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Bought A Front Coilover Set Up Today

9

95GT

Member
I called QA1 today to try and get some information on building a coilover front set up. They put me onto a place called MPR Race Cars out of Michigan. I called and talked to Mike the owner. He sent me some pictures of what it looks like. It was just what I was looking for and not a bad price. Everything I need but the top mounting point (that can be made very easy) shipped to my door for $671. It is really a neat set up. It will be a coilover shock but the top seat for the spring is the original one for the car. So the great thing is it is a bolt in set up and if wanting to ever go to stock you just unbolt it. Can not wait for it to show up.
 
Is this for your 95?
I actually have a question for you about your rear spring/shock setup.
I have a 97 vert that is on it's second s/s combo (now Bullitt).
Both have totally rattled the teeth out of my head.
I'm looking for something that's slightly lower than stock, but with a nice ride.
What do you have on your 95, and do you like it?
 
This will be for the 69 I am putting together. I don't have it yet. It was being shipped today but I do have the pictures that MPR Race Cars sent me. I am not real good at posting pictures but if someone can do it for me i will send them to them.
 
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"joesgt281" said:
What's the ride like in your 95?
Stock suspension?
Click to expand...


The suspension on the 95 is all stock. I did replace the front struts and rear shocks with KYB. They made a world of difference over stock. Only thing really done to the 95 is a Cobra intake, FRPP shorty headers, a set of 1.7 rockers and a 65mm throttle body.
 
Hey thanks for posting the pictures Sluggo. As you can see from the pictures the springs have a 4.100" inside diameter on the top so they will sit in the stock spring pockets. The main reason I went to coilovers was to be able to adjust the front ride height.
 
Dude! That is sweet! I like how it looks. Are you running stock upper/lowers or do you have some sort of tubular option? And what a killer price for a coilover!

I'm hoping that someone can educate me here...I'm not a CornerCarvers.net kinda guy...just don't know enough about it...but theoretically, it seems, there would be no advantage to a coilover setup over the stock setup, from a purely "arc of travel" perspective, right?

Now, I agree this system provides the advantages of:
1) Adjustable height
2) Adjustable shocks by QA1
3) looks cool as hell

but does it have any "handling advantage" over a stock system with good springs, roller perches and shocks? I don't know the answer...anyone more educated than I, please speak up!

95GT, I'm not at all putting this system down...I think it's awesome! The adjustable front height is a great option. I'm just trying to educate myself on whether a "coil over" package is a better handling package.

Thanks,

Steve
 
When I was speaking with the guys from total control at their display tent, they said coil overs were not designed for adjusting ride height. They had different cones to raise or lower the mounting height in the tower for ride height. Yes you can lower the car some by loosening the spring but you are giving up handling in doing so.
 
"95GT" said:
The suspension on the 95 is all stock. I did replace the front struts and rear shocks with KYB. They made a world of difference over stock.
Click to expand...

I may just swap over to stock springs in the back then.
If it's a little higher, it'll give it a bit of a rake :vic
 
"RyanG85" said:
When I was speaking with the guys from total control at their display tent, they said coil overs were not designed for adjusting ride height. They had different cones to raise or lower the mounting height in the tower for ride height. Yes you can lower the car some by loosening the spring but you are giving up handling in doing so.
Click to expand...

What? Why is the shock body threaded then? Of course you can use it to change ride height. I wouldn't go crazy and move the piston too far out of center of the shock at ride height but an inch up or down isn't going to hurt.
 
"Shaun" said:
What? Why is the shock body threaded then? Of course you can use it to change ride height. I wouldn't go crazy and move the piston too far out of center of the shock at ride height but an inch up or down isn't going to hurt.
Click to expand...

I have the TCP setup on my car. I had many conversations with them about spring rates, ride height, etc. Because of where the shock is mounted, it has to travel much more than the stocker does for each inch of wheel travel (about 50% more). So, TCP tries to limit suspension movement with very stiff springs.

The springs they set me up with were way too stiff for my taste. I asked to swap them for softer ones. They were VERY reluctant to do so because of this travel problem. They don't want the shock bottoming out in either compression or rebound. Softer springs make that more likely. And, adjusting the ring very much from "neutral" increases the chances of this occurring. So, they not only want you to run stiff springs, they don't want you adjusting ride height very much with the collar. They have extended shock eyes (that they'll gladly sell you) for raising the car.

With the "coilover" the OP got, the travel is the same as stock, so a little adjustment will net much more change. Plus, the concerns over shock travel are much less. You still need to be aware of where the middle position is and not stray too far from that point, though.
 
but an inch up or down isn't going to hurt.
Click to expand...


Um, it will if you have the car jacked up on jackstands.... so that the suspension is unloaded.... and you just happen to have your head under the LCA when an over-adjusted spring on a QA2 rips the shock strut out of the shock cartridge and the suspension drops down onto your head.

Ask me how I know....

Because TCP's original coilover installation directions sucked a$$, I had a QA2 fail and almost crush my skull. Fortunately, I had the car jacked up high enough that when the suspension fully unloaded the LCA was only putting light pressure on the side of my head. The concrete floor on the other side of my head suffered no damage, but I needed a couple beers before I crawled back under the car.

The coilover kit installation instructions that they're using now are much better and specifically address how to adjust the coilover springs.

From the nuetral position you can adjust only +/- 7/16", giving a total height adjustment of 7/8". Any adjustment from the nuetral position effects the stiffness of the front suspension.

As stated, the threads on the strut cartridge should not be overtightened. Strut cartridge failure can result.

To adjust the ride height, TCP sells different size "extenders". Oddly enough, I was the test mule for these and received the first set to report the results.
 
"AtlantaSteve" said:
Dude! That is sweet! I like how it looks. Are you running stock upper/lowers or do you have some sort of tubular option? And what a killer price for a coilover!

I'm hoping that someone can educate me here...I'm not a CornerCarvers.net kinda guy...just don't know enough about it...but theoretically, it seems, there would be no advantage to a coilover setup over the stock setup, from a purely "arc of travel" perspective, right?

Now, I agree this system provides the advantages of:
1) Adjustable height
2) Adjustable shocks by QA1
3) looks cool as hell

but does it have any "handling advantage" over a stock system with good springs, roller perches and shocks? I don't know the answer...anyone more educated than I, please speak up!

95GT, I'm not at all putting this system down...I think it's awesome! The adjustable front height is a great option. I'm just trying to educate myself on whether a "coil over" package is a better handling package.

Thanks,

Steve
Click to expand...

Steve for a street car the only real advantage is to be able to set the ride height at where you want it. Now a track car that is a whole different ball game. On a track car it gives you the ability to make a number of different adjustment. You would be able to adjust the ride height, change springs faster and adjust the cross weight in the car easier. Basically dial the front end in alot closer. And if you add coilovers to the back now your whole car is adjustable.
I will be using modified stock control arms. The uppers will now ride on roller bearings and the lowers will be on rod ends. It will also have an adjustable strut rod set up. What I am trying to do is free up the movement on the front suspension.
 
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