Finalizing Suspension (with questions)

[madmax]

OK guys here it goes:

I'm building a moderately budget 500-600 hp street '69 (most likely a big block as of now). We will be making a few passes at the strip, but aren't going to be road racing. We are going to weld in subframe connectors and probably a conservative 4 point rollbar. We just want a nice comfortable driver that will take a turn and handle like a modern car, rather than a soap box. Here is what I have come up with so far, and please make any criticism you can think of:


Front
(Tire size unknown)
1. Guldstrand Modification
2. Koni Classic adjustable shocks
3. Hotchkis springs (recommendation on lbs/in?)
4. Hotchkis sway bar (what size?)
5. Stock LCAs
6. DS&E tubular UCAs
7. Del-a-lum bushings
8. Unisteer R&P
9. Bear or Wilwood 13" brakes


Back
(335 with 11")
1. DS&E tubs
2. DS&E 2" Drop leaf springs
3. Hotchkis sway bar (what size?)
4. 12" brakes
5. Ford 9" or Dana 60 rear (if it matters)

Thats what I have been thinking, anyway. What do you all think?

--Max

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Max,

That sounds like a pretty good plan. To answer some of your questions:

Front:
Tire size - a good size to run on a '69 (w/ stock sub) would be a 245 on a 8" wide wheel with somewhere around 5" of b/s.
Front springs from hotchkis- I think they only come in small block or big block rates.
Hotchkis sway bar - 1 1/8" hollow

Rear:
Run that 335 on a 12" wide rim. 12" wide is really the minimum recommended width from the manufacturers to run a 335, although you can get it to fit on an 11" wheel.

Don't run a rear sway bar. With stiffer leafs they tend to induce oversteer. Do a search in the suspension forum on this, there's a few really good threads. Plus, with the 245s and 335s the car is already going to want to push. You may want to run a 315 in the rear with the 245s or work on getting something a little bit bigger up front with some mods.

As for the rear, I'm running a ford 9", but I guess it could be tossed up to personal preference?

[madmax]

Thanks a lot Ralph. You seem always seem to find one of my threads and really answer my questions thurouly. I'll search the forum, but what do you need to do to get a wider tire up front? Flare the fenders a bit? Or is it more drastic than that?

Thanks,
Max

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Max,

Much less drastic than flares. Please don't flare the fenders on a '69 :). One way to get larger tires up front is to install some steering stops to limit the turning radius a bit, or just deal with some frame rubbing (at full lock). Check out CarlC's website, he details how he got 275s on the front of his '68. The squared off fenders on a '69 might pose a problem for the 275s as compared to the rounder fenders on 67/68s, though? Maybe someone with a '69 could shed some light on this.

But, seeing as you're not going to run this car on a road course, I doubt you'll have a problem with the car pushing. You could probably just run some 255s on a 17 or 18x8 or 8.5 and call it a day.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Here's a link for Carl's site: http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

[madmax]

Thanks to everyone who replied... (Ralph)

I have a couple more questions. I am getting ready to order through the DS&E group purchase, and to save a couple bucks I am just going to order their Speed 1 kit.

I am going with g/Force KDW 255/35/18 and 335/30/18. I've heard some pretty good things about this tire and its a little over half the price of PS2s.

These are going to be on 18x8s and 18x12s Bonspeeds.

What backspacing should I get? I was told by DS&E 5.5", but that doesn't sound right to me...

Also, should I go with a 2" or 3" drop? I've seen a lot of pictures and read some threads and the general consensus is to go with the 3". Anyone care to cast their vote? With the 3", am I going clearancelearence problems?

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Max,

If you're going to be purchasing a rear, then choose the backspacing according to the look (dish of the wheel) you want. When it's time to buy a rear, mock up the wheels and tires, and measure the distance between, the rear end company should be able to factor in the width of the brakes and get you your measurement. Of course, if you're using a stock rear, then go with what DSE recommends.