I am gathering parts for my 1971 Cuda Resto mod Project. Its a non numbers matching 340 car that was totally disassembled about 10 years ago, painted in FE5 Red, and re-assembled. I am going to put a MuscleMotors or Tim Banning 572 Fuel Injected Hemi and Passon 4 Speed w/Overdrive, with a Dana 60. Leaning towards keeping my 15" Rallyes and going with 11" Wilwood on all 4's. Although the 17" Year Ones are tempting me, just don't know if I like the look of the bigger wheels.
15" rubber choices will limited your handling capabilities to such a point that significantly stepping up the suspension system would be moot. Now if you are deciding to spring for $400 each 15", Z rated racing radials, then its another story. Stepping up to 17" rims will give you access to UHP street tires which could then justify a significantly more robust handling system. (btw, 12" brakes are possible with 15" rims, 13" brakes with 17" rims. If you going for it, don't sell yourself short on stopping power.)
However........I thought I was set on the RMS AlterKation and Street Lynx system, but I am getting mixed reviews. A lot of people like the Hotchkis TVS and keeping the original K member, but getting the better Torsion Bars, and Stiffening the Body in a number of areas. The shop that is doing the work really wants to do the AlterKation front Coil System, and CALTRAC Split MonoSpring and Traction Bar setup in the rear.
What about a Hotchkis Front and CALTRAC Rear?
This is mostly for street with occasional strip use (not any kind of points series, just non serious bracket racing on occasion) I will admit suspension is one of my knowledge weak areas, so I am not very familiar with all the systems and parts language, but I have money set aside, and want to get good input before I buy and then its too late. Not so worried about best pricing, just want the best system. I am open to recommendations. I would also like to hear from people who have these setups and how they like them/don't like them. If there are other systems on the market I am not considering, please share.
Thanks!
-Bob
Any of those suspension systems are nice and provide a wide range of adjustability combined with the ability to quickly change rates. Do you really need type of adjustability that in a street car that will be set and forget or even the occasional bracket blast where sticky tires and a prepared track are present?
See, a tire could care less whether its a torsion, leaf, coil, or air spring that is forcing it into the ground. All it cares about it grip. Suspension is about maximizing that grip, within the limits of the tire construction and compounds, so the geometry around how the suspension moves and provides that contact force to the tire becomes a very important delineating factor. In stock form, Mopars have geometry that was significantly ahead of its competitors of the day, and is still pretty good by modern standards. They only require a few tweaks to get things working much better.
Let me ask you this...can you feel the difference half a tank of gas makes on under/over steer when pushing your car through the corner? If so, then the ability to alter spring rates and intersection points and shock tuning may be for you. If you could care less and just don't want a wallowing pig, then pick a system, or mix up some key parts of proven systems, install, and enjoy.
I'm not surprised your shop wants the Altk front and Caltrac rear. Coil overs are very popular and usually lighter weight and the Caltrac system is a proven strip performer. that combo is a good for a serious strip machine. But they aren't the only way to skin that cat.
Topic: What is the best Aftermarket Suspension System for my 71 572 Hemi Cuda Restomod (Read 12460 times)
