Author Topic: XV level one suspension (Read 21495 times)

boydsdodge · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2009 - 06:49:19 PM »

I have been told that I can get nitrogen at local Chrysler dealer, new car tires are nitrogen filled.
Go figure.

HP2 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2009 - 08:27:11 AM »

Most any tire store can do it now days. It is the latest mileage increasing snake oil being touted as a must have for vehicle owners.

422STROKER · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2009 - 08:33:00 AM »

I have Nitrogen in my tires, they haven't lost much pressure in the last couple years. The tires came that way.

Tom

I think the Nitrogen is used more in Airplanes and the Space Shuttle.LOL

SBDave · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2009 - 05:57:10 PM »

The rear leaf spring mounts with the XV Level 1 have 3 positions so that you can lower/raise the height of the car (right?). This could be the difference between your setup and the one in the video (just a guess). I have the video and am very interested in the Level 1 kit however I have not heard much feedback from people who have it. All I have found on the internet is threads of people installing the Level 2 kit which is beyond what I want right now. I guess some of my questions are just general about the companies parts...

How is the quality (fit and finish)?
Any problems? ... customer service?
Have you done any other modifications in addition to the Level 1 suspension?
They say it is a good balance of street and track handling... what's your opinion on the ride?

I'm assuming this won't get many responses based on how little action this thread has had however if any owners do respond to this please link to your build threads or if you don't have one give a quick description of your car.
Thanks!
-Dave

autoxcuda · « **Reply #19 on:** July 16, 2009 - 11:25:34 PM »

Quote from: SBDave on July 16, 2009 - 05:57:10 PM

The rear leaf spring mounts with the XV Level 1 have 3 positions so that you can lower/raise the height of the car (right?). This could be the difference between your setup and the one in the video (just a guess). I have the video and am very interested in the Level 1 kit however I have not heard much feedback from people who have it. All I have found on the internet is threads of people installing the Level 2 kit which is beyond what I want right now. I guess some of my questions are just general about the companies parts...

How is the quality (fit and finish)?
Any problems? ... customer service?
Have you done any other modifications in addition to the Level 1 suspension?
They say it is a good balance of street and track handling... what's your opinion on the ride?

I'm assuming this won't get many responses based on how little action this thread has had however if any owners do respond to this please link to your build threads or if you don't have one give a quick description of your car.
Thanks!
-Dave

What are you trying to accomplish with your build? Hot street car, weekend canyon runner, ocasional autocross, ocasional track day at Willow Springs, maybe more than ocasional track day at Willow Springs?

Have you heard about the Spring Fling Speed Festival all Mopar track day we do at Willow Spring every year before Spring Fling?

http://alltimeracing.com/v2/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,23/year,2009/month,02/day,16/Itemid,38/

Gallery:
http://alltimeracing.com/v2/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,28/catid,45/PageNo,2/

For a level one plus type build I'd go with:

-poly strut rod bushings, sway bar mounts
-rubber lower bushings
-hellwig or hotchkis front and adjustable rear sway bars
-1.04-1.08 T-bars
-stock replacement 340/383 rear leaf springs, maybe even the 0 arch MP circle track spring HP2 likes.
-Firm Feel Power Steering box
-Sub Frame connectors
-11.75" 73-74 A-B body disk swap or ARengineering Brembo 13" Viper caliper setup.
-stock upper control arms with moog offset bushings or Firm Feel upper control arms with flat top type upper ball joints
-QA1 single adjustable shocks
-Front 17x9 rims with 5.5 backspacing with 275/40/17 tires
-Rear 17x9 rims with 5.5 backspacing with .5 spacers 275/40/17 tires so you can rotate rims/tires for track wear

Here's my Barracuda. Most of the stuff I have listed above or have older less quality items I bought used before newer better items came out. Or I used things like my tire size/speed rating which have now became obsolete.

SBDave · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2009 - 04:01:10 PM »

You got it. My car will mainly be a cruiser/canyon carver but I would definitely like to try autocross and Willow Springs every once in a while. I just bought my car a couple months ago so I am just getting started on the modifications. The list of parts basically what you are running? Your car looks good there in the picture! Was it easy to fit those wide tires on the front of your car?

I've been compiling a list of performance parts/manufacturers/part numbers and prices for a lot of the items you have mentioned. I'm just trying to collect all the information into one place so the options are easy to compare (I'll post it when I'm done). I'm having a little trouble deciding between piecing my own stuff together, similar to how you mentioned, vs getting a kit (XV) and adding to that. I can't afford to update everything all at once so I'm thinking of doing shocks/springs/swaybars first and then wheels/tires/brakes.

Spring Fling looks fun, I'll have to check that out next time!

thanks,
-Dave

ps. not trying to hijack the thread... still looking for XV level 1 feedback!

SBDave · « **Reply #21 on:** August 05, 2009 - 02:11:44 PM »

I got tired of searching for reviews (that don't seem to be out there) and decided to just dive in, so I just ordered the XV Level 1 kit. In addition to the kit I'm also rebuilding most of the front suspension. Hopefully I'll have my car running again by Labor Day. I'll let you know what I think.

-Dave

FM3V6M · « **Reply #22 on:** August 05, 2009 - 04:53:02 PM »

Dave, just saw the thread, I have it and it looks great, handles great, but rides very stiff. I can't comment on the installation as I didn't do it myself but was told that 'some' problems were encountered but were figured out

I do get lots of possitive comments on the look and stance of the car though.

It will be at the Fall Fling at Woodley Park if it doesn't sell before that.

FM3V6M · « **Reply #23 on:** August 05, 2009 - 04:54:10 PM »

Here a shot of it installed

autoxcuda · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2009 - 03:47:43 AM »

Quote from: SBDave on July 17, 2009 - 04:01:10 PM

You got it. My car will mainly be a cruiser/canyon carver but I would definitely like to try autocross and Willow Springs every once in a while. I just bought my car a couple months ago so I am just getting started on the modifications. The list of parts basically what you are running?

Basically that is what I am running. Some items I list the next step optional. Like I am running 11.75 stock type rotor with stock calipers and stock upper control arms. I'm running a Hellwig tubular front sway bar and a cheapy addco rear.

I'm running stuff on a tight tight budget and a budget of oppurtunity. Like if I see an addco rear sway bar for $35 at a swap meet, I'll run it. It might not be the 100% best on the market but for $35 it's better value. I wouldn't by a new $100 addco rear sway bar over a $200+ Hellwig or Hotchkis tubular adjustable rear though.

Quote

Your car looks good there in the picture! Was it easy to fit those wide tires on the front of your car?/quote]

Those are 245/50/15 Comp T/A's on 15x8 rallyes with 4.5" backspacing. They don't make that tire any more. My next step is 275/40/17 all the way around. For an E-body that is easier. For an A-body I'll have to cut/lip about a 3/4"x3" section at the lower front fender lip. E-body don't really need that. The were made for bigger tires. Look in the tire thread. There's guys running 275/40/17's up front.

Quote
I've been compiling a list of performance parts/manufacturers/part numbers and prices for a lot of the items you have mentioned. I'm just trying to collect all the information into one place so the options are easy to compare (I'll post it when I'm done). I'm having a little trouble deciding between piecing my own stuff together, similar to how you mentioned, vs getting a kit (XV) and adding to that. I can't afford to update everything all at once so I'm thinking of doing shocks/springs/swaybars first and then wheels/tires/brakes.

Spring Fling looks fun, I'll have to check that out next time!

thanks,
-Dave

ps. not trying to hijack the thread... still looking for XV level 1 feedback!

This stuff is very subjective and hard to get great comparisons, especially over the internet. Helwig or Hotchis sway bars, 1.06 T-bars, Stock HD leaf springs or Hotchkis leaf springs, QA1 shocks, Hotchkis upper control arm, and Firm Feel 11/16" tie rods I bet would put you at a similar or lower than XV price. No worries, you'll be happy.

SBDave · « **Reply #25 on:** August 27, 2009 - 01:18:54 PM »

I just received most of the Level 1 kit (missing the front sway bar and mounts). Everything looks great! Hopefully I will begin installing it this weekend.

-Dave

TripleT · « **Reply #26 on:** August 27, 2009 - 03:04:42 PM »

Hey Dave,

Just wanted to say thanks for posting in this thread, I too am fairly new and interested in going with the XV Level 1. I'm still interested as well in direct comparisons between this and AlterKtion and then whatever Just Suspensions has, as they seem to market to the E body the most. Maybe MagnumForce as well. I did meet a very happy Level 1 owner in a 70 Cuda at Carlisle the year before last, and the Level one with a Torque Converter were his 2 "must do" recommendations. I have a 340 AAR tribute that I 'd like to take to Virginia Int;l Raceway, and I like driving road course style, don't care too much about straight lines but I do love to drive. I hope you'll consider posting pics of what you got, progress while installing and then your satisfaction after. Thanks.

Tim

72hemi · « **Reply #27 on:** August 27, 2009 - 03:13:07 PM »

Quote from: Seamus on August 27, 2009 - 03:04:42 PM

Hey Dave,

Just wanted to say thanks for posting in this thread, I too am fairly new and interested in going with the XV Level 1. I'm still interested as well in direct comparisons between this and AlterKtion and then whatever Just Suspensions has, as they seem to market to the E body the most. Maybe MagnumForce as well. I did meet a very happy Level 1 owner in a 70 Cuda at Carlisle the year before last, and the Level one with a Torque Converter were his 2 "must do" recommendations. I have a 340 AAR tribute that I 'd like to take to Virginia Int;l Raceway, and I like driving road course style, don't care too much about straight lines but I do love to drive. I hope you'll consider posting pics of what you got, progress while installing and then your satisfaction after. Thanks.

Tim

You may want to talk to Firm Feel as well, they are Mopar specific and seem to know what they are talking about.

TripleT · « **Reply #28 on:** August 27, 2009 - 03:34:06 PM »

Quote from: 72hemi on August 27, 2009 - 03:13:07 PM

You may want to talk to Firm Feel as well, they are Mopar specific and seem to know what they are talking about.

Hmmm, and it looks like thier pricing is pretty reasonable too. I wonder if you duplicated everything the XV Level one gives you with Firm Feel, what you would save and how different/close the performance would be....

SBDave · « **Reply #29 on:** August 27, 2009 - 05:41:54 PM »

I will document my build and will continue posting here as well. I did a pretty good amount of research before I bought the Level 1 kit. One thing I had a hard time finding was good customer reviews. I always like to back up companies claims with user feedback (especially with a pricey purchase).

If you piece together a kit with adjustable strut rods, front and rear shocks, torsion bars and leaf springs, front and rear sway bars, and poly bushings for the lower and upper control arm, you will come close to the price of an XV level 1 kit. Since I needed everything I thought the XV kit looked like a good deal and so far I am very happy with the quality of the parts. I got the XV DVD and really liked the engineering/testing they put into their products. Perhaps I'm biased because I'm an engineer and work in the auto racing industry. I won't be able to make a great comparison on the before/after handling of my car as I only had my car in stock trim (with warn out parts) for three months and I didn't even have sway bars.

Two things I wish I would have researched more are tubular vs solid sway bars and how the rear sway bar mounts.

The only complaints I have heard from XV Level 1 owners are that the car sits too low and that it is too stiff. This made me happy as I want the car as low as possible and want it to be stiff.

Seems like Firm Feel has raised the price of some of their items since I last checked a little over a month ago....

QA1 Front Single Adjustable Shocks, Magnum Force () $335.90
QA1 Rear Single Adjustable Shocks, Magnum Force () $355.90

Sport Leaf Springs 160 lb/in 3 leaf lowers vehicle ~1�, Hotchkis (24367) $550.95 (comes with redesigned hangers)
Road Race Leaf Springs Firm Feel $260 Leaf Spring Hangers Firm Feel $65
Torsion Bar 1.12� 270 Rate Race, Firm Feel () $350

Adjustable Strut Rod, Hotchkis (14366) $302.95
Adjustabl Strut Rod, Firm Feel $195 + Eurathane Strut Bushing $45

Sway Bar Front 1-1/4� Firm Feel, () $275.00
Sway Bar Rear �� Firm Feel, () $345.00

Poly Bushing Lower Control Arm Hotchkis, (21366) $29.95

Couldn't find Poly Bushing for Upper Control Arm, but Raybestos and Moog offset bushings were $21.99 to $26.79

-Dave

Author Topic: XV level one suspension (Read 21495 times)

boydsdodge

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HP2

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422STROKER

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SBDave

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autoxcuda

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SBDave

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SBDave

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FM3V6M

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FM3V6M

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autoxcuda

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SBDave

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TripleT

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72hemi

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TripleT

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SBDave

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