up-grading your Suspension
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
up-grading your Suspension
I have a question, everyone is always asking how to get more power/horses out of the engine. I was wondering what would be the steps to upgrade the suspension for better performance, I would like to make it an all around car. I am not to concerned about comfort. Is it similar to something in the order of exaust, heads, cam. Just want to know what order or route I should go in. I have a 79 that I am getting ready to dump so money into. (not mega bucks though).
Jeff
Jeff
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,478
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
VBP, 460 springs front, 330 mono rear,smart struts, delco gas shocks, poly bushings front and back, all new joints in the front. I still say "new" even though its has been almost 10yrs since i did this work & 20k miles ago. It still drives like new, firm ride. 550 springs in the front?? I thought those springs were for big block vettes. i rebuilt my 79 in this order, 1st, suspension, 2nd, bearings & brakes, 3rd, motor & 700r4 tranny, with the diff rebuilt locally, 4th, new leather seat covers and carpet.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
Originally Posted by Alexarz
Use a fiberglass rear spring, not a 7 leaf steel spring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Springs oh no you did open a can of worms there lol.
Some prefer the Glass spring not only for weight but also they are quiet and react much faster than steel. You can also request a spring weight that is not listed from VBP as in stronger or lighter depending on what you are going to do but I would speak with someone from VBP to figure that part out. Downside to some is you need to have good shocks of which VBP can supply that go with the glass spring or you may have some bounce without them. They can also crack or break depending on if something was to hit them or if they are not far enough away from a high heat souce without protection.
Now steel pretty much comes in a weight they were designd for. They will last as you know many years and you can have them recurved later if you wish. They do give a choppy ride as compaired to glass and do not react nearly as fast and more weight also.
Again I would speak with VBP and they can help you make up your mind on which direction would be the best way to go as they do carry both.
Happy bouncing
Some prefer the Glass spring not only for weight but also they are quiet and react much faster than steel. You can also request a spring weight that is not listed from VBP as in stronger or lighter depending on what you are going to do but I would speak with someone from VBP to figure that part out. Downside to some is you need to have good shocks of which VBP can supply that go with the glass spring or you may have some bounce without them. They can also crack or break depending on if something was to hit them or if they are not far enough away from a high heat souce without protection.
Now steel pretty much comes in a weight they were designd for. They will last as you know many years and you can have them recurved later if you wish. They do give a choppy ride as compaired to glass and do not react nearly as fast and more weight also.
Again I would speak with VBP and they can help you make up your mind on which direction would be the best way to go as they do carry both.
Happy bouncing
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
Originally Posted by SHAKERATTLEROLL
Springs oh no you did open a can of worms there lol.
Some prefer the Glass spring not only for weight but also they are quiet and react much faster than steel. You can also request a spring weight that is not listed from VBP as in stronger or lighter depending on what you are going to do but I would speak with someone from VBP to figure that part out. Downside to some is you need to have good shocks of which VBP can supply that go with the glass spring or you may have some bounce without them. They can also crack or break depending on if something was to hit them or if they are not far enough away from a high heat souce without protection.
Now steel pretty much comes in a weight they were designd for. They will last as you know many years and you can have them recurved later if you wish. They do give a choppy ride as compaired to glass and do not react nearly as fast and more weight also.
Again I would speak with VBP and they can help you make up your mind on which direction would be the best way to go as they do carry both.
Happy bouncing
Some prefer the Glass spring not only for weight but also they are quiet and react much faster than steel. You can also request a spring weight that is not listed from VBP as in stronger or lighter depending on what you are going to do but I would speak with someone from VBP to figure that part out. Downside to some is you need to have good shocks of which VBP can supply that go with the glass spring or you may have some bounce without them. They can also crack or break depending on if something was to hit them or if they are not far enough away from a high heat souce without protection.
Now steel pretty much comes in a weight they were designd for. They will last as you know many years and you can have them recurved later if you wish. They do give a choppy ride as compaired to glass and do not react nearly as fast and more weight also.
Again I would speak with VBP and they can help you make up your mind on which direction would be the best way to go as they do carry both.
Happy bouncing
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee Fl
His explanation was good, however, there is absolutely no comparison between fiberglass springs and the old steel springs. Composite springs are much lighter and react much better to bumps, etc. You will never see steel springs in a corvette again. What does that tell you?
Good shocks are a good idea and should be considered as one of the primary considerations to go with the springs. I recently put QA1 double adjustable shocks (compression as well as rebound) in my vette and they are terrific.
Good shocks are a good idea and should be considered as one of the primary considerations to go with the springs. I recently put QA1 double adjustable shocks (compression as well as rebound) in my vette and they are terrific.
Last edited by Alexarz; Sep 28, 2005 at 08:52 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 1
From: Elkhorn WI
Originally Posted by Alexarz
Fixed headlights are a styling issue. Steel leaf springs are archaic technology that will NEVER return to production.
Here is where the leaf will never be replaced though, for situations like this
