I replaced my old steel rear spring with a 360 lb/in fiberglass monoleaf. The ride height is close enough, + 1 inch to specs. I have Gabriel gas charged shocks in the back that are about 14 years old, but with less than 2,000 miles on them. Still, the back bounces up & down way more than with the old steel spring in there.

What are our collective experience with "well matched" rear shocks. I've read that AC Delco aren't bad, wondering about The Edelbrock IAS shocks. Any others?

NJ BB Ken

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1972 T Top 454; "Boomer" Latest "upgrades": 1 1/8" front Stabilizer bar. Rebuilt SS calipers with O-ring pistons. Under car Chambered exhaust. Fiberglass rear spring (360lbs/in). Bilstein Rear Shocks. 3/4" Rear Stabilizer Bar. Tow hitch. Performer manifold with 600 cfm Holley. Comp Cam 262 .499 lift. L-88 Hood in process

I'm using Bilsteins with my 360 lb monospring, which came with my kit from VBP. Everything has seemed to match perfectly so far.

|UPDATED|8/16/2004 9:26:59 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1977 Corvette EX-L48
383 Stroker, Holley MPFI, MSD Ignition, BTO 700R4, VBP Street/Slalom, Hooker Sidepipes with JCL Spiral Baffles, Corbeau A4s w/ Shark Bar and Simpson 5-Points, 17" AR TTII's, Kumho MX's

(click to see a bigger version)

My '78 has the monospring and Delco shocks. It does a fine job. I would be interested in hearing input about the Edelbrock IAS shocks as well. They're expensive, but are they worth the money?

I've been happy with the ride and handling using Delco Reactec shocks. They were pricey, but not nearly as pricey as the Bilsteins and others. The valving in the gas shocks made for mono springs in different then those not made for mono springs. I get no bouncy type of condition whatsoever.

I believe the shocks are KYB GR2's, specifically rated for monosprings damp rate. I find the ride to be just fine with my 330# VBP monofilament. Think I bought them from Eckler's or Corvette Central, just can't remember.

That's an affliction for the 40 and older crowd...CRS...Can't Remember $h!t!

I also have Bilsteins in my '64 that came with a kit from VBP with the fiberglass spring. I am very happy with the ride

These composite springs will get stiffer the more you lower the rear of the car, my TRW 360 was a little bouncey with reg.KYB's and it raised the back of the car, cool in the 70's but not now,so I went with the 8"spring bolts to the max, lowered the car about an inch, no more bounce but a stiffer ride, might go with the 10"bolts to lower more, want to hear more about the IAS shocks before I change the shocks.

I used the delco's.. was very happy with them

The rear springs in both my 76 & 72 are 350#'s... and I NOW run KBY (white.. not gray) on both... Forgot the brand of the old shocks (different on both cars) BUT both gave me a choppy ride as did the gray KYB's I purchased before I made the call to VBP...

Both cars were done 5-6 years ago so things may have changed...

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Bob
64,72 & 98 Corvette Ragtops
76 & 79 & qa 88 ANC Corvette Coupes

Click on any image for larger view!

while we are on the subject of leaf springs..

i know in the 70's a 7 leaf spring was the fe7 option..

what about 69? I have a 7 leaf.. does this indicate the f41 option...

or is this a diff in SB,BB ?

my 69 SB had a 9 leaf.

if this thing has even been replaced id fall over dead in shock.. looks original

|UPDATED|8/20/2004 2:27:34 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I believe a 9-leaf spring was standard in all but those equipped with the FE7 option. There may have been a difference in spring rates between small block and big block (don't know that for a fact), but according to every bit of information I've seen, the 7-leaf was the FE7 performance option and 9-leaf was standard suspension.

Just about every personal account I've seen of the FE7 option mentions that your teeth will loosen up after driving it for any length of time.

Gunslinger said: I believe a 9-leaf spring was standard in all but those equipped with the FE7 option. There may have been a difference in spring rates between small block and big block (don't know that for a fact), but according to every bit of information I've seen, the 7-leaf was the FE7 performance option and 9-leaf was standard suspension.

no fe7 option in 69... only f41..

are they functionally equivalent

I stand corrected...I think of them interchangeably. I believe they are functionally equivalent. The F41 is listed as "special front and rear suspension" while the FE7 is listed as "Gymkhana suspension".

While I believe they're functionally equivalent, there may be some differences in spring rates since the later cars are a bit heavier due to the impact bumpers.

Either way, they are stiff as all get out. On a rough road they actually handle worse due to the wheels not following the bumps, they skate over the tops of the bumps. On a smooth road they handle like they are glued down.

dont get me wrong .. I like the feel.. im just trying to verify if the car has the f41 option..

are there any other telltale signs other than a 7leaf

I've got the Edelbrock IAS shocks on my '73 and you'd have to fork over a big bunch of cash to get me to change them. Even the wife doesn't mind riding distances now. At $75 each they're a bit pricey, but worth it. That's my $0.02 worth but you might want to check out the article on page 62 of the October Corvette Fever. It explains the IAS shocks, what they do and why they do it.

With the composite spring you need to have shocks that match the spring rate. In speaking with VBP, they recommend Bilsteins as a match for their spring and they specifically mentioned Bilstein sports as the best match. I currently have the white KYB gas which were great for the steel but I am not happy with these on the composite. I plan to change the rears out sometime soon.

I have an 80 with factory Gymkahanna and the original Gymkahana spring in 80 was 9 leaf. This threw me for a curve ball when I was looking for a replacement since prior years were all 7 leaf.

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