Does anyone have any knowledge of an IRS being put in a Chevelle? I've surfed through the archives with minimal results. The topic comes up in a few posts but seems to be treated like "science fiction". " Boy, that would be GREAT,but it's not real so let's not waste any time on it". There has been some talk about massive wheel hop while smoking the tires with an IRS. Is this true with no hope of correction? I am putting together a 64 2dr wagon and am getting close to having to make a decision on what type of suspension to put in it, both front and rear. I am going in the Pro Tour direction because a comfortable, handling and more modern feeling ride means more to me than 800hp straight line launches. It's going to be a cruiser. I've been reading suspension posts for sometime and the 3 link seems to be the flavor of the month, but I'd rather not cut into the rear seat area to make the upper/center link as long as it really should be( I read a few posts stating it shoud be as long as possible).The 3 link still uses a solid axle which I find hard to believe is the best thing to use for the direction I'm going From a Pro-Touring stand point I would really like to know what is the best system for the rear. Bar none.No budget restriction. No "making due" with whatever parts a guy already has. I'm talkin' clean slate, "in your dreams Pro Tour set-up" Lets go way outside the box.If I'm all wet on my 3 link info. please set me straight, I don't mean to throw any rocks at that system. I am open to every response to this post I can get. Good, bad and down right ugly.I can't be the only one wanting to do this and I will share whatever I learn or build with whoever asks. I just want to do this right the first time, without any " you should've done this" after it's done. Pro Tour, Max

I'd drop the body on something like this: Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-Corvette-C6-LS2-Rolling-Chassis-Engine-COMPLETE-Z51_W0QQitemZ8051710911QQcategoryZ33615QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

-Todd

Interesting.... By the time you buy all the parts for the brakes,engine ,trans,tires/wheels and the $5000 to make all that stuff work together, that 15K doesn't sound all that bad, other than having to shop the daylights out of the rear of the car to clear that rear trans. The seller gave some dimensions...I'll go check them against the wagon. With my luck, it'll be two miles off. Thanks Todd, Max

I'd drop the body on something like this: Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-Corvette-C6-LS2-Rolling-Chassis-Engine-COMPLETE-Z51_W0QQitemZ8051710911QQcategoryZ33615QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

-Todd

that's goofy looking. It that really stiff enough?

No, a custom frame/partial cage would be required. The only thing holding the front and rear together is the torque tube, exhaust, and brake/fuel lines :clonk: .

I am sure you could use the existing frame and modify the rear section to hold the suspension/tranny and chop off the front section to adapt the engine cradle.

Guy also had a C6 rolling chassis some where..
Here: C6 Z61 Rolling (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-Corvette-C6-LS2-Rolling-Chassis-Engine-COMPLETE-Z51_W0QQitemZ8054869019QQcategoryZ33615QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

Was sold, but I am sure he can get you another one for a similar price..

-Todd

Buy this and be done with it...

http://www.artmorrison.com/ampics/maxg2005.jpg

my opinion is,
If you have to ask how to put IRS into a car, then chances are you can't do it well enough to make it a comfortable cruiser car. The IRS center chunk will need some kind of torque support, like that of the 3rd link. Besides, I don't think you could build an IRS strong enough for what you can build many other comparable setups to handle. That is why 3-links and 4-link are the flavor of the month... becuase pro-touring for most means High Horse Power with accelerations under lateral G's.

A C5 IRS running a Ford 8.8" IRS chunk would be an intersting option. I would not try to run the C5 tq tube.

The C5 and Viper IRS units can take alot of power. The tq tube or diff. in the C5s are what fails.

I'd drop the body on something like this: Click Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-Corvette-C6-LS2-Rolling-Chassis-Engine-COMPLETE-Z51_W0QQitemZ8051710911QQcategoryZ33615QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

-Todd

I hope the C5 parts will make a good suspension. Those auctions make me feel better. I've got pretty much all that stuff in my garage that I picked up for $4500 Canadian. It's 99 LS1 parts but I got the 6-speed manual, not the auto.

Peter

Peter, How far along are you on your project? What are you working on?
It would be nice to "borrow" a complete Corvette chassis like the one listed by Latenight72 to lower the Chevelle body down onto to see where the interferences are. I just finished putting a completely new passenger area floor in the wagon so it will be hard to cut into it to accommadate a certain type of suspension no matter what it is. A C4 whould be a better fit just due to the trans being in the traditional location.
BB Mike, Ya think Art Morrison was born with the knowledge on how to build the chassis you recommended? I'll bet he's asked his share of questions along the way.It is a fine looking chassis but didn't see one listed for Chevelles.
The chassis really isn't the tricky part though, just copy the dimensions where the body bolts on from an original frame. The suspension mounts will differ depending on what suspension is used. Basically reproduce a factory frame using stiffer materials and more bracing where possible.My big problem is that I don't want to alter the inside of the vehicle to accommadate what ever suspension I choose for under the vehicle. Has anyone seen the Schwartz Extreme Performance frame for Chevelles? (I think that's the name)That looks to be a nice set-up especially for the money, $2300 for the frame w/o the bolt on goodies.

IMO, IRS on a chevelle is more trouble than it's worth. You can explore the handling limits of the chassis with a solid axle.

I agree with Brian. IMO,the ends don't justify the means in this case.
Wayne Due has built at least one 70 chassis with C4 IFS and IRS,though.

Peter, How far along are you on your project? What are you working on?

It's a camaro. I've got the rear sub-frame tacked up and am just working on attaching that to the body by building the centre part of the frame. I don't think the rear suspension would take a lot of room except if using the tranny. As already stated, using a more traditional pumpkin for the rear-end would make it fit easier. If I remember right the Vette has a wheelbase about 10" shorter than a Chevelle.

Peter

Check out the Kit car magazines, there are suppliers that have compleye corvette and jaguar IRS kits. I know (but can't remember who) there's a company out there that makes a 12 bolt center section for C2/C3 rears. the C3's are a very simple design compared to a lot of the stuff out there. The stronger units are pre 1979, they switched to an aluminum unit from 80-82. It all depends how much HP you want to put to the rear wheels. I have an 82 3.08 posi rear I may let go... :)

You may want to try http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/ for a 12 bolt conversion in a C2/3 diff.

there was a complete IRS setup out of a late model GTO on ebay lastnight, saw it when searching LS1 in complete engines.

Yuck. First time I have seen how these are configured. I would not go near it. The semi-trailing arm design is ancient and about as effective in an IRS as the C4L is on a live axle. Way too much camber change with suspension movement.