Here's the deal...my brother picked up an '82 and is looking for a much more "soft/comfy ride" as such--he said Buick Roadmaster-like. He has had C4's 5's and 6's but this '82 is meant to be a nostalgic cruiser car to go to town and pick up a Sunday paper/eat out etc. One that would get probably 1k-2k miles per year.
Told him I would check this forum for suggestions.
Suspension/tire recommendations appreciated.
Post here or preferably email me direct at gbjerke@aol.com as I am usually on the C6 venue.
Many thanks.

 

I don't think it is possible to get a Roadmaster ride in a C3 with commonly available suspension parts. He may not have a stock suspension, so fitting stock springs and shocks will give him the as-designed ride. Putting less air in the tires will help also. Even though C3s lost a lot of power over the years they were still considered sports cars and were meant to have a firm ride.



Rick B.

 

I personally can't imagine a Corvette that rides like a Buick, nor would I want one. The reason for the "firm" ride, as you well know, is for performance. Take that away, and you take away the handling characteristics that make a Corvette a Corvette. I know there are companies out there that sell softer springs, like Ecklers, VBP, etc, and perhaps one of them provides a kit that will fit the bill...lighter rear spring weight...low performance shocks, etc.

If my car began to handle and ride like a Buick, it's time to start replacing parts. Just my 2 cents.

 

I know almost exactly what he wants.

For years now I've been looking for a Roadmaster that rides like a Vette.





Just can't seem to find it!

Try like 12 PSI pressure at each corner.

 

Just not going to happen. Just buy the road master and cut the top off or somthing.

The C3 is stiff due to the design in handling. Stiff springs are a major part of the C3 handling.

 

Can you tell if the suspension on the car has been modified? If so, maybe going back to a stock suspension will do the trick. Most of us think the stock suspension is pretty cushy...

 

I agree with the comments above trying to get a very soft ride like a buick roadmaster is not really possible with a C3 BUT one can get a very comfortable ride with a C3 with the ride combination of springs and shocks. At one time in the not so distant past, I had a 360 monospring and 550lb front springs with Bilstein Heavy duty shocks and the ride was very acceptable (I have changed that setup over the years for maximum sportiness). Running a monospring of less than 300lbs in the rear and front base springs of 460lbs in the front with Bilstein Heavy Duties, not the Bilstein Sport shocks, would give a very compliant ride. This setup coupled with BFG like S rated tires (a very soft side wall) with the minimum tire pressure that is safe will give a very nice ride assuming everything else is in fairly good condition (use rubber not poly bushings). As a point of comparison, I installed a set of Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks on a 1994 Mustang GT Convertible (convertibles have softer springs than the GT coupes) and I was shocked at how much more comfortable and compliant the ride became versus the OEM Ford shocks just by changing the shocks only, even with 245/45/17 ZR tires. Will your C3 feel like a 70's cadillac, no? Will it ride much more comfortably, yes?

 

My 78 rode like a truck and as noisy:

Replaced any suspention parts that looked bad with rubber replacements, sway bar rubber, rear spring rubbers etc.
Took the rear spring out, cleaned, painted and replaced liners.
New gas shocks, my were standard gas filled Delcos.
New tires, two of the original ones were wore out and two looked dry rotted.
Alignment, had to replace tie rod ends.
Quiet and Smooth is the only way to describe it.

 

Smooth and quiet, yes.... rides like a Buick Roadmaster? I don't think so.

The only way to get a "soft" ride is to change springs over to a softer, longer springs in front and a low spring-rate monoleaf in back plus some spongy hydraulic shocks. But, why??? Tell him to put some foam under his butt....

 

He has the wrong car, corvette suspension is akin to a roller skate strapped to a brick, as it should be

 

my 72 rode softer than my 67 galaxie, and that is a boat.
i sold the stock springs for $5.

 

Thanks for the info guys, especially jb78L-82. I'll pass that info on to him.
Understand fully other comments regarding the "Roadmaster" ride. He was not serious making that comment, rather that he wants a much softer ride than stock as it will be a little used cruiser.
He just turned 75 and could care less about any go fast stuff and has no intention of trying to get 1 G of grip for corners. He has been thru this. In the last 15 years his Vettes have been a '93 Vert; '97 Vert; '01 Vert; '03 Z06 and a '06 Vert.
He just likes the C3 styling, hence his purchase of this '82.
Appreciate all the feedback.

 

My type of driving is very similar: basically sunny Sunday afternoon cruises. I put on four Monroe Gas-Matic shocks for less than $100. He will never get a Buick ride in a Corvette but the Monroes do allow for a comfortable, non-bone-jarring ride.

 

My type of driving is very similar: basically sunny Sunday afternoon cruises. I put on four Monroe Gas-Matic shocks for less than $100. He will never get a Buick ride in a Corvette but the Monroes do allow for a comfortable, non-bone-jarring ride.

I drive about 1,000 miles/year.