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    Results 1 to 18 of 18
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States

      Coil overs on stock control arms

      I've got a 1980 Firebird Trans Am, currently the front suspension is all stock, I've been looking at swapping the front shocks and coils to the QA-1 coil overs, QA1 GS501-10500C: Pro Coil Front Coil-Over System Single Adjustable Shock - JEGS High Performance I really don't want to have to swap out all the control arms as the car is simply for cruising on the weekends, but the front end sits to high IMO, I just want to be able to adjust it to the height I want and only have to take it apart once. I am a little concerned about the lower mounting to the stock control arm, will this need to be reinforced at all? I plan to also replace the rears with the QA-1single adjustable shocks as well. I want a comfortable but safe ride to haul the grandkids around in. I want quality parts and these seem to fit my budget perfectly. Name:  rear.jpg
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      Joe Adams


    2. #2
      Join Date
      Jul 2018
      Posts
      438
      I used coil overs in a Chinese tubular arm which has the same style lower mounting, 2 threaded nuts. I used a large thick washer from an industrial hardware store, removed the welded nuts and drilled holes. I tapered/beveled the side of the washer to fit better in to the underside of the A arm and then welded the washer to the underside of the lower spring pocket. I didn't get any pics after it was all welded.
      20190126_123025 by F G, on Flickr

      20190126_123327 by F G, on Flickr

      20190126_104503 by F G, on Flickr

      20190126_104427 by F G, on Flickr

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      depending on what you want to do with the car that spring rate is not much more than stock and can cause bottoming out if you lower the car, what engine do you have in the car?
      Stoc arms can be re-enforced as well but welding is required.
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States
      Car has a Pontiac 400 in it, no A/C, I used the chart on QA-1 website to roughly determine the spring rate, but would actually weigh the front of the car before ordering. I thought about just cutting the coil down to lower the front an inch, but thought the coil overs would eliminate any guesswork, was just concerned about where the lower mount is in the control arm, the thought of thin metal and 2 bolts holding up all that weight makes me think it needs reinforcing. I don't ever plan to autocross or race it, maybe a little spirited driving, but nothing else. I like how Just 1 More modified his, may just go that route for some piece of mind.
      Last edited by ih8z28s; 12-22-2021 at 06:31 AM.
      Joe Adams

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Jul 2018
      Posts
      438
      Quote Originally Posted by ih8z28s View Post
      Car has a Pontiac 400 in it, no A/C, I thought about just cutting the coil down to lower the front an inch, but thought the coil overs would eliminate any guesswork, was just concerned about where the lower mount is in the control arm, the thought of thin metal and 2 bolts holding up all that weight makes me think it needs reinforcing. I don't ever plan to autocross or race it, maybe a little spirited driving, but nothing else. I like how Just 1 More modified his, may just go that route for some piece of mind.
      Joe, I came across these on the interweb .. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tubul...RoCiZUQAvD_BwE

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by ih8z28s View Post
      Car has a Pontiac 400 in it, no A/C, I used the chart on QA-1 website to roughly determine the spring rate, but would actually weigh the front of the car before ordering. I thought about just cutting the coil down to lower the front an inch, but thought the coil overs would eliminate any guesswork, was just concerned about where the lower mount is in the control arm, the thought of thin metal and 2 bolts holding up all that weight makes me think it needs reinforcing. I don't ever plan to autocross or race it, maybe a little spirited driving, but nothing else. I like how Just 1 More modified his, may just go that route for some piece of mind.
      Unfortunately that chart is useless, we PTFB will have a better Coil over set up in about a week, this may sound like a sales pitch but we invested in getting springs made that will allow the front to be lowered and have a better spring rate to avoid bottoming out and will be packaged with Viking double adjustable shocks for $649.00
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Sep 2010
      Location
      corona,ca.
      Posts
      1,115
      Country Flag: United States
      Well,don't tease us.
      PICTURES.
      72 chevelle.

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by chevelletiger View Post
      Well,don't tease us.
      PICTURES.
      as mentioned in about a week, the springs went to powder coating last week.
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States
      Very interested, will you have non-adjustable & single adjustable available? I'm not going racing, just want a little bit of adjustable height and ride quality while keeping my stock control arms.
      Joe Adams

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Nov 2008
      Posts
      30
      If you just want to lower it, I would just cut the springs.

      No guess work, it’s a 2:1 ratio. Cut off half the amount you want to lower it.

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Jan 2021
      Location
      WI
      Posts
      7
      My car is also just for cruising, from experience I would strongly recommend a dual adjustable shock over a single. I run 600# springs and started out with single adjustable QA1s. Nothing wrong with the shock just could never dial in the ride quality I was looking for. I am now running the dual adjustable Vikings and am much more satisfied with the ride quality I was able to get.

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by ih8z28s View Post
      Very interested, will you have non-adjustable & single adjustable available? I'm not going racing, just want a little bit of adjustable height and ride quality while keeping my stock control arms.
      we combine our springs with Viking shocks and they only make double adjustable, I should have word tomorrow on when the springs will be here.
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Aug 2013
      Location
      Shelton WA
      Posts
      152
      Country Flag: United States
      Definitely want to reinforce the mounting pad on a factory control arm when going to coilover shocks.

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by 79T/Aman View Post
      we combine our springs with Viking shocks and they only make double adjustable, I should have word tomorrow on when the springs will be here.
      Any new developments on these?
      Joe Adams

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by ih8z28s View Post
      Any new developments on these?
      YES!!!!! the truck finally showed up today!!!!


      Name:  271738914_1405352823249937_4822372165500741501_n.jpg
Views: 511
Size:  340.6 KB
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States
      I'll volunteer to be the test bed for these! I copied this from the website, is this the kit pictured above?

      True coil over system.
      True coil over conversion for your 70-81 F-body, this system allows a true coil over to be used in a stock
      frame with minimal cutting and welding involved, self locating brackets also add re-enforcement to the
      upper A-arm mount, two position adjustable upper mount gives you a total of 4" of ride height
      adjustment without running the risk of over extending or bottoming out the shock as hybrid kits do.
      Comes with weld on brackets and Viking double adjustable Warrior coil overs and choice of spring rate.

      70-81 Warrior shock 2CS-400W $699.00
      70-81 Crusader shock 2CS-400C $859.00
      Last edited by ih8z28s; 01-13-2022 at 11:56 AM.
      Joe Adams

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Location
      IL/TN
      Posts
      908
      Country Flag: United States
      no that is not the same as the product I posted a picture of, right now the True coil over kit is on hold because of parts shortage and the price has gone up $100.
      The pic I posted is of the hybrid kit it is $639.00
      This kit requires no cutting or welding.
      Send an email [email protected]
      Attached Images Attached Images  
      https://www.protouringf-body.com "doing what they say can't be done"

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Jul 2010
      Location
      Clear Lake, Iowa
      Posts
      109
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by 79T/Aman View Post
      no that is not the same as the product I posted a picture of, right now the True coil over kit is on hold because of parts shortage and the price has gone up $100.
      The pic I posted is of the hybrid kit it is $639.00
      This kit requires no cutting or welding.
      Send an email [email protected]
      So when will this kit be ready for order? do you have matching rear shocks?
      Last edited by ih8z28s; 02-17-2022 at 09:16 AM.
      Joe Adams




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