Suspension question
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 52
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From: Dodge City Kansas
Suspension question
I've done a search for information on the Gymkhana suspension, trying to determine what options mine has, and I see where people say you can spot the Gymkhana suspension by a few options. A 9 leaf spring, not mono, cast aluminum strut instead of tube iron, something about the shocks, a read sway bar and a 1 1/8" front sway bar. Well mine seems to have a 9 leaf spring, cast aluminum strut but no rear sway bar? What do you think?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
Mine is a 79 and definately has the FE7 Gymkhana suspension, it includes the spring as described, a heavier front sway bar and definately a rear sway bar, it is very thin though, apparently it does help corner but to look at you would think it does nothing. Being a 79 mine has standard square welded trailing arms, I think aluminum ones didnt come out until 80. So yours looks like it was FE7 optioned and someone has removed the rear sway bar. I would add it back if I was you.
Cheers, Dennis.
Cheers, Dennis.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
You've got yourself a standard 9 leaf spring rear suspension package. The Gymkhana spring was easily recognizable with it's 7 leaf spring. The all aluminum differential crossmember debutted in 1980. The trailing arms on the '80 were steel, not aluminum. Gawd help you if you ever decide to want to remove your trailing arms and rebuild them. After 30 plus year they tend to want to become a permanent fixture with the chassis.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Maroochydore QLD
You've got yourself a standard 9 leaf spring rear suspension package. The Gymkhana spring was easily recognizable with it's 7 leaf spring. The all aluminum differential crossmember debutted in 1980. The trailing arms on the '80 were steel, not aluminum. Gawd help you if you ever decide to want to remove your trailing arms and rebuild them. After 30 plus year they tend to want to become a permanent fixture with the chassis.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Dodge City Kansas
This is what I keep finding.
The FE7 option in 1982 included a 1 1/8" front sway bar, a 7/16" rear sway bar and a nine-leaf steel rear spring. By contrast the base suspension package included a 7/8" front bar, no rear bar and a monoleaf, fiberglass rear spring.
the FE7 on an 82 is VERY easy to spot, look at the rear and look for a sway bar, leaf spring (others have monoleaf composite) and ALUMINIUM struts, all other c3s have steel tube rods, not forged aluminium.
REAR
The rear FE7 spring is 9 leaf 2-1/2 inch wide steel vs non FE7 composite mono and you have the FE7 addition of different shocks, a relatively small 7/16 rear sway bar, and aluminum strut rods.
The rear FE7 spring is 9 leaf 2-1/2 inch wide steel vs non FE7 composite mono and you have the FE7 addition of different shocks, a relatively small 7/16 rear sway bar, and aluminum strut rods.
Look up FE7 suspension on the internet. It'll tell you everything about it. It was offered during the last 5 years or so and consisted of a special 9-leaf rear spring and a rear sway bar.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
See if you can obtain a copy of your build sheet from the NCM. If they have your VIN in their recrods, you can determine exactly the options the car was assembled with. https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
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From: Niles, MI
I've done a search for information on the Gymkhana suspension, trying to determine what options mine has, and I see where people say you can spot the Gymkhana suspension by a few options. A 9 leaf spring, not mono, cast aluminum strut instead of tube iron, something about the shocks, a read sway bar and a 1 1/8" front sway bar. Well mine seems to have a 9 leaf spring, cast aluminum strut but no rear sway bar? What do you think?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
DC's car is likely to be FE7, but he'll know one way or the other when his build sheet arrives.
