[MStennes]

What is the all out best suspension for pro-touring and track use. More hiway but occasional track use? Do I want to go C4? I want to go with a 315 rear. Cutting and welding are no problem.
Thanks,
Mike

[baz67]

It will be very interesting where this thread goes. Is this on your 68 convertible? If so it may limit some of your options.

It may be oldschool, but a leaf spring rear susp., if done corectly, can be very effective. That is what Kyle, from DSE, used on his 69, the Twister.

Then you could go with a link type suspension. Either a three or four bar. They will require more then cutting and welding, as no one makes a direct fit for a first gen. The Mule used a parallel four bar and it is said that it performed well.

The current trend at pro-touring.com is towards the three link. It offers some advantages over the four link in easier packaging and a good anti-squat is theorecticly easier to arrive at. Also brake hop issues.

What is the best is subjective. My thinking is towards the three link. They all have their downfalls. I hope Mean69 chimes in. He may shed more light on the matter.
Brian

[chicane67]

A 3 or 4 link would be good, but it is still hard to beat a leaf spring suspension without going to an independant type.....but they have their own can of worms too.

I am sure Mark will enlighten volumes of information towards this, in a paragraph or two.

I can make leaf springs work, and damn good at that, if I may add. But, it might just come down to cost issue. Just for springs and bushings it comes out to around $1000.00 for a properly set up set of springs that will normally kill and eaisly keep up with the 3/4 links and the independants. The independant requires fabrication beyond bolt-in stuff......so there is some extra cash right off of the top.

As it may be, Tyler and I are in the process of doing a Wayne Due, IRS in a 67 as we type. So when we get pictures and what not, I am sure they will be posted along with the proper write up and what it is going to take the average consumer to finish the job.

[pdq67]

HTH's truck-arm rear suspension seems to work good but it leaves little room for an exhaust system b/c of the long, angled arms.

Check it out at --

http://www.hotrodstohell.net/

As for me, I still like a good set of slapppers for straight work!!

pdq67

[davidpozzi]

The Corvette rear suspension is supposed to be better over bumps, but on a flat racetrack or decent roads I doubt there is much benefit to using independent rear suspension, and there may be some drawbacks.

One drawback of independent rear suspension is the housing torque can't be used to help increase anti-squat and plant the rear tires. The torque does react through the diff mounts but not in a way that is of much benefit.
Since traction when powering out of the corners is an important consideration on a high HP Pro-Touring car, I feel this is something to keep in mind. It may be important enough to override any advantages the vette rear would otherwise provide. There is some anti-squat provided by the vette linkage but not nearly as much as a solid rear axle, since there is only forward driving forces to use, not axle torque forces. Also, the typical Camaro has a front weight bias which tends to reduce rear traction from what it theoreticaly should be. An independent rear suspended PT car might do better with more rear weight bias than a solid axle version.

Reducing unsprung weight and better locating the rear axle is a good goal and the three or four link suspensions "should" do the job better than leaf springs, but I've heard it over and over again leaf springs properly set up are darn good.

I plan on fiddling with some leaf springs and then will decide if I want to try something else. If I had more spare time, I'd love to compare a good leaf setup to a three link, or maybe a torque arm.
I only consider a torque arm suspension because you don't have the upper link to contend with.
David

[ 07-06-2004, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: davidpozzi ]

[MStennes]

No its not for my 69 convertable its for a 69 RS coupe I picked up for my next project, Its very solid but does need the trunk pan and the drivers side front floor pans are thin so I decided to go all out on this one, next winter. I'm thinking Wayne Due, LS1/6 and what ever else I can gather up. So I see a leaf setup is good any peticular setups reccomended?
Thanks,
Mike

[Dano383]

check out the Martz rear setup

http://www.martzchassis.net/page7.htm

[ 08-05-2004, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: davidpozzi ]

[69ProTouring]

I considered doing something other than a leaf spring setup, but in the end, decided to stay with them. I went with DSE 3" drop springs, 175 lb/in. Not on the road yet, so no feedback as far as performace goes, but they give a great stance, though.

[cody]

Hey chicane, i mean this with all respect and am not trying to "bust you out" or anything, but i have a honest question to ask. I have heard you a few times refer to making a custom set of springs for $800-1000, but didn't you design the springs in the Betts group purchase that werent' done right and created probs for some people? I consider you a very knowledgable person and from time to time have asked you for advise so please don't take this as an attack, in the future i might want to maybe go more in depth into my leaf springs and wanted to keep you as an option as who designs the springs, but i just wanted to clear this question up, maybe i didn't read right or missed something in another post? Thanks!
-cody
BTW if you would rather email me, me email is on file.

[Teetoe_Jones]

Tom gave the specs for the rear leaf spring in that GP, but I think they were not followed to the exact design, causing issues.
Tyler

[pdq67]

Ditto Teetoe on the springs Tom came up with..

I have read every post about that mess AND later came back and asked how the whole deal including how everybody turned out...

Let's just let Tom pop in here AND I don't mean for him to defend himself on anything either here...... In my book, he doesn't have to..

Great spring job done regardless!!!!!

pdq67

[Spitfire44]

Just a side not on what David was saying regarding the independant Vette suspension vs the solid rear axle. The cars in the Trans Am series during the 80's and 90's were predominantly solid axle, 3 or 4 link. Seemed the teams running Vette rear suspension could never make it work as well as the solid axle. Not sure what the hot setup is these days but I suspect it's still a multi link setup.

[chicane67]

Paul and Tyler pretty much summed it up.......

The answer is......."When all else fails, read the directions".