AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro??

cad · 06-06-2013, 11:18 AM

I am getting ready to order AFCO SA front shocks and DA rears for my 68 Camaro.

1. Do I need BNC if we are not doing wheel stands over 12", or should I use the money and order standard DAs over SAs?

2. I am looking for information on the install with stock control arms.
I have Calvert 90/10 fronts that are only 3 seasons old and had to open the shock mounting hole a little for those.
AFCO said that I will need to open the control arm more and then weld their ring in place. I also believe the upper stud is 9/16" and will need to open that hole, also.
Any installation advice from those with a Camaro/Nova?
Once I have done this, will I be SOL if I switch to another brand or want to put the Calverts back in?

Thanks
Clark

Mike Pearson · 06-06-2013, 12:01 PM

I don't have the Afcos. I have santhuffs. I had to cut the bottom of the a arm out to the inside diameter of the spring then weld in clips on each side to bolt the shock to. I took the lower a arms off and jigged them in the drill press and used a hole saw to cut the opening. The control arm is made of real soft material so its easy to cut. I also had to move the mount point out to the outer side nearer the spindle to clear the adjusting knob at the bottom of the shock. Santhuff provided the bracket at the bottom of the shock that was real similar to the stock mount. The shocks work so good that I would never think about putting anything else back on. I think you will feel the same after you install the DA shocks on your car. I took about 8 hours to do the install on my car.

njk53 · 06-06-2013, 01:08 PM

We essentially have the same set up on our 71 Chevelle Wagon. We were using the Calvert 90/10 and went to a double adjustable AFCO.
The outer diameter of the AFCO Shock is larger than the Calvert. The lower control arms (LCA) will have to be modified to be able to get the shock between the spring if you go up through the bottom. The AFCO lower shock mount bolt pattern is wider than the stock bolt pattern. We had to machine the lower control arm to trim the stock shock mount holes away and welded the AFCO mounting ring that was provided with the new shocks in it's place. A bit of work but, I think in the long run worth it. If you modify the LCA's for the AFCO's the Calverts will not fit anymore unless you cobble up a mounting scheme to adapt back to the Calverts. As plentiful and cheap as they are, just get another set of LCA's and modify them. So if you want to go back to the Calverts for whatever reason, you can just switch the LCA's.

Ed Wright · 06-06-2013, 02:08 PM

I didn't find their BNC valving to help landings at all. Don't know anybody that did.

You might think about Santuffs. One of the best moves I made, switching from AFCOs to Santuff. No more bouncy landings. Had to run the AFCOs full tight both directions, and had to carry 65 lbs out in the nose to keep the front end down. Still bounced on landings.

Now that weight's back in the weight box, I just adjust the front shocks to keep it down. Can still go firmer each direction.

06-07-2013, 10:52 AM

X2
I was going to buy the Afco's , I must have talked to 5 people with Afco fronts with the same problem. Even people sent them back to be revalved, with no improvement.
I bought the Santuff's from Marty Reinhart with their mounting system, went right in, no bouncing .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

I didn't find their BNC valving to help landings at all. Don't know anybody that did.

You might think about Santuffs. One of the best moves I made, switching from AFCOs to Santuff. No more bouncy landings. Had to run the AFCOs full tight both directions, and had to carry 65 lbs out in the nose to keep the front end down. Still bounced on landings.

Now that weight's back in the weight box, I just adjust the front shocks to keep it down. Can still go firmer each direction.

countrypuppy4865 · 06-09-2013, 03:28 PM

Call randy mans with Fastshocks.com. I had a set of afcos that he redid that were bouncy and they land smooth as Santuffs.

Dyno · 06-09-2013, 03:37 PM

Randy's number at Fastshocks - 612-306-5387 He can custom order the shocks with the correct parts. Great service. He also sells and services Afco, Penske and now JRI.

Alan Roehrich · 06-09-2013, 04:45 PM

Buy Santuff's shocks. If you don't now, you'll wish you had later.

njk53 · 06-10-2013, 10:11 AM

Around how much do Santhuff's cost for a front shock for example for a say a 70 Chevelle?

cad · 06-10-2013, 10:52 AM

I'd love to be able to order the Santhuffs, but they are definitely not in the budget...and they are 4-8 weeks out according to Marty Rinehart.
I appreciate the recommendations. I have only heard that they are the best.

06-06-2013, 11:18 AM	#1
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? I am getting ready to order AFCO SA front shocks and DA rears for my 68 Camaro. 1. Do I need BNC if we are not doing wheel stands over 12", or should I use the money and order standard DAs over SAs? 2. I am looking for information on the install with stock control arms. I have Calvert 90/10 fronts that are only 3 seasons old and had to open the shock mounting hole a little for those. AFCO said that I will need to open the control arm more and then weld their ring in place. I also believe the upper stud is 9/16" and will need to open that hole, also. Any installation advice from those with a Camaro/Nova? Once I have done this, will I be SOL if I switch to another brand or want to put the Calverts back in? Thanks Clark Last edited by cad; 06-06-2013 at 11:21 AM.

06-06-2013, 12:01 PM	#2
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,447 Likes: 615 Liked 1,921 Times in 578 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? I don't have the Afcos. I have santhuffs. I had to cut the bottom of the a arm out to the inside diameter of the spring then weld in clips on each side to bolt the shock to. I took the lower a arms off and jigged them in the drill press and used a hole saw to cut the opening. The control arm is made of real soft material so its easy to cut. I also had to move the mount point out to the outer side nearer the spindle to clear the adjusting knob at the bottom of the shock. Santhuff provided the bracket at the bottom of the shock that was real similar to the stock mount. The shocks work so good that I would never think about putting anything else back on. I think you will feel the same after you install the DA shocks on your car. I took about 8 hours to do the install on my car. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

06-06-2013, 01:08 PM	#3
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? We essentially have the same set up on our 71 Chevelle Wagon. We were using the Calvert 90/10 and went to a double adjustable AFCO. The outer diameter of the AFCO Shock is larger than the Calvert. The lower control arms (LCA) will have to be modified to be able to get the shock between the spring if you go up through the bottom. The AFCO lower shock mount bolt pattern is wider than the stock bolt pattern. We had to machine the lower control arm to trim the stock shock mount holes away and welded the AFCO mounting ring that was provided with the new shocks in it's place. A bit of work but, I think in the long run worth it. If you modify the LCA's for the AFCO's the Calverts will not fit anymore unless you cobble up a mounting scheme to adapt back to the Calverts. As plentiful and cheap as they are, just get another set of LCA's and modify them. So if you want to go back to the Calverts for whatever reason, you can just switch the LCA's. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345 Last edited by njk53; 06-06-2013 at 01:16 PM.

06-06-2013, 02:08 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? I didn't find their BNC valving to help landings at all. Don't know anybody that did. You might think about Santuffs. One of the best moves I made, switching from AFCOs to Santuff. No more bouncy landings. Had to run the AFCOs full tight both directions, and had to carry 65 lbs out in the nose to keep the front end down. Still bounced on landings. Now that weight's back in the weight box, I just adjust the front shocks to keep it down. Can still go firmer each direction. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

06-09-2013, 03:28 PM	#6
countrypuppy4865 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Donaldsonville, LA Posts: 980 Likes: 17 Liked 228 Times in 70 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? Call randy mans with Fastshocks.com. I had a set of afcos that he redid that were bouncy and they land smooth as Santuffs. __________________ Jimmy "Cooter" Hidalgo, Jr. 4865 E/SA '04 GTO 4865 SS/GA '99 Firebird

06-09-2013, 03:37 PM	#7
Dyno Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 916 Likes: 1,137 Liked 685 Times in 204 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? Randy's number at Fastshocks - 612-306-5387 He can custom order the shocks with the correct parts. Great service. He also sells and services Afco, Penske and now JRI.

06-09-2013, 04:45 PM	#8
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,112 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,818 Times in 413 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? Buy Santuff's shocks. If you don't now, you'll wish you had later. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-10-2013, 10:11 AM	#9
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? Around how much do Santhuff's cost for a front shock for example for a say a 70 Chevelle? __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345

06-10-2013, 10:52 AM	#10
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Re: AFCO front shock install 68 Camaro?? I'd love to be able to order the Santhuffs, but they are definitely not in the budget...and they are 4-8 weeks out according to Marty Rinehart. I appreciate the recommendations. I have only heard that they are the best. Last edited by cad; 06-11-2013 at 12:58 PM.