Topic: rear coilovers
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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Lifetime MemberPERRYSBURG, OH - USA
Joined: 4/23/2004
Posts: 317
Vette(s): 1975 T-Tops,Lite Custom work,Many engine mod. 700R4 trans. body is shaved,17" wheels bf goodrich g-force tires,heavy sway bars front&rear rack&pinion steering,550 slolom springs with gas shocks.
Can anyone tell me the advantages of having coilover shocks on the rear of there C3? Do coilovers eliminate the rear spring? Thanks George
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Yup...they take the place of the transverse rear spring. Takes some weight off the rear, and adds some adjust-ability to it. Not aware of any set-ups that allow JUST the replacement of the standard shocks with coil-overs....everything I've seen has requires some other mods to do it...which is one of the reasons they weren't used to start with.
Are you looking at doing this?
Are you looking at doing this?
Joel Adams
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Lifetime MemberPERRYSBURG, OH - USA
Joined: 4/23/2004
Posts: 317
Vette(s): 1975 T-Tops,Lite Custom work,Many engine mod. 700R4 trans. body is shaved,17" wheels bf goodrich g-force tires,heavy sway bars front&rear rack&pinion steering,550 slolom springs with gas shocks.
I have considered it. I have bilstines shocks on it front and rear with 7/8" swaybar and a 350 lb. rear spring. Needless to say it handles quite well for racing but the ride is very very firm on the streets. Maybe sofening the ride may help? Getting old 
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Lifetime MemberPERRYSBURG, OH - USA
Joined: 4/23/2004
Posts: 317
Vette(s): 1975 T-Tops,Lite Custom work,Many engine mod. 700R4 trans. body is shaved,17" wheels bf goodrich g-force tires,heavy sway bars front&rear rack&pinion steering,550 slolom springs with gas shocks.
I installed the glass spring sometime ago and it wasn't all that lite. It isn't nearly as heavy as the original by any means.
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Carson City, NV - USA
Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239
Vette(s): Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior
You would need to add a panhard or watts link to locate the axle if you ditched the leaf spring. It locates the axle from side to side. The coil over would be a superior way of controlling the axle though. About 15 spring weights to pick from, rebound and compression adjustment knobs if you went aluminum. 18 lbs total for the pair with 250 # springs. I sell this conversion for gen 1 camaros, early Mustangs etc. Of course they are solid axle but still need the panhard. You can also swap to aluminum adjustable shocks....same shock as the coil over just without the springs. It would be a drastic improvement in compliance. In the big pic, do the front first...greater impact. I know...I'm new here...but I do suspension and brake upgrades for a living.
Dave
Dave
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
We Love having experts on board. Another welcome to you Dave.
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Carson City, NV - USA
Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239
Vette(s): Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior
tb2k82ce said: We Love having experts on board. Another welcome to you Dave.
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?
HighDesertDave said: You would need to add a panhard or watts link to locate the axle if you ditched the leaf spring. It locates the axle from side to side. The coil over would be a superior way of controlling the axle though. About 15 spring weights to pick from, rebound and compression adjustment knobs if you went aluminum. 18 lbs total for the pair with 250 # springs. I sell this conversion for gen 1 camaros, early Mustangs etc. Of course they are solid axle but still need the panhard. You can also swap to aluminum adjustable shocks....same shock as the coil over just without the springs. It would be a drastic improvement in compliance. In the big pic, do the front first...greater impact. I know...I'm new here...but I do suspension and brake upgrades for a living.
Dave
Dave
All good information except the part about adding a Panhard Bar or Watts link. The half-shafts and the strut rods control the frame side to side.
Van Steel has nice Coil-Over kits for the front and rear suspensions. I like the adjustability of the shocks and it's very easy to change springs if you like. Van Steel recommends that you weld a simple reinforcement bracket to the upper mount. I had a mobile welder do mine and he charged me $50. You can also buy offset trailing arms that give you more clearance for modern wide wheel and tires.
I can email you lots of photos if you like.
John
1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car
2009 Z06 Mostly Stock
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Carson City, NV - USA
Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239
Vette(s): Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior
Thanks, I have yet to crawl under mine and study it. That actually makes it very easy to do a coil over conversion. Do you have an extended shock length eye to eye measurement to add to the conversation?
Thanks,
Dave
Thanks,
Dave
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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