71 suspension Upgrade Questions

[Peter B.]

I am re-doing my suspension. I am going to use Polyurathane bushings.

1 - Any recommendations on types of shocks I should use (I want great handling)?

2 - Should I upgrade to a larger sway bar in the front?

3 - I want to get a rear sway bar. The after market type (corvette central) looks good and is cheaper than the OEM style. Any recommendations?

Thanks

[Michael W.]

I'm not sure I'd use the words 'upgrade'

and 'polyurethane' in the same breath. One is clearly not superior to the other, just different.

There's lots of info on poly bushings in the archives. In brief, they usually make the ride uneccessarily harsh, offer life span improvements that are not a practical advantage to most mortals, are a guaranteed deduct during judging and my favourite they SQUEAK!!!

If they're not installed yet, send them back and buy your wife a nice present with the money you'll save.

[Michael W.]

I'm not sure I'd use the words 'upgrade'

and 'polyurethane' in the same breath. One is clearly not superior to the other, just different.

There's lots of info on poly bushings in the archives. In brief, they usually make the ride uneccessarily harsh, offer life span improvements that are not a practical advantage to most mortals, are a guaranteed deduct during judging and my favourite they SQUEAK!!!

If they're not installed yet, send them back and buy your wife a nice present with the money you'll save.

[Duke W.]

Re: I'm not sure I'd use the words 'upgrade'

Before you start throwing money away, Peter, buy "How to Make your car Handle" from Classis Motorbooks.

The first thing you want is some adjustable shocks - Spax or Koni.

You didn't say anything about tires.

Did you know that tires represent at least 80 percent of a car's handling potential? Start doing some tire research. Once you've selected the best performance tires money can buy, you start doing some chassis tuning, like wheel alignment with some negative camber and spot on toe settings.

Then you can look at some anti-roll bar changes if you want to decrease roll or adjust the handling balance.

Leave the polyurethane bushings on the shelf unless you're building a dedicated race car, and use the OEM springs.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: I'm not sure I'd use the words 'upgrade'

Before you start throwing money away, Peter, buy "How to Make your car Handle" from Classis Motorbooks.

The first thing you want is some adjustable shocks - Spax or Koni.

You didn't say anything about tires.

Did you know that tires represent at least 80 percent of a car's handling potential? Start doing some tire research. Once you've selected the best performance tires money can buy, you start doing some chassis tuning, like wheel alignment with some negative camber and spot on toe settings.

Then you can look at some anti-roll bar changes if you want to decrease roll or adjust the handling balance.

Leave the polyurethane bushings on the shelf unless you're building a dedicated race car, and use the OEM springs.

Duke

[Jack H.]

Also....

make sure you inspect the links & ball joints for wear. In my experience, folks toss a lot of $$$ at the obvious suspension components (shocks/springs) without paying attention to the smaller detail items that wear out gradually. I can tell you from experience that a fresh factory stock suspension system (the way Zora and the boys intended it to be) can be a real shocker for those who've only experienced the handling characteristics of these 30-year old cars with worn/tuckered out components....

Now, all bets here are off IF your end game is to get into wheel-to-wheel competition, drag strip use, or gymkahana competition. One thing that's changed the minds of some, is to attend a local chapter meet and borrow the keys to a club member's similar Shark that's been freshly rebuilt to factory stock condition. More than a few come away from the experience with a new outlook--"I don't need all that (*&^"....

[Jack H.]

Also....

make sure you inspect the links & ball joints for wear. In my experience, folks toss a lot of $$$ at the obvious suspension components (shocks/springs) without paying attention to the smaller detail items that wear out gradually. I can tell you from experience that a fresh factory stock suspension system (the way Zora and the boys intended it to be) can be a real shocker for those who've only experienced the handling characteristics of these 30-year old cars with worn/tuckered out components....

Now, all bets here are off IF your end game is to get into wheel-to-wheel competition, drag strip use, or gymkahana competition. One thing that's changed the minds of some, is to attend a local chapter meet and borrow the keys to a club member's similar Shark that's been freshly rebuilt to factory stock condition. More than a few come away from the experience with a new outlook--"I don't need all that (*&^"....

[Stephen W.]

Delco BIG "D"

I may be talking history here but let me share this anyway. Back in 1975 I replaced my shocks on my '71 LT1. I purchased them over my GM dealers parts counter. They were called Delco Big "D" and provided a larger piston with better valving. The ride was good and they gave better performance when drived hard. The bright red color with white Delco Big "D" lettering looked nice too. I have no idea if they can be purchased anymore either.

[Stephen W.]

Delco BIG "D"

I may be talking history here but let me share this anyway. Back in 1975 I replaced my shocks on my '71 LT1. I purchased them over my GM dealers parts counter. They were called Delco Big "D" and provided a larger piston with better valving. The ride was good and they gave better performance when drived hard. The bright red color with white Delco Big "D" lettering looked nice too. I have no idea if they can be purchased anymore either.