alnoe
03-14-2012, 06:35 PM
It is hard to believe, but my 1967 rs/ss has been together for over 14 years. I built the car toautox, open track, drag race, drive to work, take the kids for ice cream and baseball practice, etc. Over the last 14 years, I probably have put 40K miles on the car, and the current parts on it have served me very well. However, after Goodguys Columbus last year when I noticed the car pushing a bit, it occurred to me that the front shocks were the same Koni reds as when I built the car 14 years ago. It turns out that one was leaking, which surely was contributing to the car pushing a bit. The more I thought about it, the flexible brake lines are the same ones that came with the Baer kit 14 years ago, same wheel studs, etc. Probably a good time to freshen and update the car for better handling and also safety!
While the rear suspension has been changed several times, it is now at a point where the rear suspension seems to work really well. I used a Ridetech triangulated 4 link with Afco double adjustable coil overs. After running it for a few years with bushings, I elected to change over to Teflon lined rod ends, which are a little noisier but do let the suspension articulate freely. The Ridetech 4 link works very well! I installed the rear Ridetech kitabout 7-8 years ago, and got one of their first kits (I maybe was the first one to use coil overs with the kit-I think I received kit #4 or 5), and it has worked great for many years and LOTS of abuse.
On the front end, I went back and forth between using a complete DSE subframe, or sticking with stock. I am going to keep the stock subframe for now, as it is welded into the car and I did not want to spend 3 months pulling the engine and trans,etc. If I do change the subframe, I will go with the DSE assembly as I do think their subframe offers some advantages to the stock subframe, and all of their other products I have used or become familiar with are like jewelry-very nice, well-engineered products.
Back in 2001, the car was featured in Chevy High Performance (Thanks Jeff Smith!), and had pretty trick stuff for “back in the day”:
Global west del rin bushings in stock a arms
Koni Red Shocks
550 #/in coil springs
Gulstrand mod
Stielow spindles with a c4 hub/bearing pack assembly
Baer PBR caliper kit and 13” rotors
I contacted Baer and sent the calipers to them for new seals, flex lines, and re-powder coating. The Baer brakes work great, and there really is no need to upgrade them (maybe I will change the rotors later this year to aluminum hat versions to save a couple of pounds). I will also replace the wheel studs with ARP long studs just to be safe.
I ordered Ridetech sway bars, triple adjustable shocks, andPro Forged control arms through my employer, Summit Racing. As the parts start to arrive, I will postpart # links and pictures. I am excited to get started thrashing as we have had nice weather this week!
Time goes quickly, so make sure to take the time to look over your car every year. I was surprised to find the shock leaking, a sway bar end link chewed up a bit, etc. 14 years has gone by pretty quickly!
Pics below are from Columbus 2011 Goodguys.
56652 56653
Last pics are the starting point for the front suspension:
566565665756658
Thanks
Al Noe
While the rear suspension has been changed several times, it is now at a point where the rear suspension seems to work really well. I used a Ridetech triangulated 4 link with Afco double adjustable coil overs. After running it for a few years with bushings, I elected to change over to Teflon lined rod ends, which are a little noisier but do let the suspension articulate freely. The Ridetech 4 link works very well! I installed the rear Ridetech kitabout 7-8 years ago, and got one of their first kits (I maybe was the first one to use coil overs with the kit-I think I received kit #4 or 5), and it has worked great for many years and LOTS of abuse.
On the front end, I went back and forth between using a complete DSE subframe, or sticking with stock. I am going to keep the stock subframe for now, as it is welded into the car and I did not want to spend 3 months pulling the engine and trans,etc. If I do change the subframe, I will go with the DSE assembly as I do think their subframe offers some advantages to the stock subframe, and all of their other products I have used or become familiar with are like jewelry-very nice, well-engineered products.
Back in 2001, the car was featured in Chevy High Performance (Thanks Jeff Smith!), and had pretty trick stuff for “back in the day”:
Global west del rin bushings in stock a arms
Koni Red Shocks
550 #/in coil springs
Gulstrand mod
Stielow spindles with a c4 hub/bearing pack assembly
Baer PBR caliper kit and 13” rotors
I contacted Baer and sent the calipers to them for new seals, flex lines, and re-powder coating. The Baer brakes work great, and there really is no need to upgrade them (maybe I will change the rotors later this year to aluminum hat versions to save a couple of pounds). I will also replace the wheel studs with ARP long studs just to be safe.
I ordered Ridetech sway bars, triple adjustable shocks, andPro Forged control arms through my employer, Summit Racing. As the parts start to arrive, I will postpart # links and pictures. I am excited to get started thrashing as we have had nice weather this week!
Time goes quickly, so make sure to take the time to look over your car every year. I was surprised to find the shock leaking, a sway bar end link chewed up a bit, etc. 14 years has gone by pretty quickly!
Pics below are from Columbus 2011 Goodguys.
56652 56653
Last pics are the starting point for the front suspension:
566565665756658
Thanks
Al Noe