Author Topic: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look  (Read 3860 times)

Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #15 on: January 10, 2008 - 10:49:31 PM »
I could never leave a car alone and keep it stock,sorry,and I doubt there would be any parts worth saving, few weeks ago when I started looking for the project car,I was planing to go with Toyota 2JZ-GTE fully built motor with Garrett GT47 88mm turbo setup that can easily put down 1200hp since I have it sitting around ,but after doing some research and growing some respect , I believeI will stick with Mopar powerplant, not sure what it will be yet,but probably 6.1 Hemi,I had few thoughts about Viper drivetrain, but not sure how my financial situation pan out
« Last Edit: January 10, 2008 - 10:54:00 PM by exvelocity »
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Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2008 - 12:20:44 AM »
I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't keep them stock, lol

by Viper drivetrain,I mean motor, tranny ,diff and most likely front & rear suspension, but I want the A/C,since it gets very hot in the summer in Florida, so far I haven't seen any E bodys with A/C on Viper motor
Stefan B

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Offline HP2

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2008 - 06:57:43 AM »
I've never had any qualms about laying into and cutting up a car and when I think of all the classic mopar iron I've wasted over the years, it does kind of make me sick. I have grown into a sort of compromise position now. I'm by no means a purist but would probably consider myself a sleeper. I also was after the latest gadget or doo-dad to to step up performance but in 25+ years of building cars, have learned that there are subtleties to a lot of the original stuff that can usually be exploited to a degree that blows peoples minds.  Then when you clean house with your car you can sit back and shrug while saying "whats the biggy? its just an old, stock mopar."

Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2008 - 09:29:24 AM »
Hp2, I agre with you for the most part, but I still think leaf springs are dated and should be replaced with building a custom car,the skinny 20 inch tractor style steering wheel, I can't have that in my car,unless it's a low mile big block original car,but then again, I don't think I want to own a trailer queen ,I'd rather have fun building a car 
Stefan B

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Offline HP2

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #19 on: January 11, 2008 - 12:34:23 PM »
The biggest issue with leaf springs is that it is not easy to change rates on them, but once you have your rate dialed in, there really is no need to change them. You could say they are heavy, but that can be overcome with composite leafs. You could say they are not adjustable, but that can be overcome with modern multi-location brackets, sliders, and the addition of a panard bar. So with careful selection of items, you can have a leaf set up that is as light and as functional as a coil over set up.

So, IMO, unless you racing your car on multiple tracks on a reguaalr basis that would necessitate changing spring rates rapidly and regularly in a class where a 50# difference in rate can be the difference between winning and loosing, leafs can be made to work out pretty nicely. Of course, they lack a lot of the WOW!! that comes with anodized aluminum coil overs and powder coated springs, so certainly for the custom look, coil overs or air bars are a shoe in. For actual performance it is a toss up.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2008 - 12:37:16 PM by HP2 »

Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #20 on: January 11, 2008 - 12:58:52 PM »
I'm not much of a racer,so I don't think I'll be doing much drag racing,it's more of a look I'm going for as well as good performing and handling setup,I'll probably end up with air suspension, just want to find the right components, I can't stand the body roll and swaying from air ride,I've had few cars and trucks with struts and bags,it was a very poor quality ride, but that was 6 years ago,and I think air suspension industry has advanced quite a bit so I hope by now I should be able to find a good setup
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Offline HP2

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #21 on: January 11, 2008 - 03:55:03 PM »
Yes, air rides have come a long way from then. They now have an in car controller that allows you to set each wheel independantly that will also calculate cross weights and side weights to make on the fly adjustments to maintain the preset ratings. Very trick, imo, and if it wasn't so dang expensive, I might consider one. It is about the closest thing to an active suspension set up out there for classic cars.

Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #22 on: January 11, 2008 - 05:25:12 PM »
who makes this system you're speaking of?
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #23 on: January 12, 2008 - 03:25:02 AM »
seriously I would try 1.22" T bars , re-inforce the control arms , install poly bushings , use tubular upper control arms & a low profile tire & a premium shock , I bet you will be amazed with a lot less $$ & work involved , if not I will use the parts on my Chall 

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Offline 426HEMI

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #24 on: January 12, 2008 - 10:17:24 AM »
seriously I would try 1.22" T bars , re-inforce the control arms , install poly bushings , use tubular upper control arms & a low profile tire & a premium shock , I bet you will be amazed with a lot less $$ & work involved , if not I will use the parts on my Chall 

This sounds like the best way to go.  This sounds like something I would or would I say will do to my Cuda.
Got a pretty good start on my M46 optioned Barracuda restoration but now it is on hold till I can gather more funds.  Still need a few parts for it.  SIU Graduate 75 AAS Automotive Tech, 94 BS Advanced Tech Studies, 1997 MSED Workforce Education and Development

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Offline HP2

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #25 on: January 12, 2008 - 12:22:55 PM »
who makes this system you're speaking of?

Air Ride Technologies is the pioneer in this area. Their Ride Pro system combined with shock wave shock/spring combo is about the ultimate in adjustable suspension systems. You'll spend in the neighborhood of $7000 for this type of system. This makes the air ride less expensive compared to the $11,000 it will take to put the XV level 2 kit under your car. Alterkation is the budget leader in the aftermarket segment since you can get their basic fixed ride height system for around $5000. Change the coil over to bags and you are in the range of Air Ride without the controller.

All of this makes the $1500-2000 it would take to upgrade the stock suspension look like peanuts. You can always  take a page from the Mopar Performance Chassis manual and put 1.12 t-bars, 1.125 front sway bar, 120# leaf springs and a .75 rear sway bar with some QA1 adjustable shocks under your car. This is almost exactly what the XV Level 1 kit is a copy of.

Offline conv340

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Well I cant help it  :stirpot: I have to put in my  :2cents:
I think some people failed to understand the question.  :drama:
I've heard all the arguments about stock vs modified, coil vs bags. I like torsion bars. I have a stock Challenger 383 4 speed. It's a blast to drive. I would describe it as rude and crude. It's exactly what muscle cars are all about. (Not what he asked!)
I also have a heavily upgraded factory system in my Challenger Convertible. Bigger torsion bars, reinforced lowers, urethane bushings, adjustable strut rods, tubular uppers. bigger sway bars and lowered. It rides very firm and handles well. Right now It's my favorite to drive its a lot of fun. BUT... You sacrifice comfort for handling and there are limitations with "stock" that you can't over come. A new car rides smoother and handles better. I hate to say it but there have been advances in medicine since 1970.  With " Twisted Fish " I wanted it to ride and drive like a new car. Smooth riding and great handling. Crisp steering and no bump steer. Theres a number of things a new car uses to achieve this. A stiffer body, softer springs and better geometry. Add to that rack and pinion steering and multi-link rear suspension. You can't duplicate that ride with out a lot of modifications. ( Some permanent  :22yikes:) You need to weld up the body and add body stiffeners. The steering gear box has to go. You can't duplicate the precise steering feel of a rack no mater what you do to it. The leaf springs also need to go they can't hold the tires as accurately as a multi-link no matter how much money you throw at them. Unfortunately the alignment angles on the front of an e-body aren't very good and can't be fully corrected unless you do some extensive mods.
I would never cut on a car with any promise. But if you start with a car that has no particular value other then maybe as a downer car. Anything you do to put it back on the street is a plus in my book. The other criteria For this project is it has to be LOW much lower then I can achive with stock parts so back to the original question.

The question was about the "Lowered aggressive look" very popular today in hot-roding.
Air bags are about the only way to achieve this look and still drive the car.

Theres been a lot of questions about the ride. I rode in a mustang with the new shockwaves and thought the ride was nicer then expected. It's smooth more like a new car but not by any means soft. It seemed to handle great. It was a short ride so I cant say about every road surface or any handling numbers, but I was impressed enough to go with it. Not at all bouncy like an older "bagged" hot rod with external shocks. Read this it helped me http://ridetech.com/streetchallenge/streetchallenge2006.asp
The world of hot roding is as diverse as the people in it. There are no wrong answer just lots of opinions.
It's been said before but in the end it's your car do what makes you smile.  :bigsmile:
« Last Edit: January 13, 2008 - 12:54:28 AM by conv340 »
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Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #27 on: January 13, 2008 - 01:10:59 AM »
thanks for alot of great info,I'm sold on air ride,it's exactly what I was looking for,now if only I could make up my mind on the drivetrain and wheels/tires
Stefan B

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Don't do what's easy, do what's right!!

Offline elitecustombody

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Re: Looking to completely replace stock suspension for lowered agressive look
« Reply #28 on: January 15, 2008 - 03:17:45 PM »
scratch coil-overs, going with air-ride technologies air struts
Stefan B

Elite Custom Body = AMD Sheetmetal & Glass at great prices !!


Don't do what's easy, do what's right!!