Suspension recommendations?

[kantgetnun]

I have a 78 sc that I'm building into a wide body turbo car. I want the car pretty low, as a result that will obviously cause clearance issues between the tires and fender flares. So I want the suspension really stiff. So my questions are: torsion bars only? If so what size? Or torsion bars and Coilover helpers as well? I'm pretty sure the car has stock torsion bars as it is. Any help is greatly appreciated

[Walt Fricke]

You obviously want to drive this car on the street. So you will not need the extra stiffness coilovers can give you. Big torsion bars front and rear will be plenty stiff.

Furthermore, you can only have the car so low. Not only will you not want to be bottoming out and scraping your front spoiler on the slightest driveway change of angle from the street, but lowering the car beyond a certain point will mess up the suspension geometry, cause shocks to bottom, and otherwise not be worth it at all.

22 or 23 in front, and 30 in the rear, ought to be plenty stiff enough. Maybe too stiff for the street. If you can keep the diameter of the tires within reason, you ought not to have tire interference with fender issues - your widebody kit parts ought to see to that.

[michael lang]

Boy have you opened a can of worms. Really though, what specifically are you looking for? There are so many cool things that you can do. For street use, I really wouldn't recommend anything more than Bilstein HD shocks and 22/28 as far as torsion bars for additional stiffness. If you want coilovers, the torsion bars are gone anyway so that doesn't matter. In my car, I have Bilstein sports front & rear, 23/31 torsion bars with a bunch of other stuff and I absolutely hate driving my car on the street. But, for the track, it is magic. The reason why suspension upgrades are called the "slippery slope" is because it really is like a science experiment, it is trial and error. Just like so many guys on these pages, I have done something to my car thinking that I was making an improvement only to find it after I started driving that I absolutely hated it and then start over with something else. Which results in more time and ALOT more money. Best of luck in your conversion.

[kantgetnun]

seems that I like worms! happens on every project! Im used to driving low cars with stiff suspension. essentially Im building a car similar to a rauh welt car. I would rather have the suspension on the side of too stiff than not stiff enough. the issue Im having is the clearance from tire to fender in the vertical movement, sidewall to fender lip is fine. when i have a friend stand on the bumper and jump up and down the tire hits, mind you my friend weighs 250lbs.
so Im looking for a good starting point of what to buy in the way of torsion bars.

[81Kremer930]

I am in the same boat as kantgetnun. I have an '84 Cab Turbo body car. Super low in back, but stock height up front... kinda loose, and I am pretty sure that the struts up front are original equipment. The shocks in rear are Bilstein HD's... should a replacement of torsions bars front and rear with new front inserts do the trick for a good handling street car? I don't want something that will jar the fillings in my teeth loose.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 81Kremer930

I am in the same boat as kantgetnun. I have an '84 Cab Turbo body car. Super low in back, but stock height up front... kinda loose, and I am pretty sure that the struts up front are original equipment. The shocks in rear are Bilstein HD's... should a replacement of torsions bars front and rear with new front inserts do the trick for a good handling street car? I don't want something that will jar the fillings in my teeth loose.

You are in luck as the oe suspension on you car(assuming it is a factory M491, turbo look) is Bilstein HD.

It's possible that the shocks just need a rebuild and possible revalve, you certainly need to work w/ a knowledgeable shop to get the car set up correctly, it sounds like a disaster currently.

I certainly wouldn't even think about putting larger t-bars in given your description of ride needs, revalved oe Bilstein hd's can provide a wonderful ride and great handling to boot

[Driver_911]

If you are planning on lowering your car, I would recommend removing the rear torsion bars all together and invest on a set of coil overs. Your setup will ride much smoother and will have the appropriate shock travel for a lowered vehicle.

Bisimoto Engineering sells a very nice inverted kit and is manufactured by Eibach for only $699 for the rear. Link: Bisimoto/Eibach coilovers

[jsmithcds]

I wish you would have posted a month earlier. Too much salt for a spin around the block in mine….. would have been happy to give you a test drive. I have a 79 widebody conversion. 23front 28rears TB. Tarret sways front and back. Bilstien sports all around.
I also raised the spindles to ensure proper travel.

I do think twice about taking a cruise down to MKE after the work i have done. I don’t mind it the wife is not a big fan.

I believe this set up is a good balance between street and track. I would not go any bigger than 22/23:28/29 if you intend to street the car. This set up works pretty well at Road America and still is tolerable on the street.

Justin

[kantgetnun]

Originally Posted by jsmithcds

I wish you would have posted a month earlier. Too much salt for a spin around the block in mine….. would have been happy to give you a test drive. I have a 79 widebody conversion. 23front 28rears TB. Tarret sways front and back. Bilstien sports all around.
I also raised the spindles to ensure proper travel.

I do think twice about taking a cruise down to MKE after the work i have done. I don’t mind it the wife is not a big fan.

I believe this set up is a good balance between street and track. I would not go any bigger than 22/23:28/29 if you intend to street the car. This set up works pretty well at Road America and still is tolerable on the street.

Justin

you have any pics of your car justin? thanks for the info

[Walt Fricke]

Misread a post, or it was corrected.

[kantgetnun]

Originally Posted by Walt Fricke

Misread a post, or it was corrected.

Walt, what did you misread? To be a little more specific. I definatley don't mind a very stiff ride. The car is more of a toy than anything. I will be driving it on the street but also some autocross days as well

[jsmithcds]

Walt prolly read mine before I changed the word lowered to raised. I am guessing.

He is a few low res shots of mine.