Suspension Build - sanity check
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 7
From: East Bay
Suspension Build - sanity check
Hey CF,
I am about to pull the trigger on a few items to rebuild and improve my 1979 L48 suspension. Current setup is 100% stock. All 4 corners are bouncy. Leaf spring has seen its better days. And the bushings that are visible are on their last leg. My plans for the car is to build a mild performance CA Smog worthy cruiser, so the suspension setup doesn't need to be aggressive, but I'd prefer to only have to rip everything apart once for the next 10 years. As such, I've narrowed these two as my future setup:
Zip Corvette Suspension Kit: https://www.zip-corvette.com/63-79-p...e-package.html
and
Van Steel 330# Monospring + 8in bolts: https://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?f...p=3036&ID=2898
Am I missing anything? Any recommendations or apprehension towards this setup?
- Ian
I am about to pull the trigger on a few items to rebuild and improve my 1979 L48 suspension. Current setup is 100% stock. All 4 corners are bouncy. Leaf spring has seen its better days. And the bushings that are visible are on their last leg. My plans for the car is to build a mild performance CA Smog worthy cruiser, so the suspension setup doesn't need to be aggressive, but I'd prefer to only have to rip everything apart once for the next 10 years. As such, I've narrowed these two as my future setup:
Zip Corvette Suspension Kit: https://www.zip-corvette.com/63-79-p...e-package.html
and
Van Steel 330# Monospring + 8in bolts: https://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?f...p=3036&ID=2898
Am I missing anything? Any recommendations or apprehension towards this setup?
- Ian
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Rear monospring is a good idea; recommend 330# minimum. That suspension kit is decent...but I don't know if the bushings are rubber or poly. I would go rubber, myself. The rear sway bar isn't all that beneficial if the front one is the same strength as stock. If the front one is larger than stock, the rear piece might be useful.
For your stated purpose, I would recommend that you put everything back similar to stock (good quality parts...especially the rubber parts), EXCEPT for the shock absorbers. Good shocks can make a world of difference in the ride and handling of a C3. Any good quality gas shock will significantly improve the ride/handling from the stock hydraulic (only) units. Bilsteins would be the best, but significantly more expensive. In this case, you get what you pay for. Bilsteins will do the job well AND last for decades without failure. If you go with the Bilsteins and a 330# or 360# spring in back, put B6's in front and B8's in the rear. I have a monospring and put B6's all-around. The rear a little bouncy on a big bump, and B8's would have been better, I think.
For your stated purpose, I would recommend that you put everything back similar to stock (good quality parts...especially the rubber parts), EXCEPT for the shock absorbers. Good shocks can make a world of difference in the ride and handling of a C3. Any good quality gas shock will significantly improve the ride/handling from the stock hydraulic (only) units. Bilsteins would be the best, but significantly more expensive. In this case, you get what you pay for. Bilsteins will do the job well AND last for decades without failure. If you go with the Bilsteins and a 330# or 360# spring in back, put B6's in front and B8's in the rear. I have a monospring and put B6's all-around. The rear a little bouncy on a big bump, and B8's would have been better, I think.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Aug 1, 2020 at 06:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,597
Likes: 2,540
You state you want a cruiser that is not aggressive so many of the parts in the Zip package are not for you.
You dont need the sway bars or poly bushings, etc.
Buy Moog rubber suspension parts and one of the softer rear springs and KYB or AC Delco gas shocks.
You dont need the sway bars or poly bushings, etc.
Buy Moog rubber suspension parts and one of the softer rear springs and KYB or AC Delco gas shocks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,624
Likes: 2,452
From: Indiana
X3 above
i have l82 79..same suspension as yours..
new coil springs up front i went 474 moog, left rear spring alone, new ac delco gas, all new rubber bushings, rear strut , sway bar and rear spring bolts went poly...ebay a gymkhana 1 1/8 front , added rear 7/16 factory gymkhana..
replaced ball joints idlers arm other suspension as needed...like a new car and cheap enough..
just did transmission mount, check engine mounts and differential snubber too..
inspect rear bearing and trailing arm bushing..
you can do all that above for the price of that rear spring..or damn close
i have l82 79..same suspension as yours..
new coil springs up front i went 474 moog, left rear spring alone, new ac delco gas, all new rubber bushings, rear strut , sway bar and rear spring bolts went poly...ebay a gymkhana 1 1/8 front , added rear 7/16 factory gymkhana..
replaced ball joints idlers arm other suspension as needed...like a new car and cheap enough..
just did transmission mount, check engine mounts and differential snubber too..
inspect rear bearing and trailing arm bushing..
you can do all that above for the price of that rear spring..or damn close
Last edited by interpon; Aug 1, 2020 at 10:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 7
From: East Bay
Hey CF,
I am about to pull the trigger on a few items to rebuild and improve my 1979 L48 suspension. Current setup is 100% stock. All 4 corners are bouncy. Leaf spring has seen its better days. And the bushings that are visible are on their last leg. My plans for the car is to build a mild performance CA Smog worthy cruiser, so the suspension setup doesn't need to be aggressive, but I'd prefer to only have to rip everything apart once for the next 10 years. As such, I've narrowed these two as my future setup:
Zip Corvette Suspension Kit: https://www.zip-corvette.com/63-79-p...e-package.html
and
Van Steel 330# Monospring + 8in bolts: https://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?f...p=3036&ID=2898
Am I missing anything? Any recommendations or apprehension towards this setup?
- Ian
I am about to pull the trigger on a few items to rebuild and improve my 1979 L48 suspension. Current setup is 100% stock. All 4 corners are bouncy. Leaf spring has seen its better days. And the bushings that are visible are on their last leg. My plans for the car is to build a mild performance CA Smog worthy cruiser, so the suspension setup doesn't need to be aggressive, but I'd prefer to only have to rip everything apart once for the next 10 years. As such, I've narrowed these two as my future setup:
Zip Corvette Suspension Kit: https://www.zip-corvette.com/63-79-p...e-package.html
and
Van Steel 330# Monospring + 8in bolts: https://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?f...p=3036&ID=2898
Am I missing anything? Any recommendations or apprehension towards this setup?
- Ian
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Looks like Van Steel also has some moog rubber bushing sets. I can do front and rear + shocks + composite spring for basically the same as before. I’ve heard nothing but positive things about Van Steel since joining this forum, so it seems like a safe play and money well spent
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,624
Likes: 2,452
From: Indiana
Id still check the trailing arm bushing before going in and consider new front springs.cheap enough and the marshmellow originals might be tough to get in..
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 7
From: East Bay
Id still check the trailing arm bushing before going in and consider new front springs.cheap enough and the marshmellow originals might be tough to get in..
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-method.html
good catch. These VS kits have the shims but not the trailing arm bushings. Also your thread on spring install is wild. Will have to re-read soon
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 7,937
Likes: 4,295
From: Marlton NJ
OK for a street cruiser two things.
First the "mushy" feel is almost entirely shocks. And ride quality is 75% shocks. So choose wisely.
Second (springs) If you leave the stock front springs in and got to a monoleaf rear with 50% more than the stock spring rate you will upset the handling balance of the car. It may snap oversteer on you and I doubt you would like that.
So the 330# would be a bit much for the stock front springs.
Either go down in the back to 198# (ez-ride poly or stock 9 leaf steel) with the stock front coils, (or) (option two) go up in the front to Moog coils with the 330# rear. At 475 they are about 50% more than stock and would match the 330# rear better.
First the "mushy" feel is almost entirely shocks. And ride quality is 75% shocks. So choose wisely.
Second (springs) If you leave the stock front springs in and got to a monoleaf rear with 50% more than the stock spring rate you will upset the handling balance of the car. It may snap oversteer on you and I doubt you would like that.
So the 330# would be a bit much for the stock front springs.
Either go down in the back to 198# (ez-ride poly or stock 9 leaf steel) with the stock front coils, (or) (option two) go up in the front to Moog coils with the 330# rear. At 475 they are about 50% more than stock and would match the 330# rear better.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 495
When I talked to Van Steel he asked what I was doing with it ? My answer was cruising with my wife and some kick downs when I’m by myself on my 80 L 82 with 435 hp 700R4 ( already own a drag car) no auto cross or drag racing in my future . He said normally they would recommend the high arch ez ride spring but thought it would squat too much with my power so he recommended 470 front and medium arch 300 pound spring rear . Moog rubber and 470 pound spring front for me and I’m doing rubber rear with medium arch 300 when I rebuild the rear later . Just tell them what you’re doing
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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my 68s previous owner put the Ecklers touring package with Bilsteins on it, he never cut the front springs, which he should have so the front was about an inch too high but the front and rear rode smooth. I think it was a 330# rear spring. I would compare each vendors complete package..I would guess somebody matched the pieces front to rear for a smooth ride
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,797
Likes: 4,420
From: Virginia
I can't believe Van Steel continues to sell (and even recommends) the high-arch spring. Unless you want the 4x4 look, it's too high. I'd suggest you read through this thread before you pick your rear spring:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...igh-still.html
As for the kit, you are better off buying the parts a-la-carte, that way you know what you are getting, and can insist on Moog ball joints, among other things. YMMV, but I like the poly bushings, the modern production Energy Suspension parts do not seem to fail, there was a bad batch of poly going around 10-20 years ago, though. I've also found zero drawbacks to heim-jointed strut rods.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...igh-still.html
As for the kit, you are better off buying the parts a-la-carte, that way you know what you are getting, and can insist on Moog ball joints, among other things. YMMV, but I like the poly bushings, the modern production Energy Suspension parts do not seem to fail, there was a bad batch of poly going around 10-20 years ago, though. I've also found zero drawbacks to heim-jointed strut rods.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Ask for opinions from those who have an '81-82 car what the rear end feels like before you go that direction. My understanding is that it is just what the 'little woman' likes when driving her Corvette to have lunch at the Club with the girls. Hopefully, those who have one will chime in with first-hand info.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 495
Would that be the reason for good shocks get installed ? I would of thought Van Steel has researched this already but I'm all ears along with been searching the forum about springs and shocks for awhile now but it still seems shocks are mandatory with the fiber spring regardless of spring tension if you're switching steel to fiber
