Anyone With QA-1 Front Coilovers?

[tdvick]

I'm starting to look for springs and shocks to get my Lemans frame back rolling again. This is going to be a mostly drag car with some light street driving. Hoping it will be a low 10 second car when done. The motor will be a stroked Pontiac 400, with aluminum heads/intake, 600-650 HP, TH400 trans and a custom fit 12 bolt with 3.73 gears.

Ok, back to the original question. It seems like the cost of the whole QA-1 "R" series kits isn't too bad if you compare it to buying regular front springs with adjustable drag shocks. Then you get the advantage of the adjustable ride height too. I'm really thinking about going this route, but wanted to see if anyone else had used them and would give feedback either way, good or bad. Maybe give a recommendation for which spring rate to get. It will be lighter than typical 400 so I was thinking about going with the 350# kit, rated for 1700# to 1900# front end weight. I'm hoping the car will have a race weight, with me in it of 3400# to 3500#. I'm actually hoping for less, but being realistic. I'm open to suggestions and any help you can give is appreciated. Here's a couple pics of where it sets right now.

Thanks guys!
Troy

 

[bbcolds]

Run them in my 82 Cutlass Drag car. BBC/Glide. Are small block springs, Just screwed them up to the ride height I wanted. Lot of adjustment left. Work good for me. Single adjustable. 3250 lbs with me in it. Also use them in my 62 Biscayne

 

[1979Calais]

I have a set that are still in the box....They are the 400lb ones....I want air bags now; therefore I will sell you them.

 

[tdvick]

bbcolds, thanks for the input. I'll probably go with these but I was hoping to wait until UMI ran another sale.

1979calais, are yours the "R" series, drag race set? If so, send me a couple pics and a price?

Thanks,
Troy

 

[1979Calais]

bbcolds, thanks for the input. I'll probably go with these but I was hoping to wait until UMI ran another sale.

1979calais, are yours the "R" series, drag race set? If so, send me a couple pics and a price?

Thanks,
Troy

No they are not (Sorry!). I just read your first post again, forgot you said you were looking for the "R" series. Also you can check out my post about my build which has pictures.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I have a set on my car but haven't really put any miles on them. Seems decent though.

Mine aren't the 'R' shocks though. Just the regular single adjustable shocks with the 550lb/in springs.

 

[drogg1]

I have a set on my car but haven't really put any miles on them. Seems decent though.

Mine aren't the 'R' shocks though. Just the regular single adjustable shocks with the 550lb/in springs.

Do the 550's still allow you to lower the ride height quite a bit? Also, did you choose them because of the added weight of your big block or for the added stiffness in handling?

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I have a set on my car but haven't really put any miles on them. Seems decent though.

Mine aren't the 'R' shocks though. Just the regular single adjustable shocks with the 550lb/in springs.

Do the 550's still allow you to lower the ride height quite a bit? Also, did you choose them because of the added weight of your big block or for the added stiffness in handling?

Yeah. This is the car with the 550 springs up front:

It could still go a little lower if I wanted.

My big block is lighter than a factory small block now with the aluminum intake and heads so that wasn't really a concern. I did it for the handling purposes.

 

[drogg1]

I have a set on my car but haven't really put any miles on them. Seems decent though.

Mine aren't the 'R' shocks though. Just the regular single adjustable shocks with the 550lb/in springs.

Do the 550's still allow you to lower the ride height quite a bit? Also, did you choose them because of the added weight of your big block or for the added stiffness in handling?

Yeah. This is the car with the 550 springs up front:

It could still go a little lower if I wanted.

My big block is lighter than a factory small block now with the aluminum intake and heads so that wasn't really a concern. I did it for the handling purposes.

I see, thanks. I was thinking about getting the same setup but wanted to make sure with my iron headed sbc that I could still go pretty low. I want at least that spring rate I think. I've read that the QA1's aren't the best shock, but for the price for the package it really can't be beat. Plus, they're a heck of a lot better than buying some thirty dollar Summit "adjustables".