[ChevyThunder]

Opinions welcome... I just put a nice big inch small block with a TKO 5 speed in the 69 Z ... my power steering unit is now going south on me and want to upgrade as well as upgrade the front stock 69 Z suspension , A arms etc..... any ideas or suggestions ?

[67ss84z28]

cmon somebody post something i want to know too.

[Rocketrod]

A little more information would be helpful. What are your plans for the car? Is it a driver, road racer, weekend cruiser, etc? And of course what is your budget?

[jannes_z-28]

One thing that has to be done is fixing the geometry of the front suspension.

One easy thing is the Guldstrand Mod, can be done with stock controlarms.

Next step is new upper arms, there are different models here that will give you more caster.

ATS has new spindles (with C5 components) that fixes the roll center so that you don't need to do the Guldstrand Mod (leaves the subframe intact).

Of course you need stiffer springs and a better adjustable shocks.

The all out multibucks approach is DSE's new subframe that has a completely reworked geometry.

Jan

[Dan Schoenecker]

You might check out Global West as well. They have a nice unit for your ride.

[67ragtp]

If your looking for a steering gear the 600 box is a real nice upgrade over the stock box. I just finished building my pro-touring car, using all the DSE front end stuff, the new steering gear is so smooth it really does have the feel of a rack, you wont be disappointed.

As far as suspenion upgrades go, theres lots of options and it gets pricey. If you want to keep it simple I imagine a good set of UCA's from DSE or global west will improve the geometry, shocks and a hotchkis sway bar should get you turning the car better than stock.

[ChevyThunder]

I am not going to track the car . It is a weekend driver . But I would like it to handle better and for the front end to feel tighter...it wanders a bit right now. I do not want to go the whole subframe route on the car but would be fine with buying whatever is the best stuff to put on the stock subframe... after the big inch small block and keisler 5speed I think the budget is out the window... can't truly appreciate what I just did if the rest of the car/front end doesn't feel tight.

[eville]

To fix the front geometry the best thing you can do is the ATS spindles. You'll need C5 brakes. Touring-Classics has a kit. Unfortunately you'll need 17" wheels. Then of course a steering box the ATS unit is nice, but expensive. Search 3rd Gen box and you'll get a ton of info.

[Mkelcy]

Originally Posted by ChevyThunder

I am not going to track the car . It is a weekend driver . But I would like it to handle better and for the front end to feel tighter...it wanders a bit right now. I do not want to go the whole subframe route on the car but would be fine with buying whatever is the best stuff to put on the stock subframe... after the big inch small block and keisler 5speed I think the budget is out the window... can't truly appreciate what I just did if the rest of the car/front end doesn't feel tight.

Easiest and most effective (with a bit of an eye on budget) would be the ATS tall spindles, new upper and lower ball joints, Moog "Problem Solver" offset UCA cross shafts, good shocks of your choice, C5 front disk brakes, Delrin/Delalum UCA/LCA bushings, Hotchkis 1.125" hollow sway bar, 3rd generation IROC PS box and rebuild of front steering (idler arm, pitman arm, tie rods, etc.).

Aftermarket control arms won't improve the front end geometry and are mostly a "bling" item. The ATS tall spindles are reported to improve geometry enormously, require no drilling or trimming of the UCA mounts, come with C5 hubs and allow direct bolt on of C5 brakes. Much more expensive than the Guldstrand mod, but more effective and a more elegant solution, IMHO.

[JimM]

Van has no budget. He could always sell a Porche after all....

Agree with what was said above. The ATS spindle are great, but only work with 17" or larger rims and C5 brakes.

If you don't want to go that far, the g/s mod works nearly as well.

Hotchkiss TVS is a good "one buy" system for springs and shocks and sway bar and such.

[ChevyThunder]

Originally Posted by JimM

Van has no budget. He could always sell a Porche after all....

Jim... I just sold the two Coke cars and closed on Friday .. broke my heart to do it but I will never race them again so ........ budget on Camaro parts, you are right , none... but I don;t want to take the front end off the car either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/DSC03609.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/DSC03617.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/DSC03611.jpg

[davidpozzi]

I had a beautiful reply allmost done and lost it.
Maybe I'll try later...
David

[JimM]

Van, you can do anything you want to the suspension with the front end on, as long as you don't get bored with sitting in the fenderwell crosslegged!

That's too bad about selling those cars... after you worked so hard to get into that last race too (or am I rmembering the wrong car?)

Tell you what... not that I'm an expert, but Mike K followed me down a mountain and said my car handled pretty well... I followed him up one, and his handles GREAT!

G/S mod made a HUGE difference in how the car "feels" It "turns in" better, it hold the line MUCH better. Understeer is pretty much gone, or at least can be made gone with a lil throttle. That and a 1" bar & KYB's and poly are what I have now, along with the thirdgen steering box, which really makes the car feel lots more precise.

This winter will go to Dem-a-lum bushings, and probably better shocks, koni's or bilsteins. Thinking seriously about some fancy arms, I know it's mostly bling, but they'll be off anyway, sooo....

[JimM]

Jeez! then I look at the pics.... I did have the wrong car remmebered, and I really like your living room motif!!!

[clill]

It sounds to me like you would be happy with a 1" sway bar & KYB shocks. If it wanders you might have worn out parts that need to be addressed. Start with checking ball joints and tie rod ends. Then do a 1" swaybar and good shocks. I bet it will amaze you.