I know most of you guys are probably sick of me asking thought/opinions on things but they what good is a forum if you can't ask ?'s

I need to redo the suspension on the vette. She's old and worn out big time. I was thinking about going with this right here:

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1979.html

But didn't know if anyone has done a complete kit like this and liked/hated it.

Or if i should even do one like that because i don't have power steering and i won't be road racing or taking turns like crazy anyways.

 

anything you do to upgrade these 40 year old cars is a good thing. I'd like to suggest you upgrade to power steering also. I had power steering it worked fine , I upgraded to borgeson, like it a lot more.

 

That looks like a good kit to rebuild your worn suspension, regardless if your have power steering or plan on any aggressive driving. It looks like they are using compenents from Vette Brakes & Products in the kit, might be cheaper to get the parts direct from VBP.

http://www.vbandp.com/

 

I have a 74 454 which I had purchased an entire upgraded suspension for, but haven't installed yet as it still apart and in the rebuilding stages. I recently bought an 82 as my "dd" and that has the HD suspension on it, which has the rear sway bar just like the BB on the 74.
I changed out the steel spring on the 82 with the 340 lb rear spring that was for the 74 and also replaced the rear sway bar brackets and bushings. Even though the rear sway bar on both Vettes are small in diameter (same size on both), the 82 handles just fine for me for the type of driving that I do.
I have now changed my thought process on upgrading the front and rear suspensions. On the 74, I will replace the rear spring with another 340 lb unit that is now on the 82. I will also keep the stock springs in the front instead of using the 460 lb units that were originally intended for the 74 and keep the stock sway bars as well. I will use the Bilstein shocks that came with the package and other pieces, but will probably sell the bigger front and rear sway bars as I feel I don't have the need for them. If I had the 82 before I bought the suspension package, I would have still upgraded items on the 74, but would have bought piece-meal to my driving taste, as opposed to an entirely upgrade system.
Not that you would disappointed with what you intend to buy, and I sure that the Vette would handle much different and for the better at that, but for your driving needs and mine, I think the fact that I now have a C3 as a "dd" really helped me make my decision.
So there is my opinion, hope that helps....................Tom

 

excellent , been there , done that tech. many thanks

 

That kit is great for people that feel good by spending money, but do you really need new springs, new sway bars, new strut rods, new shocks?

Poly is not an upgrade- it's dumb idea on almost all bushing locations. There's lots of discussion on this.

 

yes i do! I'll snap some picts this weekend and post them. It hasn't been touched for at least 30 years and everything is dry rotting and cracking. Also my sway bar bracks are bent so bad that they were/are rubbing against my rear tire.

 

That I gotta see. No argument over the need to replace bushings, but go with rubber and not poly. I highly doubt that your springs and sway bars are worn out. If you do want to replace them at least think of going with a monoleaf composite rear spring.

 

As for the bushing parts, I agree with Mike, use rubber, not poly.

 

Mike is correct on all issues.
Lars

 

I guess the reason i wanted to get a "kit" was because it would have a lot of the things i already need so i wouldn't have to go through and order everything one by one. I figured i'd buy that kit or this one:

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1977.html

since it has that composite monoleaf you guys recomend.

Hell i thought you guys would all make fun of me for wanting that system and not having power stearing to take full advantage of it.

I'll be more than happy to snap some picts when i get home and upload them for you guys to see so you guys don't think i'm crazy. The car hasn't been driven 1000 miles in the last 10 years so i'm just trying to get her up to par

 

I don't get the connection with having power steering or not- it's irrelevant.

 

That kit doesn't include any of the parts you actually need. You need a complete a-arm bushing kit, idler arm, ball joints, and tie rod ends. Give Van Steel a call and have them sell you a suspension rebuild kit with the stock rubber bushings: you need to rebuild - not upgrade - as a first step.

Lars

 

I don't want to rain on your parade, but Corvette power steering is nothing more than power assist. It's nice to have in the drive way or a parking lot, but at driving speed, it doesn't do too much work.

If you want to add factory power steering, the time to do it would be while your suspension rebuild is under way. Some of the vendors offer a complete, add-on, factory kit. The assembly instruction manual shows how it is installed.

 

who is van steele and where/how do i locate him to give him a jingle?

 

left column under accessories

 

http://www.vansteel.com/

 

My `73 had most of the original stuff when I got it - -shocks leaked, brakes were marginal and bushings were cracked and hard- so that's the stuff I focused on. No springs or sway bars- no reason at this point.

Bushings, shocks and related components will not only make your car ride and handle better - - but it'll be safer as well. Money well spent.

My next project is replacing all the vaccum lines . ..

 

Good luck with that! Brakes/vaccum lines suck!