For shocks and struts, what exactly should I be looking for? Should I convert to coilovers or just stick stick to normal shocks and struts? If I go either route what should I be getting? (I know it’s supposed to be personal preference but I felt like if I got some opinions I could use that to narrow down research)

 

That depends on the car and its intended use. A weekend cruiser would by fine with quality struts, no need to reinvent the wheel. Coil overs are a whole other can of worms but are great in certain applications.

 

These cars are not designed for coil-overs. The strut towers are not made to support that kind of weight and stress.
That is the job of the K-member.
Performance coil springs, and Koni adjustable struts are more suitable. If your budget allows, there are tubular A-arms and all kinds of other mods available...

 

Welcome to TGO
There two area's where you don't want to go the cheapest route, of course your budget is a huge determining factor but tires and shocks and struts are where you really want to spend the money when it comes to suspension components. The gold standard for the most part are Koni shocks and struts, the best does come with a pricey price tag though. KYB is a very distant second, these would be a step or two up from you parts store replacements. There are companies that make coil over kits for these cars but as it's been said these cars really weren't designed for them, but neither were some other aftermarket parts people put on these cars, I'm sure some have had good experiences with coil overs. Spohn utilizes an additional plate that along with the upper strut mount sandwiches the strut tower to make it more rigid.
What's the car used for? Sunday driver/daily cruzer, the parts store or the KYB would do you well, Dedicated race car/autocross/road race track days, the Koni's or are a must.
1982-1992 GM F-Body Koni Yellow Sport Shock Kit - UMI Performance Inc.
1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO KYB Shocks & Struts 743019 KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks and Struts | Summit Racing
1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO KYB Shocks & Struts 735001 KYB AGX Adjustable Gas Shocks and Struts | Summit Racing
Camaro QA1 Front Coil Over | F-Body QA1 Front Coil Over | 738-Q (spohn.net)

 

My understanding of coil overs has always been that making adjustments to the ride height and dampers is quick and easy. If you regularly track the car, know WHAT to change and when, and then are skilled enough to take advantage.....and you can overlook some of the drawbacks, then maybe coil overs are a good investment. For the majority of us, including LOTS of guys who track their cars, the pros just don't outweigh the cons.

I've been very happy with my Koni Yellows, but you're looking at close to $1000 for the four corners. They're worth the money if you have the budget. ...and I second the vote for KYB if Koni is out of reach. Also keep in mind that these recommendations are based on performance. A good shock can speed up or slow down how fast the suspension moves in attempts to keep the tires on the road as much as possible, but still allow the suspension to move as it's supposed to. I had a fully built suspension on my 89, and when I bought my bone stock 88, I was surprised just how enjoyable and comfortable the stock suspension was. Now I didn't say how GOOD it was, and I wouldn't wanna track it that way, but for spirited fun around town and through country roads, it was so comfortable, and plenty of fun. You REALLY need to be honest with yourself about what you need the car to be able to do. What your GOALS are, and such. We all like to have our cars perform as well as possible, and while comfort and performance aren't mutually exclusive, at some point, one does have to give way to the other.

 

Countless people run coil overs on these cars without issues.

 

If you're gonna go coil overs I'd go with a set of Vikings. I've heard nothing but good things and are a really slick setup

 

That does not disprove the fact I stated. Countless people do things the wrong way, but why not just do things RIGHT?...

 

There's more than one way to skin a cat. Just because YOU think it's wrong doesn't actually make it wrong.

 

Front coil-overs are popular with the drag racing crowd but you won't find any serious autox or road racer going near them.

 

It's NOT just what "I" think. It's what many people KNOW, and the fact that the strut towers on these cars WERE NOT designed to support the weight of the car or the stresses of the road. You act like I'm the only one to ever state this...

 

Okay....