Best Subframe for Cruising

[armourmark]

I am looking for opinions on the best front suspension setup (subframes?) for a lowered 67 camaro that will basically be street driven and an occasional drag strip run (rarely). Right now I have a stock sub with Hotchkiss lowering springs, stock spindles, standard Koni shocks, tubular upper arms, stock lower arms both with poly bushings, hellwig sway bar and the car rides like ****. It can take a corner like a madman, but it's so stiff I feel every damn bump in the road and I have some rub on my outside tires. I just want something that rides like a newer car and can handle some spirited street driving. I was originally going to autocross it, but the plan has changed into a regular cruiser. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[astroracer]

Replace the poly bushings with stock rubber and you should see a big improvement in ride quality. The poly makes the ride very harsh as there is no compliance with them. The rubber with smooth things out. With fresh stock bushings the car should still handle very well on the street.
Mark

[Buryingthesun]

The subframe wont change how your car drives, try to change your spring rates. What are the rates of your springs now, what motors in the car?

[dhutton]

I would try different shocks and then springs. Give ridetech a call about shock recommendations.

I wouldn't think a new subframe is needed. That being said my AME subframe had an awesome ride. New car feeling. I am sure DSE and the others are similar.

Don

[armourmark]

I am running a LQ4 (iron block LS for those who don't know) and Hotchkiss springs (Specs: 2" Lowered Front 600 lb/in). I have been thinking about switching to some Viking adjustable coil overs. Any thoughts on Viking?

[armourmark]

Provided I switch to a Viking style coil over, what spring rate should I be considering for 95% street driving with some spirited cornering?

[Buryingthesun]

Provided I switch to a Viking style coil over, what spring rate should I be considering for 95% street driving with some spirited cornering?

I've heard nothing but good things about Viking shocks. I chose to use ridetech myself, But I'm running a LM7 iron block and 800lb springs. Its not together yet and I haven't driven it on the track but I guess it will work for my set-up but I may possibly go stiffer on the springs as well.

[wendell]

I've never seen a race car running any of these coil overs. Further, there are a TON of fast cars running coils and dampers. Really fast cars...

[armourmark]

I hear what you are saying Wendell, but I am not looking for competition level performance either.

[Rod]

a quick way to determine what the suspension is doing....take the shocks off and drive around the block a few times, if it rides better then you need shocks, if it still rides like a floor jack then it must have binding in the suspension, sometimes the bushing nuts are cranked down to much.....the wear on the outer edge of the tires is because the suspension doesn't have enough camber gain

[H20cooled]

I put the Vikings coil over with 450 lb springs on my 67 Camaro, the car is still being put together put I think it should be a great combo, I also have an LQ4 setup.

Rich

[armourmark]

Thanks Rich. I think part of my problem is the lower a arm bushings are too tight. I have the unisteer rack and instead of buying a longer bolt then they supplied, I cinched down on the provided one and barely got all the nut threads on it. Time to get a longer bolt and torque appropriately and then start diagnosis of shocks, springs, etc.

[David Pozzi]

Have you softened the Koni's? What settings have you tried?

[CFster]

We have Vikings in several cars. Very happy with them. Great bang for the buck.

[Rod]

I put the Vikings coil over with 450 lb springs on my 67 Camaro, the car is still being put together put I think it should be a great combo, I also have an LQ4 setup.

Rich

Im not sure about their spring ratings but 450 on a camaro with an Ironblock LQ motor seams very light....from what Ive learned you should only need about 1inch to 1.5 inches of preload on the spring, when you start setting up the car if you have to compress the spring more than that I would look at a higher rate....just a thought.....................hey maybe the Viking tech will chime in here, with help