1981 C3 Handling Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 307
Likes: 4
From: Thousand Oaks Calif.
1981 C3 Handling Question
On my 1981, I’ve been slowly working on handling. It’s a weekend driving and don’t want anything crazy, just want to make it better than it was stock and have some fun.
So far, I’ve:
· Replaced all the front and back bushings with polyurethane.
· Replaced the rear monospring with composite 330 pound unit.
· New Bilstein’s and BF Goodridge tires.
· Tighten and inspected everything.
Rag joint and other components are tight and seem in good shape.
While the car handles well it doesn’t feel solid.
The car defiantly has some oversteered something I would not expect with all the weight up front.
It wants to float and is twitchy. Never feel its solid on the ground over 50 and I wouldn’t want to make any sudden turns over 60 or 70.
I don’t have a rear anti sway bar which is my next piece of this puzzle but not sure if that is the whole problem.
Am I asking too much for this 1981? Is this what it is and what I should expect for what I have or am I missing something?
Looking to build on what I have and not get too stupid.
Any insights would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,991
Likes: 9,355
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
are your tires speed rated. and I hope you left rubber bushings in the T/A. if not your going to have to do it again.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 19
From: Sanford NC
By oversteer are you meaning actually breaking the rear tires loose into a minor slide or just “butt wiggle”?
Reason I ask is I went throught this same stuff with mine a few years back. Come to find out there is a huge amount of side to side flex in the large sidewall on an R15 tire. When I went to 17/18” wheel staggered fitment, all rearend wiggle went away.
Reason I ask is I went throught this same stuff with mine a few years back. Come to find out there is a huge amount of side to side flex in the large sidewall on an R15 tire. When I went to 17/18” wheel staggered fitment, all rearend wiggle went away.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 7,765
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
if it feels light in the front end, how much Caster are you running??? the reason people put in aftermarket upper A arms is to get more caster. you may wish to read up on it. an awful lot of Alighnment threads on here.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
"Better" components than what came as stock may IMPROVE handing. But the original equipment was plenty good for normal driving and even some non-professional racing. You have some part or parts that are not 'up-to-snuff'; or the alignment you got was a total waste.
P.S. The rear wheels need alignment on C3's, since they have independent rear suspensions, also.
P.S. The rear wheels need alignment on C3's, since they have independent rear suspensions, also.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
When I got my 68 convert it felt twitchy when I drove it. The alignment was way off...front was toe out instead of toe in. Back was the same...toe out. This makes the car want to dart left and right and follow every little crack on the pavement. You may have to hunt to find a good alignment shop. Some twenty year old kid with a list of specs that does not go back far enough to do your vette on his fancy computer alignment machine will not be much help. My car is rock steady now that the alignment has been set properly.