Need shock recommendations.

[Timothy B.]

I would like to hear shock recommendations from the group. I have a 67 small block car with 9 leaf rear spring recently rebuilt, and factory front springs. I have poly bushings all the way around. I investigated going with Duke's Spax recommendation, but haven't found anywhere that they can be purchased in the US. I called one US distributor listed on their website and they told me that they quit selling them due to availability problems and a high number of returns. So, if I can't get them I must choose something else. Adjustability seems like a good thing to have. Koni's would be a candidate, but I hear they lack good rebound damping. Some of the Vette suppliers sell something called RSC shocks with a knob on them that adjusts dampening and rebound together. Anyone use these? General opinions on your experiences, and alternatives to the Spax shocks? I currently have KYB GR-2 shocks installed, which are really basic inexpensive shocks.

I am continuing to play around with the front suspension. I had GT front 460 lb springs on it, and now am switching back to the original springs since the roads around here in Houston are a bit too rough and the ride was just a bit to firm for me. It did handle well, but I would like to try the factory springs once again for a direct comparison. When I installed the GT springs, the car had been off the road for 2 years so I wasn't able to really compare before and after. This time I will be able to. You advice would be appreciated.

[Dick W.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Bilstein's seem to work well on a Corvette. I installed a set on a '72 that had the F-41 springs front and rear. Was a totally different automobile. Took a lot of harshness out of the car. Also later installed a set of Michlein X-1's and it rode and drove like a 90's vintage car. Sure, would not handle like a new car with modern suspension, but for a road tour car was very good

[Dick W.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Bilstein's seem to work well on a Corvette. I installed a set on a '72 that had the F-41 springs front and rear. Was a totally different automobile. Took a lot of harshness out of the car. Also later installed a set of Michlein X-1's and it rode and drove like a 90's vintage car. Sure, would not handle like a new car with modern suspension, but for a road tour car was very good

[Gerard F.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

If you are going to experiment with the front end, try putting your original 3/4" sway bar back on first with the 460# springs, then go to your original coil springs, and then go to the new shocks. It would be a nice experiment to share. Let us know.

This might save you drilling for the rear stabilizer, which I assume you haven't put on yet.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Gerard F.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

If you are going to experiment with the front end, try putting your original 3/4" sway bar back on first with the 460# springs, then go to your original coil springs, and then go to the new shocks. It would be a nice experiment to share. Let us know.

This might save you drilling for the rear stabilizer, which I assume you haven't put on yet.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Nick Vigorito]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

Not sure how deep your pockets are but awhile back I checked into QA1 shocks. They have a specific model for Corvettes, the "C" series. There is a single adjustable and double adjustable model and they are adjustable while on the car. Sounded like a great product but IIRC they were more than $100 each and maybe more than $150 each. You can download the pdf catalogs at www.qa1.net. They are in the Drag and Street Performance catalog.

Anyone ever tried them?

Nick

[Nick Vigorito]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

Not sure how deep your pockets are but awhile back I checked into QA1 shocks. They have a specific model for Corvettes, the "C" series. There is a single adjustable and double adjustable model and they are adjustable while on the car. Sounded like a great product but IIRC they were more than $100 each and maybe more than $150 each. You can download the pdf catalogs at www.qa1.net. They are in the Drag and Street Performance catalog.

Anyone ever tried them?

Nick

[Timothy B.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Gerard,

Unfortunately, the original front sway bar for my car is in a different town (where the car used to be located) and I haven't had a chance to get over there and pick it up. I do plan on doing that however. So, prior to swapping springs I didn't get a chance to try it with the original bar. I did however experiment with the 1" VBP bar disconnected completely just to see what that felt like. My impression of that was that for normal straight line driving the bar doesn't do much (as expected). With the 460lb springs and no bar the car still rode basically the same as with the bar. It is clear that it is the springs that are primarily giving the car that tight "go cart feel".

Right now, I am back with the factory front springs and the 1" VBP front bar, and poly bushings all around. My first impression from two outings in it are that the ride is much improved as far as isolating bumps and ruts in the road from the driver. It feels like the front suspension is actually moving with the road separate from the car, as compared to the GT springs which felt more like they made the car move with the suspension. The negative side is in cornering, the car doesn't feel as tight and responsive as with the GT springs. However, I must say that with the 1" bar the cornering is still quite good. Now, I think it is the bar doing the work while before I think it was the GT springs keeping the car flat. Now, I don't know whether or not to try the rear bar. From reading the posts it seems that a rear bar isn't needed, but I suspect with the 1" front bar I will need something in the rear to offset it. My rear arms are already drilled for a bar, so trying it out isn't too much trouble.

What I wish someone made were front spring in-between the factory standard front springs and the GT springs. I know the GT springs are softer than the factory F41 front, but they are still pretty stiff on Houston roads. You can simply bounce the front end of the car with them installed and without shocks installed and see that they are much stiffer than the standard front springs. On a scale from 1 to 10, with the standard springs being a 1 and the F41 springs being a 10, I would put the GT springs at like a 8 or so. Someone should make a spring that is a 5 on that scale. THAT would be a great spring!! Don't get me wrong, I LIKED the ride with the GT springs, but the roads here in Houston keep the ride from being enjoyable in my opinion.

Once I get the original bar back, I might try it with urethane link bushings and urethane block bushings (assuming someone makes them).

[Timothy B.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Gerard,

Unfortunately, the original front sway bar for my car is in a different town (where the car used to be located) and I haven't had a chance to get over there and pick it up. I do plan on doing that however. So, prior to swapping springs I didn't get a chance to try it with the original bar. I did however experiment with the 1" VBP bar disconnected completely just to see what that felt like. My impression of that was that for normal straight line driving the bar doesn't do much (as expected). With the 460lb springs and no bar the car still rode basically the same as with the bar. It is clear that it is the springs that are primarily giving the car that tight "go cart feel".

Right now, I am back with the factory front springs and the 1" VBP front bar, and poly bushings all around. My first impression from two outings in it are that the ride is much improved as far as isolating bumps and ruts in the road from the driver. It feels like the front suspension is actually moving with the road separate from the car, as compared to the GT springs which felt more like they made the car move with the suspension. The negative side is in cornering, the car doesn't feel as tight and responsive as with the GT springs. However, I must say that with the 1" bar the cornering is still quite good. Now, I think it is the bar doing the work while before I think it was the GT springs keeping the car flat. Now, I don't know whether or not to try the rear bar. From reading the posts it seems that a rear bar isn't needed, but I suspect with the 1" front bar I will need something in the rear to offset it. My rear arms are already drilled for a bar, so trying it out isn't too much trouble.

What I wish someone made were front spring in-between the factory standard front springs and the GT springs. I know the GT springs are softer than the factory F41 front, but they are still pretty stiff on Houston roads. You can simply bounce the front end of the car with them installed and without shocks installed and see that they are much stiffer than the standard front springs. On a scale from 1 to 10, with the standard springs being a 1 and the F41 springs being a 10, I would put the GT springs at like a 8 or so. Someone should make a spring that is a 5 on that scale. THAT would be a great spring!! Don't get me wrong, I LIKED the ride with the GT springs, but the roads here in Houston keep the ride from being enjoyable in my opinion.

Once I get the original bar back, I might try it with urethane link bushings and urethane block bushings (assuming someone makes them).

[Gerard F.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

I used the poly bushings and brackets (3/4")which came with the rear stabilizer for my original 3/4" front stabilizer. They are the same part. Also, I think the links for 1" front are the same.

I really like the combination of the 460# springs, original front stabilizer,no rear, poly bushings and power steering on my 67 327/300HP for both town and highway driving. It actually feels like a new car to me, zipping around corners with just a slight turn of the wheel.

However, I'm not an aggressive driver, just a geezer sporting around. Also, the roads here in Sonora, Ca are probably little better here then in Houston. (I'm the City Engineer here, and I schedule the paving projects)

Best wishes,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Gerard F.]

Re: Need shock recommendations.

Tim,

I used the poly bushings and brackets (3/4")which came with the rear stabilizer for my original 3/4" front stabilizer. They are the same part. Also, I think the links for 1" front are the same.

I really like the combination of the 460# springs, original front stabilizer,no rear, poly bushings and power steering on my 67 327/300HP for both town and highway driving. It actually feels like a new car to me, zipping around corners with just a slight turn of the wheel.

However, I'm not an aggressive driver, just a geezer sporting around. Also, the roads here in Sonora, Ca are probably little better here then in Houston. (I'm the City Engineer here, and I schedule the paving projects)

Best wishes,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179