Full size Chevy suspension help.

[61ragtop]

I have a 61 Chevy Impala with air ride in it. Other than that all I have is typical jobber shocks, stock manual steering, boxed stock trailing arms in the rear and stock a arms up front.

I am looking to bring the suspension up to a respectable performance grade now so I can have some more fun with it. It is a street driven car and most likely wont see an actual track but would like to have it up to par.

I am looking into sway bars, a arms, trailing arms, power steering, shocks.......and anything else you may have to recommend as I am a rookie at this stuff.

Any direction as to what ones to use and or not to use and why would be much appreciated.

For those who have not seen the car here is a link to a mag spread on it.....

http://www.buildmagazine.ca/backissues.html

it is the issue with the bikes on it and starts at page 23 i think.

[L & H Kustoms]

Nice drop top :smoke:
To upgrade the suspension your best bet would be either Chassisworks or Global West. Both companies have systems for your 61. Global west has front and rear suspension and Chassisworks only has components for the front. Either way it will be a big improvement over your stock suspension and help keep the car planted in the curves. Here are links to both companies. I am a dealer for both so give me a call and we can discuss the possibilities and save you some money along the way.
http://www.globalwestperformance.com/1958-64-impala-belair-el-camino-biscayne-suspension.html

http://www.cachassisworks.com/cac_gStreet_coilover.html

[61ragtop]

Thanks Luke, Global was one of the companies I was contemplating for the A arms. The web site I had for global was different though, not as updated. Do you know what the difference is for their upper arm in the rear for the stock rear and for a 9"? I have a 9" in mine with the stock mounts on it but would like one with a curve to it because of how low it sits. Also do they sell their stuff raw so I can make alterations for the air bag mounts? I was also looking at the Currie stuff for the rear.

What are your thoughts on shocks? for the front I have regular bags and the shocks mounted on the outside of the a arm. other than looks is it worth switching to a shockwave from air ride tech or varishock? the rear would I just need a single or dual adjustable?

And sway bars I was thinking Air ride tech or hotchkiss any other ideas? or thoughts on those?

Also I was looking at the CPP 500 series box for steering but not sure of other possabilities or what bar will work with it cause Hotchkiss has a swaybar for stock steering and one for the 605 conversion but all other companies just have the one. I was thinking of starting with the swaybars but dont want to have to get a new front one when I upgrade the steering.

Saving money sounds great I will be sure to give you a call when I get it all figured out. Do you have a toll free #? just curious as I am on Canada's west coast.

[61ragtop]

Also seeing as I have to unfortunately do this in stages what order should I redo the suspension and steering parts upgrades??

[61ragtop]

Any other mods I can do? That looks like a ral nice wagon you got goin Luke, what do you have planned for the frame and chassis components?

[marolf101x]

In the end you want a vehicle that is nice to drive around town, yet can handle well during "spirited" driving. Why engineer the kit yourself? Since you already have it on bags you should consider the rest of our stuff (we make a ton of parts for the 58-64!):
http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=1898&subcats=Y&features_hash=V169

The Street Challenge kit is the top of the line package. It includes sway bars, control arms (including a bent arm for the rear like you requested), tie rod links, double adjust shocks, digital control system, etc.

Though we offer kits, you can still buy all the individual parts as your project progresses.
I would start with better shocks (you probably have the standard blue units, which are valved VERY light). We now have quite a few options, which you can see here:
(NOTE: this page is a link to Shockwaves. However, any shock used in a Shockwave configuration can be used in a Cool Ride set up as well)
http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=1908

Once you can control the suspension movement with better shocks I would add sway bars:
Front: http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=6082

Rear:http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=6084

Once you get further along you can then add tubular control arms to round out the package:
http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=6412
http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=6447

[61ragtop]

Thanks for the info Britt, a few questions....

What are the caster camber differences between the strong arms and stock? are these changes in the upper a arm or both?

Why did you decide to go with the style of sway bar you have for the front over a more tyupical one? Will it clear a 605 or CPP 500 series steering box?

I do not have shockwaves right now so to buy lowers I am wondering if it is better performance wise to have a shockwave over the typicalbag with an externaly mounted shock?

for the rear stong arms I see they have 2 holes in them I guess for a mounting bracket to the bags? Do you sell this bracket if thats what it is for? I also did not notice a curved upper for the rear on the site.

Looks like some nice stuff there though....

[onair]

Brit asked me to answer some questions for you. The arms have 3 degrees extra caster built into them and it is all done in the upper.

On the sway bar, the reason we decided to go this route is a couple of reasons. It will clear any steering setup and it allows us to get the arms in tighter.

The picture you see on the web site of the bar with the 2 holes is an Abody arm. Our production arm has the bag bracket welded onto it.

Our upper arm is curved for more clearance on the rearend. It shows the old style on the website.

The shockwave versus coolride is somewhat of a personal preference. You have alot more opptions with the shockwave setup, but, you can also upgrade the shock on the coolride setup. The coolride setup does allow more travel but sometimes lessens turning radius depending on wheel and tire fitment.

I hope this helps. That is a nice ride.

Rodney@ridetech