corvetero

I would like to improve the ride on my car w/o investing a bunch of money, so I was thinking to use Bilstein shocks (Sports or HD) with the OEM springs set up.

Front springs are almost news (OEM) and rear spring was replaced 5 years ago, but still 9 leafs one. Most of the bushings has been in the car for no more than 3-4 years.

I have 8" bolts on the rear suspension to drop the height.

Will I have any problem running bilstein w/o upgrading springs?

Are the Bilstein Sports suitable in this case?

We are talking a street Sunday driver car.

Thanks in advance

mikep3

Bilstein HD for stock springs, at 3K miles a year they ride great. I also replaced all the rubber suspension parts, ball joints, idler arm, tie rods, strut rod and what ever.
I went thru 2 sets of Delco in 6K miles and the Bilstein's have about 26K and they look dirty but work great.

corvetero

How would you calify the stiffness? OEM vs Bilstein HD

mk's78

I run Bilsteins on my 78 and they definitely run stiff/hard!!!!!!
That's with all OE springs, suspension etc...

mk's78
Mike

zwede

Stock springs with Bilstein HD. They ride (and handle) the best of any shocks I've run on the car.

corvetero

So I guess you mean HD version, right?

I read good things about the combination of HD on the front and Sports on the rear, but I'm not sure if that will work with my OEM spring configuration.

corvetero

Are you guys using 8" bolts on the rear spring?

Brcmpbl

I have Bilstein Sports on my 70, stock suspension otherwise. They are stiff but not crazy.

corvetero

According to Bilstein, Sports are supposed to be for lowered cars,....but every car is a world, what a dilema!

Do they consider a lowered car those using just 8" bolts on the rear? Who knows...

mrvette

Want to improve the ride,?? get a VBP plastic rear spring.....long bolts and Billy Stein sports.......

it will smooth out the car like mad......that spring is right under your *** and nothing like improving your assets.....

TimAT

I have the sport shocks with the stock F-41 springs. It doesn't ride any worse than it did with the original shocks.

7T1vette

I would call Bilstein HD's with stock springs a FIRM ride and very stable. A '63 C2 with the HD suspension package is STIFF (that would rattle fillings out of your teeth going over railroad tracks).

corvetero

Thanks for your comments. I will finally go with HD's...I'm sure that it will be a huge improvement compare with Delco ones, and good enough for a sunday driver street car.

7T1vette

You won't be disappointed. And, for the extra cost of the Bilstein shocks, they will last for 10-20 years without a problem (depending on use).