Does anyone make a kit to eliminate the mono spring with coil overs on the front of a 87?

 

http://www.exoticmuscle.com/webpage....SEL=SUSPENSION

"C2014 COIL OVER PERF. STREET (W/SHOCKS) (EARLY C4)"
The kit is for all 4, but if you call them they would probably sell just the fronts. The key would be to get the spring rates right so they don't throw off the balance when used with your existing rear spring.

Gary at Hardbar www.hardbarusa.com (a supporting vendor) is also working on a C4 coilover kit, but I believe he's starting with late C4's first.

DRM sells C4 coilovers, but I don't see a kit listed for early C4's on their website www.dougrippie.com

Make sure you ask specifically what is required to mount them. Some coilovers require relocating the front sway bar and modifying the shock towers.

 

Go to EM, their shocks fit inside the narrow towers of our 84-87 model cars. It takes them @ 2-week to make the shocks once you tell them about how you will drive the car, ie track, road etc.

I did this swap but I went the long way around because I wanted the shocks to be adjustable. see sig

 

Would there be a problem if I was to switch the front only to coilovers and QA1 double adjustables? I want to do the rear later because of funds and the front is more in need of replacement. Can a front coil over setup like this work well with the factory rear spring?

Thanks

 

As long as you choose the right spring rates. The transverse leaf in a vette acts like an individual spring at each wheel. I've never heard of anyone trying it, but I don't see why there would be strange handling.

Why would you want to do this, by the way? The main advantage of coilovers is to adjust height and corner balance, as well as make it easier to swap in different spring rates. If you only did the front you don't get those advantages. The DRM kit is not that expensive (I think about $1000) for all 4 corners. Don't waste your money on 2 adjustable QA1's and you'll have enough for 4 Bilstiens, like us "pros" use for championships

I'd have DRM stickers on the car in the victory photos but Randy forgot to send them

 

Thanks for the info. The reason I was looking to do just the front is due to $$. I will also do the rear as soon as I am able. I was figuring 1k for the front's now and 1k for the rear later. The fronts are in bad shape right now and I've been wanting the coil over setup for some time. Those QA1's are expensive. I was hoping to have the adjustment capability for street vs. track. The stiffness doesn't bother me too much though. You think Bilsteins would be a better choice for me?

 

I'm in the process of installing coilovers on my 94 and I just have the fronts in right now. You really can't tell the difference that I have coilovers just in front when driving on the street. When I tracked that car, I was impressed at how well the front "stuck" compared to the transverse spring.

Go for it!

 

I have the fronts only, car drives OK, but I dont autoX either

 

I'm upgrading to Penske coilovers this winter

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1833622

 

Rick - I get myself stuck in this debate all the time...

Take what I say with a grain of salt because I have different preferences than most and my vette is not a street car. However, with that said, I think you will be extremely satisfied and spend less money with a DRM (or equivilent) coil over kit with standard non-adjustable shocks.

Bilstein makes a variety of different "off the shelf" valvings for these shocks. Call Randy at DRM or call Bilstein directly and have a 10 minute conversation about EXACTLY what you plan to do with the car. My impression is that you'll drive it on the street with the occasional track day. They will suggest a custom valving that is perfect for your needs (no additional price).

The shocks themselves are about $75 each. When they wear out you ship them back and have them rebuilt for $50. If you want to try another version there's no charge...same amount of work to revalve them either way.

Individual springs are about $60 should you ever need something stiffer or softer.

What you're paying for in a $1000 kit is the convenience of having everything come from the same place and the expertise of the guys with years of experience putting the correct spring / shock combo together for optimum ride and stellar handling.

Lots of folks like to get the fancy 10-way adjustable "this" or double interchangeable "that" because it's cool and you can play with the settings. But you're most likely going to spend a lot of time messing around and never get it quite right...

Oh, and if you still want to save the green and just do the fronts, it looks like a few others have done this with success...I wouldn't be concerned to go that route for now.

 

hi guys i reccomend like others have said, give Randy a call @ doug rippie motor sports,they great well designed products,great friendly helpful service and there products are awsome
cheers
shae

 

Thanks again.

 

Like LD85 I went with QA1 coilover on my front and rear. Also like him I cut off and fabed up new shock towers on the front. The difference between the QA1's and kits made specifically for the C4 is the diameter of the spring. QA1's are 2.5in I believe which in no way fits an ealy C4. Regardless of the the brand you use the early C4's have very thin shock towers that I personnally didn't want to trust. Depending on your fabrication skills the shock mounts were not a huge problem. I mocked mine up in cardboard first. The rear was a huge PITA.