jrostocki

Looking for the best c3 front suspension upgrade (Smallblock). What is better?
Looking for the best ride- not going racing anytime soon

Coil overs
Semi coilovers
Fiberglass leaf
upgraded coil springs

Yellow73SB

Stock springs big sway bars

flynhi

Front shock tower spreader bar
TRW rear composite spring
Bilstein HD shocks
Poly Bushings
1 1/8" front sway bar
5/8" rear bar
17" wheels and tires

These come AFTER
steering end links
rag joint
idler arm
ball joints

Twin_Turbo

front & rear fully adjustable double a arm susp w/ coil overs

turtlevette

You sure are an impressionable tike.

They beat you down....huh.

The car comes stock with big sway bars. HELLO???

GrandSportC3

When I still drove my blue/white '68 on the street, I had 460 lbs/inch front coils with KYB shocks and 330 lbs/inch composite rear spring with Monroe rear shocks..
I had stock front swaybars and stock big block rear sway bars..
Loved the ride.. Handled great in turns and had good comfort!! The setup wasn't stiff enough for road racing but still handled great!

LFZ

Crunch-o-Matic

For example, I have a 73 vert SB ZZ4 w/ 5 speed and like to drive the car in town and on the highway.

Suspension it is ALL new. I have the Street & Slalom System PN#42002from VBP. 360mono, 550 coils, Bilstein shocks, all poly bushings, tubular upper control arms, sway bars, all new balljoints, idler arm, blah, blah blah. I bought the kit from VBP. Car handles great but the ride is a bit stiff. Always a trade-off.

I could probably do fine with a "lighter" front coil since I have reduced the weight in the front w/ aluminum radiator, alum heads & intake, gear redux starter etc.

I am happy with the kit I purchased. Besides, I think there is a point of diminishing return when it comes to getting these antiquated designs to perform to modern standards. I am not saying you cant get alot out of these cars but I am saying that you can spend a ton of money and not be as far ahead as you might think.

84rzv500r

Jason Staley

For best ride/crusing suspension, I'd probably stick with factory springs .... get new ones, the old ones are probably worn out quite a bit. Spend the money getting good shocks (not necessarily stiff ones) - KYB2's, Edelbrocks, Bilsteins HD (not sport), ...

Also, get all new ball joints, tie rod ends, steering contol valve, flexible steering joint (or "rag joint"), and new bushings. Its amazing how a good refreshing of the suspension will make your car feel. Oh yeah, adjust the steering box too.

On a slightly different note, get a lowered camber rod bracket that mounts to the bottom of the differential (VPB, vansteel, etc.). This will take alot of the rear steer out of the car as you go over changes in the road surface. One of the first mods I did along time ago and it had an incredible improvement in the ride quality.

classiczx

Well, here's my suspension work estimate from a specialty shop in NY.

**************************************** ********** ***** *Part cost*********************************** Labor hours
*
Replace water pump*************************** **$ 85.00*********************************** ****** 5.0
Replace a/c compressor*********************** *$366.40******************************** ********* 4.0
Remove pulleys/clean and paint*********************************** ********** ********************* 2.0
Replace all belts*********************************** $* 68.00*********************************** ***** 1.0
Rebuild frt. suspension************************** $ 319.00********************************** *****16.0
Blast/clean/paint suspension parts********** ---------*** ************************************** 4.0
coolant********************************* ********** ****** $ 18.00****
frt suspension upr/lwr bumper set************ $ 38.00*********************************** **** inc
HD Gas shocks (Bilstein)* ******************** $ 460.00********************************** ***** 2.0
R134 conversion for A/C freon**************** $125.00********************************* ******* 1.0
R134 a freon*********************************** ****** $110.00
4 wheel alignment******************************* ****$150.0 0
Paint materials******************************* ******** $40.00
*
Totals********************************** ********** ****** $1779.40******************************** 35.0
*
Parts************************ *$**1779.40
Labor* @$85.00********** $* 2975.00
Total************************** $* 4754.40
*
does not include towing. This is an estimate, there could be additional parts needed once we get into it and labor times are approximate. Actual time may vary.*

Thank You for your authorization on Tuesday to continue with the job. The parts have been ordered and should be here in a couple of days.
*
Additional work:
PARTS: rear bearings, hubs and spindle flanges on both sides
parts $ 1035.00*
*
labor: *10.5 hours X 85.00 = 892.50
*
tires:**** $ 440.00** *Firestone Indy 500***white letter 225/70R15
*
mount and balance tires**** $80.00
*********************************** ---------------------------
************************************ $2447.50

Total Estimate: $7201.90



They said the car will drive beautifully after the works done...!

jbierschwale

Holy Chit Dude!!

That bill is more than twice what I paid for my CAR!! I don't understand how you guys pay for this stuff... I mean, I make decent money, I and couldn't IMAGINE paying a bill like that...

classiczx

I'm just one of the dumb guys who can't do the work myself.

I was shocked at the bill but its a high end shop and they photo-document their work onto a CD for their customers so I'm trusting them to do it perfect.

jbierschwale

Just out of curiosity... what do you do for a living?

I like that spoiler on the front of your car... gonna get me one of those bad boys soon...

Twin_Turbo

That's alot of money for a CD...it's an insane price and a pure rip off!!

What's this:
Additional work:
PARTS: rear bearings, hubs and spindle flanges on both sides
parts $ 1035.00*
*
labor: *10.5 hours X 85.00 = 892.50
???????????

Am I reading this right, 2 grand to set up a pair of rear bearings? Man, I want in!!!


2 hours work to install a pair of shocks? I could do them in probably 20 minutes (all 4)
5 hours for a water pump..maybe an hour if everything is working against you
4 hours to remove ac compressor (not the whole system? just an ac compressor???)
16 hrs for a front susp???

...no need to go on... absolute insanity here

I helped a friend w/ his 69 vert, I removed the front & rear suspension, AC components, steering system (& pump), radiator & shroud, hood, brake MC & booster...basically stripped the car except for the engine in a day...this is insane

These guys are smoking crack! Are you sure they are working all those hours or are they shooting pics, I wouldn't want to pay someone for shooting pics...fix the damned car!!!

I'll do it for half!!!!!

classiczx

I'm just an artist / designer working for a clothing company.

classiczx

I know... crazy prices but he doesn't charge anyone else less comparatively for resto work / mods.. etc.... so I'm not being ripped off based on what everyone else is paying him.

I'm sure I could have easily found someone who would do it alot cheaper but I've had bad experiences so I'm just gonna take a chance and hope I'll be happy with everything he does.

Yellow73SB

They come stock with 1 1/4 sway bars?

He's driving it on the street and doesn't need stiff springs becuase he wants a good ride. He needs some good shocks and to replace bushings and many other things that other people have mentioned also.


Edit: ahhhhh I get it . No sorry no 850# springs yet. They are only 600-625 now. Besides im not recomending 850# springs for a good ride

jrostocki

Thanks for all the help guys!

I am sure that I am just like the rest of you out there- wanting to remortgage my house for that c5 suspension and tube frame- but at some point reality has to set in. I love driving my car- but sometimes it feels like being in a washing machine when I hit bumps. I put in a new composite monoleaf in the back (the VBP adjustable one) with the bilsteins Much better ride- but that could also be because both shocks were toast- one of them the fluid was leaking out. (FYI its a 68 convertible)

Smooth72

Have VBP send you one of thier books. They have great customer service.
Give Pattie a call, they don't mind consulting.