Need softer/ smoother shocks 1980 Malibu

[fabkol1980]

So this is my first rime asking something here. Hope someone can help me.
About 2 months ago i made some rear spring spacers 2inch thick eqch side out of aircraft aluminum.
Then i installed s10 blazer shocks since they are about the right length.
Its a cruiser so i dont like a stiff suspension, but now, its really hard.
wich shocks would you recommend to keep the stock soft/smoothness?
Thanks and greetings from switzerland.
-Fabian

 

[CopperNick]

"The problem has existed since I put the spacers and the S-10 Shocks in" paraphrasing. Only me here, just thinking aloud but what I am thinking is that it is time to backtrack a bit. For myself, where I would go is back to the point where I did the spacer and shock work. Then, were it me, I would lose those existing springs and spacers and order a set of Progressively Wound Springs such as those that came in the 84-88 SS Monte Carlos or their equivalent brothers across the G-Body Spectrum. They can be had as an OEM equivalent or as a performance upgrade from CPP or Energy Suspension or maybe try Dixie; their ad is on this board somewhere. Why progressively wound? Essentially, the spring is manufactured so that the majority of the coils are equally spaced except for the upper few inches where they are physically closet to each other, which makes them stiffer and tend to sit just a little higher. Dumb thought here but if the rake from back to front is what you want, why not go rubber and run 15's in the back and 14's up front? Or even go with all 15' just use 70 series tires out back and 60's in the front? The shorter tire in the front end will drop it down without major work required. Of course, adding a front set of Bilsteins as well would not hurt.

Again, just me cogitating aloud, what I would then do is to match those springs to that set of Bilstein shocks and install them both at the same time. There should not be any fitment issues as generically speaking, the Bu frame pretty much uses the same hardware and components as its Higher? Po brothers. I would also look into a set of upper and lower control arms, Hotchkiss or UMI as well as a rear anti-sway bar. These ought to work well with the springs and shocks as a team and they can all be put in without special tools or a garage if necessary.

Do be aware that all this is just me thinking on line here. Any decisions that you make are up to you.



Nick

 

[fabkol1980]

"The problem has existed since I put the spacers and the S-10 Shocks in" paraphrasing. Only me here, just thinking aloud but what I am thinking is that it is time to backtrack a bit. For myself, where I would go is back to the point where I did the spacer and shock work. Then, were it me, I would lose those existing springs and spacers and order a set of Progressively Wound Springs such as those that came in the 84-88 SS Monte Carlos or their equivalent brothers across the G-Body Spectrum. They can be had as an OEM equivalent or as a performance upgrade from CPP or Energy Suspension or maybe try Dixie; their ad is on this board somewhere. Why progressively wound? Essentially, the spring is manufactured so that the majority of the coils are equally spaced except for the upper few inches where they are physically closet to each other, which makes them stiffer and tend to sit just a little higher. Dumb thought here but if the rake from back to front is what you want, why not go rubber and run 15's in the back and 14's up front? Or even go with all 15' just use 70 series tires out back and 60's in the front? The shorter tire in the front end will drop it down without major work required. Of course, adding a front set of Bilsteins as well would not hurt.

Again, just me cogitating aloud, what I would then do is to match those springs to that set of Bilstein shocks and install them both at the same time. There should not be any fitment issues as generically speaking, the Bu frame pretty much uses the same hardware and components as its Higher? Po brothers. I would also look into a set of upper and lower control arms, Hotchkiss or UMI as well as a rear anti-sway bar. These ought to work well with the springs and shocks as a team and they can all be put in without special tools or a garage if necessary.

Do be aware that all this is just me thinking on line here. Any decisions that you make are up to you.



Nick

Thanks again nick

The problem is that we cant just put any wheel and tire combos on our cars here in switzerland, thats why i had to do something like this.
The rims i have currentli installed are CH government aproved and specificaly aproved for 1980 Malibus.
Also, i dont like my car to be low ind the front or back.
UMI, Hockins stuff etc is NOT allowed here in CH thats the big big problem, coilovers and all that stuff im not allowed to install in my malibu.
If im getting stoped by the Kantons Polizei (Police) and they check the car like they often do, they will impound it and take the Fahrzeugausweis away (Like the title for you guys).
I will contact bilstein and talk with them wich shoks will work best with my curent springs.
As you can imagine, i cant just order something thats like 100$ in us because it will cost me like 250$ minimum until its here.
As i alreday said, spacer with stock gbody shoks is fine but has almost no extension travel left.
As soon as i install the longer shocks, its really stiff so the problem is that i dont have the right shoks. Thats why i was locking for other shocks.

 

[CopperNick]

Okay. Knew intellectually that you were somewhere that had strict guidelines on how much and what could be changed or upgraded. Did not know that Switzerland used pretty much the same playbook as Germany, i.e. "If the factory did not put it in, then it does not need to be put in!" or something along that line. Sounds like the The Euro-Union did not help to ease matters any. No wonder the Brits bailed, a lot of the rides they build would never pass the inspection done by another country. Ever think about moving to Finland?


Good luck fighting the system,


Nick

 

[fabkol1980]

Okay. Knew intellectually that you were somewhere that had strict guidelines on how much and what could be changed or upgraded. Did not know that Switzerland used pretty much the same playbook as Germany, i.e. "If the factory did not put it in, then it does not need to be put in!" or something along that line. Sounds like the The Euro-Union did not help to ease matters any. No wonder the Brits bailed, a lot of the rides they build would never pass the inspection done by another country. Ever think about moving to Finland?


Good luck fighting the system,


Nick

Yeah its really bad here.
Actually, Switzerland is way worse than Germany when it comes to modifications. 2 Years ago, i had LED Headlights installed and since it didnt came with LEDs the Car failed the inspection only because of that!
Moving to finnland is no option for me.
Thought of moving to US every year, im not american on paper but by heart.
Im a certified Gunsmith here in switzerland, all 3 of my cars are US Cara and all of my guns are US ww2 service weapons. I even have a Remington Ne Model Revolver datet 1863 from the Civil war.
Im quietly celebrating thanksgiving, momerial day, 4th of July on my own at home and know more about US politics than Swiss.
My house is full of american flags, license plates.
But its not so easy to get a greencard or something like that as a gunsmith to work and stay in the US for good...
I still have to word on my english a bit..
So if anyone is looking for a gunsmith, hit me up🤣

 

[CopperNick]

You can put a line through Canada as a possibility. There is a vocal segment of Canadian Society that has gone absolutely psychotic about the presence of weapons in the hands of Canadians. The short back story is that some ding-dong in Quebec lit up a bunch of female Engineering Students at a place called "Ecole Poly-Tech". Although this happened somewhere around 30 years or more ago, and he did the deed because he was outraged that the girls had been accepted as students to the Engineering School, and he hadn't, the thing was that he used an assault rifle to do the deed and since then there has been a relentless drive on the part of the kumbayaists to have the possession of any weapon of that sort declared an immediate felony and throw the bum in jail forever.

Right now, there is a multi-year moratorium on semi-auto sales that is likely to become permanent. Typical camel nose in the tent approach by our politicians. AR's of all ilks and sorts are outlawed, none for sale, legally. The rest of Canada has a slightly more saner approach to the issue but because the whole business happened in Queerbec and the head of Canada is a Socialist-leftist like his daddy was, the dude has to suck up to the queerbecoises for votes come election time and the one perennial issue that they won't let die is long rifles et al.

Not honestly sure where you might find a safe haven right now but someone hereabouts might have some ideas on the subject.....................



Nick

 

[565bbchevy]

You could always buy or fabricate shock extensions to use the factory length Gbody shock.

2" Rear Upper Shock Extender Kit / Set 60's thru 80's RWD Pontiac A F G & X-Body | eBay

2" Rear "T" Style Billet Aluminum Shock Extender Set. (see below for exact applications) Don't damage your shocks after installing a rear lift kit. Your rear shocks aren't long enough and can "top-out". This kit is a great alternative to finding longer shocks. They are a perfect companion to our...

www.ebay.com