Coilover or upgrade stock suspension

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Tuggy24g

G-Body Guru
Jul 10, 2008
658
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Newtown PA
Hello Gbody forum

I am finally upgrading my front suspension. I have a 402 big block and everything suspension in the front is stock. I was considering doing a coilover setup with the tubular A arm I got from UMI. Was wondering if I should do it or not. I do not drag or autocross my car. I only cruise with it around town or to a car show. I might take it to an autocross event or drag strip once in a blue moon. Not its main function. Thanks
 
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UNGN

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 6, 2016
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3,264
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Southlake, TX
Lowering springs and a tall lower ball joint is probably easier and cheaper and will give good results for a lowered driver.

An issue with lowering a big block is big block long tube headers can be huge, so you can't go too low anyway without the headers being destroyed on every speed bump. If you use factory manifolds/shorties, it shouldn't be an issue.

With Lowering springs, tall lower ball joint and ZQ8 bumpstops you can lower a Gbody so the top of stock diameter tire is above the fender lip bottom and still have a good ride and better handling than stock.
 
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UNGN

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 6, 2016
3,048
3,264
113
Southlake, TX
I am not looking to lower the car. I am looking to around the ride because I have old shocks and springs. So my Camino with the big block is more bouncy.

Most coilovers are geared towards a guy who wants to slam his car for the weekend, then raise them back up for the weekday.

If you don't want to lower the ride height, there are lots of stiffer springs to support a big block. Moog springs are pretty cheap, too. I would recommend a Moog 5660 or 5662 front spring. You can trim the tails on moog springs to get the desired ride height if its a little too tall..

For shocks, you can't go wrong with bilsteins. That will take all of the bounce out.
 
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UMI Sales

G-Body Guru
GBodyForum Sponsor
Oct 11, 2011
540
1,007
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Philipsburg, Pa
Hello Gbody forum

I am finally upgrading my front suspension. I have a 402 big block and everything suspension in the front is stock. I was considering doing a coilover setup with the tubular A arm I got from UMI. Was wondering if I should do it or not. I do not drag or autocross my car. I only cruise with it around town or to a car show. I might take it to an autocross event or drag strip once in a blue moon. Not its main function. Thanks

One of the advantages of going the coil-over route is the ability to adjust ride height wherever you want it, the other is that you have spring rate options. Put these two factors together and it takes away a lot of headaches.

For example...when you order big block "coil" springs you are basically at their mercy as far as ride height goes, sure you can cut part of a coil to lower it or shim the spring to raise the ride height but with coil-overs you choose the spring rate, say 550lb front which is a good rate for a big block and a "cushy' street ride that will still handle pretty well and then you have the ability to adjust the ride height say anywhere in between stock and 2" lower.

Another advantage to going with coil-overs is that you get quality shocks that can be compression and rebound adjustable depending on which product you buy. This will give you the ability to fine tune the ride quality to suite your particular taste.

One thing to be careful of, if your buying over the counter shocks a lot of these shocks don't have the rebound valving to handle the stored energy that higher spring rates like big block springs have. If the shock can't control the spring rates you'll end up with a harsh ride.

Craig
 
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