1969 Camaro Suspension Help...

ericsz · 06-02-2008, 02:53 PM

I know you all have your own secrets, as I do too. But I need to know what it is you folks do to make these cars work so well. Especially on a HOT Greasy track. The track beat this weekend and I hate being beat by the track. Here is my current set up and please someone with a camaro that works help me out I am tired of fighting in the summer, my car works awesome when the track is good but man its bad when its not. here goes.

Front Suspension
Koni SPA1- set as soft as they will go
Moroso Trick Springs - 214 rate
Rear Suspension
Slide a links
Rancho 9 way adjustables
Afco Multi leafs

28x10.50-15 Tires

Good day 60's 1.53-1.54
Yesterday 1.65-1.67

PLEASE GIVE ME SOMETHING.....

Thanks

Eric Bowling
2008 Ohio Crankshaft No Box Nationals Winner

race watcher · 06-02-2008, 04:32 PM

Need more info. Motor size, trans, convertor, weight. There is one thing that I don't think you have right. There are no secrets it is just basic.

ericsz · 06-02-2008, 04:44 PM

motor 406 sbc
400 turbo tranny w/ brake
5500 8 inch coan converter
4.56 gear
Not sure of weight other than HEAVY
33-3500lbs

40Coupe · 06-02-2008, 05:25 PM

One thing you will NOT regret purchasing is a pair of AFCO double adjustable shocks for the rear. You need the ability to adjust rebound and bump independently.

The other thing that has been mentioned is a 30" tire. Very good idea.

How easily/smoothly does your front suspension work? Have you worked over the bushings so there is no resistance or bind? This is absolutely critical. Consider some Del-A-Lum bushings. Have you cut any coils off your Moroso springs? I would imagine that you have since you've got a SBC up front. Consider some Santhuff front springs. www.santhuffshocks.com You're probably looking at 160 or 180 lb/in units. They will provide maximum weight transfer.

How much travel do you have up front? You need a minimum of 5". If you don't then you need to cut the upper/lower bump stops and get the car sitting lower in front.

Just a few things to think about.

What are your current ET's? What RPM are you leaving at on the brake? Based on your low 1.5x 60 foots you should certainly be able to hook consistantly.

Jeff Lee · 06-03-2008, 12:33 AM

deleted response

Grant Eldridge · 06-03-2008, 04:32 AM

Re/ Slide-a-Link bars. We've had success with these using a re-arched stock monoleaf but replacing the entire two piece bar and poly bushing with a fabricated single chrome moly tube threaded to accept the supplied ends. Getting rid of the flex and distortion helped, as well as lowering the rear pad 1" to alter the angle on the bar. A bit of preload on the right bar and neutral on the left worked on our Nova with 60 foot best of 1.41. Strongly recommend the double adjustable shocks as well. If you were starting from scratch, I'd probably get the Cal Tracs instead, John Calvert is great to deal with and helpful from my experience....

ericsz · 06-03-2008, 08:46 AM

5+ inches of travel in the front.
I have tried launching anywhere from 3000Rpm to 4000 and nothing works. No coils have been cut out of the springs, front end is as free as a can be, bump stops are all the way out. When the car works it runs high 7.30's-7.40's 1/8th mile.

Dave Goob Cook · 06-03-2008, 12:08 PM

9 x 30 Goodyear radials, in a D-4A or harder compound, with a light burnout.
One tire compound does not fit all tracks or conditions.

ericsz · 06-03-2008, 03:25 PM

Well without having to spend $1000 on rear shocks I guess I will try to fabricate up a set of caltracs and put about 400 lbs in the trunk.

SSDiv6 · 06-03-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericsz

Well without having to spend $1000 on rear shocks I guess I will try to fabricate up a set of caltracs and put about 400 lbs in the trunk.

You do not have to spend $1000.00 in shocks, just go and get the Rancho shocks from Calvert Racing.

One item that I take issue with is your statement that you plan to fabricate your own set of Cal-trac bars. John is part of our family in S/SS...he has put lots of effort and sweat in his suspension system for some one else to copy it.

I recognize there is a moron out there that has copied his bars and made all the dimensions available online for others to make their own bars. I consider this an insult to our community as a whole...be the man and spend your money like a lot of guys in this forum have done. I can just see you coming back to this forum asking for help because your bars do not work as designed. This applies comment would apply to another company out there that has copied Alf Weibe's suspension system for A and G body cars and it is marketing it like their own design.

06-02-2008, 02:53 PM	#1
ericsz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1969 Camaro Suspension Help... I know you all have your own secrets, as I do too. But I need to know what it is you folks do to make these cars work so well. Especially on a HOT Greasy track. The track beat this weekend and I hate being beat by the track. Here is my current set up and please someone with a camaro that works help me out I am tired of fighting in the summer, my car works awesome when the track is good but man its bad when its not. here goes. Front Suspension Koni SPA1- set as soft as they will go Moroso Trick Springs - 214 rate Rear Suspension Slide a links Rancho 9 way adjustables Afco Multi leafs 28x10.50-15 Tires Good day 60's 1.53-1.54 Yesterday 1.65-1.67 PLEASE GIVE ME SOMETHING..... Thanks Eric Bowling 2008 Ohio Crankshaft No Box Nationals Winner

06-02-2008, 04:32 PM	#2
race watcher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 50 Likes: 5 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... Need more info. Motor size, trans, convertor, weight. There is one thing that I don't think you have right. There are no secrets it is just basic.

06-02-2008, 04:44 PM	#3
ericsz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... motor 406 sbc 400 turbo tranny w/ brake 5500 8 inch coan converter 4.56 gear Not sure of weight other than HEAVY 33-3500lbs

06-02-2008, 05:25 PM	#4
40Coupe Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... One thing you will NOT regret purchasing is a pair of AFCO double adjustable shocks for the rear. You need the ability to adjust rebound and bump independently. The other thing that has been mentioned is a 30" tire. Very good idea. How easily/smoothly does your front suspension work? Have you worked over the bushings so there is no resistance or bind? This is absolutely critical. Consider some Del-A-Lum bushings. Have you cut any coils off your Moroso springs? I would imagine that you have since you've got a SBC up front. Consider some Santhuff front springs. www.santhuffshocks.com You're probably looking at 160 or 180 lb/in units. They will provide maximum weight transfer. How much travel do you have up front? You need a minimum of 5". If you don't then you need to cut the upper/lower bump stops and get the car sitting lower in front. Just a few things to think about. What are your current ET's? What RPM are you leaving at on the brake? Based on your low 1.5x 60 foots you should certainly be able to hook consistantly. __________________ '67 Camaro 1.25 5.77 @ 118 Last edited by 40Coupe; 06-02-2008 at 05:29 PM.

06-03-2008, 12:33 AM	#5
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... deleted response __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX Last edited by Jeff Lee; 06-03-2008 at 07:35 PM. Reason: crabby thread

06-03-2008, 04:32 AM	#6
Grant Eldridge Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... Re/ Slide-a-Link bars. We've had success with these using a re-arched stock monoleaf but replacing the entire two piece bar and poly bushing with a fabricated single chrome moly tube threaded to accept the supplied ends. Getting rid of the flex and distortion helped, as well as lowering the rear pad 1" to alter the angle on the bar. A bit of preload on the right bar and neutral on the left worked on our Nova with 60 foot best of 1.41. Strongly recommend the double adjustable shocks as well. If you were starting from scratch, I'd probably get the Cal Tracs instead, John Calvert is great to deal with and helpful from my experience....

06-03-2008, 08:46 AM	#7
ericsz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... 5+ inches of travel in the front. I have tried launching anywhere from 3000Rpm to 4000 and nothing works. No coils have been cut out of the springs, front end is as free as a can be, bump stops are all the way out. When the car works it runs high 7.30's-7.40's 1/8th mile.

06-03-2008, 12:08 PM	#8
Dave Goob Cook Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 422 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... 9 x 30 Goodyear radials, in a D-4A or harder compound, with a light burnout. One tire compound does not fit all tracks or conditions.

06-03-2008, 03:25 PM	#9
ericsz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1969 Camaro Suspension Help... Well without having to spend $1000 on rear shocks I guess I will try to fabricate up a set of caltracs and put about 400 lbs in the trunk.