Pro Touring Setup for Daily Driver

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by Christopher Spouse Drew, Oct 26, 2018.

  1. Grandpas67

    Grandpas67 Well-Known Member

    I'm glad to hear this. I'm just about to install the stage 2 kit on my 67 gs400.

    When I did my first suspension on my 67 Skylark I went with a full air ride setup. I had always wanted it for some reason. After having gone through all of the hassles of having it installed (and all the bs that went with that) I found after it was done that I wasn't happy with it and wished I would've spent money on a good spring suspension setup. If I could offer any advice to the OP it would be try and do it right the first time. Don't go too cheap on all parts. Go with quality stuff and listen to other peoples experiences with the different products. Good luck with your car.
     
    ilikebmx999 likes this.
  2. TrunkMonkey

    TrunkMonkey Well-Known Member

    Ramey Womer @ UMI is a great guy and very responsive to questions.
     
  3. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    Now im having second thoughts on the coil overs, kind of, after reading some articles and peoples opinions, the money should be made with the control arms and sway bars. I think coil overs are my best option if i want to hit some track days, but I dont see myself doing that much. But I will be riding this car hard in the streets. Ive been babying this car with its much needed new suspension that when Im done with this and my brake upgrades, Ill be having a lot of fun and I need a suspension thats gonna handle that. I would hate to spend this much money to get just a little better feel. Ill have to keep researching.
     
    sailbrd likes this.
  4. ilikebmx999

    ilikebmx999 Well-Known Member

    A good spring and shock setup is a great route to go with. UMI also has pictures on their regular site to show what height you get on A-bodies. I love low cars though
     
  5. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

  6. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

  7. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    Yeah ive seen this Cliff, thank you, its a nice kit.
     
    cjeboyle likes this.
  8. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    OP - You will be surprised with what a big front bar (the 1 1/4 mentioned earlier), rear 1" factory style bar, boxed rear arms, all new bushings (OEM) front and rear, and a fast steering box, will do for your handling. You haven't mentioned what you have now so I am assuming you have an OEM front sway bar and nothing in the rear. If you are happy with your ride height leave the springs alone. New shocks (KYB???) will help if your old ones are worn. All this for under $500 if you shop around and do the weld in boxing on the rear arms. Remember its a suspension system and all the parts need to work together.
    If you want to autocross or road race later its a whole 'nuther set up, as you will learn in class. Drag racing is different setup too.
     
  9. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    Yeah Bill I have OEM stuff, very worn out i will add haha. I have seen the gas-a-just shocks, and im considering them If I want a more basic setup. I do like my stance and ride height but the ability to lower ride height to hit the road course or just drive the car hard for the weekend is a nice feature with coil overs. Im getting pro touring setup already with the front and rear lower/upper control arms and sway bars that it seems like the standard thing to do next is put the adjustable coilovers on too. I have a couple of months before this is going to happen so i will keep giving it some thought.
     
  10. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    So i got the car on the lift and I saw that I already have boxed in rear lower control arms, but Im going to still go with the new setup and Ill sell those.
     
  11. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    No rear sway bar???
     
  12. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    Nope, I think someone along the way just boxed in these.
     
  13. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    I put the UMI front and rear sway bars in my 72 GS the difference was night and day. Have hotchkis in the rear with stock front with polyurethane bushings in the front ( more work required) lol
     
  14. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    I just put speed way motor control arms, 2 inch drop springs from BMR, KYB gas a just shocks. Did one side, still have to do the other, put the 1 1/4 sway bar and new steering in. With these upgrades I expect it to be night and day when I'm done I'll show my stance and how it performs.
     
  15. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Best to add a rear bar too: I put in a Hellwig 1" $150 at Jegs - Bill
     
  16. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    I still need to buy the rear control arms and rear sway bar. hopefully in the next couple months.
     
  17. sailbrd

    sailbrd Well-Known Member

    First off I have a big bar on the back of my car because it needs all the help it can get to hook up. But for racing around corners you will have better performance without a bar. Will require a lot more attention to the spring and shock package but for ultimate cornering no rear bar is better.
     
  18. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    OP wanted a "value" setup. Based on his front setup I am assuming a rear bar would be the "best" choice. He could install the bar now since his rear CAs are boxed and run that until he gets the rear parts. Of course the best choice is to run it with and without and see what works/feels best for him and his car. Track cars usually run a roll cage with front stiffeners to minimize the chassis/body flex. Then the suspension does all the work and is tunable to each track and conditions. In that regard, OP should replace the body mounts in addition to everything else. As you said, the parts need to be carefully selected. That would arrives at a system that works best. And you should consider the cost. A full up global west suspension runs over $3K, not including the frame stiffeners, (body mounts, boxed frame or cage).
    Note: add more rear bar if you are oversteering (rear end trying to come around) and more front bar if you are understeering (car going more straight than you are steering).
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019
  19. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Oh, Christopher, I just reread your post. Stock A bodies have the "wrong"geometry up front, as I'm sure you've read. Taller ball joints help or a tall spindle. It doesn't sound like you did either. Consider that as a future up grade.
     
  20. Christopher Spouse Drew

    Christopher Spouse Drew Well-Known Member

    Ill consider getting taller ball joints in the future if need be. The tubular control arms I put on has improved geometry than stock. It looks like i have positive camber without any shims so ill be taking it to my automotive school next week and ill throw it on the alignment machine and start adding shims. I have energy suspension polyurethane body mount bushings that will be going on the car soon.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019

Share This Page