Just thinking about the next step. I need to let the wallet cool a bit, as I have been buying interir pieces, etc, but eventually I want to do more work on the suspension.

'70 Chevelle, Front: SC&C Stage 2 (upper arms, tall upper/lower BJs), CPP tubular lower arms, Eibach springs, KYB shocks, AGR box, "fresh" linkage, STOCK sway bar. Rear: Alston adj upper/ tubular lower arms, Eibach/KYB, fab9 rearend. Aluminum-headed Small Block, with factory A/C.

Vintage V40, 17X9.5 with 275/40-17, all 4 corners, Firestone "Wide Oval" in front/Nitto 555r Drag Radials in back.

I have been thinking of getting a Hotchkis 1-3/8" tubular front bar. Although bars should be used for tuning, I think I might need something better than the stock (~1") bar up front. I also looked at Edelbrock and Hellwig bars (Its still kind of a budget issue, and these were all about the same price from Summit, about $190-$200). I don't know the torsional rigidity of the various materials, and I didn't know if this bar might be too big or ???


I figured shocks might not show a huge difference in "performance" (because its only street driven for now). Eventually, I'd like new rear springs, wider wheels/tires in back (315/35-17), but for now, those are out of my budget...

Does a new front bar sound like a wise choice at this time? Any suggestions?

If I were you, I'd look into some serious tires first. All the suspension goodies won't do much for ya on Firestone Wide Ovals. I like my Nitto 555s, but there are a lot of great tires out there.

Parts-wise, check out the Fays2 Watts link for the rear. Then add some adjustable QA1s to replace the non-adjustable KYBs.

I would be looking for shocks stat. And I only drive on the street too. Probably a lot of the same streets you do ;)

I have KYBs on the El Camino and they suck. The fronts are too soft, especially in compression. The rears are too hard.

On a budget (read: what I would buy) the Bilsteins are probably the best bang for the buck.

I would also have my doubts on the Eibach springs too. YMMV but they are too low for me and actually pretty soft for their ride height on the Elky. I have the fronts shimmed with 1" rubber Mr. Gasket pieces. I had the rears shimmed too but took them back out because I could not back out of my garage without dragging the exhaust. I still have issues on any kind of speed bumps or road drop. One of these days I plan on getting the car weighed so I can do the math and match up a set of springs using stock car parts.

Thanks Guys...

But let me stress again:

Eventually, I'd like new rear springs, wider wheels/tires in back (315/35-17), but for now, those are out of my budget...

Does a new front bar sound like a wise choice at this time? Any suggestions?

I might consider new shocks, but really probably under $300 to spend this season... I will look into the Bilsteins ( I have brand new Edelbrock IAS sitting on the shelf, if those are any good?). I recall checking, and Bilsteins weren't to expensive, so I could probably swing those...

The Firestones were just on the rims when I bought them... EVENTUALLY, I'll get 315 Nittos and put the 275 Nito 555r's on the front... But the Budget won't allow that (~$1200 for two wheels and tires)...

Springs, maybe eventually... I like the car low ( in fact, i want it lower in the rear). I did scrape the chin spoiler coming out of the driveway, and the headers are pretty low, but I'll live with that for now...

Watts link? Never! Well, maybe someday.:D But this car is just a fun cruiser ( read, low budget!!!) while I work on my '66 (maybe I'll look into the Watts link for the '66)...

Autocross or track days would be fun, but right now, i barely have time to work on the car... maybe when the kids get old enough to not want to hang around, then I'll build a serious track car...


But I figured a bigger front car would/should help the "feel" of the car (less leaning)... I honestly haven't noticed anything, because I haven't driven anywhere exciting... I don't want to spend alot of money for something that won't do anything, which is why I haven't changed the stock bar yet... I thought about going the 70's F-body junkyard route, but part of that is the lack of time to go 'crawling"...

But I figured a bigger front car would/should help the "feel" of the car (less leaning)...

Yes. I vote for the new bar. I have the Hellwig. Very nice. Completes the suspension "package".

IF you are running the tall ball joints from SC&C, you won't need the biggest sway bar out there. Mark usually reccomends our 1-1/4" tubular bar or our 1-1/8" solid.

IF you are running the tall ball joints from SC&C, you won't need the biggest sway bar out there. Mark usually reccomends our 1-1/4" tubular bar or our 1-1/8" solid.

Sounds cool... I guess I'll look into one of those...

I don't want to spend alot of money for something that won't do anything, which is why I haven't changed the stock bar yet... I thought about going the 70's F-body junkyard route, but part of that is the lack of time to go 'crawling"...

Tony,

I have one I pulled at a yard a while back. POR'd and sitting on my garage floor. You can have it for shipping if you want me to send it to you. No crawling around in the dirt, I already did it.

Have the new sway bar bushings and shells as well. Energy.

l8r.

Check out the latest issue of Super Chevy magazine. They ran several combo's of front and rear sway bars through a slalom coarse on a 64 Chevelle.

Check out the latest issue of Super Chevy magazine. They ran several combo's of front and rear sway bars through a slalom coarse on a 64 Chevelle.

I saw that- but the front suspension under that car was bone stock, too. If that gets changed, the results will as well.

I'm betting your car will push already but it's not a bad idea to put one on it anyway... I'd be looking real hard at a 1-1/8" solid from a 2nd gen F-body, and as soon as the budget allows, put a Helwig "Pro-Touring" rear bar on it... if you can't do both at the same time, it's better to do the front first to keep the rear from trying to pass the front at every turn.