We're finishing up a project and need some real-world experience with shocks. Car came with 1.5 spring drop (unknown rates) , 17s, stock spindles, very minimal competition anticipated at this time, typical Midwest road and driveway concerns:

Bilstein $60 on sale AK2070 or F4-BE3-D150-HO & F4-B46-0929-HO
RCD Bilstein $90
Koni $103 on sale 8040-1087 & 8040-1088
QA1 $139
Strange $150
Varishock $189
Be Cool $200 (?)

I have to pricepoint it around $100 to keep peace in the Tee Pee, if you know what I mean...

The B-Body guys generally like Bilstein and comment that the high-pressure tends to lift the car about 1/2". Konis are adjustable, but offer probably the worst adjustability option (remove - twist to some detent - replace, hope you don't have to do it again). This is on a '70 all-iron small-block w/ A/C. I lived in Cali in the early 90s and know how spoiled you can get with smooth roads. Midwest has more issues. Please advise.

Bilsteins all the way. The Konis you are probably looking at are the reds which are not the best ones. Koni Yellows are better but cost more. I love Bilsteins and they can be revalved for heavier springs at reasonable costs. I had Koni Reds on a 71 Formula and they didn't impress me, but the Roush spec'd Bilsteins I had on my 03 Mustang GT were great. JMHO

Thanks Randy. Hotchkis and RCD are revalved Bilsteins. RCD Bilsteins are black http://www.racecardynamics.com/classics/indexhr/products/stock%20applications/appguide.htm

Here is a good article on shocks and which work. I learned some things about shocks reading this:
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets6.html

He seems to be quite knowledgeable on the subject. The entire article is a good read as well.
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

i went with the re valved Bilteins. which are done by hotchkis. i got them from CS3 Automotive (a sponsor on here)... Creight is a great guy to deal with, and will give you a good price.

i have yet to drive the car, but the fit and finish, is very nice. i like them.

i still have to order rear shocks, but i will wait and reuse my autozone specials for right now.

sorry i couldnt help more.


aaron

I've seen the farnorth site. There's not contact info to ask if he's done a dyno evaluation of a Varishock vs. Penske but that wouldn't fit his applications anyway. Looks like its the Bilsteins for now.

Hey Malibru,

The Bilsteins that you say are on sale for $60, where are these for sale at?

Jeff

I went with SA Varishocks. For a little more money, it was worth it, to me, for adjustability on-the-car as my suspension rebuilding and tuning goes on.

I've seen the farnorth site. There's not contact info to ask if he's done a dyno evaluation of a Varishock vs. Penske but that wouldn't fit his applications anyway. Looks like its the Bilsteins for now.

From the site: The reason why JRZ and Moton aren't on the "good" list is simple - I never dynoed any. In the absence of any dyno information one way or the other, I choose to remain silent.

He hasn't tested the Varishocks it seems, so no info on them. As for the varishocks vs Penske, I personally would give the nod to Penske if for nothing more than their experience/history.

Hey Malibru,

The Bilsteins that you say are on sale for $60, where are these for sale at?

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm/id/215290/name/F4-BE3-D150-H0-Bilstein-GM-Cars but the dang fronts are on national backorder :mad: Back to the drawingboard. Next on the list is Koni. Cannot find the specs on their 5-ways: 8040-1087 & 1088. Going to have to email them...

Bilstein $60 on sale AK2070 or F4-BE3-D150-HO & F4-B46-0929-HO...
but the dang fronts are on national backorder Back to the drawingboard.


summit racing.com Bilstein F4 BE3 D150 H0 (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=BSN%2DF4BE3D150H0&N=700+400558+4294908216+4294925081+4294908021+115&autoview=sku)

$70 from Summit...

The Rears are $62 (F4 B46 0929 HO) , both show as shipping "today" (in stock)...

Summit will match some prices "might have to eb "advertised", but maybe a website match is sufficient... Worth a try...

And Summits shipping is a flat rate $11... Not sure, but shipping and handling from the other places might make up some of the difference...

Yeah, I ordered them yesterday. I used their online chat and the guy said I got the last two fronts in stock (could be a sales tactic) but they should arrive tomorrow. Didn't pricematch but got free shipping AND free "handling" and saved $11.95. Good enough. It used to be 'shipping & handling = X', now it's 'Shipping = X AND Handling = Y'. X+Y=MBA.........

Does anyone have any idea or know when bilstein front shocks for the chevelle will come off backorder???

They said mid-May. Got mine last night and will hopefully install them within a week.

I've got a set of Bilsteins that I bought brand new and had them on my '70 4dr hardtop for about 2-3 months...maybe 500 miles...that I've recently removed. I found them a little too harsh for the other wise stock suspension Malibu. Yellow with blue and still look new.
Available if interested...

Got the Bilsteins 'finally' installed. Here' what you get:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20715&stc=1&d=1241274234

And here's where the problems begin:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20716&stc=1&d=1241274234

Fat bushing and longer tie bar prevent the shock from seating in the LCA.

SOLUTION - Grade 8 hardware:
4 5/16x18 x1 bolts
8 nuts, 4 split-ring lock washers, Loctite

Drop the bolts from the top and run a nut up to form a stud. I did it washerless and the 1" bolts worked perfectly. Expect you might need a punch with some leverage to jam into the arm bolt holes to tweak them straight

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20717&stc=1&d=1241274526 http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20718&stc=1&d=1241274526

Next issue is the front top rubber bushings. They don't look anything like the original pieces. We reused the old stepped bushing on the bottom and Bilstein's on the top since we only had two good old ones. To tighten these shocks, you will need a 5mm allen wrench... and a plan. Bilsteins come with a nylon lock nut. Our solution was a socket wrench that had a hole in the center allowing the allen wrench to hold the shaft. Jacked up the front and came in through the wheelwell.

Rears went in Okay with the top nuts and bolts (not supplied by Bilstein) being the usual PITA. There's a guy over on the impalassforum.com named Navy Lifer who has a U-Bolt kit to simplify install. I just used the 5/16x1 bolts. Still have a question about the rear lower mount. What's the deal with this gap??

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20719&stc=1&d=1241276582

Originally, I had considered Konis, but after screwing around with this install, there's NO WAY I would want to do the Koni routine of removing the shocks to adjust. I called them to find out what twisting their shock for "adjustment" meant and I got a vague answer. I think the only externally abjustable "bolt-on" (ha ha) shock for the frontend is the BeCool. It supposedly slips up in thestock arm w/o grinding mods or the need to drop the balljoint.

my front hotchinsteins (hotchkis bilsteins) fit fine on my a arms, they didnt come with the hardware i dont think, which is okay since i had extras laying around.
the rears are questionable though.. they come with the stud built into them?


aaron