I have an 80, I want to make it ride and take the bumps a little softer without major changes to the suspension. Is there a gas shock that will help with this problem or am I wasting my time? I am told that the mono rear spring will help, but I am not ready to tackel that this year. The shocks that are in my ride are old and after market, but the car does not bounce up and down, it slams down when I hit a bump. The coil springs are new and the suspension is all good.

Your help will be greatly appreciated

Thanks Joe.

 

Bilstein Heavy Duties if the spring is not shot which it probably is if it is steel and original. Bilstein HD's and a proper composite spring rate (300Lbs for a base suspension but may be less starting in 1980 and 360LB spring for gymkhana/F-41/sport suspension as a starting point) will greatly improve the ride. Some of the last C3's that had base suspensions had really soft springs (I think an 82 base has a 200lb rear spring).

 

My problem is with the front more so than the rear, but if I change shocks i will change all 4. I read about a Delco "Reactek gas cushion shock that may soften the ride, Do you know some one that has used them? I am beyond the age of racing and performance, want a softer ride.

 

When I got my 80 it had Napa gas shocks on it. I got it running and drove it with these shocks for a while. It rode very nice even with the Gymkhana suspension. I switched to Bilstein Sport shocks and it helped the handling, especially hard braking and high speed driving, but it rides very firm now, almost too firm for most driving. The car had been setting for 11 years in storage and I have no idea how old the shocks were. They looked pretty fresh, might have been put on right before the engine broke and it got put in storage. I don't know if a Napa gas shock is the same as it was well over a decade ago. They were very nice riding shocks though.

I wish I wouldn't have trash canned them, I would have given them to you. I thought I would never have a use for them though and out they went.

 

here's my experience, you can be your own judge,

on my 80 vette: i put in the composite monospring from VBP, 300lb, and my ride went from horrible to perfect, soft over those nasty baltimore roads and yet still held corners like a champ.

as far as shocks go, i have to tell you what i did to my 95 formula firebird: bought expensive 10 adjust KYB shocks for all four corners, put them on, car rode like a brick, felt everything. Also replaced all other suspension parts at same time: rear springs, front springs, rear control arms etc. So i spent about $450 bucks on those KYB top of the line shocks. Then on a whim, i decided to go up to the auto store and by couple of monroe gas shocks for 26 bucks apiece. installed them on the rear, bingo, perfect ride in the back. Don't ask me why or how. I had the KYB adjusted down to 1, the softest of the 10 settings and it still rode like a brick. At first I called up KYB and complained, so they sent me 2 more rear shocks because we thought the ones they sent me first might have been damaged. No such luck, they just sucked, plain and simple. Duno about bilstiens or QA5s ..

Learning from that experience, I replaced all my 80 corvette shocks with the best monroe shock they have and I must say, the car rides like a new car. far better than my 88 ever rode as well.

So, if it were me, I'd spend 25 bucks on monroe's and see if I like them before spending 100 bucks apiece or a lot more for bilstiens etc.

Now if you going to race that car on a track, this whole message is worthless to you, but if you just want a daily driver, it might be of value.

anyway, good luck!

 

Joe,
I was in a similar position as you: the ride was rather harsh on my 1974. My outings with the car are to cruise events and Sunday afternoon drives. No competition-type events.

Two weeks ago I went down to the local autoparts store and purchased four Monroe-Matic shocks (nitrogen, gas-charged). The bill for the four was less than $100.00. The ride is much nicer now and the suspension actually moves when hitting bumps rather than just jarring your kidneys as before. It is not bouncy, just smoother for the lack of a better word. BTW, I have a 9-leaf steel spring.

 

I set up my 75 for highway cruising with a new 9 leaf rear, stock front springs, and KYB GR2's all around. Also used rubber bushings. Very plush and handles OK.

 

Paul, I think you convinced me, at that price I can't go wrong.
Thank You and all that responded.

Joe.

 

I believe the "NAPA Response" shocks are Monroe. They seem to be about $17.00 each.