QA1 Coil-Over Kit - 67 Big Block Camaro - 450lb or 550lb?

[bigboi]

I am going to pickup the QA1 Coil-Over conversions kit for my 67 Camaro. She has a 496 big block w/ aluminum heads up front w/ stock spindles. I want a stiff ride so the car handles well in turns and is really stable. The front of my car is low right now and I want to keep it that way... You can see how my car sits now in the picture below - I want to keep this ride height. I am not sure what lb. springs are up front right now but I know the car 'floats' too much when going over bumps, dips, etc.

Will the QA1 kit allow me to keep my ride height? I know they say they are adjustable but 'how adjustable' are they?

Should I go with 550lb or 450lb springs?

Any thoughts or suggestions before I order these bad boys?

Brian


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/camaro111-1.jpg

[dhutton]

I'm going to say at least 550 since I have 550 on my AME subframe with an LS1 and the ride quality is great.

[meenaggie]

As a reference DSE puts 650 lb/in springs on their big block coil overs.

[1969CamaroRS]

550 lb/in on mine with a iron big block with alum heads.

[ArtosDracon]

550 minimum.

[L & H Kustoms]

I would not recommend using the qa1 coilover as they have a tendency to bend and leak since they are a conversion coilover and the conical spring and the shock do not travel in the same arc which tends to bend the shaft and then the shock begins to leak. I recommend using either Ridetech coilovers or Varishock which are true coilovers. (both ends of the spring are attached to the shock). Both companies make "bolt-in" coilovers for your application. I am a dealer for both and can save you some $ on either.

[ProdigyCustoms]

550s not matter what brand you select

[79T/Aman]

I would not do the conical type coil over conversion, as L&H mentioned they are a design and engineering failure, you would be best of with a conventional spring in the 600-700# range and get the correct length shocks, I would use double adjustable to be able to fine tune the ride.

[killer69]

I would not do the conical type coil over conversion, as L&H mentioned they are a design and engineering failure, you would be best of with a conventional spring in the 600-700# range and get the correct length shocks, I would use double adjustable to be able to fine tune the ride.

that almost sounds like Vendor Bashing.
we have Sold Hundreds, (And i am sure QA1 has sold a few more than that) with ZERO warranty or failures of the ones we have sold. ZERO.
are there better set ups, sure the ATS Chicane conversion is probably the best if you want to do a little gringing and welding.

back to your original ? 550 is your answer.

79T/Aman how do you get a double adjustable shock inside a conventional spring and then still adjust it???

[PhillipM]

I would not recommend using the qa1 coilover as they have a tendency to bend and leak since they are a conversion coilover and the conical spring and the shock do not travel in the same arc which tends to bend the shaft and then the shock begins to leak. I recommend using either Ridetech coilovers or Varishock which are true coilovers. (both ends of the spring are attached to the shock). Both companies make "bolt-in" coilovers for your application. I am a dealer for both and can save you some $ on either.

I haven't seen any other "bolt-in" coil-over conversions for first gen camaros... Can you provide a link to them?

[79T/Aman]

Blake, not bashing, in fact I did not even mention any names as there are more than one company making them, we are a dealer for one of those companies and they know the issue of side loading the shock that happens when the spring is mounted to the shock on one end and to the frame on the other add to this the lever effect of the spring diameter and it compounds the problem, it's basic physics and engineering, my vote as far as coil over mounts goes is for the Chicane conversion or the DSE style.

As for double adjustable shocks and conventional springs Afco makes a shock that can be used for such an application

[richiedd]

Well, I have double adjustable qa1's on my 70 TA. I do not put a lot of milage on my car, maybe 1500 to 2000 pa at most. Granted, my roads are not as nice as those USA highways, but with about 2 - 3 years use I espected them to last a bit longer, but....passenger side fronts are leaking like hell!!

2c

[osdmike]

I would not recommend using the qa1 coilover as they have a tendency to bend and leak since they are a conversion coilover and the conical spring and the shock do not travel in the same arc which tends to bend the shaft and then the shock begins to leak. I recommend using either Ridetech coilovers or Varishock which are true coilovers. (both ends of the spring are attached to the shock). Both companies make "bolt-in" coilovers for your application. I am a dealer for both and can save you some $ on either.

I was also recommended to go with the "true coilovers" because of the risk of leaking.
Big block with alu heads.
550 lb spring rate.
1" sway bar.

Works for me !

--

[killer69]

The best answer then is the ATS Chicane coil over conversion if your not worried about a bit of welding and fitting, then you get the true coil over and all its benefits.
Then the tall ATS spindle and hiclearance upper control arm and you have the same set up that the
One Lap Camaro has.

[strtlegal]

I'm running what Blake is tsuggesting. It was a huge improvement. For what it's worth I tried to use a different shock then the QA1 but after Blake hooked me up with some 12 way adjustables Im a very happy customer..Are they a Penske or Bilsteins? nope!!!! But 95% of the people dontneed that type of shock..This is coming from a guy that works on King offroad shocks..

Just my two cents.

If you want pictures I have them took a few hours work and one of the best pieces i've added to the car. The DSE kit is nice but needing to pop the ball joint to adjust the ride height was kinf of a drag.

[johnny68]

im going to run 575 coils there not coilovers but just regular 9 1/2 tall i have a small block also have a pair of 700's that carl had on his small block camaro
john

[killer69]

Just an update on the debate, I figured I would go looking and just to back up the QA1 argument about the shock binding I looked at DSE's kit and it is the same design as the QA1 ????? someone should fill tem in on the fact that this is a poor design.

[Bryce]

Does DSE use afco shocks. If so AFCO shocks are a little higher quality than QA1. I believe the shock shafts a larger diameter and the shock itself can take a full droop load.

[strtlegal]

Does DSE use afco shocks. If so AFCO shocks are a little higher quality than QA1. I believe the shock shafts a larger diameter and the shock itself can take a full droop load.

Just curious but does any one here actually droop out their suspension on these cars? I know up travel is a big concern since everyone is lowered but didnt know there would be a concern of full droop. If so i doubt unless they are jumping their car would net enough force to hurt the body of the shock regardless if it have internal bumps or not.

Afco builds a nice shock and if the shock shaft diameter is bigger thats great for strength but doesnt mean the shock piston is any bigger. The bigger the shock body the cooler it can be, but yet again something most people don't need.

If I were building a custom valved shock, that needed tons of cooling and had certain size constrant's ie needing a weld on rod end versus an aluminum shock end to gain more travel then I could totally justify spending the coin. Or if your just like messing with shocks a race shock is great, but for me messing with a shock that yields 3-4" of travel gets boring aftwhile...hahaha

[Bryce]

The shock being able to take a full droop, (think drag launch, example: my 65 mustang launches with the front end off the ground, 300 horsepower and slapper bars) is an example of its strength. From my recent search on shocks; QA1 and varishock cannot handle a full droop like that and could possible cause leakage.

As for cooling issues, I highly doubt on an autocross you will have over heating issues. On a roadcourse after 20 laps maybe. But a monotube with a remote resevoir is the best you are going to do.

[strtlegal]

I could see any shock that helps support the vehicles weight, like the QA1 half coil setup could leak if it was used in a drag racing application. I also have read about a few people concerning this very shock while drag racing. The suspension changes so quickly that the side load the springs create on the shock body possible bend the shafts. I could see the shock getting more distroyed from a full compression hit then a droop especially if the bumps are not setup correctly.

At droop there is alot less support needed then compression. Unless there is some rediculous spring rate that would force the front suspension down I still think the shock would survive. I guess if it was the weight of an axle then yes I could see it

[ProdigyCustoms]

I do not know of many people that have tortured a QA1 Coil Over in a street / drag car as much as me. I have had them in my Street Racer for 10 years since they first came out. Thousands or street miles and a large humidor stuffed with time slips. And my car launches and wheelies about everytime, if it does not wheeilie, it certainly takes the suspension to full droop, and it is not uncommon to have to lift and bang it (bottom out) pretty hard coming down.

I have seen the side loading issue in question and it is almost always with a cheap control arm with a bad shock angle. We just removed a set from a 57 Chevy and they are leaking, and the shock angle is horrific.

I just redid my Street Racer and while I changed to a heavier front spring because I added A/C and a huge radiator, I reused the shocks, they were still perfect.

[Bryce]

That is good to know Frank. Thanks.

[6spdcamaro]

Just an update on the debate, I figured I would go looking and just to back up the QA1 argument about the shock binding I looked at DSE's kit and it is the same design as the QA1 ????? someone should fill tem in on the fact that this is a poor design.

I'm pretty sure that DSE's kit uses a true coilover that supports the spring on both ends.

[PhillipM]

Does DSE use afco shocks. If so AFCO shocks are a little higher quality than QA1. I believe the shock shafts a larger diameter and the shock itself can take a full droop load.

Really? Every AFCO shock I have bought leaked :(

[dhutton]

I'm pretty sure that DSE's kit uses a true coilover that supports the spring on both ends.

DSE's A body coilovers are a conversion style coilover similar to the QA1 coilover.

[6spdcamaro]

DSE's A body coilovers are a conversion style coilover similar to the QA1 coilover.

I was referring to the weld in F-body coil over conversion. I'm not too familiar with their A-body products.

[killer69]

I was referring to the weld in F-body coil over conversion. I'm not too familiar with their A-body products.

And i was refering to the fact that DSE uses the EXACT same design as QA1, on the A body any way so how bad can it be? it's the great debate, i would prefer a true coil over. but most guys don't need it, so the adjustability of the QA1 kit is perfect less the 500.00 gets you adjustable ride height adjustable damping.

[bigboi]

Hmmm.... I just came back to this thread because I knew there would be some good info from my question and sure enough there is! But now it looks like the conical coilover kits are crap - no matter what brand. I am not looking to replace my UCA/LCAs right now and I want something I can fairly easily put it without welding.

So with that being said... It sounds like my choices are the QA1s, Afcos, or DSE. I have some negative opinions about DSE and have not had the best experience dealing with them. I believe some of their products are good but others are crap so I rather not go that route.

I don't need something super crazy... The car is a street car that I drive on the weekends and maybe in the evening here and there. I want something I can thrash around town in but I am not going road racing in it. Hmmm... Decisions... Decisions!

Brian