Thread: I'm back. Suspension ?'s.

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Edit: Darn...I meant to put this in the suspension set-up section. Can anyone help move this please? Thanks.

Finally got the Covette IRS narrowed. Now I need a little help with coil-overs.

I was concidering dual adjustable coilovers. Would a double adjustable be benificial for me on the IRS rear or would I be committing overkill? Speedway has the QA1 single adjustables (for rebound).

How about poly bushed verses teflon spherical? I like the idea of the spherical, just not sure.

Coil-over companies? What do you guys like?

QA1, Aldan, Bilstein, Proshock (I think these are the ones that came with my Street Rod Engineering IFS....no dampening adjustments though), Edlebrock, Carrera, etc etc.

Just cant decide.

Would you recommend I use the factory shock mount on the bottom of the corvette hubs? They are 5/8 diameter just like most of the shock sizes. Will they handle the full weight of the truck or should I make up some brackets using the dogbone (forward struts) bolts? Using the factory mounts will place the coil-overs at a 20 degree rough angle....so I'll have to use the calculator to make up for the angle on spring rate.

Does anyone have an idea of what a 36 Chevrolet trucks weight distribution is....roughly? I believe it should have a curb weight of about 3000 lbs. A 36 Ford maybe very similar. I just need a rough estimate to get me started. I'll weigh it with scales when I get it driveable. Its getting the typical street rod make up. X brace, box plates, corvette IRS, LS1/4L60E, air conditioning, 15+ gallon tank in the rear, IFS from Street Rod Engineering, typical interior, fiberglass fenders, AL radiator. Any ideas would be appreciated. I guessing it to be around 58/42 weight distribution.

Thanks,
Dave

Well I have some experience with some of the coilovers mentioned. I like the qa-1s I have known hal for several years (and just heard he died some years back) up to a couple of years ago. I have rode and performed on bilsteins, penskes, QA-1s and so forth. I believe the QA-1s are the best for the money and more. Oh Hal designed these shocks under Hals shocks, QA-1 bought the rights to them about 5-6 years ago. There singles are great for street and some track use but if your doing alot of high speed turning then you might want to do the double adjustable. Well Thats my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by stormstyles

Well I have some experience with some of the coilovers mentioned. I like the qa-1s I have known hal for several years (and just heard he died some years back) up to a couple of years ago. I have rode and performed on bilsteins, penskes, QA-1s and so forth. I believe the QA-1s are the best for the money and more. Oh Hal designed these shocks under Hals shocks, QA-1 bought the rights to them about 5-6 years ago. There singles are great for street and some track use but if your doing alot of high speed turning then you might want to do the double adjustable. Well Thats my 2 cents.

Cool. Thanks for the informations.

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Richard

Guess I never understood the need for dual coilovers other then aesthetics... I've used most of the brands you mentioned, lately been sticking with the QA-1's mainly because of price and availability....plus if you have access to a shock dyno QA-1 sells kits that you can tune and tweak the internals to you liking. I prefer the poly ends, less noisy down the road then the heim ends, even the teflon lined ones....Probably a bit easier on other suspension components, too because the poly bushing offers a bit of cushioning and absorbs some of the harsh road shocks rather then transferring them to the rest of the suspension as a heim joint does. The trade off is of course a suspension that is a bit less precise and a few more variables on how well it works....

If money isn't the issue, I did have a set of Bilsteins on my '83 Mustang for 5 years with absolutely zero problems.... Their quality is really first rate.

I've also been looking at the threaded body Pro shocks, too. they sure do work great on late models and have a huge selection on valving plus they're rebuildable...Think that's what will be going on the 'maro so I can play with them a bit and see how they work...

If heating of the shocks due to extensive use on bumpy or windy twisty roads, Pro Shock, Penske, and AFCO also sell threaded body shocks (as for coilover springs) with an external reservoir for cooling purposes..... Along with this, they have nitrogen filled shocks, so you can play with the pressure on the gas, too!!!!--Probably not worth it for street use.

If the rear is from a C4 vett---the lower shock mount will not stand the weight of the truck being carried there without some reinforcement---it was designed strickly as a dampner mount. If you do decide to use it , you can reinforce it by makeing an addition that spreads the load to another area, also you need to use small diameter coil overs to clear the half shafts

I may have some drawings if I can find them

If you want dual coilovers I'd suggest going a different route than the vett rear

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Guess I never understood the need for dual coilovers other then aesthetics... I've used most of the brands you mentioned, lately been sticking with the QA-1's mainly because of price and availability....plus if you have access to a shock dyno QA-1 sells kits that you can tune and tweak the internals to you liking. I prefer the poly ends, less noisy down the road then the heim ends, even the teflon lined ones....Probably a bit easier on other suspension components, too because the poly bushing offers a bit of cushioning and absorbs some of the harsh road shocks rather then transferring them to the rest of the suspension as a heim joint does. The trade off is of course a suspension that is a bit less precise and a few more variables on how well it works....

If money isn't the issue, I did have a set of Bilsteins on my '83 Mustang for 5 years with absolutely zero problems.... Their quality is really first rate.

I've also been looking at the threaded body Pro shocks, too. they sure do work great on late models and have a huge selection on valving plus they're rebuildable...Think that's what will be going on the 'maro so I can play with them a bit and see how they work...

If heating of the shocks due to extensive use on bumpy or windy twisty roads, Pro Shock, Penske, and AFCO also sell threaded body shocks (as for coilover springs) with an external reservoir for cooling purposes..... Along with this, they have nitrogen filled shocks, so you can play with the pressure on the gas, too!!!!--Probably not worth it for street use.

I really like the AFCO's because they look clean. I think they are suppose to come out with a T2 which has adjustable dampening. I'll call them today and find out when they will be added to their line of products. So many shocks to choose from. You've sold me on bushed ends. Since I'll be driving this thing every day I was a little worried about wear on the spherical ends...you just re-affirmed my worry. If AFCO doesnt have the T2's available I'll probably go with the QA1 double adjustables. Thanks Dave.

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

If the rear is from a C4 vett---the lower shock mount will not stand the weight of the truck being carried there without some reinforcement---it was designed strickly as a dampner mount. If you do decide to use it , you can reinforce it by makeing an addition that spreads the load to another area, also you need to use small diameter coil overs to clear the half shafts

I may have some drawings if I can find them

If you want dual coilovers I'd suggest going a different route than the vett rear

Oh thanks. If you can give me some drawings, that would be awesome. I appreciate the input on the lower mount. Thats why I asked. I was skeptical on using it for sprung weight. I'll get the ole cardboard out and make up a template to hang them off of the two rear dogbone bolts. Oh...I think everyone mis-understood what I meant by the "double" thing. When I was asking about double I was refering to the dampening only. Not double springs....I do think that would look slick but I definitly dont want the additional cost. Simple and driveable is good for me. Thanks Jerry.

Dave

Well....it looks like its a no go for AFCO. They do have the T2 line available now, but they are blue anodized and conciderably higher than the QA1's.

Plan for wheel clearance also--where ever you mount them

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Plan for wheel clearance also--where ever you mount them

I've got that covered. I narrowed the mustache bar (batwing) a total of 10" and bought shorter camber and toe rods from VBP and shorter half shafts from Denny's making that portion of the rear 3" narrower on each side. Bought 10" rims with 3" back space and back halfed the frame to accomadate all. The spings will be mounted inboard of the frame at nearly a 20 degree angle. Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks,
Dave

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Plan for wheel clearance also--where ever you mount them

Hey Jerry. Were you able to find your drawings? Also, any thoughts on this thread..... http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37547

I think the QA1's should work as far as the coil diameter. They are real small. In fact, I had to do a double-take on them because they looked soo skimpy as far as over-all size. I wish I had gone with more stroke. I wouldve notched the frame a little. I still have 2 3/4 inches of up travel with-out touching but will still have to add a bump-stop to protect the fenders. The one thing I've found I dislike about the fenders on these. Not much room for suspension travel is there.

Thanks,
Dave