I am rebuilding my front end to be able to handle canyon driving. I currently have a V8 engine with the following suspension parts: Beltech drop spindles, Koni (Yellows) all around, and moog 5662 front springs, eibach sportline (rear) and WS6 swaybars. BTW: This is my first time using drop spindles.

I have built early Z28's using stock (softer moog 5660 equivalent) springs and I have found that the car handles very well because it adapts to the road very nicely. I have used higher rate springs in other cars and I have found that my car sometimes "skips" during cornering if I hit an imperfection in the pavement.

My question: Is the 5662 too stiff for street roads? Will a soft spring in combination with adjustable shocks be a better combination for street use (as opposed to track which has a more even pavement). I'd like peoples experience-thank you!

 

Nobody has experience with the 5662 springs in the canyon with the above shocks, sway bars, etc???

 

Red Rock, Sequoia, Kings, Grand, Torrey? We need to know which canyon.

 

Huh? The difference is street vs track.....never mind. I'll do my own R & D.

 

Those spring rates are not by any means going to a higher stiffer racing rate that would be used on racing tire compunds. It in fact is an OEM spring rate for a sprotier ride but still falls under comfort specs for a full interior weight vehicle seeing normal street use. The 5662 will be a better performing spring (if the car is balanced correctly in both comparisons) using the same OEM wheel and tire size and a very good street performance shock like Koni yellow. That package will out handle a 5660 and an OEM shock any day of the week and is much firmer ride yet would never yeild a problem over a bump in a higher speed (freeway speed) canyon run.

You will have to fine tune the suspension balance with most likely a smaller front swaybar when in direct comparison to your previous combination. Unless, that is, if the car was previously on the loose side already. Vehcle weight, bias, load, tire size, wheel wwieghts and widths- many many factors that will vary each indicidual senerio) In other words, I could build 10 V8 erd gens all witht he same springs and shocks and wheels and tires- but make them all handle different with settings.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience-I really appreciate it! This opens the discussion of the different theories of suspension:

-Softer spring/Big Sway bars
-Stiff spring/Smaller sway bars

From what I understand they are both viable. I know that Herb Adams preferred the former and Dick Gulstrand the latter. From what your describing, you prefer the latter and you have experience. If you (or anyone else) would like to share more, I know I'd appreciate it as I'm sure it would benefit the board/thread-Thank you!

 

Funny you ask that...I can offer first hand experience with Dick Guldstrand. I have only known him personally my entire life and used to be one of his club competition race drivers for 6 1/2 years until my newly born daughter put a hault to my weekend racing ventures back in the early 90's.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...race-team.html

My old racecar is still pictured on Guldstrands website gallery
http://www.guldstrand.com/images/gal...01_68vette.jpg

I am a fan of big springs medium front bar/ soft springs and heavy rear bar... but with the right weight bias and roll centers to match. Its a package deal that most would not want to try nor understand. I am not a big HP person, I like lightweight powerplants and focus more on chassis balance so I can carry speed. With that said, most V8 3rd gens use typically a 36mm fron bar and a 19mm rear bar with SFC's installed (a 21mm without SFC's) is a good decent starting point with the 5662 springs.

 

Very cool! I used to visit Dick Gulstrands shop when he used to be on Jefferson Blvd. He is a very nice man who always had time to share his wisdom, although I didn't know him as well as you knew him. I was just a customer who popped in from time to time.

I have always been a fan of third gen Camaros and I've owned at least 1/2 a dozen (and one Trans Am). I have always liked the way they looked and handled-bang for buck. But I only once used the full WS6/1LE suspension pkg. and I remember the car had quite a bit of understeer and it didn't like bumps while cornering (it liked to hop) and wet surfaces (hydroplaned on more than one occasion). Every time I had slightly softer springs (Z28 as opposed to IROC) it seemed to be more predictable when cornering and traversing un-even pavement. I actually would have like to use a slightly softer spring, but with the drop spindles, I fear that the car will end up too low because of the weight to spring rate/suspension travel. I looked for a 600-650 lb spring, but it doesn't look like moog has one with the right height and spring design.

In regards to weight-I know the v6 is a better balanced car and the car I'm building came with a 6, but I decided to transplant a V8 (350 TPI) just for the "fun factor". I know I won't be taking it to the track that often and I definitely won't be racing competitively, so I removed the V6 and the 700R4 and I'm in the process of dropping the 8 and a T5 (i hope it holds together). It will be the first time I use drop spindles and koni yellows. I've used "reds" in the past. Also adding to the never before used on a Camaro list is the GW Del-a-lum Bushings. I hope I can make this one handle well???

I appreciate any/all advice and thank you for sharing your experiences!