: Good suspension for street/strip
Junkyard Dawg Jul 8th, 04, 11:50 AM I want to make my '71 Chevelle a street/strip car. I've been told the rear is pretty much kind of like a 4 link and it does a pretty good job of helping the car launch.
But up front what type of coils/shocks should I go with? I was thinking of something to help move the weight towards the rear of the car upon launch.
Also are there any coils/shocks that can do this plus accomodate either big or small block?
Junkyard Dawg Jul 10th, 04, 6:01 AM Surely someone knows....
Big James 4XL Jul 10th, 04, 7:05 AM do a search in the performance section. Tons of info and opinions.
Junkyard Dawg Jul 10th, 04, 10:31 PM Already tried that and came up empty handed....plus the topics only go up to 3 pages.
Big James 4XL Jul 10th, 04, 10:41 PM Well, I don't know what to tell you but there's tons of info there.
smallblock_chevelle Jul 11th, 04, 6:28 PM you could try some moroso trick front springs and some adjudstable drag shocks
Junkyard Dawg Jul 11th, 04, 10:45 PM Yeah I had considered doing a spring/shock swap but I see stuff from Moroso, Eibach, C.E., Hotchkis, etc. but wasn't sure what a good street/strip suspension would consist of.
chevelle68malibu Jul 13th, 04, 9:47 PM I can tell you what I have, which I consider pretty good all around. I put poly bushings front and rear, 1 1/4" front sway bar with a 1" out back, kyb shocks all around ($28 from summit), box the rear control arms. Rebuilding the suspension helps so much, all new steering arms and ball joints, etc. I havent changed springs yet but I plan on doing hotchkis all around for $270 from summit. Taking off the front sway bar endlinks at the track will make a phenominal difference in traction, put em back on and the car will handle pretty nicely. Also if you are lookin more towards traction at the strip stay with rubber bushings up front to keep it al loose, maybe different shocks i dont know. I went my route because I want it to handle too and I drive it all the time. I guess its pretty good to put some type of rear control arm braces in to strengthen it all up.
The chevelle does come with a 4 link, which with my experience is much better than any leaf spring car, along with the full frame of the chevelle...I guess thats why the chevelle got the ls6 huh?
Anyways hope that might help a little...
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P.s almost forgot to mention adjustable upper rear control arms to change the pinion angle. I personally cant afford them yet but they aresuppoed to help a bunch..
P.p.s if anyone thinks my suspension could use a change, let me know, I love input. {Poly bushings all around, boxed rear control arms, kyb shocks, hotchkis springs with 1-1/2" lower, 1 1/4" front bar, 1" rear)
GRN69CHV Jul 14th, 04, 9:06 AM I will save you some time & money. My '69 Big Block has Hotchkis 1" lowering springs up front w/ 1-1/8" front bar, poly bushings and KYB's. Rear coils were new when I got the car, don't know what they are exactly but ride is firm but not stiff, what I think is stock ride height - may be cargo coils or El Camino springs, 3/4" rear bar, KYB's, Hotchkis lower control arms with Poly Bushings, stock reinforced uppers w/ new rubber bushings. Car does not have any wheel hop at all, but doesn't hook worth a darn. On glass smooth roads, the ride is almost too hard - almost bouncy. On rough roads, the ride and handling are terrible. The car has a lot of shutter over bumps - at least in my oppinnion.
I am going to make some changes. The stock springs are going back in, possibly with 1/2 - 1 coil cut off. The Hotchkiss springs are too hard for my taste. I am adding a set of air bags in the rear for adjustability. Don't want to raise the back much, just have the ability to tune the suspension. I will try this and see what happens. The next move will be to dump the KYB's for some more standard hydraulic shocks. In an attempt to firm up the suspension, I wound up with something that rides like a go-kart. I think this is causing my traction issues as well.
Mind you, I live in Pennsylvania and the Northeast is known for rougher roads due to winter damage and frost heaves in the raod. Other parts of the country that do not see this problem may benefit from a real tight suspension.
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