I got a set of spohn subframe connectors, lca's, relocation brackets, panhard bar, front and rear sway bars, and a TDS steering brace installed.
Damn!! It made a huge difference. The handling is awesome. I get no more wheel hop, and the traction is great.I can burn through turns like a madman.
I'm telling you guys now, before u crack a single bolt on your engine, u gotta do suspension. All these parts cost and installation cost me a total of about $750, and it made the car feel better than new. Plus, all of it was necessary before i did a 350 swap.
Just some food for thought.

Ken

 

Although its not really tbi tech, I totally agree with you. Build your car from the bottom up. On my next car, the motor will be the last thing I touch. I have bmr lca's, relocation brackets, adj phr, sfcs, the eibachs, good rubber... just a world of difference. Cant wait to rebuild my front end.

 

I know its not really tbi tech, but i think people on this board tend to overlook suspension and traction. Everything on here is about headers, gears, cam swap, and head swap. People overlook suspension because u dont gain horsepower, but u do get better times, handling and driveability.

 

Damn man, you should throw on some KYB GR-2 struts and gas-a-just shocks along with some new springs and then maybe do a front end rebuild and you will have knocked out the entire suspension.

I agree with yall, with the exception of a good tune-up and an open element, I built up my suspension and my drivetrain first. I'll probably go that route from here on out.

 

I agree and I think the lack of power of the 305 is to blame. We get these cars thinking their fast and their not so we want power right away. So we spend our money making it faster and are left with nothing to make it stick to the road. I am doing all suspension to my 95 Z before I even touch the motor or rear end. Then again I don't suffer from any lack of power with that car so it is easy to overlook that for now.

 

My thoughts are the same. I have a '91 Z28 w/auto and 5.0.
I put Hotchkis TVR suspension except for the sub-frame connectors and it runs great on a autocross and will run w/vettes, Tangs and a few **** cars with alot of suspension and cages on our local road course on practice days.
I have in the mean time put a Scoggy-Dickey built mtr in.

 

yup i did all the important suspension for drag racing, now i just need more power

 

I did my suspension first too! I spent about $1,500 on it!
I still need to get the Spohn torque arm kit for my T-56 swap.
I did everything to it ( Spohn sway bars, panhard rod, LCAs,
Global West Steering brace, BMR LCA relocation brackets,
Jeg's subframe connectors, Edelbrock strut tower brace,
Hotchkis coil springs, KYB shocks/struts, Spohn/Moog front
end rebuild , front end alignment and Polyurethane bushings
all around).
I tell ya, My car handles like a freakin' dream!

 

Ok. I just bought some subframe connectors and have not installed them yet, what do they do? I know they stiffen up the body but what else? Also what suggestions do you have for upgrading a stock set up cheaply? THANKS!!

 

Subframe connectors are made to stiffen up the body of
the car. It is neccessary when you have a high hp/torque
motor also. Even just a stock car, it will help with the
handling and reduce the flexing that the body does over
time. That's all that they are made for. But, it's a very
important part of the car, since there is NO full frame on
our cars, it should be the first chassis/suspension upgrade!
Next would be the rear suspension ( panhard rod, lower
control arms). There really is no cheap way to upgrade the
entire suspension. I would not recommend buying cheap
parts from certain companies.

Spohn makes excellent suspension upgrade parts for
a good price. You can find them at http://www.Spohn.net.
Jeg's also makes LCAs, Panhard rods and subframe
connectors. There's so many different companies
to choose from like Spohn, Edelbrock, BMR, Hotchkis,
Granatelli, Jeg's and even Summit I think too! You will
find that most of these companies have around the same prices.

I just went with Spohn for most of my stuff. The rest
I just bought from Summit and Jeg's.

 

im glad i built up my suspension first, car is so much more fun to drive and i dont think i would be pulling the times that i am running with the stock suspension. I just hope the tires and suspension mods can handle the added 2400 stall ACT 9.5" torque converter at the track......i guess ill find out on the 19th.

 

I am 99% sure that your suspension upgrade should hold up
to the added high performance torque convertor. It's when you
add like 400+ RWHP/400+ RWTRQ w/drag slicks is when
you begin to worry!