Stage03

Question on changing stock shocks and front coil springs to F41 front springs & Koni shocks on all four corners or is the QA1 coilovers better in front and QA1 shocks in rear a better choice for an overall better ride and on handling.

jb78L-82

The short answer is that QA1's are the best probably BUT expensive and I have no experience with them. Others with them can chime in but seem to be used by many who race their C3's.

Here is what I wrote recently on my setup....you can decide or ask further questions:





I posted this on my 78 L-82 4 speed in September...

I have a 78 L-82 4 speed car with the gymkhana sport suspension (67,000 miles) that I have owned for 34 years and I have tinkered with the suspension one part at a time over all those years to achieve the perfect balance of superb handling, steering response and a firm but not harsh ride. Not knowing if you have a base suspension (most likely since most did not have the sport suspension from the factory) or the sport suspension, below is what you need for truly sportscar handling with a great ride for your 78:

Front:

550 lbs front coil springs/1 inch lower than stock-$100
1 1/8 inch solid front sway bar (OEM Bar size)-$200
poly upper and lower control arm bushings-$50
Bilstein HD shocks-$150
Front Spreader Bar-$100
Custom blueprinted/rebuilt OEM steering box- GTR 1999-Gary Ramadei-$300

Rear:

360 monospring-$300
Bilstein Sport shocks-$150
OEM Style Rear Sway bar (not the aftermarket type bars. I highly discourage NON OEM/GM style rear sway bars)-7/16 or 9/16 or 3/4 inch (I have this one replacing the stock 7/16 inch bar)-$200
Competition adjustable strut rods with heim joint ends-$200

Total Cost $1750

This suspension will get you a FAR SUPERIOR suspension than what came on the car when it was new, X3 if the car had a base suspension from the factory. You will need to add 17/18 inch rims and tires (ZR rated only W/Y sub rating) later to maximize the superior suspension setup. I have ultra high performance summer only tires Front-255/45/17 ZR and rears 255/50/17 ZR's.

This car not only rides great, has tons of steering response, but can handle like a modern sportscar!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As for the heim joint adjustable struts...makes the rear end feel more planted since there is much less camber changing under a load and has little to no detrimental effect on the ride quality.....................One of the best value upgrades you can make to the suspension....front spreader bar would be #1

Stage03

Cf - sounds nice for a 78........on my 71 convertible, My local Vette shop says to go with F41 front springs which should drop front end by 1 inch and koni shocks on all 4 corners, then to install a Borgenson steering box $700.00 exchange, California prices expensive, and that would give me a superior ride & handling over the stock set up i have now, which i am ready to do cause i love my vette and want a superior new car ride without spending tens of thousands,.....but with the QA1 coil overs was hoping someone on here had experiance with that set up on there 68-72. I already have F/R sway bars but nothing else on suspension.

clwi

I have VBP Performance Plus Pack on mine, handels like a dream.

jb78L-82

I am sure others will chime in with QA1's but keep in mind all C3's have the same suspension design with different springs and sway bars but the suspensions are all the same. My suspension above ^^^^ as an example on a 68-72 will achieve the same result, if that is what you desired.....The only real differences in the 68-79 are the bodies. The 80-82's use a weaker aluminum "batwing" differential mounting and hardware but 68-82 suspension designs are all the same....

Stage03

where can i purchase VBP ?

clwi

Check VBP:s website!
Ecklers got it.

JoeMinnesota

Vette Brakes and Products ... just Google and you'll find their site.

Stage03

Did u get the full kit ?

Stage03

was that the full kit

Stage03

and what year is your Vette

jb78L-82

Front:

Description

1963-82 Covette.

Complete Kit Includes;

•VBP Front Adjustable Transverse Monospring System
•Front Bilstein Sport Shock Absorbers (2)
•HD Front 1.25" Anti-Sway Bar Kit
•VBP Complete Poly Front End Rebuild Kit*
•VBP MIG Welded Upper and Lower Control Arms
•Hardware and Instructions

* Unlike some kits, the VBP Complete Poly Front End Rebuild Kit includes ALL 4 ball Joints, 8 A-Arm bushings, 4 tie rod ends, 2 tie rod sleeves, and the Idler arm.

Rear:

Description
1963-82 Corvette.
Complete Kit Includes;

•VBP Rear Adjustable Dual Mount Monospring System
•Rear Bilstein Sport Shock Absorbers (2)
•HD Rear 0.75" Anti-Sway Bar Kit
•VBP Rear Adjustable Smart Strut System
•VBP Rear Crossmember Reinforcing Kit
•VBP Rear Differential Poly Mounting Bushing Kit
•VBP Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Kit
•VBP T-Arm Stainless Steel Shim Kit
•Hardware and Instructions


If you compare these performance plus suspensions ^^^^to my suspension that I have put on my C3, painstakingly one change at a time, over the last 30 years above in post #2, my suspension I guess would be a performance Plus PLUS....The major deviations from what I have is the front transverse leaf spring ( I use the GM coils), front GM OEM 1 1/8 sway bar with poly bushings, Stock GM steering box custom blueprinted/rebuilt by GTR1999, rear 3/4 inch GM style swaybar (not an aftermarket type 3/4 inch swaybar), poly upper and lower front control arm bushings, front spreader bar, and competition adjustable rear struts with heim joints. My suspension goes way beyond this kit in handling refinement and ride control which is why I often share it for those that want a terrific handling and steering response C3 suspension with incredibly good ride...firm but not harsh at all.....