Deciding on suspension for my 1967 project. DSE and quadralink system?

[jman7480]

Hello everyone! this is my first post and Ive been racking my brain on the dorection for my suspension. My car is a 1967 camaro and it has been in the restoration shop for two years and its about done and now my simple $15,000 paint and body project has now become an obsession and ive been replacing everything from every nut and bolt to ripping the wiring out and doing it right. Its about done and now its time to address the suspension. I powercoated the stick subframe and put it bac in with new bushings and powercoated the upper and lower control arms. It all looks grea tbut I know DSE has amazing kits for replacing all that with coilovers and I can use my stock subframe.. furthermore ive also been looking at the quadralink system and I would like to minitub to fit in some forgeline rims WC3 18x12 in the rear and 18x10 in the front.. I dont think ill ever track the car but I would like it to handle well and drive and perform when I need it to. Dont want to waist money on things I dont need but all the cars ive been looking at and their stance reflects the DSE upgrades. So, what do yall think would be the best approach?

I would like to do it all in order to save time and money. Thats why I thought rewiring now before I put an interior in was smart.

The car that I have fell in love with is the 1968 camaro "project dust off" Mine is nantucket blue with black stripes.

[rlodad]

Having experience in this area, I would avoid DSE like the plague. Yes, they offer a kit with much improved upper A arm positioning, but so do others including speed tech. Unfortunately, DSE uses a coil-over from JRi that simply does not work well. The coil-over is installed upside down (it doesn't fit in the subframe right side up), and cannot be height adjusted on the car. So, you put them on, test ride height, adjust both usually a few times, replace upper and lower bolts and nylock nuts which wear out and on and on. These cars are very susceptible to vibrations from pinion angle problems following lowering, so off they come again. The JRi shocks may be great (DSE used QA1 before JRi and Koni before that), but they use a single leaf adjustment collar with a set screw. Terrible engineering IMHO. The threads on the shock are tiny and foul easily and eventually the collar gets stuck. You call DSE for help and their response is: "Awwww, too bad, you should have bought a hydroformed subframe! That's all we use here!" Nice. There are lots of other choices out there, I would go elsewhere. As to the Quadralink, people seem to think it articulates well, but it is expensive to buy, and MUCH more expensive to install than similar products due to lots of fab to the frame rails and floor of the car.

Good luck!

[TheJDMan]

I'm going to tell you the same thing as I told another poster, you need to read up on the 48 Hour Camaro built by Ridetech. They used the stock subframe with a complete Ridetech suspension front and rear. They are running 18x10 front and 18x12 rear wheels.

http://www.ridetech.com/48hourcamaro/about/
(http://www.ridetech.com/48hourcamaro/about/)
I like the DSE subframe, but not so much their bolt on suspension. IMO, Ridetech is a MUCH better choice for bolt on suspension and what ever you decide on don't try to mix and match suspension parts. Buy your suspension parts from one manufacturer so it will all work properly.

[bigdaddychevelle]

Talk with Mark @ SC&C suspension. He will point you in the right direction. www.scandc.com

[bwarren]

I put a complete Global West suspension in my 68 Camaro 10 years ago. I like it . . ., BUT if I had to do it again TODAY I'd go with Ridetech. What's not to love?? I also agree that you don't want to mix and match between manufactures. Go all in with a complete package!

[Mark Antrim]

I like the info in this discussion but have a question. Rlodad said that DSE's shocks have to be mounted upside down and can't be height adjusted on the car. I was wondering who's coil over set up for a stock frame can be adjusted on the car. Looking to upgrade my suspension this winter and wanted to see who offers this option.