In the never ending quest to go faster, I am making a ton of upgrades to the chassis this winter.

In addition to the new Motor Plates and Pinto Rack conversion. Pics here:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html

I bought some Viking Crusader Double Adjustable front coilovers with lower T Bar mounts and upper bearing mounts. The question was how to mount them in a clean and sufficiently strong manner. This is a big problem with early cars (84-88) because the factory shock towers are so much narrower than the later (89-96) cars.

So I got the idea that moving the shock slightly outboard of the factory tower would be a good solution.... If it would still clear the upper A Arm.

I bought these simple upper coilover shock brackets from Kyser Mfgring as a start point. (Long versions) It's a very common piece sold by many oval track suppliers and used on oval track cars.

http://www.keysermanufacturing.com/Chasis-Shock-Mounts

I shortened it to fit on top the factory 84 shock tower and position the shock so it cleared the upper A Arm.... Perfect fit almost.... just going to need a little grinding on the shock tower for clearance on the very top coil.

Then I welded a back plate on to add a little strength and give me a little more surface are to attach it with. This is the upper bracket after the modifications.

I used my TIG machine to modify/weld the upper brackets, as the roll cage and everything else is Chromoly and therefore TIG welded on my car and with these being up front right on top where everyone can see them I wanted it to appear as nice/clean as I could make it. I'm barely passable as a fabricator and welder but like I said I wanted it to be as nice as I could possibly do - So this is it..... Someone else could MIG weld it if you wanted to without any loss of strength.



Here are a few pics of the modified upper bracket welded to the factory 84 shock tower with the coilover in place.









Now all that is left is to complete the seam and interval welds the factory partially welded on the stock shock towers where they attach to the frame. I'll use my MIG to do that as the factory used MIG and I don't care to grind everything the factory welded off and re-weld.

Hope this give anyone else considering front coilover conversions on the early C4's something to consider... it'd work on the later cars as well for that matter.... It's really simple to do, the upper brackets are cheap and it's very clean looking when completed.

BTW the factory splash shields and inner fenders fit right back in place with no mods and I am going to put all that stuff back on my car.

Will

 

Ill be interested in the outcome of this mod

 

Nice work so far !

it can be tough to get the castor with the stock arms and coil overs (they have a funny inward bend in them) I ended up going SPC arms to get the clearance.

 

subbed! will you please come back and share your experience driving and setting alignment when you are done?

 

Sure...... but the alignment as far as castor and camber has already been set. I've never touched the upper or lower A Arms. Far as I know it's still set at the factory 84 setting.

I've been racing the car for 4yrs without touching it and it's been 162 MPH in the 1/4 mile straight as an arrow and the car is very stable.

Now I do have to re-set the toe since we swapped the rack over to the lightweight Pinto style manual but that is going to be pretty easy with a set of toe plates (like a 10 min job).

I'll update when we go back to the track in a few months.
Will

 

you have a build thread? is the stock cfi in it?

 

I seriously doubt it... 162MPH not likely with the factory CFI.

 

I don't have a build thread per say from the start but I do have a series of post on my progress with the car.

The first time we had nitrous on the car. Still stock IRS suspension. Pump gas 427 SBC with a TH350 trans. This was 2013. Car ran mid 10's @126 MPH on motor the year before this BTW.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ec-passes.html

My certified 8.50 CM cage update a year later in 2014. I also took the Dart Little M block from the 427 and built it into a new 434 SBC that made 722HP N/A. Then put my little 200hp plate kit on it.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...roll-cage.html

Some video's from the 2014 season.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-race-car.html

My solid rear axle conversion using a S197 Mustang style 3 link rear suspension. 2015 season.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html

Won a race at the end of that season.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ith-a-win.html

Made some induction changes to the 434 SBC engine for 2016 putting it over 755HP N/A. Then put a new fogger nitrou kit on it.... spraying 200hp to start but goes up to 380hp. We also changed to 275 radials on the car... all of which combined to destroy the oil pan on the first pass of the year.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-expected.html

More videos from last season.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html

That should bring you up to date.

Best pass is 8.43@162 MPH with a 1.21 60ft on 275 MT drag radials. Been a 5.40@131 MPH in the 1/8th mile.

Car is still street legal, stock interior except for the Kirkey seats and roll cage, all power windows, mirrors and light still work. No big spoliers or wings - I try to keep the car looking as stock apppearing as possible. The 6" cowl hood scoop I have now just couldn't be helped.
Will

 

Pretty slick!

You do nice work.

Steve

 

Very cool car!

What did you do with the factory hood, replaced or modified the cfi intake stuff?

 

Thank you.

The car still has the factory hood. I just cut it and bonded a 6" cowl scoop on it from Glasstek when I needed more clearance.

The CFI stuff is long gone. The car has had a carburetor on it for as long as I have owned and raced it.
Will