get the ride ht where you want it, it will most likely just stay there, but the shock adjustability will be great feature to have available.

The only negative to a "bolt in" A-body coilover setup is that because the spring is located in a fixed nest (the frame) rather than a proper floating nest connected to the shock body which can pivot with the shock, the shock body and shaft will experience side loading-- this will subject the shock shaft and shock body to additional wear.

To really do a coilover install the "right" way requires frame mods to alter the upper shock mount to a double shear heim joint style and then you use a coilover that has the upper and lower spring nests on the coilover body itself. This keeps all the spring forces in line with the shock and shaft and get sideloads on the shock out of the picture.

Does the default "bolt-in" QA1 coilover setup work? Yep, but it's not a perfect install, and it'll take a lot of miles to wear the shocks out anyways.

As far as the QA1 shocks themselves, I've driven several cars with them and liked them from my "hard street driving" impressions. However I know several hardcore open track day guys who don't like them because their damping rates tend to "drift" during sustained hard use.

You may also want to look into the new Alston Varishocks. They were designed with the help of Hal (who originally designed the Hal/QA1 shocks) and supposedly have some improvements in them over the QA1's.

Also, if you want to save a few bucks you can just get the standard QA1 front shocks and run 9.5" circle track springs with adjustable spacers from Afco or Speedway Motors. The 9.5" spring/spacer system is simple, inexpensive, and works well, and allows you to run standard application (easy to get) shocks. It doesn't take long to adjust either.

As far as rear adjustable ride height, I'm currently scheming to use 5" x 10" or 5" x 13" circle track rear springs with modified adjustable spacers from Speedway to interface with the factory pigtail perches on the rear end and frame. Looks like it will cost about $150 for both sides including the springs and spacers. I think some fab-your-own adapters and a little bit of welding will be required, but the mods are minor. I'll post details when I have the parts in hand and the setup finished.

Troy

Cool! Thanks for the info! Do you have a link to speedway motors?

Cool! Thanks for the info! Do you have a link to speedway motors?
http://www.speedwaymotors.com

Whats the height adjustablity on the front coil overs?

How do you mount the coilover setup on the stock lower control arm?