Why use them vs stock type springs on a street car? What do they do/not do for you. Always wondered.

Thanks for trying to teach an old dog new tricks.

Much easier to adjust ride height, easier to adjust spring rate, lighter than a conventional spring and shock assy.

Down side is fabrication to install them and initial cost.

Thanks! Sounds like a lot of work and expense for a some-time cruiser.

QA1 makes a nice bolt-in coil over system for the front. No modifications are required. They also sell a rear coil over set up but that does require welding some brackets to the axle and to the frame.

So if I understand correctly, it would not matter if I had a BB or SB, AC or non-AC, the same set of coil-overs on the front could be adjusted to handle the weight difference and would still perform like stock springs or better. yes?

Rich, got a link for QA1?

You would still need to pick the correct spring-rate, but the height is adjustable and the shock part of it is adjustable also.

OK, so what "spring rate" do you need for a 67 coupe with a 400SB 4 spd that's just gong to cruise occaisionally?

I find this idea intriguing because I would like to migrate to a BB later on and this could save buying another set of springs, right? I'm in the process of re-working the frame and front end so I guess now is the time to decide on this issue.

Herb if you decide to go the coil over route then you really should get a good idea of the weight of your car over the front wheels ....about 2000lbs I would think, this is a great help in picking the correct springs when talking to a mfg. ....one spring will not fit all....."if" you go with the QA1 GM boltin kit they have 2 spring rates available , so called small block and big block .... since you have a SB now and may go to a BB I can tell you alot here and myself have found the BB spring way too stiff in a BB car so I and others select the SB spring in the BB cars the height adjustment compensates...... if your building a canyon carver or you have nose heavy car or like that jacked up look you may want to rethink my info but for street / strip car the SB spring is fine.
Also if you go this route make sure you buy the bearing kit .makes it alot easier to adjust if you think you will adjust after installation .....also this a never ending $$ deal now you can use these with the stock control arms but to get even better ride / tracking etc consider tubular control arms .... you can get lowers specific for the QA1 or you can install in your stock control arms and see how you like it. FWIW

Great advice!!! Thanks for that input. DOn't know if I;ll go coil overs or not but if I do, your input is exactly what I was looking for. I looked at those units in Summit. They're a little pricey.

May have to put them further down the wish list.

Again, thanks to everybody for making me smarter.

IIRC Summit has the highest price you can get for $439.00 pr at a lot of places.

Originally posted by CDN SS:
....."if" you go with the QA1 GM bolt in kit they have 2 spring rates available , so called small block and big block .... since you have a SB now and may go to a BB I can tell you alot here and myself have found the BB spring way too stiff in a BB car so I and others select the SB spring in the BB cars the height adjustment compensates....I found just the opposite after installing the QA1 coil over kit on my '70.
I bought the "small block" spring kit figuring that with my car weighing 940 lbs on each front corner, and the stock GM SB/AC coil springs I was replacing actually had the front end sky high, these would be fine.
Wrong...after a week, the springs were bottomed out, coil on coil. Replaced them with a "big block" versions and all is well. Car sits and rides perfect! :cool:
I don't know if this really makes a difference but we did do a Global West upper/lowers and a "F" body spindle swap at the same time.
I do agree about purchasing the bearing kit and recommend the spanner wrench too.

Got my BBC QA1's for $389.

CDNSS or Bill,
I have the same set-up on my BB Chevelle using the upper and lower tubular Global West Arms and QA1 Coil Over Shocks. Where did you get the bearing kit from for the coil over adjustment? Got the spanner wrench with the kit. I agree this would make adjustment much easier.

Thanks,

Sam

Originally posted by 540cutlaSS:
Got my BBC QA1's for $389. Beats any price I have seen for the QA1 coil overs I paid $419.00...... care to share the source so some here can save $$


Bearings came from QA1 mine came in a kit with the spanner

I thought Summit had a price matching policy?

Yeah, what was the source of that $389 price? Also, would everyting work just as well with stock arms and spindles?

I bought my set on Ebay from a place in MD named Paradise Racing. I made some phone calls to them about other QA-1 items I was interested in. They were very helpful on my rear set up. They are shipped right from QA-1. Shipping cost about $20.00. Here is a link for the Ebay listing. The phone number is listed on the auction also.

link for Ebay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33590&item=7937067046&rd=1

I have decided to use mine with stock spindles and control arms for this season ...... really a question of strentgh of old arms and metal fatique..... lower control arms will see more stress with coil overs than stock coils FWIW

Yes $389.00 ?? from time to time you will see guys post real cheap prices on parts and never declare source .....if someone truly get's a one time super deal ...."fine "what's the point of bragging about it the person who gave you the deal won't appreciate it ...... if it available for all then declare the vendor

I also put 78 Camaro disc brakes on the front. Here is a link for the upper control arms I bought on Ebay for the conversion. They also sell the ball joint for the conversion and are now offering polyurathane bushings for an additional cost.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33583&item=7938027536&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

rick's 67 ....... your right Paradise Racing Luis great guy, call him direct no need to go on e-bay ......that's where I bot mine ......but I forgot I bot the "R" series which are more $$ so yes $389.00 for the std valved ones is available to all , my apologies to the other post.

Sorry for not giving a source. I did get mine from Paradice Racing. He has them drop shipped from the manufacture.

A comment on the springs for the QA1's. I have them in my 65 skylark. It has the 300ci buick motor right now which is pretty light weight. I have the big block springs and the shocks are currently set on the softest setting. the front end is soft, and a bit floaty(will get better when the shocks get stiffened up). I cant see how a BB motor in a heavier later model chevelle could be too stiff.
I went with the BB springs because I plan to hang a huge turbo off the front of the SBC i will install.Plus the intercoolers etc that goes with it.

Re BB springs, it really depends on what you want from car and different models/years have different config of control arms so on a 66 that is what I found ...... if your into drag racing the BB springs dont allow enough weight transfer and at the lower settings in a 66 still sits too high .....if you want that tall in the saddle stance or your car AC cast iron heads/ intake/ exhaust manifolds etc etc .then by all means go with BB springs knowing the weright over the wheels is key
....I use the shocks to set the firmness etc. just passing along my experience for a 66 and also advice I got from other 66 QA1 users. FWIW

I have a friend installing a set with SB springs in a SB 69 camaro so will be interesting to see how that works out.

Yeah, I'm running a 400SB with cast iron double hump heads and stock exhaust manifolds, no AC and a 4spd. The only thing non-stock is the HEI dist. and the Performer intake (plus the cam). I'm converting to front discs also. This car will be summer Sunday afternoon cruiser with the usual street type hot rodding off a light every now and then.

I have to admit, at $389, the kit is worth considering if only to be able to insure the ride height is what I want. I'm going to 15 x 7 wheels (don't know what tires) cuz of the discs. I'm looking to lower the stance by 1 inch with the springs. Don't really want to drop it 2 inches.

I'm cloning this car with a little lower stance.

Blue 67 (http://www.chevelles.com/backgrounds/bgskip640.html)

Wish I had a 396 to drop in it.