Help me Design suspension for my LS4 Dune buggy project using 94 camaro subframe

[Shawn MacAnanny]

Ive recently bought an LS4 (5.3L LS2 engine) with a 4T65E-HD transmission (front wheel drive transmission) from a 2007 Impala ss. I'm not worried about the engine and transmission running, i can handle that part. That part im asking for advise with is designing a suspension setup. I am trying to spend as little as possible for right now. I wont be jumping anything really at all, i just want basically a go cart to ride around my farm with.

I just started on it today. I removed the subframe from my 94 Z28 parts camaro. I drug out an old trailer we had and stripped all of the boards off of it. Cut the tounge off of the front of the trailer and welded it to the front subframe. This is ofcourse just a temporary frame. Being i have no garage or even concrete floor everything is being done is my grass and by myself so it's difficult for my to completely frabricate anything.

I plan on mounting the LS4/FWD transmisson on the rear. Possibly lengthening the axels and mounting a set of impala ss spindles/hub/brake assembles to power the rear wheels. I havent picked my engine and transmission up yet but i will be getting them next Saturday where i'll make some temporary engine/transmission mounts to seat i on the trailer frame while i design around it.

I have the 94 camaro subframe in place and a bar temporarly welded across the shocks to keep them from squatting. Tomorrow i hope to atleast get an idea of what i want to do to make the front suspension functional.

Here at the pics of the project. I have about 4 hours on it so far including stripping down the trailer, and removing the subframe.


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The welds arent the best because i only had 1/8" 6011 rods. I didnt think the 4th gen subframe was so thin. I had to run them at 60amps ot keep them from melting the subframe. I have a 225 amp lincoln stick welder, and a 40-70amp fluxcore welder with .035/.030 wire, a sawsall, a grinder, a gas powered chop saw, and a few other things. No pipe benders or anything like that. I do have an entire 10pt cage for a 68 camaro i plan on making a roll cage for this with though.

So what do you suspenson gurus think?

[Shawn MacAnanny]

I'm thinking i might so an X bracing setup across the top of the coilovers down to the k member. Think that would work? I know it would obstruck vision a little but im not too concerned with that.

[Shawn MacAnanny]

My friend Mike came over and we started cutting up some scrap metal and welding it on. So here's some more pictures to laugh at. Total time so far 8.5 hours, total cost $13.99. I'm building this with all of the scrap metal i have in my yard and extra parts ive acumulated over the years. This thing will be flipped, wrecked, and probably catch fires a few times. Which is why im not going to spend any money on it.


The awesome from strut setup (made from grocery store shelf hangers)

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The sweet roll cage from my 68 camaro kit that i got with the wrong hoop

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Lots and lots of reinforment with the scrap angle iron and 1x2 steel i have

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I might build the firewall, install the LT1 brake boster and master cylinder, and the steering column tomorrow depending when i get off work. It should be all ready for the engine by next saturday though.