Suspension Upgrade Ideas

[trindor]

Looking for suspension upgrades. Or more importantly recommendations. I'd rather not brake the bank if I don't have to. I have a series of junk yards around me and don't mind spending Sunday afternoon digging if I know what to look for.

I have a 78 Cutlass and the front end in it's entirety is going to be replaced. So I figured if I have to do this much, I may as well improve if possible. I don't care about originality so much as I care about dependability and functionality. Any ideas are welcome as I am just learning. Or directions to go for research are fine too. Unfortunately I can't go hang at machine or sport shops due to my schedule, but @ 3AM I am more than happy to do the extra work necessary in learning.

 

[clean8485]

If you're going to upgrade, and you want to stay on a budget, then I would suggest that you check your local wrecking yards for a wrecked mid '80s Monte SS, Olds 442 or Hurst car, or Buick GN. I would try to obtain the steering box, front & rear sway bars, the 2 front frame reinforcement bars, and the front spindles, wheel bearings and brake rotors. Your '78 Cutlass has smaller front wheel bearings & spindles than later A/G body cars, so getting the later spindles & bearings is a good idea. From there, you can make other changes & upgrades, but IMHO, that's a good place for you to start. If there are any worn suspension or steering parts, such as ball joints, tie rod ends, idler arm, etc, they should be replaced during your upgrades. Hope this helps.

 

[trindor]

Helps wonderfully, it all has to go anyway.

 

[clean8485]

A couple of other things that I remembered. If you use a newer G body steering box in your '78, you'll have to possibly grab the pump & hoses from the donor car as well. GM changed the fittings on the power steering hydraulic hoses in 1981 or thereabouts from a double flare type end on the earlier cars to an O ring type seal end on the later cars. Also, they went from SAE threads on the wheel studs to metric threads in either '81 or '82, so if you go with the later front brake rotors, be aware of this change. I'm not sure if you can retrofit the SAE studs into the newer rotors or not. Maybe another member here can help to clear up this issue. Sorry I forgot this earlier.

 

[85t5mcss]

IIRC the front studs r interchangeable. But not the rears. And good idea on the P/S Pump, hoses and gear box. Definitely will help turning feel, go ahead and lower it with dprings or spindles while u r at it. Better handling with a minimal investment. Intrax springs r 1.5" front drop/1.2" rear drop for about $200. Brace the frame in a few places too. Underhood from cowl to core support factory braces r good enough, front frame horn to engine cradle, front frame horn to frame horn, rear frame horn to frame horn.

 

[ONE EYE]

i wouldnt worry too much on the power steering lines.
when i put the '97 vortec 350 in my '79 malibu i used all the vortec accesories, including the '97 power steering pump. my lines fit on, they just ran in an odd looking way (you have to contort them somewhat like a pretzel) lol

i sold the malibu and now have that same setup in my '81 El Camino. works mint. i can prob get you some pics if you need them.

 

[gman]

suspension ungrade ideas.

Easiest and cheapest way to upgrade suspension is polyurethane bushings in place of stock. Better shocks like Edelbrock EIS. F41 stabilizer bars. Spend a little more money, aftermarket springs and A arms. Interchanging GM parts from the wrecker dosn't really upgrade much. Maybe quicker steering by changing the steering box but still the same ride. Handling is improved by going aftermarket.

 

[Bill Howell]

If you want to make the car a different ride altogether, get a set of ATX spindles from American Touring Specialties. They cost a bit, but absolutely you will not believe the differance. My car now handles like it was on rails, and no positive camber gains like stock.
Here is a link to their site.
https://secure17.nexternal.com/shared/S ... =753333687

 

[85t5mcss]

Bill, I agree. I've got the C5 spindles and arms along with the adj UCA and man, what a difference. I waited about 4 months to get them due to backorder and plating probs, but it was worth it.

 

[Bill Howell]

Bill, I agree. I've got the C5 spindles and arms along with the adj UCA and man, what a difference. I waited about 4 months to get them due to backorder and plating probs, but it was worth it.

I waited on the connecting pieces that were being coated, but by the time I got them, I was just about through with the rest of the project. What did you set your camber on? Just curious. My car absolutely is a different car now, just like it is on rails.