What can I do to improve the ride of my C3?

I've replaced the shocks. What else can be done for a more comfortable ride?

Do the rebuild kits actually make that much of a difference?
Any before and after comparisons would be appreciated.

Thanks, Les

 

Bilstein shocks smoothed my ride out, night and day over KYB's

 

My 81 rides like a cadillac, I have mine tuned for the street,
handles like its on rails complete new suspension
with billsteins, and a dual mount. Your biggest mistake would be
to put a mono up front. Good luck There is a forum member
here that has been in my car more than once, and cannot believe how smooth it is.

 

I went with the fiberglass 330# rear spring and 460# coil springs in the front. It was a kit from VB&P (grand touring kit with the fiberglass spring upgrade). It worked great. You might want either the front mono spring or lighter front springs. I did the whole suspension all theway to the ball joints and control arm bushings. Huge difference in ride and handling. Particularly with the rear spring replacement. Check them out (VB&P.com)

 

So, maybe a Package from VBP is the way to go?

 

I have the full VB&P suspension package on my car, you can drive it on Saturday to see what it feels like.

 

they definately know what they are doing....

The 550lbs coils and the Bilstein shocks are awesome.... safe your money and buy the fiberglass spring later... first see if you're happy with the steel spring

 

Which Package did you get? There are a few different versions.

...you're gonna let me drive your car? oh no...I can see it now! I'm gonna want a big small block! OH NO!!!!

 

I redid mine with parts from VB&P 460# coils up front and 360# rear. All new urethane bushings. The ride is much firmer now, not cushy like it was before.

 

I don't understand. The late '70s and early '80s C3s had the most comfortable ride of any C3s. Mine rides like a Cadillac in comparison to the earlier ones. And I have KYBs.

Something must be non-stock on your car. Or by any chance do you have a 7-leaf rear spring? Go take a look...

BTW: It could also be all those lousy frost-heaved roads in Ontari-ari-ari-o! j/k

 

Either my two monster sway bars or the monoleaf conversion up front was the single best upgrade I've done. I considered both it and the upgraded coils and am happy I went with it. Both of these upgrades enormously improve handling.

It, and all the other mods I did, otherwise similar to Megladon's, makes it an incredibly solid suspension, but it is very, very harsh. I always preferred that.

It depends on how you want it to drive. The coils will give it a better ride quality to the driver, but the monoleaf will make it even firmer. Either setup is great and will stop your car from bottoming out while giving you better control. My new oil pan is literally less than 3" off the ground but I haven't hit it yet on the worst potholed roads you can imagine (yes, I do need to rig a plate, if I can figure out how on this one....)

I also went with the largest diameter fore and aft sway bars I could find - both a diameter larger than that offered in the full VBP kit. I think my front is 1.25" and the rear is 0.875". Other than that I have the full monster deluxe triple thrown down VBP kit. I have both front and rear springs set one notch from maximum. I don't recall which shocks are on there from the last change.

Aside from getting some much stiffer sidewall 17" wheels, needed for speed ratings anyhow, my main suspension is one of the few areas done. Of course when I finish off the Tom's Diff rear suspension with their 1480 max thickness axle kits with offset trailing arms (and somebody's 6 link conversion) I will have to alter the rear suspension a little. (We'll ignore the whole disconnected power steering system for now... )

 

EXACTLY , the front mono is for Auto X only. I guess its
all in what people choose for a ride, I did mine for a daily driver type
setup. very smooth, but not bouncy,or boat like ride, and remeber,
I have small side wall tires, so that helps with the rail, type grip affect.
275/40's and 315/35's

 

The GT will make it difficult to change radio stations you can feel every seam in the road.

 

Les, I've got the VP&B Grand Touring Plus system on my car, along with 100% poly bushings everywhere. My car is a fresh restoration, so everything is new, so it makes for a very tight handling car. I bought the VP&B system a few years ago while I was gathering parts for my resto,, so the only difference between what I have and what they are now selling is the shocks. I have chrome adjustable Carrera's on my car, they sell the kit with non-adjustable Bilsteins now.