Coil spring/ control arm suspension

Ian Hill · 10-16-2008, 07:00 AM

I have a 67 chevelle (coil spring/ control arm rear suspension). i have QA1 adjustable rear shocks in the car, i am wondering should i also be putting a rear sway bar in the car to help stop body roll at launch or just tighten the right rear shock?

Also i see that Hotchkis makes a 1 5/16 rear sway bar that has a "no-bind" connection point to the control arms. It hangs down from the control amrs about 2". is this a legal modification for a stocker?

Thanks
Ian

Jim Kaekel · 10-16-2008, 09:26 AM

Using an Air Lift air bag in the right rear coil to preload the suspension will help your problem, but the best fix currently available that I have seen and used on my '70 4-4-2 is the HR Parts 'n' Stuff rear sway bar. It is a tubular, chrome moly rear sway bar with adjustable heim ends. Easy install, drill four holes and bolt it on.

SSDiv6 · 10-16-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Hill

I have a 67 chevelle (coil spring/ control arm rear suspension). i have QA1 adjustable rear shocks in the car, i am wondering should i also be putting a rear sway bar in the car to help stop body roll at launch or just tighten the right rear shock?

Also i see that Hotchkis makes a 1 5/16 rear sway bar that has a "no-bind" connection point to the control arms. It hangs down from the control amrs about 2". is this a legal modification for a stocker?

Thanks
Ian

Check out the sway bars from the following vendors:

http://www.hrpartsandstuff.com/

also the Xtreme Sway Bar from BMR Fabrication...

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/A-Body.htm

and Spohn Performance...

http://www.spohn.net/shop/1968-1972-...72-A-Body.html

Greg Barsamian · 10-16-2008, 10:15 AM

Got 2 Chevelles that run the BMR Fabrication Xtreme sway bar.
1 Big Block 66 SS w/ Nash 5-speed, and a 70 SS small-block car w/ Jerico 4-speed.
Both cars picked up 2-2.5 tenths using this system w/o Air bags! you don't need them!

Wade_Owens · 10-16-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Kaekel

Using an Air Lift air bag in the right rear coil to preload the suspension will help your problem, but the best fix currently available that I have seen and used on my '70 4-4-2 is the HR Parts 'n' Stuff rear sway bar. It is a tubular, chrome moly rear sway bar with adjustable heim ends. Easy install, drill four holes and bolt it on.

x2

My 66 Chevelle stocker with a 283/pg goes 1.51 60' with the HR Parts anti roll bar. Go with the cheapest shock you can find on the rear. The front spring and shock combo varies, just keep working it. It took me all year to get mine figured out, but it works good now!

Wade O

Bob Gullett · 10-16-2008, 09:09 PM

The HR bar works really well. Check out the video to see how it works.

rallye bob · 10-20-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Gullett

The HR bar works really well.

I also use the HR bar on my '70 Cutlass. I love what it did for my leave.....

Dave Goob Cook · 10-20-2008, 10:41 AM

Having solid or fresh bushings in the control arms, as well as mounting points that are not wallowed out goes a long way, before you spend on bolt ons.

The air bag never did much for me, but I launch on a t-brake.

CrateCamaro · 10-20-2008, 10:43 PM

Ian. The chevelle looks great. Looks just like a stocker and hope to see you out next year with that crate motor. As far as the car goes id be ordering a set of moroso coils for the front and get that nose in the weeds. It probably could come down 6 inches or more. I didn't get to see it make a run but with your fab skills I would be building an anti roll bar for the rear that "bolts" to the frame rails. That way it falls under the catagory "bolt on traction device" and will pass tech. I made mine out of 1 5/8 roll bar with 1 x 3 for the arms. With 1 to 2 turns of preload on the passenger bar I have been 1.34 with the back wheels in 60 ft.
When I use to run my car on the motor I would crank the pass side air bag to 30+. It would sit all crooked and ignorant in the pits but when it left it would leave perfectly straight. When I was running 11.40's It would go 1.46-1.49 in 60ft. Ohh and I used Southside Machine (now Mr. Gasket) lift bars for lower control arms. They work great. I always ran stock uppers with bushing. I have adjustable ones now that are set to factory length.

Ian Hill · 10-22-2008, 07:03 AM

i have the moroso front coils in the car, but they are the heavy set, i also have the 1550-1650lbs springs and the ones rated for less front weight. i will be swapping them in and out until the car works the way it should. i have also already ordered the hotchkins "extreme style" anti roll bar for the rear.

not making it over to see my run was nothing at all, as Raymonds motor was way off on the tune up, it studdered and poped off the line to a 11.55 @119, all four wheels on the track - that and the fact the converter choice (my falt) was wwwaaaaayyyyyy off did nothing for the launch. i think i shifted into second around the 400 ft mark. either that or KC sold me 2.73 gears instead of 4.88's!

what do you mean crate motor...hmmmmm. word travels quickly around here. i had the deposit in my pocket and as soon as he hit the 10's i went over and did the deal. h/cm here we come.

Ian

10-16-2008, 07:00 AM	#1
Ian Hill Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 216 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Coil spring/ control arm suspension I have a 67 chevelle (coil spring/ control arm rear suspension). i have QA1 adjustable rear shocks in the car, i am wondering should i also be putting a rear sway bar in the car to help stop body roll at launch or just tighten the right rear shock? Also i see that Hotchkis makes a 1 5/16 rear sway bar that has a "no-bind" connection point to the control arms. It hangs down from the control amrs about 2". is this a legal modification for a stocker? Thanks Ian

10-16-2008, 09:26 AM	#2
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,226 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension Using an Air Lift air bag in the right rear coil to preload the suspension will help your problem, but the best fix currently available that I have seen and used on my '70 4-4-2 is the HR Parts 'n' Stuff rear sway bar. It is a tubular, chrome moly rear sway bar with adjustable heim ends. Easy install, drill four holes and bolt it on. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

10-16-2008, 10:15 AM	#4
Greg Barsamian VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 1,398 Likes: 705 Liked 410 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension Got 2 Chevelles that run the BMR Fabrication Xtreme sway bar. 1 Big Block 66 SS w/ Nash 5-speed, and a 70 SS small-block car w/ Jerico 4-speed. Both cars picked up 2-2.5 tenths using this system w/o Air bags! you don't need them!

10-16-2008, 09:09 PM	#6
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,099 Likes: 56 Liked 461 Times in 111 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension The HR bar works really well. Check out the video to see how it works. __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

10-20-2008, 10:41 AM	#8
Dave Goob Cook Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 422 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension Having solid or fresh bushings in the control arms, as well as mounting points that are not wallowed out goes a long way, before you spend on bolt ons. The air bag never did much for me, but I launch on a t-brake.

10-20-2008, 10:43 PM	#9
CrateCamaro Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 411 Likes: 1 Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension Ian. The chevelle looks great. Looks just like a stocker and hope to see you out next year with that crate motor. As far as the car goes id be ordering a set of moroso coils for the front and get that nose in the weeds. It probably could come down 6 inches or more. I didn't get to see it make a run but with your fab skills I would be building an anti roll bar for the rear that "bolts" to the frame rails. That way it falls under the catagory "bolt on traction device" and will pass tech. I made mine out of 1 5/8 roll bar with 1 x 3 for the arms. With 1 to 2 turns of preload on the passenger bar I have been 1.34 with the back wheels in 60 ft. When I use to run my car on the motor I would crank the pass side air bag to 30+. It would sit all crooked and ignorant in the pits but when it left it would leave perfectly straight. When I was running 11.40's It would go 1.46-1.49 in 60ft. Ohh and I used Southside Machine (now Mr. Gasket) lift bars for lower control arms. They work great. I always ran stock uppers with bushing. I have adjustable ones now that are set to factory length. __________________ Tony Valerio 1968 Camaro 1700 IHRA H/CM 1701 NHRA SS/?A

10-22-2008, 07:03 AM	#10
Ian Hill Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 216 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Coil spring/ control arm suspension i have the moroso front coils in the car, but they are the heavy set, i also have the 1550-1650lbs springs and the ones rated for less front weight. i will be swapping them in and out until the car works the way it should. i have also already ordered the hotchkins "extreme style" anti roll bar for the rear. not making it over to see my run was nothing at all, as Raymonds motor was way off on the tune up, it studdered and poped off the line to a 11.55 @119, all four wheels on the track - that and the fact the converter choice (my falt) was wwwaaaaayyyyyy off did nothing for the launch. i think i shifted into second around the 400 ft mark. either that or KC sold me 2.73 gears instead of 4.88's! what do you mean crate motor...hmmmmm. word travels quickly around here. i had the deposit in my pocket and as soon as he hit the 10's i went over and did the deal. h/cm here we come. Ian Last edited by Ian Hill; 10-22-2008 at 03:50 PM. Reason: spelled "h" wrong!