I have a 78 and want to upgrade the suspension but dont know where to start? Does anyone out there know of any good kits availiable for a guy with slighty above average mechanical skills? Thanks

 

Vette Brakes and Products makes a number of kits depending on what you want to do. They are a very good Supplier, look over their website then give their Tech line a call and tell them what you want to do with the car. 78's

Gary

http://www.vbandp.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=370

 

Here's what I've done that has made a world of difference.

1. Composite rear spring. I went with a #330 but wish I had the #360.
2. Bilsteins Sports on all four corners.
3. Smart struts for easier alignment and IMHO a better solution overall.
4. Cut 1 coil off the front stock spring for a better stance. Better yet, go with replacement #550's.
5. Ensure your rear side yokes are not work or have excessive play.
6. Upgrade to 17" rims and tires. Quieter, smoother and handles great.

Still to do:
Install a Rack & Pinion system to replace the control valve system. I've already replaced the control valve but want an even tighter system.

Obviously, you can do more, like a composite front spring, the dual mount rear spring set up, etc. Depends on how much $ and how radical you want to go.

 

i did 550 coils up front and a 360lb fiberglass spring in the back.. upgraded shocks and all.. makes a BIG difference and not expensive at all

 

I have heard that the Corvette Monospring Kit for the front end is a good way to go. My understanding is that it is basically the C4 suspension in a C3. If I were to combine this with a #360 monospring in the rear do you think it would handle well?

 

I have made many progressive changes to my 78 L-82 4spd over the last 26 years:

Front end:

1. Poly control arm bushings, upper and lower control arms.
2. Poly sway bar mounting bushings and end link bushings, 1 1/8 in stock F-41 sway bar.
3. New 550 Coil springs, 1 in shorter, Mid America
4. Bilstein HD Shocks, poly bushings for upper mount.
5. Blue printed rebuilt stock steering box.
6. SLP 17 in direct replacement rims, 255/45/17 ZR tires

Rear:

1. 360 monospring with poly mounting bushings
2. Heim joint adjustable strut rods
3. Bilstein Sport Shocks (30% stiffer than the Bilstein HD's)
4. 3/4 in rear sway bar with poly mounting bushings, replacing 7/16 in stock bar
5. SLP direct replacement 17 in rims with 255/50/17 ZR tires, 1 in taller than 245/45/17's in front.
6. Overall stance of the car is now about 2.5-3 inches higher in the back than the front, which eliminates the rear squat in the 78/79 cars.

The overall effect is to totally transform the handling, steering, and ride of my car from the way the car came from the factory. It drives, handles, and steers like a modern sports car totally eliminating the vague steering, fair handling, and poor ride of the stock suspension. Hope that this helps!

Jeff

 

What?

 

This is the way to go... right here, just do it, you will be happy!


again, WHAT?????

 

The way the car sits, rear squat is the wrong term-sorry!