Steel or composite
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 480
Likes: 42
From: Los Angeles CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
For those folks who despite all the technical reasons and explanations as well as first hand accounts of those people who have made the switch from steel to composite springs still refuse to acknowledge the superiority of a composite spring over a comparable steel spring, I don't know what else to say! The other issue of switching to a very soft composite spring in the hopes of improving the ride of a C3 are also very shortsighted since these cars respond best to springs on the stiffer side, not soft. Spring selection is a balance between ride, steering response, and handling. A composite spring allows the user to go much higher with the spring rate IMPROVING the ride, and handling/steering response at the same time. With a very soft composite spring the car will wallow over bumps, lean like a 70's cadillac, and respond to steering inputs like a boat. Your choice!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
Likes: 1,590
From: Western NY
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 294
Likes: 10
From: Palmer Alaska
Appreciate all the input. So far, if I read it right, EVERY poster who actually purchased and installed a composite is glad they did and believes it provided a better ride and handling. Matching spring with shocks proved to be the best solution. Thanks again to all of you for the comments and sharing your experience. I am adding the spring shock combo to my list of items. Right after I pay for the dewitts radiator I just ordered 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Appreciate all the input. So far, if I read it right, EVERY poster who actually purchased and installed a composite is glad they did and believes it provided a better ride and handling. Matching spring with shocks proved to be the best solution. Thanks again to all of you for the comments and sharing your experience. I am adding the spring shock combo to my list of items. Right after I pay for the dewitts radiator I just ordered
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 294
Likes: 10
From: Palmer Alaska
Thanks jb78l. I am looking at the spring, bilsteins and smart struts from VBP. Car is street driven but most of the time straight line performance is the concern. No hard cornering. Not here in Alaska. So, the smart struts seem like a good add to the car. Going with them instead of the 6-link.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Thanks jb78l. I am looking at the spring, bilsteins and smart struts from VBP. Car is street driven but most of the time straight line performance is the concern. No hard cornering. Not here in Alaska. So, the smart struts seem like a good add to the car. Going with them instead of the 6-link.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
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From: Western NY
.... I really like the competition struts since with no bushings there is no flex and the heavier strut rod cannot flex under load. One of the biggest problems with the C3 chassis is too much frame flex so anything and everything you can do to eliminate suspension slop is a big plus.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
That is more of an issue in the front suspension where the frame end rails can flex a ton under load than in the rear suspension. The front issue can be greatly helped with a spreader bar (which I have) but in the rear what you are trying to achieve is less suspension deflection from the strut rods which control camber movement/changes using the stiffer strut rods and heim joints, on the street, not racing. Street driven C3's will GREATLY benefit from the elimination of bushing flex. How do I know? 33 years of making changes/improvements to the suspension on my 78.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,864
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks jb78l. I am looking at the spring, bilsteins and smart struts from VBP. Car is street driven but most of the time straight line performance is the concern. No hard cornering. Not here in Alaska. So, the smart struts seem like a good add to the car. Going with them instead of the 6-link.
Post some pictures sometime of your car with some Alaskan scenery in the background.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 294
Likes: 10
From: Palmer Alaska
????? Former Alaskan here. I bought my '69 in Anchorage a bunch of years ago. Loved driving it on the winding mountain roads. Probably 30% of the miles I've put on this car was between Anchorage and Seward visiting a girlfriend in my younger days.
Post some pictures sometime of your car with some Alaskan scenery in the background.
Post some pictures sometime of your car with some Alaskan scenery in the background.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 294
Likes: 10
From: Palmer Alaska
I have used the OEM strut rods, OEM strut rods with Poly bushings and a few years ago switched to competition struts with Heim joint ends-no bushings at all. I really like the competition struts since with no bushings there is no flex and the heavier strut rod cannot flex under load. One of the biggest problems with the C3 chassis is too much frame flex so anything and everything you can do to eliminate suspension slop is a big plus. The competition struts also do not noticeable effect the ride. The combo of 360 spring with poly cushings, Bilstein Sports, and competition strut rods make the rear feel really planted (not racing just in general driving)-firm, solid but not harsh riding. My neighbor with a Lexus LS430 (which is a boat and drives like one) and not a car guy rode in my 78 recently and commented that he always heard that the C3 vets rode like trucks and he could not believe how well my car rode-There you go! I am really amazed by people who want to put in 200lb spring in a car like the C3 in search of a better ride.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
No I did not. I was trying to eliminate the strut rod flex and unwanted movement of the strut rod with rubber bushings which adversely effects camber change from hitting bumps and during cornering. Result, improvement in straight-line stability on a all road surfaces and during cornering. Remember, on the street, not racing.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
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From: Western NY
(at least they did back when I was re-working my wife's car...)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 480
Likes: 42
From: Los Angeles CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,930
Likes: 845
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i have a 360 lb vbp spring ready to go in , i figure i took 40 plus pounds off the front 20 out of the rear should help balance things out. 20 pounds out of the rear helps anyone er i mean thing anything
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
FWIW, the 1/2" wasn't my idea, rather a long standing recommendation by John Greenwood to improve rear suspension geometry for C3's on radials rather than bias ply tires. In defference to the OP's thread I'll start one dedicated to the topic as soon as I can work up a suitable opening post (but not tonight). Stay tuned...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 294
Likes: 10
From: Palmer Alaska
FWIW, the 1/2" wasn't my idea, rather a long standing recommendation by John Greenwood to improve rear suspension geometry for C3's on radials rather than bias ply tires. In defference to the OP's thread I'll start one dedicated to the topic as soon as I can work up a suitable opening post (but not tonight). Stay tuned...