Rear suspension comparisons for first gen camaros?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Have not weighed all of them. the Air Bar and G link weigh right at 100LBS, about what leaf springs weigh. Have not weight the AME stuff yet.

[Bryce]

Thanks Frank.

[bret]

I just ran downstairs to check...early Camaro AirBar shipping weight is 98 lbs with the ShockWaves. Allow approx. 15 lbs for the shipping "stuff"...call it 83 lbs installed. I don't remember what the original leaf system weighed.

[onechev]

did you check out super chevy the tci camaro performed extremely
well mary pozzi sure like killing the autocross with it and it was the fastest in the salom course. starting to see them competiting in lots of so cal events.

[Vegas69]

No doubt they have great performance but their spring rates are really high. I watched it run autocross at RTTC. It has NO body roll. Great for autocross, but poor for a pro touring car in my opinion. I like a capable race and road car. You just need to find the middle ground. I'm sure it would do well with less spring rate, just not as competitive. I'd also have to wonder how much forward bit the car has with such high spring rates. It's got to effect body weight transfer. I'm interested to see how they compete once they get a little more hp in the road race and baer stop challenge. I still think a car tuned to ride nice on the open road is better for the three events. The win at these events is going to come on the road course IMO.

[Bryce]

Autocross cars really need to be set up like a go cart. no suspension! or just really stiff springs. Just enough spring to handle the bumps in the parking lot.

[Cdog]

did you check out super chevy the tci camaro performed extremely
well mary pozzi sure like killing the autocross with it and it was the fastest in the salom course. starting to see them competiting in lots of so cal events.

I ran the Fawn/Gold Starlite garage TCI Camaro at the RTTH event. Our car was set up for the street with stock wheel wells. We also had minimal time to set up the car as this was our first time at one of these events. On my hot lap on the road course I over heated the front brakes on the left coming out of the back straight. The bias was set all the way forward. No doubt I would have had a lap somewhere in the top 10 places.

On the autocross we had the bias set to far to the rear. Dialing in the car is a bitch. Especially when you have such limited time to run it.

I've raced open wheel cars primarily so I like the stiffer ride. I actually prefer it. I thought the TCI system was very impressive. The car was very predictable when I threw it into the turns. Especially the double apex left hand er at the far south side of the track. I could toy with the body roll and traction to rotate the car, hit the apex and launch into the next straight away.

I would be building my personal 67 Camaro with the TCI stuff if I didn't already have the Lateral Dynamics 3 link.

http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_0436.flv

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ent=RTTC39.flv

[Roadrage David]

We have been building torque arm suspensions for 12 years now. Our rear kit for the First and Second Gen cars is a 100% bolt-in, completely adjustable, works with mini-tubs, and uses a Delrin bushed front slider and Watts link. It easily falls within your price range. They are available for the 10 and 12 bolt as well as the Ford 9". For more information, email [email protected] or give us a call at 813-986-9302.

I ""realy"" like that system , but 2 things that bother me is 1 no room to use a x pipe exaust, 2 what is aded weight of this system!!,
cant you modify it in a way that a x pipe can be used ?? ...

[redfire69]

You might want to consider the AirBar as well. It can be used with ShockWaves for ultimate adjustability or with coilovers to save some coin.
Here are images and video of the system installed on Velocity: http://ridetechgarage.com/more/1968-camaro-velocity/

Here is more product info:
http://www.ridetech.com/shop/suspens...r-systems.html

Will you have pricing soon on coil ride packages?

[TCI Engineering]

No doubt they have great performance but their spring rates are really high. I watched it run autocross at RTTC. It has NO body roll. Great for autocross, but poor for a pro touring car in my opinion. I like a capable race and road car. You just need to find the middle ground. I'm sure it would do well with less spring rate, just not as competitive. I'd also have to wonder how much forward bit the car has with such high spring rates. It's got to effect body weight transfer. I'm interested to see how they compete once they get a little more hp in the road race and baer stop challenge. I still think a car tuned to ride nice on the open road is better for the three events. The win at these events is going to come on the road course IMO.

I wouldn't consider 400# front springs and 275# rear springs "really high" by any stretch of the imagination. Our car had heavier springs in it for the 2009 Super Chevy Handling Challenge. The car was completely untested prior to that event so there was quite a bit of guess work done beforehand. We continue to test and adjust this car trying to find "The Sweet Spot". Mary and Nick(Licata) can attest to the improvements in ride quality since August '09 and how much faster the car is now vs. then.

Springs are easy to change and we still run 350#/250# springs standard on Cars that will primarily see street usage. We have dozens of spring rate options available for both front and rear so we can properly match the customer's needs. All this testing just gives us more information to properly accomodate our customers.

Sal has been hard at work looking for a new engine program so hopefully we'll have the HP to back up the chassis very soon.


-J

[TCI Engineering]

Here are a couple vids of our car at the 1st annual Vegas Super Chevy autocross. Mary actually asked us to stiffen up the back at this event.

Mary beat every vehicle there by 1.5 seconds driving our car with a 220 treadwear tire.

[bret]

Will you have pricing soon on coil ride packages?

I haven't finalized it yet, but it will be very close [maybe the same] as the AirBar/Black series shockwave system...around $1900 complete

[Patrick]

Frank at Prodigy just hooked up my '68 Camaro with the G-Link. Wow what a difference. I was running DSE's 3in drop leafs. The car actually drove and handled fairly well for a leaf sprung car. But the G-Link with Coilovers is so much better. The ride far exceeds my expectations. I have only put about 20mi on it so my input on handling is limited--other than to say it hooks much better and has better feedback-predictability.

Patrick

[ProdigyCustoms]

275LB rear springs is super high unless there is a extreme shock angle. 175 to 200 (200 being on the higher side) is what we use on all our street 4 links.

On Patricks car above he just did the G Link, the shock was perfect with 200LBS springs.

I know different suspensions use different rates, but if the shock angles are even close to the same, the spring rate should be the same.

[TCI Engineering]

275LB rear springs is super high unless there is a extreme shock angle. 175 to 200 (200 being on the higher side) is what we use on all our street 4 links.

On Patricks car above he just did the G Link, the shock was perfect with 200LBS springs.

I know different suspensions use different rates, but if the shock angles are even close to the same, the spring rate should be the same.

You're absolutely correct Frank, there is much more to consider than just spring rate. However, you can't assume that one spring will work for everyone so long as the shock angle is the same. We have dozens of springs available to fit the customers needs and we have happily exchanged spring rates at no expense to the customer if they are unhappy with the ride quality or want something more aggressive.

We lay our coilovers at 15 degrees. This allows us to package a shorter/lighter shock yet we can still retain plenty of wheel travel.

-J

[DJW32]

Here is a video I took at the optima challenge. This ridetech camaro hooks pretty damn well. Remember, this Camaro has a 427 LS motor under the hood.

[Vegas69]

I'm not trying to say your parts are inferior, I'm simply pointing out that it's set up for autocross then street. I have 175's in mine and it does have to much body roll for autocross but it rides damn nice. Really just pointing out the difference for these guys that think you can bake your cake and eat it too. I'm impressed with the performance. If Mary likes the way it drives, you must have it sorted out well too.

[rickk]

looks good .
rick k

[TCI Engineering]

I'm not trying to say your parts are inferior, I'm simply pointing out that it's set up for autocross then street. I have 175's in mine and it does have to much body roll for autocross but it rides damn nice. Really just pointing out the difference for these guys that think you can bake your cake and eat it too. I'm impressed with the performance. If Mary likes the way it drives, you must have it sorted out well too.

I hear ya, and I wasn't taking it as an insult at all. I just think that you should ride in the car before passing judgement on it. Sal would be more than happy to take you for a 'spirited' ride the next time you're in the area.

-J

[Vegas69]

I'll take you up on that next time I see you.