Bad ass BOSS - New Coilover System

[Shaun]

So I've been working on this beauty the past few weeks:



What better car to use to release our brand spankin' new front coilover system with our custom valved Bilstein coilover shocks:



I'm pretty dang proud of this system.  No, its not just another coilover system, I felt I could do a much better job than what is currently on the market.  We used the same race winning geometry used on our conventional tubular control arms, then partnered with Bilstein for shocks.  In my opinion, they make one of the best, most affordable 'proper' shocks on the market.

We've worked all year computing motion ratios, wheel rates, sprung and un-sprung weights, critical damping and a massive list of other variables to design our own propieatery Street, Sport and Race valving and spring combinations specific to the 65-70 Mustangs.  We do NOT use a standard 'off the shelf shock' that simply fits in the space and 'sort of feels right'.  I've lost count of the amount of street miles and track days we've done this year testing.  I can't remember how many shocks we've valved to get this right but its a lot!  In fact, we are back at the track tomorrow playing with the Race valving some more.  I just can't leave it alone!

Here is a link to our flier that lists a whole bunch more information - http://www.streetortrack.com/files/images/st/Coilover_Front_Suspension.pdf

Car looks pretty dang good with our Trans-Am brake system installed:



Our upper mount spacer is also pretty slick.  It fits around the stock coil spring perch negating its removal.  The owner of this BOSS wanted a stealth look so we cut down some stock style shocks, drilled a hole in our cover plate and installed the stock shocks for a really trick look:

From left to right, stock shock cap, our cover plate, aluminum upper mount spacer, upper mount:


3 holes need to be drilled into the stock upper spring seat on 67-70 cars, no holes required for 65-66 cars:


Our cover plate slips under your export brace to cover the hole (it also acts as a template for drilling the holes on 67-70 cars).  You can see the hole we drilled for the stock shock to sit in:


Stock shock cut down:


Stock shock installed:


All show in the engine bay, all go underneath!

If you don't want to go stealth and want to brag about whats underneath, here is what the cover plate looks like without the stock shock tops installed:


Here is Jason in our 65 test car going 1.5 seconds per lap quicker with our Race setup than his heavily modified conventional style system.  He was so dang quick he lapped the instructor that put him through tech saying, 'are you sure you want to run this group?  You can move down if its too fast for you'!

[67 Fastback]

 :$$$
Awesome looking. I looked on your site to see price, but can't find it.

Reminds me alot of the tcp coilover kit.
Bill

[Shaun]

:$$$
Awesome looking. I looked on your site to see price, but can't find it.

Reminds me alot of the tcp coilover kit.
Bill

Thanks.  Looks like it at a quick glance but is nothing like it.  Lots of tech on that flier, if you compare apples to apples you'll see our system is leaps and bounds ahead of any bolt in system on the market.

Pricing is:

$2299 for the Street system - this is dang near the ride of a modern production car and in my 66 it is THE most comfortable, responsive ride I've ever gotten out of a classic Mustang.
$2399 for the Sport system - this is the system to use if you like carving around bends, on/off ramps and/or open tracking with NO need to switch shocks or click gimmicky knobs.
$2499 for the Race system - this system uses a fully rebuildable Bilstein shock with schrader valve to adjust nitrogen pressure (if you really like to play - like me 8-)).

[gtscode]

So what is the major advantage over a nice roller setup with good shocks and springs?  Is it the lower pivot of the shock?  I am very impressed!!!

Found a great link from a previous dicsussion by many of the same players on the site that I will not name.

[Shaun]

So what is the major advantage over a nice roller setup with good shocks and springs?  Is it the lower pivot of the shock?  I am very impressed!!!

Well a quick run down would look something like this:

Easy ride height adjustment.

50% better motion ratio allows use of lighter springs and more shock motion for better control.

Although we have chosen what we feel is a great combo, springs can be had in 25lb increments if you wish to switch.

Super easy spring/shock removal.  The assembly is held on by 1 bolt on the top and 1 bolt on the bottom.  No spring compressors, no swearing.

Much more control arm/strut rod adjustablilty than stock for pretty much any alignment setting you wish.

Heim bearing shock ends further reduce bind found in stock setup.

We have control over the shock valving.  We are designing/developing the curve and having Bilstein produce our valving in one of their production shocks.  If we or a customer wishes to make a change for a particular application, we can.  We have shock dyno facilities available should a customer wish to work with us on shock development.

Our upper arm is pretty short, improving camber gain and enabling a 245/255 front tire on a 65-66 car.

[One_fast67]

Now I know what to ask for for Christmas!   :)

[Gigantopithecus]

Just added that to the list o stuff I want on the car.

[Starfury]

Wow...I need to change my pants.

[garner67]

Looks like I have a new goal to save for during the next year.

Nice work, Shaun.  All yer hard work seems to be paying off now!!!

[ZFORCE]

Beautiful looking set up.  What is the difference in the 3 set ups?  If someone bought the street set up but wanted to move up, what needs to be changed/replaced and what would the cost be?

[stump]

Pricing is:

$2299 for the Street system - this is dang near the ride of a modern production car and in my 66 it is THE most comfortable, responsive ride I've ever gotten out of a classic Mustang.

Installed??

[LastDeadLast]

Shaun,

Pretty cool stuff!  Can your existing UCA's be adapted to this kit or do you have to purchase them over again?  Looks like you would just have to trim off the spring tabs and you're set.

-Shannon

[Shaun]

Beautiful looking set up.  What is the difference in the 3 set ups?  If someone bought the street set up but wanted to move up, what needs to be changed/replaced and what would the cost be?

The only difference is the shock valving and spring rates.  All the different shock/spring combo's use the same bracketry allowing you to easily swap/play/learn.

The Street and Sport valving is installed in a 'non-take apart shock by your average Joe', you'll need special tools or a Bilstein builder to service them (if and when they need it).  The Race shock is completely rebuildable by a home mechanic with some simple and affordable tools.  You can of course send any of them to use or any other Bilstein builder for service/valving changes etc.

We worked all year designing spring/shock combo's and our criteria was to design a combination that suited its purpose as best we could.  I think we've acheived that.  Your 100% street guy will be really happy with the Street valving (our BOSS customer does), the street/open track guy will really like the Sport valving (I do) and your race only guy will really like the Race setup (Jason my hired butt dyno driver does).

[Shaun]

Installed??

We can install the system, regular shop rates apply though.   :craz 

[Shaun]

Shaun,

Pretty cool stuff!  Can your existing UCA's be adapted to this kit or do you have to purchase them over again?  Looks like you would just have to trim off the spring tabs and you're set.

-Shannon

I haven't hacked off the spring perch tabs to check yet but the spring will be very tight to the bolt-in ball joint plate at full droop.

For customers that want to upgrade from our conventional tubular uppers, you can re-use the shaft and heim bearings, its just the tubular piece and ball joint that are different.  Luckily this tubular piece is a lot easier to construct than the conventional style tubular frame so is cheaper.

Our lower arms are the same between the 2 systems.  The strut rod uses a different lower control arm end but the tube and forward bracket are the same.

[mustangstofear]

I always tell people to compare apples to apples not go by price. Looks like a nice system. I am looking for something like that for my sons 66 coupe, if you have any dealer pricing pm me. Rich.

[66benchcoupe]

Looks great Shaun.  Along with the other improvments, the shock really sets it apart from the TCP product.  Good luck!

Robert

[Shaun]

Thanks Rob,

We put the Street valving combo on the BOSS, the customer is going to love it.  Cruises real nice.  95% of the time he cruises around to car shows with it so this will be perfect.  We are setting him up with another set of shocks/springs he can swap in for the track.

[buening]

Nice design Shaun!  What motion ratio did you end up with? That factory is around a 0.5, no?

[Shaun]

Nice design Shaun!  What motion ratio did you end up with? That factory is around a 0.5, no?

Thanks!

We got .76.  50% better than stock.  Pretty happy with that.

[fordrule]

wow shuan simply beautiful piece of engineering. simply amazing

[DAVER]

The engineering and design of this set up is unquestionably a step ahead of any competitor I am aware of.  These components and your ability to work with Bilstein is yet another advantage when looking for a complete system that addresses every driver's requirements....

What would be your recommendation for a spring rate if the applications is a '67 S code with the 390?  Would you just step up the spring rate one or two (25 to 50 lbs) increments?   I am giving your set up serious consideration on my next Mustang build up.

Great effort... hope you sell many of these!

[FordDude]

First off I have to say that I hate you Shaun :bird For years I could not decide between Global West and a factory suspension setup for my 1967 coupe. Well after the glowing reviews of the johnpro upgrade to his daughter's 1967 Mustang I decided on a Opentracker "roller" upgrade to the stock suspension. But noooo now you have to come out with something even better. Granted the only investment that I have made so far for the Opentracker is the Koni shocks.
But I do need to clarify something.

Our upper arm is pretty short, improving camber gain and enabling a 245/255 front tire on a 65-66 car.

The wider tire size is the biggest reason that I was considering the Global West suspension. So a 245/255 on a 65-66 Mustang. What about a 67 Mustang? And what is the rim size that you were using?
Also what size sway bar are you using? Can I assume that it is a factory bar?
More questions to follow, but I want to start with the basics first.

fd

[Shaun]

The engineering and design of this set up is unquestionably a step ahead of any competitor I am aware of.  These components and your ability to work with Bilstein is yet another advantage when looking for a complete system that addresses every driver's requirements....

What would be your recommendation for a spring rate if the applications is a '67 S code with the 390?  Would you just step up the spring rate one or two (25 to 50 lbs) increments?   I am giving your set up serious consideration on my next Mustang build up.

Great effort... hope you sell many of these!

Thanks!

Its the frequency in Hz you feel so we can take the critical dampening number we gave each Street, Sport and Race setup, add in your cars weight and build the same feel into each valving.  Doesn't matter if its a 65 6cyl or a big block car.  We don't use the same valving and spring rate for every car, that is what makes us unique, each car gets its own package.  This way we can ensure that a customer with a big block car gets the same ride as a 6cyl 65 for example.

[Shaun]

Update - Just got back from the track.  Jason is now 3 seconds a lap quicker than his conventional setup.  We took a few sets of shocks with different valvings/springs and spent the day running laps, analyzing data, changing shocks and then going back to the fastest combination for verification.  He ran in the fastest group, set his personal best at that track and smoked pretty much everyone!

I also saw the BOSS 302 owner there in his late model Mustang.  He is loving driving the BOSS with the Street valving!