High HP suspension
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 224
Likes: 63
From: East Texas
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
High HP suspension
Hey guys,
I am in the middle of my engine build and wanted to see what everyone has done regarding the suspension on their high HP C7's. My car is a base Stingray without the mag ride or Z51 package. I am basically a clean slate to start from. I thought about going the coil over route or should I just install better shocks? I am going to be somewhere between 850 to 950 rwhp with a manual. I know suspension will pay a part in the way the car reacts to the HP. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
I am in the middle of my engine build and wanted to see what everyone has done regarding the suspension on their high HP C7's. My car is a base Stingray without the mag ride or Z51 package. I am basically a clean slate to start from. I thought about going the coil over route or should I just install better shocks? I am going to be somewhere between 850 to 950 rwhp with a manual. I know suspension will pay a part in the way the car reacts to the HP. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 224
Likes: 63
From: East Texas
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Gotcha, Mostly spirited street driving with some drag strip days here and there. No track days. Car will be about 850 to 950 rwhp and I want to get good weight distribution and be planted. Looking at coilovers and z51 front and rear sway bars. This is for a base stingray without the z51 or magride.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,965
Likes: 6,770
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
From the sound of things, just add Z51 roll-bars and it should meet your needs. As a longtime (30+ years) Bonneville Salt Flats racer with more power than you'll be making, I can assure you that suspension will not be as important as a sane head on your shoulders as you are driving. 
All the best, in any event. 
All the best, in any event.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 430
Likes: 1,081
From: So Cal
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My neighbor runs a highly built/supercharged C7 Stingray on factory suspension with Drag ET's on the strip, loves the thing, and drives it everywhere too..
For "some spirited street driving and occasional drag" the stock suspension may suit you just fine to start out with, and provide a balance of nice ride all around and high performance when needed. I'd suggest for your needs to wait until you find issues with your suspension/traction to refine vs buying parts prior to your initial testing.
The tires would likely need upgrading firstly just to hookup all that power as I am sure you know. Then you can go into fine tuning the ride if you want to chase more and more speed at launch (or in the curves?) and if you find your suspension as a limiting factor. Keep in mind the more you setup for drag however, the less it will handle your "spirited" duties or normal driving. If you need balance for various driving needs and arent trying to win trophies on the weekends, the factory setup is kind of hard to beat.
No matter what you do, with all that power you will likely need restraint with your right foot more than adding parts that will "handle" that power for you...!!
Have fun and stay safe out there
For "some spirited street driving and occasional drag" the stock suspension may suit you just fine to start out with, and provide a balance of nice ride all around and high performance when needed. I'd suggest for your needs to wait until you find issues with your suspension/traction to refine vs buying parts prior to your initial testing.
The tires would likely need upgrading firstly just to hookup all that power as I am sure you know. Then you can go into fine tuning the ride if you want to chase more and more speed at launch (or in the curves?) and if you find your suspension as a limiting factor. Keep in mind the more you setup for drag however, the less it will handle your "spirited" duties or normal driving. If you need balance for various driving needs and arent trying to win trophies on the weekends, the factory setup is kind of hard to beat.
No matter what you do, with all that power you will likely need restraint with your right foot more than adding parts that will "handle" that power for you...!!
Have fun and stay safe out there
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 209
Likes: 150
Hey guys,
I am in the middle of my engine build and wanted to see what everyone has done regarding the suspension on their high HP C7's. My car is a base Stingray without the mag ride or Z51 package. I am basically a clean slate to start from. I thought about going the coil over route or should I just install better shocks? I am going to be somewhere between 850 to 950 rwhp with a manual. I know suspension will pay a part in the way the car reacts to the HP. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
I am in the middle of my engine build and wanted to see what everyone has done regarding the suspension on their high HP C7's. My car is a base Stingray without the mag ride or Z51 package. I am basically a clean slate to start from. I thought about going the coil over route or should I just install better shocks? I am going to be somewhere between 850 to 950 rwhp with a manual. I know suspension will pay a part in the way the car reacts to the HP. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
Penske are the defacto shock you can buy and have it handle whatever you need. They can also custom valve them for your application.
