mrvette

OK, when I got my '72 convertible, everything that moved was replaced except the engine and tranny, done right away as the entire front suspension was shot, and so was the rear....while I was at it, i installed a VBP rear sway bar, heavy 1.25 front bar, and VBP glass spring, and VBP 480?? lbs front springs....urethane bushings throughout....as well as '92 wheels and tires....and KYB white shocks from VBP....

OK, so the situtation is this,....up north were all this was done had better local roads than down here, and too boot they have these inane stupid rumble strips around this school there is virtually no way around getting in and out of here....so question is....what is the biggest thing to change to make the car smoother riding.....

I"m thinking front springs, softer shocks,and eliminate the rear sway bar, and lighten up the front sway bar...I still have the old original....

due to arthritic problems, I really just don't feel like messing around too much,,,just get in and get it over with....so any suggestions are welcome...

even the road patches are so crude down here, the car is getting shaken to bits...and it's time to stop that....

GENE

Jason Staley

Here's what I have that gives a good ride and better than stock handling.
VBP Front and Rear transverse mono leafs set at the lightest setting
1" Front sway bar with polyurethane end links
No rear sway bar
KYB2 shocks - these are not as stiff as the "normal" KYB shocks ... VBP sells them specially valved to improve the ride with a glass rear spring

Hope this helps. Rides much nicer than before when I had the 1.25" front sway bar, 5/8" rear sway bar, and koni shocks.

:cheers:
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/

Matt Gruber

tire pressure makes a huge difference.
a temporary solution is a pillow under your butt.
don'tlaugh to hard til u try it.

mrvette

hehe...the pillow is for my short wifey-poo to aid her in seeing over the wheel.... :D but the car suffers over these roads pretty badly...the impact shaking even from unexpected potholes is crazy....much more than even her Escort....

Yeh, think I will switch sway bars....and maybe springs, and I think the shocks are meant for plastic spring, as they came from VBP also at the same order....maybe I should just take the shocks off in the rear??? :lolg: :lolg:

GENE

MotorHead

Get Bilstein shocks made a huge difference in mine, I would avoid manhole covers and potholes like the plague before now I just drive over them :D

zwede

Get stock springs, edelbrock IAS shocks. You can keep the swaybars for handling. Yes, the ride suffers some, but not much. Set tirepressure no higher than 28 PSI. Install rubber body mounts. The rubber bodymounts from 73-up make a tremendous difference in ride and noise.

Matt Gruber

one trick that helped on my stiff and choppy 61
Loosen the sway bar about 1/4" gap. still helps in corners but doesn't fight dips going straight.
this trick has the effect of cutting bump spring rate in half until the bar engages :cool:

Chuck Harmon

I don't see what the sway bars have to do with ride smoothness. If both tires hit the same rumble strip at the same time, the sway bar ends move up and down together without any effect. It is only when one wheel is trying to go up while the other is trying to go down that the sway bars do their thing, i.e. a curve or a pot hole.

My vote is for reduced tire pressure. It sounds like you've done a great job making the '72 handle much better. Unfortunately, you are now paying the price. There are few times when you can have your cake and eat it too. I think you would like the handling & comfort of a C5, but you will pay a large sum of $$ to get that combination. the same goes for horsepower. The new ZO6's have as much or more power than a 435 tri-power, yet idle as smoothly as a L48. All this with fabulous mileage too, But at significantly higher cost.

I am looking into the foam seal stuff for inside the frame. If it actually does stiffen the chassis by 40%, a somewhat softer suspension will work just as well as the high rate ones with the flexible flier frames we got from the factory.

Chuck

MIKER

I'm anxious to hear the results from someone doing the foam fill / seal deal. What method do you intend to use for measuring the actual changes in rigidity for before and after?

Gene,
How much air pressure do you run in your tires?
Without a doubt, 15" wheels and tires would ride better. :yesnod:
I hope you can find a fix that will make the ride more tolerable for you and your Vette.

Bacchus

If you decide to swap out your springs and shocks, let me know! I'll buy your old stuff for my '72.

Brian

stinky

[quote] I am looking into the foam seal stuff for inside the frame. If it actually does stiffen the chassis by 40%, a somewhat softer suspension will work just as well as the high rate ones with the flexible flier frames we got from the factory.[quote]

Chuck

Chuck, since I'm also considering the foam idea...and need you as the guinea pig...let me know how it works. I'm thinking of sticking it in every frame hole I can find.

81' Corvette Guy

Hey man..I have heard ROIDS can be tough..but, if it is a smoooooth ride you looking for buy a classic Benz..now, that is some smooth riding!

Chuck Harmon

Somebody's gotta go first, maybe I should pass the hat? Yet at the rate I'm going with my other Vette projects, no one should hold their breath!

Chuck

Matt Gruber

in FL we have manhole covers, and uneven roads.
Lucky you, in San Jose with billiard table smooth roads!
But, i admit, this mod is too difficult and expensive to try :rolleyes: