Best aftermarket C3 Suspension upgrade
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 |
Stock springs big sway bars
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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 |
front & rear fully adjustable double a arm susp w/ coil overs ;)
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Originally Posted by Yellow73SB
(Post 1558094812)
Stock springs big sway bars
They beat you down....huh. The car comes stock with big sway bars. HELLO??? |
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! |
Originally Posted by turtlevette
(Post 1558095291)
You sure are an impressionable tike.
They beat you down....huh. The car comes stock with big sway bars. HELLO??? |
For example, I have a 73 vert SB ZZ4 w/ 5 speed and like to drive the car in town and on the highway. :D
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. |
Originally Posted by turtlevette
(Post 1558095291)
You sure are an impressionable tike.
They beat you down....huh. The car comes stock with big sway bars. HELLO??? |
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. |
Well, here's my suspension work estimate from a specialty shop in NY. :willy:
**************************************** ********** ***** *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 :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: :willy: They said the car will drive beautifully after the works done...! |
Holy Chit Dude!!:eek: :willy:
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... :cheers: |
Originally Posted by jbierschwale
(Post 1558103789)
Holy Chit Dude!!:eek: :willy:
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... :cheers: 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. :flag: |
Just out of curiosity... what do you do for a living? :blueangel:
I like that spoiler on the front of your car... gonna get me one of those bad boys soon... |
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!!!!! |
Originally Posted by jbierschwale
(Post 1558103925)
Just out of curiosity... what do you do for a living? :blueangel:
I like that spoiler on the front of your car... gonna get me one of those bad boys soon... |
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
(Post 1558103974)
That's alot of money for a CD...it's an insane price and a pure rip off!!
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!!!!! 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. |
Originally Posted by turtlevette
(Post 1558095291)
You sure are an impressionable tike.
They beat you down....huh. The car comes stock with big sway bars. HELLO??? 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 :rofl: . No sorry no 850# springs yet. They are only 600-625 now. Besides im not recomending 850# springs for a good ride :D |
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) |
2 Attachment(s)
Have VBP send you one of thier books. They have great customer service.
Give Pattie a call, they don't mind consulting. Attachment 48173240 Attachment 48173241 |
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