Ridetech Install- Coilover

[viperman]

Anybody done the ridetech coilover install on a 69 Camaro convertible? I am getting ready to pull the trigger and do the front..control arms, coilovers, etc....Wondering how smoothly the installation will go? Read the instructions, looks like minimal cutting.....The rear setup needs welding, so I will have to have someone do that for the rear 4 link brackets, but doing the front seems easy. Also looking at "cheap" brake upgrades at the same time. Not sure if it is necessary to upgrade spindles, etc..., I have the stock disc now, but looking for better calipers, rotors, etc...

Thanks,
Joe

[c4racer2]

I would just get the full tru-turn setup from RT if I had a first gen.
Several brake options for RT spindles too
Look at Kore 3

[dhutton]

I installed the full kit with tru-turn in my wife’s 69 convertible. Not difficult. Get their spindles or your ride height will be two inches too high and you can’t fix that by adjusting the coilovers.

Used Kore3 Z51 brakes front and rear.

Highly recommend you ride in a car equipped with the setup before purchasing. I sold my wife’s.....

Don

[viperman]

I installed the full kit with tru-turn in my wife’s 69 convertible. Not difficult. Get their spindles or your ride height will be two inches too high and you can’t fix that by adjusting the coilovers.

Used Kore3 Z51 brakes front and rear.

Highly recommend you ride in a car equipped with the setup before purchasing. I sold my wife’s.....

Don

How would you rate the ride?..This is strictly street driven, but currently all stock and the ride is awful. I was hoping to improve ride qulity and handling substantially for the investment.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Anybody done the ridetech coilover install on a 69 Camaro convertible? I am getting ready to pull the trigger and do the front..control arms, coilovers, etc....Wondering how smoothly the installation will go? Read the instructions, looks like minimal cutting.....The rear setup needs welding, so I will have to have someone do that for the rear 4 link brackets, but doing the front seems easy. Also looking at "cheap" brake upgrades at the same time. Not sure if it is necessary to upgrade spindles, etc..., I have the stock disc now, but looking for better calipers, rotors, etc...

Thanks,
Joe

Hey Joe,

With the coilover kit, the only thing you have to do in the front is drill out the factory shock hole to a 3/4", everything else bolts right into the factory locations. The tall/drop spindle is a very crucial piece to the puzzle. We use it to get the 2" drop and add negative camber gain into the suspension, making the car handle much better.

On the rear, the cradle goes into place right between the frame rails. It really only fits in one spot as it is contoured to the bends of the frame rails. As you mentioned, welding the tabs onto the top of the rear end housing is the critical portion of the install. Make sure everything is centered from front to rear and side to side, mock it up at ride height (14.5" on the shock mounts), set the pinion angle at 2 to 3 degrees up and tack the tabs on. Pull the rear end down and weld everything up fully.

You want to make sure that you get the pinion angle set correct, shocks are at mid travel at ride height, and that we spec out the spring rates for your engine/trans to get the best out of your car. If you want a street car, we'll make a good cruiser. If you want a race car, we'll put some heavier springs in to help it stick in the corners. Just let me know what your goals for the car are!

These cars are a blast when you get everything dialed in! It's a much nicer, more modern muscle car feel. The install isn't hard, just take your time and use the "measure twice, cut once" method when putting the tabs on, and you'll be just fine :cheers:. Our 48 Hour Camaro (the '67, I always forget we have two of those now..) is still by far my favorite car that we have in the shop to drive. Even though it's set up for the track, we can dial down the shocks and take it on roadtrips to the track, and enjoy the ride!

On the brakes, the Kore 3 hubs and brackets have been used many times as mentioned below. We also see quite a few of the 4 piston Wilwood and Baer kits being used these days, some of those kits stay pretty economical.

[dhutton]

How would you rate the ride?..This is strictly street driven, but currently all stock and the ride is awful. I was hoping to improve ride qulity and handling substantially for the investment.

I would rate handling as very good. The ride is good on smooth pavement but harsh on uneven pavement imho. This is very subjective. I will say that the ride of my Art Morrison equipped 69 with their front subframe and rear IRS is far superior but there is no free lunch...

Don

[stab6902]

I'm kind of surprised that you think your "all stock" car rides awful. Can you be more specific about what you don't like? What shocks are you running?

Generally speaking, adding pro-touring style suspension will improve handling, but stiffer springs/sway bars/shocks/bushings by definition firm up the ride. A rear coil-over setup will also ride a little bit better than leaves of similar stiffness, but we're talking minor differences in my opinion.

If you're after a comfy street cruiser, a well sorted stock style suspension is tough to beat.

[dhutton]

For a street driven car I would seriously consider the Ridetech Street Grip. Coilovers are not needed on the street imho.

Don

[ilikeike]

Coilover will be overkill on a basic street cruiser,unless you just want them. A quality after market front spring and rear leaf like Ridetech or Hotchkis... work fine with a good shock.



I'm kind of surprised that you think your "all stock" car rides awful. Can you be more specific about what you don't like? What shocks are you running?

Generally speaking, adding pro-touring style suspension will improve handling, but stiffer springs/sway bars/shocks/bushings by definition firm up the ride. A rear coil-over setup will also ride a little bit better than leaves of similar stiffness, but we're talking minor differences in my opinion.

If you're after a comfy street cruiser, a well sorted stock style suspension is tough to beat.


this is what I was wondering, If it's those cheap KYB gas adjust shocks, there's your problem, lol. those things were horrid on my car.

[bret]

If you do not want/need any ride height adjustment, the StreetGrip system is definitely the most efficient path to great ride quality and great handling. We publish the final ride heights on each StreetGrip system on our website. The coilover/4 link system will offer a wider range of adjustabllity in both ride/handling and ride height. Is it worth the extra money? Only you can decide that...you have to know your priorities. If all I want is a great riding and handling car with little eye towards competition, and I'm on a budget...I'd do the StreetGrip. If I see a little autocross or roadcourse action in the future, or want some ride height adjustability, and have a few bucks to throw at it, do the coilover.
dhutton is correct...ride quality is certainly subjective. I rode in his car a couple years ago and did some adjusting on the shocks. I thought it rode quite nicely, but he was looking for something a bit more plush. I could have likely gotten there but could not do so in a parking lot with simple rebound adjustments. It is also tough to compare the dynamics of a straight axle car to an IRS car...equal performance but certainly a different feel.

[BlackHD]

Has anybody had issues with the top shock mount breaking off from the welds after the use of coilovers? I've been told the welds aren't strong enough to support the weight of the front end and that its prone to breaking off. I have all the Ridetech front end suspension including the tru-turn(stock subframe), car not on the road yet. Any insight would be helpful! thanks!

[dhutton]

Has anybody had issues with the top shock mount breaking off from the welds after the use of coilovers? I've been told the welds aren't strong enough to support the weight of the front end and that its prone to breaking off. I have all the Ridetech front end suspension including the tru-turn(stock subframe), car not on the road yet. Any insight would be helpful! thanks!

I have heard that but seen no evidence of failures. Fake news I think....

Don

[Josh@Ridetech]

Has anybody had issues with the top shock mount breaking off from the welds after the use of coilovers? I've been told the welds aren't strong enough to support the weight of the front end and that its prone to breaking off. I have all the Ridetech front end suspension including the tru-turn(stock subframe), car not on the road yet. Any insight would be helpful! thanks!

Alot of guys weld around their factory upper shock mount for some added strength (and peace of mind). Definitely inspect the factory welds on your subframe. Some aren't bad, some look like they were welded on a Friday, by a guy who really wanted to go home... As long as everything looks like it's in good shape, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I can't say I've ever got a call where a customer said that their shock mount broke. However, there is no harm in welding up the seams and around the mounts just to stiffen everything up. For the record, we have beat the life out of our '67 Camaro for years and those factory shock mounts held up great. We didn't modify them at all until we switched it over to our Instinct shock setup.

[BlackHD]

Alot of guys weld around their factory upper shock mount for some added strength (and peace of mind). Definitely inspect the factory welds on your subframe. Some aren't bad, some look like they were welded on a Friday, by a guy who really wanted to go home... As long as everything looks like it's in good shape, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I can't say I've ever got a call where a customer said that their shock mount broke. However, there is no harm in welding up the seams and around the mounts just to stiffen everything up. For the record, we have beat the life out of our '67 Camaro for years and those factory shock mounts held up great. We didn't modify them at all until we switched it over to our Instinct shock setup.

Thanks for clearing this up Josh!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Thanks for clearing this up Josh!

No problem!