Corvette supsension

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 18, 2006 | 09:26 PM

novanutcase

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

Corvette supsension

I posted this over in the C5 forum but it may be better suited for this forum. I am trying to do a full corvette supsension in my hotrod('66 Chevy Nova) and I am trying to figure out how the rear end will work out as I really would like to have a vette IRS back there. I haven't been able to find any pics of the drivetrain on a c4 or c5 but I will continue to search on this forum. Can anyone tell me what year was still using the diff/driveshaft/trans setup rather than the transaxle setup. This would probably work best for me as I would like to do a C4 rear with this type of setup. If anyone can tell me how to modify the diff to work this way it would be also very appreciated.

Aug 18, 2006 | 09:43 PM

Great White North

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 806

Likes: 0

From: Langley B.C.

Never saw a production vette with a trans axle,try porsche.

Aug 18, 2006 | 09:50 PM

novanutcase

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

Transaxle

I just found a photo of the rear suspension in a C4 and it is not what I am looking for. I saw someone that used C5 IRS control arms and I would like to use the same although I think they will be to long for my car. I just found a picture of a C4 IRS and it did not have the same CA's as the C5 did. I guess I will have to see how I can make the C5 rear CA's work for my car. As far as the transaxle what I meant is a transmission that is connected directly to the differential. I am looking for a corvette application that has a driveshaft between the diff and the trans like the Dana 44 but with the C5 CA's.

Aug 18, 2006 | 09:54 PM

tonymax2

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1,183

Likes: 1

From: MidOhio

The last year of the C4 and the "normal" drivetrain (engine/trans/driveshaft/rear axle) was '96. After that it's C5/C6, both transaxle type with a closed driveshaft. The following books have many pics and explanation of the suspension of the C4 plus a lot of general and historical info about 'vettes. A C4 rear axle could be used in a "normal" car by adding cross members under the rear of the trans and under the nose of the differential. The driveshaft angle was given by McLellan as 1 degree, to guarantee precession of the u-joint bearings. If you can, use a manual trans rear end (Dana 44, 8-1/2" ring gear) rather than the automatic (Dana 36, 7-7/8" ring gear). Both are electro-etched on the bottom of the case but may be hard to read. The 44 is obviously bigger but I'm not that familiar with them. Search these forums-it's been discussed before.

Books: "Cor-vette Specs" by Mike Antonick ISBN 0-933534-51-5 and "Corvette From the Inside" by Dave McLellan, ISBN 0-8376-0859-7.

Aug 18, 2006 | 09:59 PM

tonymax2

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1,183

Likes: 1

From: MidOhio

Quote:

Originally Posted by novanutcase

...I am looking for a corvette application that has a driveshaft between the diff and the trans like the Dana 44 but with the C5 CA's.

You can quit looking...there are none! The C5 has variable length half shafts, the C4's are fixed length. Thus the C5 has one additional lateral link per side.

Also, the '80-'82 'vettes had Dana 44 axles with the "batwing" rear mount but with a conventional (for 'vettes) front nose mount. These cars used the older '63-up control arm, etc.

Last edited by tonymax2; Aug 18, 2006 at 10:46 PM.

Aug 18, 2006 | 10:06 PM

novanutcase

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

MAN!!!! You guys are fast! The application I saw was going into a '66 Chevy nova. The guy was using the C5 CA's and a Ford SVT Cobra Diff but was having trouble marrying the axle from the diff to the hub. I would like to go full 'vette but it looks as if it can't be done. Anyone want to tell me it can and how with all 'vette parts? Here is a link to the car that I am talking about:

http://www.lateral-g.net/members/sinjem/

Here is a link to the photo of the specific area:

http://www.lateral-g.net/members/sinjem/Photo0376.jpg

Wadda ya think? Can it be done?

I am building the same type of ride but it will sport some different things. I definitely would like to attempt to do what he is doing on the suspension side of things.

Does anyone have a good photo of the C5 rear end exposed?

Last edited by novanutcase; Aug 18, 2006 at 10:08 PM.

Aug 18, 2006 | 10:43 PM

tonymax2

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1,183

Likes: 1

From: MidOhio

Quote:

Originally Posted by novanutcase

MAN!!!! You guys are fast! The application I saw was going into a '66 Chevy nova. The guy was using the C5 CA's and a Ford SVT Cobra Diff but was having trouble marrying the axle from the diff to the hub. I would like to go full 'vette but it looks as if it can't be done. Anyone want to tell me it can and how with all 'vette parts? Here is a link to the car that I am talking about:....I am building the same type of ride but it will sport some different things. I definitely would like to attempt to do what he is doing on the suspension side of things.

....Does anyone have a good photo of the C5 rear end exposed?

Now you're getting me confused. I think the C5 is a "stick-built" type rear suspension with individual lateral and longitudinal control arms to keep everything in place. I'm also thinking the C6 is a double wishbone (A-arm) type of rear suspension. which is what is shown in the links (that's some really nice building by the way). I'm no expert on C5's or C6's and barely competent on C4's-I don't own one yet but have studied them for awhile. You need to do some more research. Also try www.hotrodders.com, they're more into this sort of thing than this forum. Anything can be done, but you have to remember the words a famous philospher, "A man's got to recognize his own limitations" (Dirty Harry)

Aug 18, 2006 | 11:17 PM

novanutcase

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

Do you have a photo to explain this "stick built"? I don't know what that means. I tried them but they want me to go with the C4 dana 44. To me that is just a 4 link with a leaf spring. I want to do what the link is doing since I think it looks really trick and I think it will handle INSANE! Do any of you have a photo of the IRS on a C5 or C6? Is there a photo archive of this type of stuff on this forum?

Last edited by novanutcase; Aug 18, 2006 at 11:33 PM.