I have a 69 malibu and was wondering whats the best but also cost effective way of making my car handle better..
Thanks for any help

in this order of importance:
anti swaybars, front then rear with boxed lower rear control arms,
good tires, correct air pressures...,
urethane suspension bushings,
not worn out steering components,
good, new or urethane body bushings,
boxed frame and cross braces.
it just depens on how far you want to take it.
graemlins/waving.gif

I mostly agree with FO_FDYFO.

1. Rebuild suspension FIRST
2. Alignment (good specs not stock numbers)
3. Tires, Tires, and Tires
4. Sway bars 1.25 front, .875 rear w/boxed arms
5. Springs (ride will suffer alittle)

As to the Poly bushings, IMO use good quality rubber in the front control arms, the poly will squeek eventually before binding up, everywhere else it is OK.

Get ready to turn and burn! :D

Hi I think the best bang for your buck is the Edelbrock IAS self proportioning shocks. I installed a set on my '64 Malibu along with a 1 1/8" rear anti-sway bar & a 1 1/2" front anti-sway bar. This brought my car from a '60's handling car to a 2000 type of handling car. I'm very impressed with these shocks, little or no body roll on corners & smooth on the bumps. I already had all the other improvements mentioned above, but the big difference came when I installed the the shocks & the large front anti-sway bar. The only thing slowing this car down on corners is the tires & the stock seat belt. Even with the seat belt done up real tight I can't keep my butt on the seat on hard corners. Dave

It all depends on how much you want to spend, but I'd start with the shocks. My -69 is just a daily driver, but I replaced mine with gas shocks from Auto Zone. I can't remember the brand (KYB?) but they were like $35 ea, and they really made a difference. I may add that my old shocks were still good, so the difference was definitely in the type of shock.

don't underestimate the value of good shocks, they have as much to do with handling as any other component on the car! I'd consider shocks, tires, and good alignment specs to have the most bang for the buck, followed by bushings and steering components. Unless your springs are unable to support the weight of the car any more (my rear springs were that bad), I'd change them last.

All good advice...

IMO, if the suspension is original, its probably time to rebuild (34+ years old). That would be the first thing to do for safety too, and part of that rebuild would be a professional alignment... During that rebuild you could not only replace all the old worn parts, but upgrade to better parts (shocks, springs, swaybars, bushings, etc)... Now would also be a good time to install discs brakes.
I like the Poly bushings everywhere, except the upper rearend control arms, too much bind there.


My car has all rebuild suspension, new shocks, springs, big swaybar, Global West lower rear arms, stock upper rear arms with new rubber bushings...

It seemed to ride and handle pretty well...

I replaced my steering box with an AGR quick-ratio unit, and that improved things tremendously... Not just the quicker ratio, but the box is now very tight, no more steering slop...

I have already had a front end alignment and new bushings installed all over front but the rear needs some work. Im planning on redoing the rear and doing a B-body conversion for disc brakes and add IAS Edelbrock shocks.
Thanks for all the help