Hotchkis/XV vs. Mix & Match Parts?

[Strawdawg]

I had about a 1/4" of bolt showing on the bottom of the plate

[70_Hemi_Cuda]

I am about 5 minutes away from ordering the XV Motorsports level 2 coilover 3 link rear suspension package. I wanna buy it now but I feel like I should wait until tomorrow just in case one of the vendors at Mopars in the Park has a deal on something :p.

Anyone here running the XV level 2?

[HP2]

Do an XV search. THere are several threads on them here.

[MoparCar]

If you find a dealer that discounts XV please post. I've been watching over a year for another of their 10% off sales and it never happens.
Wes

[Road_Runner]

they are marked r & L and I put them in that way...but, if there is any clocking in them from end to end, there is less than five degrees and I suspect zero

The Hotchkis bars, on the other hand, look like they have significant clocking if I am looking at the picture properly

So is this a big issue with the PST bars?  When you say you could barely get the ride height up, does that mean it may not work for some cars?  My car has 245/60's on the front so I can't run it much lower than it is today or the tires are sure to rub.  The Hotchkis bars cost way more than the PST bars right now.  Would Mopar .96 bars have the same issue, and if not I may go that route unless the .04 really makes that big a difference...

Later, Jim

[Strawdawg]

I don't know what a big issue is in this case.  I would like to have the adjuster bolt emerge less and leave more adjustment room, but, I get the height where I want it....but, to get factory ride spec'd height, I suspect the adjuster would be very close to being all the way in.

[Road_Runner]

I don't know what a big issue is in this case.  I would like to have the adjuster bolt emerge less and leave more adjustment room, but, I get the height where I want it....but, to get factory ride spec'd height, I suspect the adjuster would be very close to being all the way in.

Thanks for the info.  I was looking hard at the PST bars vs. either the Mopar bars or possibly even the Hotchkis even though the latter is twice as much as the PST.  The plus side of the Hotchkis T bars is that they are 'matched' to the rest of the Hotchkis components which if I decide to go that way I'll do a piece or two at a time until I've got the whole system installed. 

Thanks again, Jim

[brads70]

Thanks for the info.  I was looking hard at the PST bars vs. either the Mopar bars or possibly even the Hotchkis even though the latter is twice as much as the PST.  The plus side of the Hotchkis T bars is that they are 'matched' to the rest of the Hotchkis components which if I decide to go that way I'll do a piece or two at a time until I've got the whole system installed. 

Thanks again, Jim

Maybe start a post seeing who has PST T-bars and how they like them?  I don't think Hotchkis makes there own bars?  Lots of other vendors.....

[_Russ_]

I am about 5 minutes away from ordering the XV Motorsports level 2 coilover 3 link rear suspension package. I wanna buy it now but I feel like I should wait until tomorrow just in case one of the vendors at Mopars in the Park has a deal on something :p.

Anyone here running the XV level 2?

There a post over on Pro-Touring Mopar that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in XV's Level II setup.

[jvike]

Anyone here running the XV level 2?

I do. Love it!

[dodj]

Would Mopar .96 bars have the same issue, and if not I may go that route unless the .04 really makes that big a difference...

Later, Jim

The mopar .96 bars have an offset. At least mine do - bought them 15 years ago.

[Strawdawg]

the Hotchkis pic looks like their bars do as well...

I am tempted to cut the sockets on the cross member loose and rotate them a bit....but, unless I decide I want the jacked up look (which is not likely) I will take the easy way out and leave them alone.

[Road_Runner]

The mopar .96 bars have an offset. At least mine do - bought them 15 years ago.

Just bought a set of .96 Mopar bars off Ebay, got them for a good price and I'm betting they'll be plenty for a small block car, especially if I go with aluminum intake, heads & headers. 

Later, Jim

[dodj]

Just bought a set of .96 Mopar bars off Ebay, got them for a good price and I'm betting they'll be plenty for a small block car, especially if I go with aluminum intake, heads & headers. 

Later, Jim

I'm happy with mine and I have a 440 in the nose with a 1 1/8" front sway bar.

[jordan]

     I just dove into the suspension mix and match game today.  I dropped the big bucks (I have been saving for a couple years!) on a mix of Hotchkis and an XV level 1 kit.  Hotchkis parts will be the upper control arms,  steering link set, pitman arm, idler arm, and lower ball joints.  XV is supplying the Level 1 kit (minus the upper and lower control arm bushings),  level 1 brakes front and rear, hydro boost brake system, and the frame stiffening kit (I already did the sub frame connectors).  I went for the upgrade in shocks to the mono tube single adjustable front and rear.  I have already made a metal rolling cart that I have a welded K-frame attached to with braced lower control arms with poly bushings in place.  XV told me I will have to wait a couple of months to get my full order.    No problem since summer is here and the car drives. 

     I decided on the XV stuff because I like the way they set up the system as a matched front and rear.  The stock e-body is too soft up front and too harsh in the back.  The brakes seem big enough and should be a bolt in.  I know that shocks make a HUGE difference, so mono tubes should cover that.   I like the stock placement of the sway bars, so the XV gets the nod.   Scott at XV was very helpful and even made some price adjustments since I had a previous quote.
     Hotchkis control arms that regeometry the front should help the handling.  The steering kit is made to work with the control arms.  I am removing my TA pitman arm and going with stock length pitman and idler arm so I dont have header clearance issues.  I have a firmfeel steering box already.   
     I know I could have mixed and matched other parts, especially cheaper, but I want a kick ass ride.  I have road raced motorcycle when I was younger, and know that quality suspension can significantly reduce lap times.  My goal is to have my cuda run with more modern muscle cars on the curvy back roads around where I live.  I am not a track junkie, yet.  I will let you guys know how things progress when the parts arrive. 
 All I need is more money and time!