Guest Anonymous Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 ive been looking through past posts but am still confused...what is a good but fairly inexpensive way to upgrade the suspension after a SBC swap?? can i keep my strut as it is and just replace the srping? thanx in advance brendan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 What is wrong with it as it sits?? Does it sit low, nose dive hard,too high???? A good aftermarket strut and a new stock spring are all I did and it is tight as all hell......You having some steering issues??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 oh no.....i havent even put it in yet...i was jsut wondering on price issues but i have stock replacement struts on there now, should i go with tokico non adjustable srpings and shocks?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 I have a steel block cast head 350 in my Z with Tokiko plain janes and stock springs (new) in the front and rear and it handles fine. If you are building a 1/4 miler than you don't want to go too far strut wise and spring wise as you want weight transfer to the rear or you will just spin. A little softer susp. in the rear allows it to "squat" on launch. The conversion doesn't add that much weight to the front as the JTR sets the motor back for a nice weight dist. I have only auto crossed my car once at the RCMP base skid track and it was nice and flat around the corners and the 1 hard launch I did (didn't want to piss the officers off) it spun alot but also squatted real nice and was accelarating real well for a generic set of 225/60's. Again, what is your goal for it???There is always a give and take.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 well, im only 16....im not going to be racing it-at least not at the track im about to buy a 74 vette engine off ebay so hopefully ill get that in before winter breaks here in new york that soudns great to me, tokico struts and new stock springs...do i do this on all 4 tires? have you ever run your 350 in the quarter or have u had it dynoed?? how much horsepower/torque would a stock 350 make...am i going to be real happy with the speed and torque? thanx brendan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 If your car is a ZX, as your nick suggests, you are going to need to combat the infamous acceleration squat that these cars are known for. A V8 will bottom out a stock suspension faster than Franks took Baghdad. Get aftermarket springs and Tokico's all around to control the torque induced squat. The stock '74 Corvette 350 put out only 195 HP and 270 ft-lb's , however, when you rebuild it, put in a cam, intake and flattop pistons and be at 300 HP real easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 Yeah I had that infamous squat problem that the ZX's had before I upgraded my whole suspension. I put in the Non-adjustabel TOKICO struts, Tokico Springs(lower car about 1" but are stiffer), new bigger sway bars and urethan bushings all the way around. After all that my car wouldnt squat with the L28 still in there. I am not really sure if it squats now with the V8 because my motor and clutch are still fresh so I havent had the chance to launch it real hard. I dont "think" it will be a problem though. If it is Im going to coilovers! All I know is it rides like its on rails in the corners! 8) I think it costed me about $900 for all that stuff from MSA. If you look around you might be able to get it cheaper. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 Just don't use cheap or used parts ...they arewn't worth it. The factory springs were not the best rate wise so a spring with a good name like Eibach or Tokico will work best. Oh and the urethane bushing set is worth its weight in gold IMHO.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rick458 Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 http://www.shox.com has the non-adjustable Tokico's and 1"lower springs for $360.00 and the 5 ways for $580 with springs that is all 4 springs AND shock/struts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Drewz Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 580 is a pretty good price for that brand indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tom sixbey Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 80LT1, i bought the same parts you did, except i havent gotten my car back down yet (and wont until i work out my @%^$ing brake problems... - how much stiffer is the ride than stock? - i was afraid that it might be a little bit too stiff for good 60ft times... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Its pretty stiff for daily driving on crappy wisconsin roads but as far as handling goes its great! The rear squats about 1/2 as much as a stock suspension with my V8 in there. When I had the L28 it didnt squat at all with the new suspension. I think there is just enough squat to be useful! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john kosmatka Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Guy, did you get all your motor problems tied up. Plan on taking it to the track any time soon. Hope fully ill be done next summer, just in time thats when i get my license, im only 15 , but next summer ill be 16 any how i plan on going l28et, already have the donor--very hard to find in wisconsin, but the easiest swap. And for the suspension shoxs.com is the best place to go they have cheaper prices than msa and victoria british, so i plan on tokico 5 way adjustable and springs, st sway bar kit and the energy sus. master bushing kit, then some odds and ends shorter steering knuckles, bump steer spacers things like that. What do ya think. Best regards and good luck John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Yup I pretty much have the motor running perfect now. I still have my annoying passenger side header leak! I cant seem to fix it. It's just enough of a leak to be annoying! LOL I probably wont take it to the track for another month or so. I might not even take it this year. I dont want to beat on it that bad quite yet! LOL Its still a fresh motor. Dont worry when I take it to the track I will post #'s. I might be putting it on the dyno real soon...so I will post those #'s when I can. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tom sixbey Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 exhaust leaks... AAUURRGHHH.. - if its from a loosening header bolt, someone (i cant remember who -ARP?) makes a header bolt kit that supposedly doesnt loosen over time... just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigWhyteDude Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 what kind of Hp and TQ numbers do you guesstimate you have from you engine Guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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