Front Suspension question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 789
Likes: 13
From: Winter Springs FL
Front Suspension question
I'm building a 1966 resto-rod with a tube chassis that accepts C4 components. Is there a major difference between the 1985-87 and 1988-96 front steering geometry enough to make me choose the latter over the former for sure? And other than the 88-96 caliper being 2-pistons, anything else different between the brakes? Are the 2-piston calipers that much better than the one-piston? I don't have plans to upgrade to 13" rotors/calipers since the wheels will be 16" and the big brakes won't fit.
The frame accepts only 1985-87 upper A-arms, is there a problem in using those A-arms with the rest of the 1988-96 set up?
Finally, any suggestions on the steering rack? Any major differences there between years?
Thanks in advance,
Islander
The frame accepts only 1985-87 upper A-arms, is there a problem in using those A-arms with the rest of the 1988-96 set up?
Finally, any suggestions on the steering rack? Any major differences there between years?
Thanks in advance,
Islander
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 789
Likes: 13
From: Winter Springs FL
Hmmmm, that would be a moot point since I'm not using the spring, it will get coil-overs. I won't use a sway bar either. I saw pictures of the spindles side by side and they are quite disimilar. You can't put 85-87 brake calipers on the 88-96s, but that does not mean the 88-96s are better, right?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,146
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The changes were mostly in mounting points and approach to handling, general geometry stuff for the former, and a switch from stiffer springs to larger swaybars and geometry to get the same handling in the latter. Entirely to improve the ride quality.
One geometry is not really better than the other if racing/handling is your viewpoint. Its not like an 89 will run circles around an 85, for example, if you gave them the same power.
The parts will not interchange, and it would require some real fab work to make parts from either setup to work together. I would just take the whole front-end of one or the other.
With mounting adapters though, you can use later model brakes on the earlier models, so theres one thing you can play with. Most of us with early C4s are putting on C5 brakes now anyway, I did. More fade-resistant.
One geometry is not really better than the other if racing/handling is your viewpoint. Its not like an 89 will run circles around an 85, for example, if you gave them the same power.
The parts will not interchange, and it would require some real fab work to make parts from either setup to work together. I would just take the whole front-end of one or the other.
With mounting adapters though, you can use later model brakes on the earlier models, so theres one thing you can play with. Most of us with early C4s are putting on C5 brakes now anyway, I did. More fade-resistant.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Is that a '66 Vette you're talking about? That will be a sweet driving car w/ C4 stuff under it. They never made a bad C4 set-up. And since you're using coilovers, obviously you can easily tune it to whatever you need it to be. I'd love to see pics of that chassis when you start construction. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 789
Likes: 13
From: Winter Springs FL
Kid NC,
Yeah it's a 66 vert. I just got the rear suspension, a rare 3.54 Dana 44 out of a 92 ZR-1. Here's what the chassis will look like when done:
Notice the engine mounts. They are LS1 but I have a different engine in mind, though it will use the same type of mounts
Yeah it's a 66 vert. I just got the rear suspension, a rare 3.54 Dana 44 out of a 92 ZR-1. Here's what the chassis will look like when done:
Notice the engine mounts. They are LS1 but I have a different engine in mind, though it will use the same type of mounts
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Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Islander21
Kid NC,
Yeah it's a 66 vert. I just got the rear suspension, a rare 3.54 Dana 44 out of a 92 ZR-1. Here's what the chassis will look like when done:
Notice the engine mounts. They are LS1 but I have a different engine in mind, though it will use the same type of mounts
Yeah it's a 66 vert. I just got the rear suspension, a rare 3.54 Dana 44 out of a 92 ZR-1. Here's what the chassis will look like when done:
Notice the engine mounts. They are LS1 but I have a different engine in mind, though it will use the same type of mounts
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 789
Likes: 13
From: Winter Springs FL
wow, thats a big project. how long from start to finish will it take you. a project that we all dream of.
