update suspension
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 63
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Good question. What if I were to describe what I want as a more crisp drive? Firm, but not too firm, with less roll and better steering response. Does that help?
They have complete suspension upgrades for the older Mustangs like the 67 and they feel much more modern afterwards.
They have complete suspension upgrades for the older Mustangs like the 67 and they feel much more modern afterwards.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 18
From: NorthEast
How much $$$ do you want to spend? Need more info about your car. What is going on with your car while you are driving it now? Has there been any R&R to your suspension and steering previous to you? The more info you give the better guidance the pro's on here give you. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2012
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My bmw x5 is getting old and I'm going to sell it as soon as it gets back from the mechanic while I can still get something for it. My oldest son is leaving for college next month so I only have one left at home. I had a 1976 corvette which I sold in 1983 and have always missed it. I want something similar back. Nostalgia? I'm looking at 1975 or older vettes because they are not smogged in CA. Otherwise I'd get the same white L82 1976 model that I sold years ago except in automatic.
So price? Well, I always like to do things as economically as possible but this isn't the only concern. I want my old car back with a modern twist- updated suspension, fuel injected motor and overdrive 4 speed transmission and I have the money. Do they call them resto rods now?
BTW, I may just end up buying a c6 or even a c7 but then I won't get my old car back. I had a lot of fun with it and lots of memories.
What are my choices for an upgraded suspension now that I have explained my situation?
So price? Well, I always like to do things as economically as possible but this isn't the only concern. I want my old car back with a modern twist- updated suspension, fuel injected motor and overdrive 4 speed transmission and I have the money. Do they call them resto rods now?
BTW, I may just end up buying a c6 or even a c7 but then I won't get my old car back. I had a lot of fun with it and lots of memories.
What are my choices for an upgraded suspension now that I have explained my situation?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Since performance handling and ride comfort are essentially at opposing ends of the spectrum here, IMCO it's worth bearing in mind that pretty much anything done which prioritizes the one will necessarily compromise the other. And, given your goal is in the vast gray area between the two (likely nearer the comfort end than you suspect), it would be easy to overspend on things you may not actually need to satisfy your desires.
So, before just throwing money at kit, I would suggest doing a comprehensive chassis inspection to determine the condition of your suspension components (including diff side yoke end play), and then to decide where money would be best spent. Could be a new idler, steering box lash, set of quality shocks, spreader bar and a precision alignment (VBP's specs are as good a baseline as any) is all you need, but who's to say exactly what needs addressing without knowing more about the current condition of your chassis?
Just make sure you're not dazzled by "upgrades" only to miss something more fundamentally important.
TSW
So, before just throwing money at kit, I would suggest doing a comprehensive chassis inspection to determine the condition of your suspension components (including diff side yoke end play), and then to decide where money would be best spent. Could be a new idler, steering box lash, set of quality shocks, spreader bar and a precision alignment (VBP's specs are as good a baseline as any) is all you need, but who's to say exactly what needs addressing without knowing more about the current condition of your chassis?
Just make sure you're not dazzled by "upgrades" only to miss something more fundamentally important.
TSW
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,900
Likes: 3,326
From: NYC NY
To take what you have expressed out of context about a possible C6 or C7 purchase why not consider a C5 Z06? You would have the performance and amenities that you desire and there are many well cared for fine examples in the 25K range. Then you could meet both your performance and economic goals but then of course it won't be a C3.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
More/better performance typically means less comfort, harder ride. The one exception in my life was the ZR1 with magnetic shocks...thing rode like a caddy over bumps, with neck snapping, spine tingling, body hurling handling when you jerked the wheel.
But magnetic shocks aren't an option for you. So, you have to decide, hard and fast, or slow and soft?
Seems to me, what you want is something like what you had, but just a little more modern. If that's the case, I would replace the suspension with a stock replacement, called the Gymchana package, however you spell it...it was the performance handling package of the day, and is still more than you'll ever need on the street now, combined with some good rubber, an over drive tranny, and you're gonna like it, I'll bet. Won't break your back over bumps and such, won't be TOO skiddish around turns with bumps or uneven surfaces (so long as you go with decent tires), you'll have a smooth, crisp shifting over drive tranny (money being no issue, I suggest the T56), and, if you need it, a fuel injected motor.
But magnetic shocks aren't an option for you. So, you have to decide, hard and fast, or slow and soft?
Seems to me, what you want is something like what you had, but just a little more modern. If that's the case, I would replace the suspension with a stock replacement, called the Gymchana package, however you spell it...it was the performance handling package of the day, and is still more than you'll ever need on the street now, combined with some good rubber, an over drive tranny, and you're gonna like it, I'll bet. Won't break your back over bumps and such, won't be TOO skiddish around turns with bumps or uneven surfaces (so long as you go with decent tires), you'll have a smooth, crisp shifting over drive tranny (money being no issue, I suggest the T56), and, if you need it, a fuel injected motor.