Ok im rebuilding a 3rdgen Transam and am keen to get it to handle like on rails which means stiffer suspension. Ideally, a set of coilovers would be nice.

1. What kind of suspension front n rear do the transams have (eg. macpherson strut, semi-trailing arm) and is the rear end IRS?

2. Has anyone had any experience with making their 3rdgen handle instead of just run the 1/4mile faster?

Thanks for ur help

 

You have struts up front and a solid axle out back. Pretty much everyone who mods their car for street use wants their car to handle on rails. You will want to include these items in your search.

Springs
Shocks/Struts
LCA's
Relocation brackets
Panhard rod
Sub Frame Connectors
Wonder bar
Strut Tower Brace

The most important thing for handeling comes down to wheel and tire selection.

 

I'm in the process, here are some more.

Swaybars
Bushing or rod ends
tires: the most important
solid tie-rod sleeves

 

so far i got these parts on and the car handles schweeeeeeeet

upper strut brace
wonderbar
panhardbar
torque arm
boxed trailing arms
lowered 2 inches
subframe connectors

 

sorry forgot the solid tie rods sleeves and 275s all the way around

 

front you have mcpherson (i.e. only 1 a-arm on the bottom and a strut).

Rear is solid axel. I've seen people put C4 IRS in the back, but I can't image that being an easy process. Looks very cool though. I've read some place that back in the day when IROC's used to be raced, GM themselves did some research whether IRS gave you advantage in handling and the outcome of that was that it really didn't. That's why now all these cars have solid axels.

Question: I can kinda imagine what coil over is. Why do you need it or want to convert to it? What would it give you?

 

just to clear things up, third gens use a modified macphearson set up in the front. the spring is between the control arm and the frame instead of on the strut as in a conventional machphearson set up

 

Also don't forget good bushings and a good front end alignment. 6 degrees of caster, 1/16" toe out and as much camber that the stock plates will give you is an aggressive alignment setup.