Front Shocks

[cudabob496]

What are good front shocks for an Ebody with a big block that just
wants to go fast in a straight line?

[jordan]

How long is the straight line?  1/4 mile or infinite? 

My opinion is to get the best shock you can afford.  Usually you get what you pay for.  Big$$ gets you adjustment and ride quality.  Go for the Fox shox you can get from hotchkis.  Bilsteins make a great riding street shock.  QA1 makes plenty of customers happy, so I hear on this board.

You just  may turn a corner at some point while you are driving, and it is nice to have wheel control while you are going fast in that straight line.  I put my $$ in to shocks on all my vehicles.  And I think it makes all of them better driving and faster.  Its just not a part to save money on. 

[70chall440]

Jordan is spot on. when you say "just go in a straight line" is this a drag car? If so, get 90/10 or some other drag orientated shock, if however you have any intention on driving it on the street at all, get a good driving shock. I had KYBs on my Challenger, not impressed at all with them. Changed over to Bilstiens; awesome shocks. QA1s are well received but expensive.

[cudabob496]

thanks, ya, just a street car, but above 70 I need the skinnier tires to be more well planted,
Just have cheepo KYB gas shocks now.  Talk to QA1, they said the adjustable TS501's, which Summit
has about $150.  He said for straightline stuff, set the shock on setting #4, of the 18 available.  Might
just get the non-adjustable QA1s, for about $100 each.

Raced a Caddillac CTSV this weekend. Pretty much dead even, though I was ahead in 2nd.  But I need
the front to be more well planted. Definitely a safety issue. front tires are above 40 psi, so not the best grip.
Should have wupped him better, but I don't think he was the stock supercharged 565 hp. Probably had a computer tune,
and upped his boost, among other possibilities. I know I would not leave that thing stock, if I owned it.

[blown motor]

Jordan is spot on. when you say "just go in a straight line" is this a drag car? If so, get 90/10 or some other drag orientated shock, if however you have any intention on driving it on the street at all, get a good driving shock. I had KYBs on my Challenger, not impressed at all with them. Changed over to Bilstiens; awesome shocks. QA1s are well received but expensive.

What differences did you see? I have KYBs on now and I just picked up a set of Bilstiens to replace them with. Just curious what to expect.

[dfrazz]

Bilsteins are the best shock for the money, had them on my '71 Challenger and loved them.  I installed Fox Shocks on my '70 Cuda as part of a deal with other Hotchkis suspension parts and they really ride nice, an improvement over Bilsteins for tight cornering but not worth the difference in price without a discount.  Watch Hotchkis for their Spring sale (25% off) if you want Fox, otherwise PST sales Bilsteins and has a $50 off coupon in their magazine you can sign up to get.

[70chall440]

best way I can explain it is that the KYBs felt very rough, not real responsive, etc. The Bilsteins completely changed the way the car felt and reacts. Feels more like a modern car than a hay wagon... 

[wantone]

Good call!

[cudabob496]

OK, QA1 said if I'm basically a straight line driver, I don't need the 18 way adjustable shocks,
and can go with their non adjustable TN501, which are only about $100.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qa1-tn501

[70chall440]

everything I have heard and everyone I have talked to about QA1 is positive. I went Bilstein because of cost and was doing all 4.

[CUDA JAS]

OK, QA1 said if I'm basically a straight line driver, I don't need the 18 way adjustable shocks,
and can go with their non adjustable TN501, which are only about $100.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qa1-tn501

but wait...you said this is a street car...are there NO corners where you live.

I am not saying that you need expensive adjustable shock for exclusive street use...but it may be the ticket to customizing the ride for the street?

Jason
just

[70chall440]

but wait...you said this is a street car...are there NO corners where you live.

I am not saying that you need expensive adjustable shock for exclusive street use...but it may be the ticket to customizing the ride for the street?

Jason
just

 

[crash340]

I have the single adjustable QA1 shocks and freakin love them, my car is lowered at the front so I bought Camaro length, changed out the tab lower mount fixing that chebbies use for the Mopar through bolt and good to go, the shock runs in the last third of its stroke now instead in the last 1/2", I was worried about bottoming the shock out.
Each single click on the QA1 shock makes a very noticeable change in how the car feels

[cudabob496]

but wait...you said this is a street car...are there NO corners where you live.

I am not saying that you need expensive adjustable shock for exclusive street use...but it may be the ticket to customizing the ride for the street?

Jason
just

there's corners/curves, but I don't take them fast, so handling is not a big concern.  My car is more of a "point and shoot"

[cudabob496]

any rear shock recommendations?
I guess you want the car to rock back somewhat on launch, for weight transfer.
I do have an adjustable pinion snubber, and ESPO heavy duty rear leafs