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    Results 1 to 16 of 16
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
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      598

      69 Camaro, complete DSE setup, low ride height, any issues?

      Looking at getting the DSE front sub and rear quadralink. Car is mini tubbed and thinking about a 19/20 setup. I will want the car very low. Anyone know of issues I will have (just suspension related)? Shock length OK for low ride height?

    2. #2
      Join Date
      Jun 2001
      Location
      Orlando, FL
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      10,603
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      Can you tell us what you mean by "very low"? Typically ride height is defined by the rocker height from the street. Are you thinking 5"? 2"?

      Also, are you expecting to be able to drive the car on ordinary streets? Or is this to be a track car or a show car?
      Last edited by parsonsj; 11-29-2017 at 09:15 AM.
      John Parsons

      UnRivaled Rides -- Modern upgrades for your ride.

      UnRivaled Rides recent project -- LS9-powered 69 Camaro

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      Sorry, You are correct as I left that very open for interpretation. The car is 100% street car and my wants are relative to being "very low" for a street car. I don't have a solid number from the rockers. Currently my stock sub crossmember is 4.25" off the ground. I would like to be about .75" lower than this. I would like the aluminum on the front rim to be as close to entering the wheelwell as I can get away with and then the rear be about .5" higher than the front.

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Mountain Springs, Texas
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      4,488
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      Pretty sure you will not have much shock compression travel left at that ride height. Your shock needs to be roughly centered in its travel at ride height, especially on the street...

      You can gain some lowering by using half height subframe bushings.

      Get ready for some scrubbing with the cross member 3.5 inches off the ground. Make sure your oil pan will not scrub...

      Don
      1969 Camaro - LSA 6L90E AME sub/IRS
      1957 Buick Estate Wagon
      1959 El Camino - Ironworks frame
      1956 Cameo - full C5 suspension/drivetrain
      1959 Apache Fleetside

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      I guess my question should have been something more along the lines of asking if there is a better choice in suspension components (other than air) for a street car with the above mentioned "low" ride height?.



    6. #6
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      I believe the DSE sub crossmember is not as low as stock which is one reason for possibly purchasing it. If I stick with the stock sub then I will probably section an inch out of it vertically to increase ground clearance. Understood on the pan as with my current setup the pan was the low point on the car. I also agree on the shocks but obviously I am giving something up to achieve the "look" I want. I would need the shock to bottom before the tires scrub so they would be compressed more than optimum at ride height.

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Apr 2004
      Location
      OKC, OK
      Posts
      3,739
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by CSG View Post
      Sorry, You are correct as I left that very open for interpretation. The car is 100% street car and my wants are relative to being "very low" for a street car. I don't have a solid number from the rockers. Currently my stock sub crossmember is 4.25" off the ground. I would like to be about .75" lower than this. I would like the aluminum on the front rim to be as close to entering the wheelwell as I can get away with and then the rear be about .5" higher than the front.
      Run half height body mounts, that will get you roughly 1/2", or custom make your own and get your 3/4" drop without sacrificing ground clearance. Get 4" stroke shocks for rear instead of the 5" it comes with. You will have to run a smaller tire up front than dse recommends in order for the car to turn. You may have to raise the tunnel to clear the trans.
      Mike Redpath
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    8. #8
      Join Date
      Feb 2011
      Location
      dallas, tx
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      1,729
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      Muscle rods is correct. You will need a 4" stroke on the rear instead of the 5". Half height body mounts can cause other issues. Just go with the reg height ones. The front will tuck very easily.

      69 will look lower than a 67 or 68. Mine is sitting 3 3/8" from subframe to ground. Same height on a 69 would have it really slammed. Do not go 19s and 20s. Go with a 18 x 9.5 and 19 x 11.5 setup. 275/35/18 and a 325/30/19.

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      Why don't you recommend the 19/20 setup? I know most guys seem to prefer the look of the 18/19 but after staring at every setup I could find in person I believe I like the 19/20 better.

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Houston
      Posts
      93
      When you buy a DSE setup it basically has a predetermined ride height. There is some adjust ability in the coil over, but not much. Assuming you want full shock travel, you might have +/- 1/2" of adjustability.

      Look at all the DSE cars and then add an inch of height and that's about where yours will sit.

      1/2 height body bushings will lead to less trans tunnel clearance and air cleaner to hood clearance. It's not a huge issue if you plan for it.

      Where is the performance gain in using a 19/20 setup?

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      South Lyon, MI
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      1,217
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      The crossmember may not be the lowest point. Do you know how low the rails of the subframe are under the firewall? The stock rails are about 2-1/4 inch below the pinch weld on the rockers. Shorter frame bushings can give you another 1/2 inch at best. If you make them less than 1/2 inch thick, you may hit the floorpan.

      My opinion is that less than 4 inches of ground clearance makes a car difficult to drive on the street depending on where you live.

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      The car currently has 1/2 bushings so I will try to use them. I plan to cut the tunnel anyway. I know that on my stock subframe the crossmember is the lowest point. In looking at pictures it appears that the DSE will be about the same at the rails and I THINK a bit higher at the crossmember. I agree that I may not be able to live with the low ride height but I would like to be able to try it. There is certainly no performance advantage to a 19/20 setup and quite a disadvantage in my opinion, I just like the look better and since it is a street car I won't miss the lost performance. I appreciate everyone's feedback, please keep it coming. I will make my purchase tomorrow of either the DSE setup or a ridetech setup.

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      glr0212, in the pics you have posted of your car, where does it sit in relation to the range of adjustment in the coilovers? Fullsize or 1/2 mounts? It is a bit hard to tell from the angle of your pics but it appears to look good. I would prefer a bit lower but would be happy with that I believe.

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Houston
      Posts
      93
      I had to raise the front a little under 1/2" from "center" to minimize rubbing. From the ground to the body line in the front is 24".

      The fender edge is just above the lip of the wheel.

      The back is 25.5" I'm hoping the springs will settle, I think it sits a little high right now.

      The rear is not DSE, its CA 4 link.

      I just got it back from the shop and maybe have 50 miles on it. Had to fix some other issues, and only get to mess with it on the weekends so I haven't tried adjusting the suspension yet.

      This might be a little better picture, please ignore my goofball son

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    15. #15
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      I could certainly live with that ride height. Thanks everyone.

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Nov 2016
      Location
      Sulphur, La
      Posts
      598
      Oh boy, I am feeling a large pain in the wallet! Parts ordered...





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