Looking to redo the suspension on my 71 Skylark 350 w/ac. Considering Moog HD springs front and rear, Rubber control arm bushings (Moog or Auto Zones brand). And possibily Gabrial Ultra shocks front and rear. Looking mainly for improved ride and handling more than for the strip. Any ideas?
Careful with the HD springs. They can make it ride a bit rough. I put stock MOOG coils in my own '71 350 AC car & now rides like a big Caddy. 5536 front & 5385 rear yield stock height & a smooth ride. I put AC Delco gas shocks all around. Rubber bushings are fine. You may want to consider a rear swaybar with boxed arms & a heavier front bar. Should your local yards have a '76-81 Rally Sport Camaro or a Trans Am have a look for the front bar. 1-1/8 or 1-1/4 & they are a direct bolt on. Change the frame bushings only. Car doesn't roll like a beached whale anymore while turning. Go to George N.'s site for a whole library up upgrades you can do depending on your direction with the car. www.buickperformance.com
Edelbrock IAS shocks work great. Use rubber bushings everywhere except on the front sway bar. That is a good place for poly bushings.
Thought the HD springs wouldn't be that much harsher. Good advice! Any ideas of the brand choice for bushings/springs? The local guys here tell me Auto Zones bushings and springs are just as good as everyone else's, but that doesn't mean they are. Bushings I saw were made in Mexico not USA!! Thanks Steve
Only real way to confirm the springs is to install & try. Install another new set once you start looking for softer/harder ride. Been there with my own car but don't forget........it's what you want for your own car. I was looking for smooth & easy ride.
TRW and MOOG are the same pieces, same numbers molded into the rubber parts. one bought the other but can't remember what direction that happened. they will be one of the best improvements you can make. also the 1.25 front bar and 1" rear bar also aid in cornering greatly. while your under there do the brakes and ball joints in the front if they haven't been done yet. I'm not sure who makes the duralast brand for autozone, I'm guessing lowest bidder. -nate
my 72 gs came from the factory with F41 suspension which is heavy duty with front and rear stabilizer bars and boxed rear control arms. when i restored the car, i used mostly poly bushings all around. i have gto 400 front springs & set of cargo coils in the rear, hd gas shocks, and a set of bfg t/a 245r60x15 all around. i prefer a harsher/firmer ride and the feel of the road, but again, each to his won. by the way, this car with this suspension will outhandle any car i have ever owned.
The MOOG 5536 is a heavy duty spring rated at 488 lb/inch. It has an 11" load height. See recent postings on RealOldsPower for a listing of MOOG spring specifications: > 5390 small block - no AC > wire diameter = 0.650" > load height = 11.000" > load = 1952 pounds > rate per inch = 336 pounds > free height = 16.808" > > 5382 big block - no AC, small block - AC > wire diameter = 0.660" > load height = 11.000" > load = 2066 pounds > rate per inch = 360 pounds > free height = 16.724" > > 5400 big block - AC > wire diameter = 0.660" > load height = 11.000" > load = 2167 pounds > rate per inch = 360 pounds > free height = 17.004" > > 5536 442 small block - AC - heavy duty, 442 big block - no AC - heavy duty > wire diameter = 0.690" > load height = 11.000" > load = 1984 pounds > rate per inch = 488 pounds > free height = 15.063" > > 5450 small block - AC - heavy duty, big block - no AC - heavy duty, -442 big block - AC - heavy duty > wire diameter = 0.690" > load height = 12.000" > load = 1642 pounds > rate per inch = 454 pounds > free height = 15.616" Steve Kersh
