76 Front Suspension Rebuild
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 93
From: Tennessee
76 Front Suspension Rebuild
I'm planning a total rebuild of my 76 front suspension when the weather breaks and I want to read suggestions on where to buy and which bushing type please. Any tips on installation are greatly appreciated!!!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 607
Likes: 122
I just switched my 68 over to Van Steel coil overs. Made a huge difference on how the car drives and feels on the road. Pricey, but worth it to me. Mine was stock before, and when I did my restoration on it, put it back to stock. It was okay, but still rode like an old car to me. Like others have said, if you keep it stock, go with rubber bushings. If you upgrade, check out the various vendors stuff.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 646
Likes: 295
From: Blairsville, Ga
On my 74 I’m sticking with stock upper and lower control arms, but going with DelALum bushings from Global West that will undoubtedly outlast and outperform repop rubber or poly bushings, hands down. I bought offset upper control arm shafts as well.
Since mine will be strictly a street driven car ( but with some very spirited driving on our mountain roads) I’m going with adjustable coil over shocks along with an oversized sway bar.
Bilsteins are also a great set of shocks.
On a side note:
If you’re considering DelALum’s, be advised it will require a little fabrication work on your OEM components.
IF you go this route, do your homework on who you have do your fab work. Trust me, not every “Joe Schmuckatelli” speed shop knows how to follow simple directions.
I would highly recommend shipping your necessary parts directly to Global West to save yourself some headaches, or do like I did my second time around, took my components to Dub in Charlotte. He’s FANTASTIC!
Google Global West DelALum install for more info and a detailed video.
I look forward to getting my resto mod project back on the road ASAP.
Best of luck with your choices!!
Since mine will be strictly a street driven car ( but with some very spirited driving on our mountain roads) I’m going with adjustable coil over shocks along with an oversized sway bar.
Bilsteins are also a great set of shocks.
On a side note:
If you’re considering DelALum’s, be advised it will require a little fabrication work on your OEM components.
IF you go this route, do your homework on who you have do your fab work. Trust me, not every “Joe Schmuckatelli” speed shop knows how to follow simple directions.
I would highly recommend shipping your necessary parts directly to Global West to save yourself some headaches, or do like I did my second time around, took my components to Dub in Charlotte. He’s FANTASTIC!
Google Global West DelALum install for more info and a detailed video.
I look forward to getting my resto mod project back on the road ASAP.
Best of luck with your choices!!
Last edited by Jarhead 74 Vette; Oct 27, 2021 at 04:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,658
Likes: 2,470
From: Indiana
i would upgrade springs.. stiffer ...i went #474 moog USA and not harsh at all.. buy bilstein shocks..you will be impressed when done
pay attention post #22
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
Last edited by interpon; Oct 27, 2021 at 05:06 PM.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,095
Likes: 4,449
From: Marlton NJ
More positive Caster does matter. They give you a better feeling in the steering wheel of what the tires are doing, and the car tracks truer on the highway in a straight line. It may feel less twitchy at all times. It was only built this low on C2/C3s because many of the early C2s had manual steering. PS was not std til about 77.
As long as you have PS, why put up with antiquated caster?
You can get from 2-3 degrees caster with stock a-arms, another degree or so with the offset shafts, and another 1.7 degrees if you elongate the hole in the shaft 1/4". For a total of about 5. Or you can buy new arms that are built with more caster.
As long as you have PS, why put up with antiquated caster?
You can get from 2-3 degrees caster with stock a-arms, another degree or so with the offset shafts, and another 1.7 degrees if you elongate the hole in the shaft 1/4". For a total of about 5. Or you can buy new arms that are built with more caster.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore
Thanks for all the great advice. Is there a spreader bar that will not have clearance problems? I am using a 350 small block and the spreader bar pics is see look pretty tight.
My plan for the front end is:
GW offset cross bars, springs and shocks, Ridetech derlin bushings (let me know about this if you have experience please), larger sway bar and spreader. This will be stock otherwise, about 400 HP is the plan (using Vortec heads, mild cam). Ill get to the rear after i finish the front this fall.
My plan for the front end is:
GW offset cross bars, springs and shocks, Ridetech derlin bushings (let me know about this if you have experience please), larger sway bar and spreader. This will be stock otherwise, about 400 HP is the plan (using Vortec heads, mild cam). Ill get to the rear after i finish the front this fall.
