First off I am new here and I am doing some digging for one of my buddies. I am currently restoring/modifying a 72 camaro with big block, 6 speed, and all types of other goodies. But enough about me, I am here looking for some help on a car my buddy just purchased.

He bought a 84 z28 completely rust free, gutted with a bunch of good parts for $425 at an auction last week that we are going to build into a budget drag car. He also purchased a SSM lift bar setup for $125 but it is short the instructions and we could use all the help we can get on how to set this thing up. So if any you guys have a set of there instructions around that you could possibly scan it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

Try doing a search on here for some opinions of the South Side machine lift bars - I think they were *harshly* criticized on here. Might be worth looking at now, if you think you can sell them before you get them dirty and installed, you might be able to recoup the cost of buying some better parts.

 

It looks like they were critized for not being adjustable which is very understandable and not being very street friendly which really isnt a concern as this car more than likely wont see any street time.

I also cant see any way of changing out the 10 bolt to a 12 bolt for less money either.

 

Well no, going to a stronger rear is going to cost more, but you'll need to do it sooner or later if you plan on pushing this thing down the track fairly quickly.

I'd recommend sticking with a torque arm setup either way, unless you want to back half the car....

A few have done up 2nd gen Camaro rear ends (the 8.5" rear), by moving the brackets over, and fabbing up a home made TA bracket, but that's another story. Or of course, use the SSM lift bars with the 8.5" rear, that skips the TA worry, you'd only have to move over LCA, spring, shock, and panhard mounts.

 

Doesnt the ssm setup eliminate the lower control arms as well???

We were planning on putting a 12 bolt under it and welding on the spring shock and panhard bar mounts to use it!

 

Adjustable suspension is a tuning aid. A race car needs it more that a street car. Factory suspension isn't tunable so we install adjustable suspension. The SSM bars are a poor design. You would be better off installing a set of ladder bars if you want to eliminate the torque arm and LCA.

SSM bars also have a very short IC which isn't good for a drag car.

 

Well after quite a long discussion with my buddy on these he has decided to try and sell this set up and upgrade the factory suspension. The reason for this is he would like to be able to still run in classes where a stock suspension is required. What is the best way to upgrade the suspension but still be legal for stock suspension classes???

 

www.spohn.net among many others