Using C-Body spindles on an E-Body ( and A-Body LCA's & Viper calipers)

[brads70]

Thanks guys! It's been a fun project! Kept my mind busy! 
Parts I used....
 A-BODY lower control arms, 3/16" longer than E-Body
 1973 C-Body spindles - 2-3 degs more KPI than E-body 5/8" spindle drop, 5/8" taller than E-Body
 1973 C-Body drilled /slotted rotors 1 1/4" thick, fits the Viper calipers with no pad shims!
 Howe "quick bump" outter tie rods - I used 11/16" housings
 Viper Calipers with custom flex lines-EBC yellow pads
 custom caliper bracket- I made
 custom adjustable strut rods , I made my own
 Hotchkis upper control arms, sway bars front and rear, RCD Bilstein shocks
 Firm feel fast ratio pitman and idler arms
 Firm feel greasable LCA pins and poly bushings
 66-70 B-Body center link
 1" torsion bars. I'd like to try bigger ones in the future 1.060 maybe?

 Thanks to Hotchkis, Howe and Firm feel for the aftermarket suport! They all make fantastic products!

[brads70]

 
I've been out with the car all day and wow am I impressed! I love the fast ratio steering! Corners I always had to brake for now I accelerate WITH AUTHORITY! WOW! It's like a new car! I'm still a little shy with the brakes as EBC says to use caution the first 200 urban miles until the brakes are bedded in. The brake noise is annoying but EBC says thats normal during the bedding in cycle also. NO BRAKE FADE NOW! 
The ride quality is improved as well, the shocks do a nice job! I haven't found the limits of cornering yet can't say if the car pushes or is loose when pushed to it's limits. I took it to the stock car track I work at tonight and it has a few great twisty roads along the way and were I always had to brake , I accelerated pretty hard through them! No tire rubs so far and I still have to set the toe better yet. I just eyeballed it for now as I was in a hurry to drive it. Caster is 3 degree's and camber is about 5/8 of a degree.
All in all..... money well spent, now I REALLY enjoy driving this car! It will never handle like say a Viper but it is a HUGE improvement to what it was!

[Topcat]

Good to hear it all worked out Brad. Have some fun with it.

[Strawdawg]

Fantastic....!!

I have been waiting to see if the proof was actually in the pudd'n   It sounds like the science of your efforts was right!  Great to see someone get off the beaten path and blaze some new ground.

[422STROKER]

Great Job Brad,

Can I ask what the LCA bumpstop is from?  I am looking to get a shorter bushing for mine.

Thanks
Tom

[brads70]

Great Job Brad,

Can I ask what the LCA bumpstop is from?  I am looking to get a shorter bushing for mine.

Thanks
Tom

Thanks guys,
Tom the LCA stop was supplied from Hotchkis , came with the upper control arms.

[422STROKER]

Thanks, I guess I'll just cut mine down for now..

Tom

 

[brads70]

Picture of Hotchkis rear sway bar mount welded on. Also a picture of my garage just to inspire those who don't have a lot of space to work in! 

[mopar12372]

your not alone

[HP2]

Great Job Brad,

Can I ask what the LCA bumpstop is from?  I am looking to get a shorter bushing for mine.

Thanks
Tom

Check these out. These are what I have on mine, only 11/16" tall; http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-9-9121G/

Also a picture of my garage just to inspire those who don't have a lot of space to work in! 

Thank Brad, I don't feel so bad about my garage now. Mine looks very similar, 

[bjkadron]

Did you just want the Viper caliper dimensions or all the points to adapt to the C-Body rotor?

Actually just the centerline to centerline measurements from the caliper bolt pattern to the center of the spindle would work fine. I have A-body spindles anyway. Though if you measured all around the viper calipers I could certainly use those measurements as well. Thanks!

Benjamin

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Brad,

I want to be you when i grow up!!  what you've done suspension wise is what i would like to do eventually.  i am going to have read, and reread this thread several times over!  good stuff!! 

[brads70]

Glad your enjoying it! I really love how it handles now! I just drove it 8 hours to Carlisle with no issues! Really takes the on ramps nice now!

[cudamax2343]

Real nice work. I just caught this thread and was wondering just how much positive caster were you able to Dail in? did you get above 3 degrees positive? and did you get 0 bump steer? A E-body with 3-5 degrees positive is real nice and manatory along with the front spoiler to prevent the car from lifting at race speeds.

[brads70]

Real nice work. I just caught this thread and was wondering just how much positive caster were you able to Dail in? did you get above 3 degrees positive? and did you get 0 bump steer? A E-body with 3-5 degrees positive is real nice and manatory along with the front spoiler to prevent the car from lifting at race speeds.

I had 3 1/2" ( or there abouts) of caster( could have gotten more ) and no I never got zero bump steer. I'd say that's next to imposible! Anyone who claims that is full of crap IMO. I got it down to .047" in 3" of upward spindle travel ( chassis going down)