1500 dollar front end

[hollis68]

Hey guys,

I have been doing a lot of searching on the forums and cant really seem to get a good idea of what the best way to spend 1500 on a front end. Basically I have a 68 firebird with a 400 stroked to 468, all original suspension. I want to rebuild the front end with my original subframe, but I only have around 1500 to put into it. The car will not be a track car but I would really like to enhance the handling and get a better stance, definitely in line with a lot of the cars on here. I dont think I need alot of adjustment capabilities, but the coil overs do allow me to adjust ride height which is definitely a plus.

Some of the things I have been looking at are:

Truturn + 2" drop springs and new shocks
SC+C stage two + Speed tech Coil over kit
Speed Tech Pro-touring kit (UCA,LCA Coil overs)
PRO-TOURING FBODY.COM Tall Spindle kit + coil over

Thanks for any support you guys can help me with.

[srh3trinity]

Ridetech strongarms would be close depending on which coilover. I was going to go with them before I bought an aftermarket subframe. I think Speedtech's prices are very competitive and I like the looks of both company's product. They also both have employees that are very active on the boards and that is something that plays a role for me. After buying and selling and buying what I really wanted in the first place, I would recommend a system that works together even if it means saving for a little longer.

[DJW32]

Ridetech all the way. Go with the single adjustable.

[marolf101x]

Let's break it down. . .

you'll need lower control arms: $650.00
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-1969-camaro-subframe-strongarms-front-lower.html

upper control arms: $450.00
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-1969-camaro-subframe-strongarms-front-upper.html

coil overs: $600.00 for fixed valve Ride Quality coil overs (RQ Series)
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-1969-chevy-camaro-firebird-coilover-front-system-non-adjustable.html

That gives you a total of $1700.00
That gives you a true coil over in a double shear mount that uses a monotube shock with a 1,000,001 mile warranty, improved geometry, and Delrin bushings.

If you wanted to go a little further in the future I would suggest the TruTurn setup for $1000.00 which gets you a tall, drop spindle for the best geometry, bumpsteer under 50-thousandths, and the ability to run a 275 tire up front.

Even further down the line would be a 4-link rear to match the front: $1300.00
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-1969-chevy-camaro-firebird-airbar.html

and the coil overs: $550.00
http://www.ridetech.com/store/airbar-coil-over-system-non-adjustable.html


Or, you could save up and get the Level 1 system (same as above, with spindles, but without the rest of the TruTurn package) for $3900.00.
Then, add the rest of the TruTurn for $650.00; for a total of $4550.00

[indyjps]

Start with new draglink, tie rods, pitman arm, steering box, drop springs, rag joint, sway bar, guldsrand mod-basically free. Steering box can be anywhere frm $150 reman "iroc" camaro box to a new $600 aftermarket . Price that out and see if you have $ left, you need to decide on aftermarket a arms or rebuilt stockers, maybe aftermarket uppers and use new ball joint and bushings in you stock lowers. You didnt mention brakes, are they already set up? Just tring to be real at $1500. If $1500 is a hard budget i'd rather have better brakes and stock a arms than the 60's disc brakes and aftermarket a arms.

[zamora7]

I went with the Ridetech lowers and the level two coil overs, already had spc uppers. I will say they make a great product, the arms just feel and look super strong and it's going to give me an awesome stance. Vendors standing by Ridetech products and just so many people happy with the results is what ultimately helped me decide.

[marolf101x]

I would also like to add. . .if you decide to give the OE suspension a re-fresh we have "non coil over" monotube shocks to fit the OE suspension. Provides the same damping characteristics as our coil overs, without the extra cost. They come in fixed valve or rebound adjustable.

Here's the front:
Fixed Valve:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-69-camaro-front-smooth-body-shock-rq-series-clone.html
Rebound Adjustable:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-69-camaro-front-smooth-body-shock-hq-series-clone.html

And the rear:
Fixed Valve:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-69-camaro-rear-smooth-body-shock-rq-series.html
Rebound Adjustable:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-69-camaro-rear-smooth-body-shock-hq-series.html

Though the suspension geometry will not be optimized, the ride and handling will increase dramatically with just new shocks.
I did a test for our Sales staff where we let them drive a bone stock 70 Chevelle. Then I changed only the shocks and let them all drive it again. It was an amazing change!