suspension what would you do
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
suspension what would you do
I have about 2k (tax return) to spend on a kit plus the other parts that I will need. I have a 79 and as far as I know it is all stock and broke underneath. I am looking for performance not confort, and want it to go in a strait line as well as turns. I have been checking out the different kits but I am still unsure what to go with. Alot of them look like they have the same stuff. Could you guys help my out with some ideas. 
Jeff
Jeff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
My best advice would be to call Vette Brakes & Products or Van Steel and talk to them. They're both Forum vendors and specialize in chassis and suspension on these cars. They both possess a wealth of information and are great to talk with. Either of them can make suggestions that will best suit your goals and driving style and then give you a good price on everything you need to accomplish them.
I have used both of them for many years and have never been disappointed or sold something I didn't need. I always stop by their booth's at Carlisle and come away with new information and too many ideas... oh yea and they'll give you a Forum discount as well!
Good luck... GUSTO
I have used both of them for many years and have never been disappointed or sold something I didn't need. I always stop by their booth's at Carlisle and come away with new information and too many ideas... oh yea and they'll give you a Forum discount as well!
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Apr 27, 2006 at 11:40 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
If you really don't know what to do then Gusto is right and those guys will be happy to help you spend your $2k
Let me arm you with a little knowlege first tho.
Basically you need to rebuild most of the suspension, the car is 27 yrs old and if original and substantial milage I suspect.
So, Brakes, bushings front and rear, shocks front and rear. I am personally a fan of Poly bushings, but you will get a lot of fans on both sides of the fence here, kit will run close to $500 all together, Shocks $300. Brakes, I would go with VBP O-Ring conversion if your calipers are already SS lined, under $200. If they are not or are unsuitable, $500 for a complete kit. U-joints and your good to go and start seriously tuning. If you do this yourself you will save a LOT of bucks.
VBP sells all kind of "complete" kits as does Van Steel, and Ecklers. all good companies. Let us know the progress
Let me arm you with a little knowlege first tho.
Basically you need to rebuild most of the suspension, the car is 27 yrs old and if original and substantial milage I suspect.
So, Brakes, bushings front and rear, shocks front and rear. I am personally a fan of Poly bushings, but you will get a lot of fans on both sides of the fence here, kit will run close to $500 all together, Shocks $300. Brakes, I would go with VBP O-Ring conversion if your calipers are already SS lined, under $200. If they are not or are unsuitable, $500 for a complete kit. U-joints and your good to go and start seriously tuning. If you do this yourself you will save a LOT of bucks.
VBP sells all kind of "complete" kits as does Van Steel, and Ecklers. all good companies. Let us know the progress
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by 79inSD
I have about 2k (tax return) to spend on a kit plus the other parts that I will need. I have a 79 and as far as I know it is all stock and broke underneath. I am looking for performance not confort, and want it to go in a strait line as well as turns. I have been checking out the different kits but I am still unsure what to go with. Alot of them look like they have the same stuff. Could you guys help my out with some ideas.
Jeff
Jeff
Rich
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
I'm pretty happy with my VBP street and slalom kit. That's well under your taget price, so you would have plenty left for surprises during the install (bushings, bearings, brakes, etc.)
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 520
Likes: 5
From: Front Range
my vote: poly bushings all around, budget gas shocks, upgrade swaybars, change spring rates if necessary depending on your intended application. spend the rest on tools (i.e. spring compressor, pickle fork). if you have the garage space, and no time constraints, do it all yourself, it's worth the experience.
the blonde weasel
the blonde weasel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
After having recently done my front and rear, my advice is to pull it apart first before you start ordering. Mine started out as a broken spring mount bolt in the differential case. When I started pulling it apart, I had a bent trailing arm, a stripped castle nut on the shock mount, bent struts, collapsed differential crossmember mount bushing, trailing arms that had to be re-built, etc. When I was through with the rear, I took it to get aligned and they sent me home telling me my front was too sloppy to align the rear. That's when the front end rebuild started. I ended up buying a lot of stuff and having work done I had NOT included in my original cost estimate. Luckily, I did not go and order the VB&P package I wanted, because in the end, I had to pare my performance upgrades WAY back because I just didn't have the money to do what I wanted after I finished fixing all the things I had to.
Just my $0.02
P.S. Did I mention I had to replace all four brake calipers and lines?
Just my $0.02
P.S. Did I mention I had to replace all four brake calipers and lines?
Last edited by 79MakoL82; Apr 27, 2006 at 12:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
completely. It kinda sucks from a timing perspective, i.e. ordering and waiting for parts...but it's guaranteed that once you start pulling things apart you'll see other stuff that needs to be addressed "while you're in there". As noted, VB and VS have great deals on rebuild kits, but you should definitely leave some room for unplanned expenses....like 1/2 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Think carefully about how you will use the car. I started out with HiPo parts that gave me a ride that jarred my teeth so I backed off to lesser parts for a softer ride.
I suggest that you decide exactly on how you want to use the car, call the vendors listed and Guldstrand and take carefull notes on the recommendations of all. Then decide how/where to spend your $.
Listen to 79 Mako, a 30 year old car will surely have parts that must be replaced that are not in a kit from a vendor.
If you don't do this work yourself, you will spend half your $ on labor charges.
No matter what you do to a C3 suspension, if you really want it to handle, you will need 17" wheels and Z rated tires.
I suggest that you decide exactly on how you want to use the car, call the vendors listed and Guldstrand and take carefull notes on the recommendations of all. Then decide how/where to spend your $.
Listen to 79 Mako, a 30 year old car will surely have parts that must be replaced that are not in a kit from a vendor.
If you don't do this work yourself, you will spend half your $ on labor charges.
No matter what you do to a C3 suspension, if you really want it to handle, you will need 17" wheels and Z rated tires.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 10
From: Shelby Twp MI
I went with the Mid America suspension package for $500. Use the rest to fix all the other things you'll uncover while you are replacing the rear. (i.e. you mind as well put a 3:73 gear in while you have things apart)!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by iNdigo
my vote: poly bushings all around, Bilstein shocks, upgrade swaybars, change spring rates if necessary depending on your intended application. spend the rest on tools (i.e. spring compressor, pickle fork). if you have the garage space, and no time constraints, do it all yourself, it's worth the experience.
the blonde weasel
the blonde weasel
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
Originally Posted by rihwoods
Jeff..lets hook up and you can go for a spin in my 69 502..just changed suspension...running stiff with new rear spring/Bilstein Sports..that may give you some ideas...also,check condition of your a-arm/trailing arm bushings,etc...very important for any "kit" you chose..
Rich
Rich
That would be awsome, I took mine for a drive the other day but it was no fun when I hit the highway. I will be good for any time after 5pm next week
Jeff
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Key West Fl
Thanks for all the advice guy. I am going to give Vette Brakes & Products and Van Steel a call. I did bring the car to a suspension shop and I know all the stuff that needs to be replaced, but they were going to order stock parts (which I did not want). The parts came out to about 1200, and labor was going to be about 1500. But most of the stuff that needs to be replaced comes in the kits.
Jeff
Jeff
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
If your trailing arms are original and never been re-built, you may need or want to have them re-built while they are out. I think most places including Van Steel charges around $400 per arm to rebuild, but well worth it in preventative maintenance. I'd spend some money on that, and worry about performance later if I didn't have the cash to do both.
I guess that makes $0.04 now.
I guess that makes $0.04 now.
