Hot rods to hell rear suspension?

[PT68Camaro]

Has anyone installed this rear suspension kit on a first Gen Camaro?
The website has pics and says it can be used with DSE mini tubs but can it be used with DSE frame connectors?
What do you guys think about this kit? I figured I was going to spend about 600.00 on new leaf springs DSE rear spring hangers and all the new mounting hardware for 1700. more I could get the Hot rods to hell kit. I'm giving my car a total make over and I'm currently replacing the rear qrtr panels and then mini tubs I had to put my project on the back burner while I worked on the honey do list and then Hurricane Charlie came in to the south of us (no damage here) So now the shop is all clean and I'm ready to get my car in rolling chassis form before spring of next year. Thank you for any info
Jeff

[dennis68]

Great kit if you don't have the time/energy/abuilty to fab your own suspension. There are much better designs out there but this is a big improvement over leafs. Maybe Geoff will check-in, last I checked he worked for HTH.

[derekf]

I'm really, really tempted to get the HTH setup for my 65... lack of funds is the only reason I haven't.

[68LSS1]

PT68Camaro, I've just welded in my HTH kit in my truck (which already had trailing arms). You're more than welcome to check out the parts anytime. I'm in Valrico (south Brandon).

[PT68Camaro]

Thanks for the replys, I thought I new what I was going to do with the rear suspension then I see this kit and it changes everything. With the amount of HP I plan on putting to the rear of the car I think this would be a good way to go.
Thanks for the offer Brian I might just take you up on that offer sounds like an awesome ride your building, Did the kit have good instructions? Have any pics of your truck? Take it easy guys
Jeff

[La68camaro]

dennis what other kits are better?

i was thinking about useing the hotrods to hell kit aswell as i thought it was the best replacement for the rear suspension but if you know of better please clue me in thank you

chris

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Chris,

When are you looking to do your rear suspension? One of my sponsors is developing a 3-link rear suspension setup for first gens, that should handle better than anything out there. I'm not 100% sure on the release date, but it will be going on my car.

[La68camaro]

Chris,

When are you looking to do your rear suspension? One of my sponsors is developing a 3-link rear suspension setup for first gens, that should handle better than anything out there. I'm not 100% sure on the release date, but it will be going on my car.

My body guy is doing the rear sheet metal right now so sooner the better. He says it would be alot easier to do the rear suspension now while its apart. That makes sense to me at least as far as the mini tub goes.

how long will you have to wait for the prototype? and how much will it cost and how hard to install?

I'm thinking we could wait another week or two? something like that if its truly superrior then it would be worth waiting.

Do you know how its difernt from the other 3-links out there?

chris

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Chris,

It's a 3-link set up for road racing. I can't give much more details than that. I'm not sure how long it will be before I get my kit, but it will definitely be longer than 2 weeks. Sorry.

[68protouring454]

ralph, who is making the kit?? mean69??? will it be offered to anyone?? please let us know what you can
jake

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Jake,

It will be offered for sale to everyone, once the final production kit is completed. I will email the producer a link to this thread.

[dennis68]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you Chris. The 3-link is about the best thing going, easy to adjust, easy to construct and packaging is as easy as any other option out there. The only draw back is having to build it yourself, not too many bolt in kits around (although the Fox body guys have a couple). If you have acces to a MIG and some know how you could build your own in short time. Somebody get this guy a link to the infamous 3-link thread please.

Better to the body first so you see what you have to work with as far as packaging the suspension links. It would be easy to place a pick up point right where the rear seat was going to be or right in the middle of a tub. Most 3-links are designed toward road course/cone racing cars. It's design is not ideal for straight line cars (thats why we have 4-link with track locators) so they typically don't use it. This may also be why there are lots of bolt in 4-link kits but very few 3-links bolt in or otherwise. They are pretty much peice your own together systems. I still haven't found a source for links yet (not materials, actual pre-constructed links). Good luck to you.

[Norm Peterson]

Somebody get this guy a link to the infamous 3-link thread please.

You mean this one?

Let me suggest printing a hard copy rather than trying to go through it all at once online.

Norm

[68protouring454]

dennis, i followed that thread and am interested in doing something other than leaf springs,how much can the parts for a 3 link be bought for?? it use's coil overs right?? so the ride height is real adjustable?? please let me know, also if you know sources and or pics of a 3 link on a first gen camaro, thanks for the help, i will go over the thread again
jake

[spanky the wondermuffin]

parts are available from many sources.stockcarproducts.com,colemanracing.com are a couple.get a catalog.herb adams' book 'chassis engineering' is a good starter book.i'd suggest a copy of 'building the late model sportman'steve smith autosports#s157 and 'paved track stock car technology',#s239.ssapubl.com.simple blueprints designed for a home shop builder.nothing wrong with leafs.no lap time proof that any alternative is faster.i'd try to cram bigger tires up front way before i started to worry about the rear.no sense going past a 275 out back if you only run a 245 in front.i ran a 265/45/16 all the way around last season.if you do run big and littles make sure you have small pistons in those rear calipers as you'll need heavy front bias to keep the spins at bay.note also my opinions are my own and often contrary to widely held beliefs.they are based on a few years of developing my car for track day use.

[dennis68]

Yeah running the typical P-T style 2 foot wide out back and 235-245 in the front is probably not the safest way around the race track. Jake, most of the circle supply sources have the ends, locknuts, and swedged ends for making your own links. You'll have to buy some tubing and weld them yourself. I have yet to find anybody who sells prebuilt links with any kind of variety. Matt could easily build you up a few-not sure what he gets to do that but I'm sure it's reasonable. Coil overs are the best way to go, huge range of spring rates and easy to adjust ride height. The combo of coil overs and 3-link are usually in the winners circle at most road events.

[La68camaro]

Ralph does your guy have a ball park figure of when it might be done? we've decided to do the bodywork first+minitub then go to the suspension aspects.

We probly have at least a month or maybe more before selecting.

Does he need anymore prototype subjects?

Dennis/Norm thanks for the help and info I'm trying to look into it more but i cant seem to find much on the link setups but ill keep looking

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Chris,

I can't really provide a solid estimate on when it will be done and ready to be sold, sorry. I would say a few months from now, as an estimate. You could however, run leafs at first, even stock mono-leafs and continue on with the build, and then go back to the rear suspension. I will be doing my bodywork(not paint) before the rear suspension. The mini-tubs are done, and front suspension is getting started now.

[68protouring454]

guys, this may be a dumb question but in a 3 link are the coil overs, staggard or straight across?? like ralph said we could run leafs until its ready to be sold, but i will be welding my crossmember in and really do not want to do that twice, as that is the hardest part of the mini tub
jake

[spanky the wondermuffin]

Dennis/Norm thanks for the help and info I'm trying to look into it more but i cant seem to find much on the link setups but ill keep looking

you didn't check out the books i suggested.coleman has pre made links in 1/2 inch increments up to 40".don't dismiss steve smith just because you've never heard of him.i doubt he's heard of you either.if you are doing mini tubs you are already cutting up the trunk floor,why not just back half it using a rear clip from howe?probably a huge money saver if you are going to pay a fabricator the build a 3 link for you.on a car that you are really going to race the 3 link would be a real advantage,but for one track day a year there is no way this makes sense.if you just want something other than leafs that hth kit is already engineered to fit,once again a big money saver if you are paying someone to work for you.if you are going to race put in a full cage,and a real racing seat with a proper tube frame mount.then do an alternative rear suspension if you still have money left.bigger tires on front will make the car faster.bigger tires out back will only work if you have enough horsepower to outrun everyone on the straights and can block passing attempts going into the corners.that won't make you popular.