When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
OK, so the next step in my '81 project is shocks and a new front end suspension. The car is all over the road and pulling to the left, so we're upgrading the entire front end suspension and getting an alignment. My thought process here is that if I have to rebuild the front suspension, I might as well upgrade it so it handles better and rides a bit stiffer...and if I'm going to upgrade the front end, that means I'm likely going to have to upgrade the rear end as well. In addition to that, all the shocks squeak on the car, so those need to be upgraded as well. I know very little about suspension components or shocks - does anyone have any recommendations for components (or ideally a kit) that will make the car handle a little better. My goal here is I want something that is slightly stiffer, but not so stiff it's uncomfortable. Additionally, a stock ride height is a must, I don't want to lower the car at all. What do people typically run on this car?
Edit: OK, I'd be open to considering lowering the car 1".
Edit2: Should also mention I'm hoping to reduce the amount of play in my steering wheel as well.
Last edited by rabinaba; Sep 27, 2022 at 12:57 PM.
Rebuild the front and rear with stock style rubber. All new tie rods, ball joints,upper and lower A arm bushings everything. If you want to upgrade the A arms you can use Global West Del a Lum bushings but they take some fabrication. Use no poly except for sway bars.Buy some good shocks. Cut one full coil off and your done. I would also rebuild trailing arms and get some 8" bolts
Vansteel and Ridetech both have good minimalist suspension improvement kits. Main consideration is how much do you want to spend. Lowering 1” is easy and makes a big difference; looks better too, IMO. Three easy ways to get there; 1) cut a coil, as above. 2) 550lb coils- a little stiffer. 3) Ridetech’s dual-rate lowering springs. The dual-rate springs also have available adapter rings to keep stock ride height. Often overlooked for better handling is 18” wheels; much less side-wall deflection and better selection of performance tires. Order of quality for shocks; good-KYB, better-Bilsteins, best-QA1 or Viking.
Mine doesn't scrape on pavement. Just gotta drive it a bit carefully. I hated the way it looked with the big gaps in the wheel wells. It's a sports car, not a Jeep.
For some crazy reason he does NOT want to lower the car...
Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
I agree with him.....Corvettes are too low as it is. Why would you want to scrape the ground with your car? They should all be raised an inch or so.
Hahaha! It’s not even about the car scraping. I daily drove a 350Z for 8 years, I can deal with worrying about scraping. I just genuinely don’t like the way the C3 looks slammed to the ground, especially with big 18” wheels. It just doesn’t look right to me, I’m trying to keep my upgrades classy.
I’d consider dropping it an inch, but I was planning on putting 17” rims on it. So I’ll have to see how that looks.
Hahaha! It’s not even about the car scraping. I daily drove a 350Z for 8 years, I can deal with worrying about scraping. I just genuinely don’t like the way the C3 looks slammed to the ground, especially with big 18” wheels. It just doesn’t look right to me, I’m trying to keep my upgrades classy.
I’d consider dropping it an inch, but I was planning on putting 17” rims on it. So I’ll have to see how that looks.
I was very resistant to going with bigger diameter wheels, because like you, I enjoy the classic look of 15 inch wheels and tires. BUT.....I wanted better tires on the pavement, and bought American Torq Thrust 17 inch wheels, with correct backspacing, etc. and put Nitto 555GT tires on it....10.5 inches of modern design sticky rubber on all four on the ground. Made a HUGE difference in handling, and I could not go back now. And honestly, the 17 inch wheels / tires, look pretty good......as for 18" and above.....it starts looking wrong to me. Too modern, and the classic look is given up to modern influences.
I also dropped the car app. one inch, and I think it looks perfect. The outside diameter of these tires is exactly the same diamater as the original tires the car was designed around, and the concentricity of the tire and wheel opening is perfect.
OK, so the next step in my '81 project is shocks and a new front end suspension. The car is all over the road and pulling to the left, so we're upgrading the entire front end suspension and getting an alignment. My thought process here is that if I have to rebuild the front suspension, I might as well upgrade it so it handles better and rides a bit stiffer...and if I'm going to upgrade the front end, that means I'm likely going to have to upgrade the rear end as well. In addition to that, all the shocks squeak on the car, so those need to be upgraded as well. I know very little about suspension components or shocks - does anyone have any recommendations for components (or ideally a kit) that will make the car handle a little better. My goal here is I want something that is slightly stiffer, but not so stiff it's uncomfortable. Additionally, a stock ride height is a must, I don't want to lower the car at all. What do people typically run on this car?
Ridetech makes a Street Grip kit that sounds exactly like what you want. I did it in mine and it was a good investment. All new bushings for front arms, all 4 new adjustable shocks so you can get more or less firm you control it and a composite spring for the ring. New coils for the front too. Look up the kit on YouTube. They have a good video for it.
OK, so the next step in my '81 project is shocks and a new front end suspension. The car is all over the road and pulling to the left, so we're upgrading the entire front end suspension and getting an alignment. My thought process here is that if I have to rebuild the front suspension, I might as well upgrade it so it handles better and rides a bit stiffer...and if I'm going to upgrade the front end, that means I'm likely going to have to upgrade the rear end as well. In addition to that, all the shocks squeak on the car, so those need to be upgraded as well. I know very little about suspension components or shocks - does anyone have any recommendations for components (or ideally a kit) that will make the car handle a little better. My goal here is I want something that is slightly stiffer, but not so stiff it's uncomfortable. Additionally, a stock ride height is a must, I don't want to lower the car at all. What do people typically run on this car?
I was very resistant to going with bigger diameter wheels, because like you, I enjoy the classic look of 15 inch wheels and tires. BUT.....I wanted better tires on the pavement, and bought American Torq Thrust 17 inch wheels, with correct backspacing, etc. and put Nitto 555GT tires on it....10.5 inches of modern design sticky rubber on all four on the ground. Made a HUGE difference in handling, and I could not go back now. And honestly, the 17 inch wheels / tires, look pretty good......as for 18" and above.....it starts looking wrong to me. Too modern, and the classic look is given up to modern influences.
I also dropped the car app. one inch, and I think it looks perfect. The outside diameter of these tires is exactly the same diamater as the original tires the car was designed around, and the concentricity of the tire and wheel opening is perfect.
I literally have this photo saved from another time you posted it because this is exactly how I want my car to look! The TTII 17" in those Nitto's is exactly the set up I was looking at, glad to know they work well and look good. Agreed on 18" - 17 is about as large as you can go before it starts looking too modern.
Question - how'd you end up lowering it? Did you put a shorter coil on it? Did you cut your current coil?
Most of the corvette vendors sell rubber rebuild kits for front and rear. I paid the uplift and went with the Moog set from VanSteel. Most folks recommend the Bilstein B6 front, B8 performance for the rears. That's what I used on my 81 and they seem to work fine. To lower the rear, you can buy longer (8") bolts for the rear monoleaf spring that will allow you to set your ride height. For the front, there are ton's of different options for springs and there's no way to tell exactly what you'll get until they are installed. I would recommend a heavier weight, shorter spring (much easier to install than factory height ones). I ended up going with the Moog 5754 spring for mine which lowered the front slightly over stock but I'm also running a lighter LS motor. Note that once you're in there, do it all including bearings and rubber brake hoses. Note that you'll need special tools to remove and replace the rear bearings in the trailing arms or you can ship them out to Gary Ramadei who rebuilds them or you can buy new if you don't want to attempt them yourself. Lastly, buy some shim packs to bring with you when getting your alignment done as most shops won't have them. I'm running 18" wheels by the way.
Here’s a before and after lowering 1” with Ridetech dual-rate springs in front and 8” bolts in rear. 15” to 18” wheels; same 27” diameter tires. Fender gap is now even all around the tire. Torque Thrust wheels are a classic look in themselves, which keep the 255/45/18 tires from looking too modern. Quick lane changes on the freeway feel much more stable. Tried multiple suspension adjustments to keep the car from feeling darty while crossing ruts in the road; this made the biggest difference.
Charlie
Here’s a before and after lowering 1” with Ridetech dual-rate springs in front and 8” bolts in rear. 15” to 18” wheels; same 27” diameter tires. Fender gap is now even all around the tire. Torque Thrust wheels are a classic look in themselves, which keep the 255/45/18 tires from looking too modern. Quick lane changes on the freeway feel much more stable. Tried multiple suspension adjustments to keep the car from feeling darty while crossing ruts in the road; this made the biggest difference.
Charlie
That actually looks really nice, and I was considering getting the Ridetech dual-rates. Let me ask you, do the tires rub at all? Also, how's it feel over bumps as compared to stock springs?
Most of the corvette vendors sell rubber rebuild kits for front and rear. I paid the uplift and went with the Moog set from VanSteel. Most folks recommend the Bilstein B6 front, B8 performance for the rears. That's what I used on my 81 and they seem to work fine. To lower the rear, you can buy longer (8") bolts for the rear monoleaf spring that will allow you to set your ride height. For the front, there are ton's of different options for springs and there's no way to tell exactly what you'll get until they are installed. I would recommend a heavier weight, shorter spring (much easier to install than factory height ones). I ended up going with the Moog 5754 spring for mine which lowered the front slightly over stock but I'm also running a lighter LS motor. Note that once you're in there, do it all including bearings and rubber brake hoses. Note that you'll need special tools to remove and replace the rear bearings in the trailing arms or you can ship them out to Gary Ramadei who rebuilds them or you can buy new if you don't want to attempt them yourself. Lastly, buy some shim packs to bring with you when getting your alignment done as most shops won't have them. I'm running 18" wheels by the way.
This looks really nice as well. Let me ask you, since you have the same front bumper, after lowering the car and putting 18" wheels on, do the tires rub? Also, are those wheels the standard 27" height?
No tire rub for me. It's actually pretty close to stock height in the front, maybe a 1/2" lower. I'd have to measure it again. Rear was dropped about 3/4" via longer bolts. 235/50R18 front, 275/40R18 on the rear running 18x8.5, 4.5" backspacing.
Vansteel and Ridetech both have good minimalist suspension improvement kits. Main consideration is how much do you want to spend. Lowering 1” is easy and makes a big difference; looks better too, IMO. Three easy ways to get there; 1) cut a coil, as above. 2) 550lb coils- a little stiffer. 3) Ridetech’s dual-rate lowering springs. The dual-rate springs also have available adapter rings to keep stock ride height. Often overlooked for better handling is 18” wheels; much less side-wall deflection and better selection of performance tires. Order of quality for shocks; good-KYB, better-Bilsteins, best-QA1 or Viking.
Any idea how different the ride quality would be between 550lb coils and the RideTech dual-rate's? I think I'm debating between the two.
Suspension and shock recommendations?
