1979 Trans Am F Body Please Help Me Choose a Suspention Kit

[FunHuman]

Hi people brand new here (I will post pics in the New section). I just bought a 1979 T/A 10 Anniversary, 400 4-Speed, 20k Original miles.
I love it, but as usual I am ready to make some improvements. Most of my autocross experience is dodging pedestrians racing around the city.

I will probably leave the engine and transmission alone (I think, though a 5-speed would be nice). It's not a high horsepower car but with the 4-speed and some twisty roads there is lots of fun to be had. Track day maybe?



I've done a lot of research and made many phone calls including, Hotchkis, QA1, PTFB, ridetech, Restore a Muscle car.
ridetech and Pro-Touring F Body are spoken of highly and sell most of what I want. Though Ridetech does not carry a rear sway bar (coil over rear only) or frame braces.

I am between the Ridetech Street grip suspension kit w/control arms and sub frame connectors. The kit includes most of what the PTFB kit has but is missing the rear sway bar and G-Braces

Or the Pro-Touring F-Body GT pro front handling kit w/control arms, GT Pro rear leaf springs, solid bushings/sub frame connectors, Pro G-Braces. Both kits include rear leaf springs etc,

There is a pretty significant cost difference, rounding up with delivery Ridetech $6150. ($5400.+$750. add a rear sway bar, frame braces), PTFB $3600. adding the missing pieces $2550. difference! That is huge and price does not always equal performance gains.

Because the car is silver/gray the only aftermarket wheels I like are the Year One 18x9 Billet honeycomb w/black or anthracite gray center.
Those are ridiculous money and of course nothing is close.

I know this is probably overkill for my use but that's OK because I know the minute parts start being replaced, I would ask myself "why didn't you do that while you were at it?" Let me overspend my money for satisfaction .
So what do you guys (people) think?

[79 Camaro]

Tough call on going with a complete kit from one supplier or piecing it together from a few suppliers. Current project is a 80 Camaro (28K original mile car). LS3/4L60E swap.
Because I'm cheap I use a few different suppliers. Hotchkis front and rear springs. Bilstein shocks all around. Summit brand tubular upper and lower a-arms. Summit brand upgraded front and rear sway bars. No sub frame braces. Built my subframe connectors. Material cost maybe $50?
Solid sub frame bushings.
I like and use TTII 5 spoke wheels. 18's all around.

[BonzoHansen]

I suspect you'd like the PTFB setup and use the savings to buy your wheels & tires.

UMI is another option.

[yellow1098Greg]

I would have to advise to go with PTFB also….I have the entire GT Pro front and rear setups on my car with subframe connectors/soild bodybushings/Gbraces and Viking adjustables front and rear along with the anti squat brackets …..I left the lower control arms stock

Dave at PTFB is very helpful and knowledgable about these cars he hasn’t steered me wrong…my car handles like a new sports car and handles my high HP very very well and I just tested the anti squat brackets at the drag strip and man what a difference. I Think you would be very happy!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Obviously a little biased opinion but I have no problem stating facts either. My Firebird was phenomenal to drive on the street, it handled great even with the standard kit spring rates, and the stance was spot on. A little more expensive, however, there's alot more that goes into it as well. The four link was a night and day difference in the car.

If you have any questions, get with me anytime.

[Jk918]

There both great choices but I'd take the savings.

[DocsTa]

Give a call to Dave at Pro Touring F bodies. The man has much knowledge and proven systems for much less cost.

[FunHuman]

So I went with PTFB.

Gt Pro Suspension kit, Pro G Braces, Frame connectors and solid body bushings.
Spoke with Dave, he advised me, knows everything, all good.
Arrived within a week of ordering.

[FunHuman]

Hi People, the bird is finally getting the work done.

An Issue was discovered. The shop doing the work pointed out that the 1LE lower control arms sold by PTFB have no flange around the bushings.
I was told that this can create a metal-on-metal situation and a clicking sound from the front end because of play present in the sleeves.
The shop called Dave and he said keep them greased. Ok, I guess.

The tubular control arms have a flange as can be seen in the photo. It is obvious! Has anyone had an issue?
I wanted the tubular lowers arms, but Dave did not have them in stock and claimed the difference was minimal.

I am calling Dave this morning, but my car is now on the lift and these guys are packed with muscle cars trying to get work done.
They even suggested going back to stock, but damn I've been waiting week!