Hi guys, I was wondering what was involved in changing the car to a coilover setup.

And why in the world did the C4's come with leaf springs in the first place? And will the coil over setup get rid of this crap?

 

the conversion is straight forward enough...

you have to remove the leaf springs... and install the coil overs.

simple enough...

now... for the reason... lighter weight... that was the #1 reason.

I read about them in Dave McClellans book.. "Corvette from the Inside".

the bottom line was weight savings.

They sure were not installed for dynamic reasons. no one else uses them... unless you count the Model T... but that was nearly 80 years ago :D

 

Were you looking at the DRM and Exotic muscle kits?

 

Well I was looking at some archived topics and exotic muslce comes highly recommended, so I may go with that. Just wondering about how much this would cost to install, or how much work would be involved in the install, if I could do it myslef.


[Modified by BAdAzZV8, 11:25 PM 11/18/2002]

 

thetorch- don't you have the QA1's coilovers installed? do you like the system?

 

Here's what I did. I ordered two shocks and hardware to test fit them from QA1 direct with the 30 day return policy in mind. They told me that they didn't have a bolt in kit for C4's but knew that many people purchased them. They made some general recommendations for shocks and springs. The shocks worked fine, but the springs were too soft. After I did the test fit to verify they would fit, I returned them and ordered the identical setup from a different vendor because of price. I found the shocks $45 cheaper than they sell them for direct, not to mention the other parts needed for the conversion.

So the answer is no, I don't have the QA1's installed yet. I will as soon as they come in.

If anyone is interested in what you need for the conversion, I have a spreadsheet detailing all parts needed.

:flag

 

Could you please email me the spreadsheet file? shundog@ufl.edu


[Modified by BAdAzZV8, 11:25 PM 11/18/2002]

 

Please email it to me also. mchapman@shawus.com :chevy

 

I didn't install my coilover setup but I know what is involved.

You have to move the sway bar in the front forward about 1/2". If you have hemi joint sway bar links from DRM than you are fine, I would highly recommend this piece if you are getting coilovers.

Next, the shock towers have to be widen in the front about 1/4" on each side.

On the back, you have to enlongate one hole on the bottom for the shock mount. This will make make the shock mount almost directly verticle.

The last thing you have to do is to shave one of the nut on the knuckle about 1/8" so the coils don't rub on it.

It sounds hard but any shop that has had any experience with them can do it in 3 hours or less.

Good luck

 

Please email me as well. vettxtc@attbi.com

 

Technically, the C4 doesn't use a "leaf" spring. It has on each end a "Composite Monospring". The difference is significant. Leaf springs have leaves, or layers, with attendant friction and other inconsistencies, plus they are heavy. The composite monospring is light, has long life and can be made very consistent from sample to sample. Also, the composite monospring is actually specified in the design both for "adding lightness" and for dynamic reasons. With a composite monospring, most of the spring's mass is loaded in the center, and therefore in the centerline of the car's longitude. And at the wheels, there is less unsprung mass than with a coil spring design. So dynamically, a composite monospring is responsive, lightweight and easily packaged. A coil-over is more easily tuned in the field for variable conditions in racing. Claims of noticing crosstalk in the transverse monosprings in road conditions are essentially bogus. It might be a discernable phenomenon in some racing conditions, but those would be few, and few drivers are experienced enough to notice.

It's interesting that in AutoX, composite monospring cars tend to outperform coil-over conversions. On the other hand, everyone who I know who has converted to a coil-over set-up has claimed significant improvements in ride quality, particularly with convertibles. This can be a good reason to make the conversion since the flexy C4 convertible chassis is easily over damped or oversprung.

But there is nothing technically deficient or primitive about the composite monospring nor its transverse implementation It has become a technical trademark of the Corvette, like the compact large-displacement (in a contemporary sense) pushrod motors and the glass/resin skin.


[Modified by 213LT4, 8:29 AM 11/17/2002]

 

thanks torch, I got your emailed file.

And thanks for that info 213lt4, it was very interesting.


[Modified by BAdAzZV8, 11:25 PM 11/18/2002]

 

torch-can i also get get a copy of that spread sheet, thanks
oscar_in_a_can@hotmail.com

 

Sign me up for that sheet also torch. Thanks http://www.gregory.bender@prudential.com

 

Spreadsheet sent to all.

 

THANKS

 

Thanks bud. :cheers:

 

:cheers: thanks torch got your email

 

Hey can someone shoot me a copy as well?

mimsk@megapathdsl.net

Thanks

KM

 

Sorry to come on here late but do you think you could e-mail me those specs too?

JTmusic@webtv.net :smash: :cheers: :smash: