I am going to upgrade my entire suspension over the winter. I just got a set of SSM lift bars. The rear end will include a gear change, and upgraded axles etc. The front end will be rebuilt as well. The car will still be street driven part time, I have to drive it to the track, to shows etc. As far as shock and springs, what do I really need? I know I will do the shock nut trick next year. Any help would be appreciated.

Stock springs and KYB shocks IMHO

Rebuilding the front end can be done as a "in need" item such as worn tie rods, idler arm, ball joints, if your bushings are bad, etc. but for the rear, as Mr 4 Speed said, SSm's stock springs and a good gas shock like the KYB's is all you need...

One thing to add is the braces that run from the upper rear control arms to the rear lower control arms front connection are a very wise move to provide strength to the upper crossmember and reduce deflection. They were stock on my monte and I beleive all SS cars or others with 4 speeds. I would bet there are a few members here at TC that have some to sell...these "4 speed bars"

urethane busings for the rear upper arms if the stock ones are sloppy would be a good move as well, and although not necessary, box them as long as they are out.

Tom, do you have a pic of the "4 speed bars"?
I have seen them mentioned here on TC a few times, but have never actually seen them.


-Matt

Matt,

no I am sorry I don't, they are about 12" long and look just like a piece of a right angle stamped steel brace with holes at each end. i will see if I can dig one up from somewhere. Hotchkiss and edlelbrock sell them.

Here are the trailing arm braces(4 speed bars) from hotchkis.PN 1403
http://www.hotchkis.net/frames/catalog/cat_hp_part_pics/1400.jpg

Bryan,The trailing arm braces you are showing will they fit on a 64 4spd car? Thank for any info Ralph. smile.gif

Ralph, pn 1403 is the braces for the 64-67, and pn 1402 is for the 68-72. Both are $126.95 on the hotchkis website. Listed in Jegs for 120.99.

Where do these attach on the upper and lower arms? Do you have to drill new holes or just use longer bolts or something? Pictures would be a huge help.

Daniel

Thanks for the replies, My Chevelle is an SS car and I do have the bracing or bars on my car. I wonder if this was part of the F41 Suspension package.

I have also wondered this myself. How do those trailing arm braces attach to the rear suspension?? I also have SSM Lift Bars for my lower control arms and want to know if i would need to drill holes to make em fit.

Did some searching and found out they will work, hopefully they won't hit my exhaust but oh well if they do, will have to be redone. I have seen that edelbrock & hothkis carry these braces, the edelbrock are $90 vs. $120 for hotckis. I think that ground up carries some too.

After looking @ what they do it doesn't seem worth the extra $30 bucks for the hotchkis ones since they are just tubular braces.

i installed the 1403 braces on my 67. they come with the longer 4 bolts and nuts. they replace the upper housing control arm bolts and the lower frame control are brace bolts. if you are using HUGH mufflers, run the lower bolts through the frame backwards as this will give you more clearance. if you look at my web page on page 2, the 4th pic shows the brace. Dave