Succesful Steps In Building a A-Body Suspension

[1nkred1ble]

Define "nice"? Because plenty of cars that handle well but probably seem "harsh" to the average joe?

A wise man once told me that I am going to jump into my chevelle and expect it to ride as nice as my daily driver. So I guess that would be my bench mark for "nice"

[1nkred1ble]

looking for this stance, this is what the site said they used. Do you guys believe theirs more to this stance?

Hotchkis SwayBars
2inch Drop Spindles Front
Four Corner Coilovers
Polished Stainless Steering Shaft
Wilwood 4 wheel disc brake

[BobB66SS]

I have 2" drop spindles, coilovers on each corner, Hotchkis frt bar and DSE rr bar and can get my stance just like the one above (if I wanted). Make sure you factor in the impact on exhaust clearance; my Hooker header collectors are only 3" off the ground as the car sits.

[1nkred1ble]

I have 2" drop spindles, coilovers on each corner, Hotchkis frt bar and DSE rr bar and can get my stance just like the one above (if I wanted). Make sure you factor in the impact on exhaust clearance; my Hooker header collectors are only 3" off the ground as the car sits.

Thanks for the reassurance, i think im going to go with the coil over set up, if you dont mind me asking what coil over and spindle are you using? and how is the drive?

[BobB66SS]

QA1 adjustable coilovers with 450 lb straight rate springs and Belltech 2" drop spindles on the frt. I may have been able to get away with not using the drop spindles given how far up I have the coilovers set to get the ride height where you see it, but that likely would have made the suspension geometry worse with the car down that far. Plus the drop spindles went on with the Baer brakes a few yrs back, long before I added the coilovers, so I elected to stay with them.

The rr susp is 100% DSE. SwivelLink upper and lower ctrl arms, their braces, coilovers, and their sway bar kit. Very easy to install, just a few holes to drill.

The car rides great, even with 40 series frt and 35 series rr tires, and handles even better than I thought it might. Tracks true, no wandering, corners very flat. Haven't had a chance to autocross it yet but for spirited street driving it's a ball.

[gearheads78]

I have 2" drop spindles, coilovers on each corner, Hotchkis frt bar and DSE rr bar and can get my stance just like the one above (if I wanted). Make sure you factor in the impact on exhaust clearance; my Hooker header collectors are only 3" off the ground as the car sits.

I already said it once but its worth repeating. The new combo on your car took it from already incredible to absolutly perfect.

[1nkred1ble]

sorry for my ignorance but whats a "rr" ???

rear end?

[protour_chevelle]

QA1 adjustable coilovers with 450 lb straight rate springs and Belltech 2" drop spindles on the frt. I may have been able to get away with not using the drop spindles given how far up I have the coilovers set to get the ride height where you see it, but that likely would have made the suspension geometry worse with the car down that far. Plus the drop spindles went on with the Baer brakes a few yrs back, long before I added the coilovers, so I elected to stay with them.

The rr susp is 100% DSE. SwivelLink upper and lower ctrl arms, their braces, coilovers, and their sway bar kit. Very easy to install, just a few holes to drill.

The car rides great, even with 40 series frt and 35 series rr tires, and handles even better than I thought it might. Tracks true, no wandering, corners very flat. Haven't had a chance to autocross it yet but for spirited street driving it's a ball.

The other issue you may find without the 2" drop spindle, you run the risk of over cycling the coilover. I do not have any drop in my spindles, but I had to go with a SPC lower control arm that drops the coilover pickup 1.5". I had to do this because of how low my car is so I do not over cycle the coilover.

[1badchevelle]

go coil overs front and rear.

[1badchevelle]

The car rides great, even with 40 series frt and 35 series rr tires, [/QUOTE]

RR = rear tires.

[1nkred1ble]

thanks guys for the feed back, so Front & Rear coilovers & 2 inch drop spindles and that should make me a happy customer correct?

[406 Q-ship]

I have to chime in here. When doing any kind of coil over or even a "shockwave" style shock in the rear of an A-body, it will require a rethinking of the way the lower shock mount is attached to the rear axle housing. The shock stud design for the A-body was NOT designed or even considered to support the weight of the rear of the car. Back in the air shock days guys used to tear out the shock studs with the shocks up for tire clearance. The stock spring location is the best bet for the rear of an A-body. If your looking for ride height ajustability like a coil offers then look at the Stock Car products places for a weight jack for the rear of the A-body, the street stock cars have been using this suspension on and off for decades. Andrew's 70 GTO that won the Real Street uses a weight jacking style spring mount in the rear.

[BobB66SS]

I have to chime in here. When doing any kind of coil over or even a "shockwave" style shock in the rear of an A-body, it will require a rethinking of the way the lower shock mount is attached to the rear axle housing. The shock stud design for the A-body was NOT designed or even considered to support the weight of the rear of the car. Back in the air shock days guys used to tear out the shock studs with the shocks up for tire clearance. The stock spring location is the best bet for the rear of an A-body. If your looking for ride height ajustability like a coil offers then look at the Stock Car products places for a weight jack for the rear of the A-body, the street stock cars have been using this suspension on and off for decades. Andrew's 70 GTO that won the Real Street uses a weight jacking style spring mount in the rear.

Absolutely right and an excellent point. The DSE rr kit includes a substantial mounting bracket for the coilover that attaches to the lwr ctrl arm bracket on the axle housing. Make sure any system you use has done their engineering homework for that change in load.

[1nkred1ble]

I have to chime in here. When doing any kind of coil over or even a "shockwave" style shock in the rear of an A-body, it will require a rethinking of the way the lower shock mount is attached to the rear axle housing. The shock stud design for the A-body was NOT designed or even considered to support the weight of the rear of the car. Back in the air shock days guys used to tear out the shock studs with the shocks up for tire clearance. The stock spring location is the best bet for the rear of an A-body. If your looking for ride height ajustability like a coil offers then look at the Stock Car products places for a weight jack for the rear of the A-body, the street stock cars have been using this suspension on and off for decades. Andrew's 70 GTO that won the Real Street uses a weight jacking style spring mount in the rear.

thanks for that reply, but is there anyway you could translate that to a car newbie???? lol i tried fallowing what you where saying but you got wayyyyy tooooo technical for me, this is the first car ive ever tried to work on, so its kinda of hard to fallow you.
i really appreciate the help though if it wasent for you and the rest of the guys chiming in i would even more lost that i am now.

[1nkred1ble]

Absolutely right and an excellent point. The DSE rr kit includes a substantial mounting bracket for the coilover that attaches to the lwr ctrl arm bracket on the axle housing. Make sure any system you use has done their engineering homework for that change in load.

http://www.detroitspeed.com/productp...oilovr-kit.htm

this is the set youre talking about right?

[1nkred1ble]

& whats the biggest difference between single & double adjustable shocks?

[1badchevelle]

What that means you need to change out some parts to reinforce the mounting or you are f@c#ed. When you go coil over you remove the weight of the car from the rear axel(shocks and coils) to just the mount loc from two bolts of the coil overs.

[1badchevelle]

Also check this thread out it will give a similar coil over set up as it is adjustable.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...n-2-0-a-3.html

[1nkred1ble]

Thanks!!!!
Now check your email!!!

[6'9"Witha69]

& whats the biggest difference between single & double adjustable shocks?

Single adjustable only allows control over compression while double allows control over compression and rebound.