• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

suspension

bkleenfltx

bkleenfltx

Well-Known Member
Local time
10:04 PM
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
650
Reaction score
185
Location
Kingwood Tx
okay my new 68 Satellite Sport runs nice....however I'm not waiting long to improve the suspension. Its 48 years old and floats like a butterfly going down the road. I would like a stance where the car is sitting UP a little with a forward rake ( old school term for front down a little more and back up) but not HIGH JACKER style.

What are the conditions and then what are the solutions outside of standard replace springs and leafs?
 
image.jpgThere are good threads on this already. The yellow car has an extra leaf from Summit on each side and subframe connectors, Bilsteins, Firm feel steering box, and tubular UCA's. Good stance and decent handling.
 
I just did some suspension upgrades to my '68 coronet. Hellwig 1 3/8" sway bar up front , 456/457 super stock springs with new shackles and bushings in the rear. Doesn't even feel like the same car. Drives down the road real smooth and is flat in the turns ! Also has a really nice stance
 
A gentleman I met at a local show took me for a ride in his RR clone about a month back, he installed the Hotchkis comple car kit, comes with a arms, frame connectors, springs, front and rear sway bars, etc he said he bought it for a little of $2k. For brakes he had 4 wheel disc he said he pieced together for around $1500, he told me the entire suspension and brake setup with adjustable shocks and poly bushings cost him around $5K. I was impressed during the test ride we took some fast on and off ramps and it handled like a modern car...
 
I just changed shocks on 69 roadrunner made a world of difference. If you want to get the front end up there should be torsion bar adjusters on the front. Your adjustment could be set to low. Its simply turning a bolt to raise the front end by as much as 3 inches or so. However on mine I broke one of the bolts so I purchased new adjusters 79$.
 
Yeah sorry about the repeat thread....thought that I had searched properly to tag onto an existing thread but was not successful.

So this is exactly what I'm looking for thanks guys! i think this will get me started, like I said she floats like a butterfly....but the 318 she doesnt sting like a bee :no:
 
My 66 Belvedere rear springs were somewhat flat but they seemed to be equally that way so I left them on and replaced the worn out shocks with a good set of 50/50's and lowered the front a good inch or so and again used a new set of heavy duty shocks. Next step was alignment of the front end using my own camber numbers (basically as much negative as I could get) and more than stock caster. Ended up with the rake angle I wanted which was about 1 1/2" lower than the back. Over all, the whole car was lowered and handled a lot better than any mid 60's B body that I've had in the past and it didn't even have sway bars on it. Several years back, a buddy did a big block Cuda with poly bushings, new springs, shocks, sway bars, wheels and tires and lowered the car a good 1 1/2" all the way around and that did wonders and he retained all the stock suspension parts other than the springs. The only thing I didn't like about it is he used springs with too high of a rate for my liking. I like to use a bit lighter spring and go with bigger sway bars.

It just depends on what you want. You can make the stock pieces (factory control arms etc so long as they are not beat to hell) work pretty dang good or spend a lot to make it work better but imo, the cost curve escalates quite fast while the handling curve slows down....
 
Hey Cranky.....looks like we are about 35 miles from each other. I like the Hotchkiss but for now I'm looking for cruising improvement with the look that Dennis posted of his above. I like the idea even for a temporary solution as I want to get to paint as soon as possible and there can be big improvements later. For now I think the spring work and heavy duty shocks are in order along with the above mentioned front adjustment.

so who are the best sources for these heavy duty springs and shocks. I'm aware and have many places to choose from however I like to hear from guys like ya'll (southern for all of you) that have the actual cars with experience!!!
 
bkleenfltx said:
Hey Cranky.....looks like we are about 35 miles from each other. I like the Hotchkiss but for now I'm looking for cruising improvement with the look that Dennis posted of his above. I like the idea even for a temporary solution as I want to get to paint as soon as possible and there can be big improvements later. For now I think the spring work and heavy duty shocks are in order along with the above mentioned front adjustment.

so who are the best sources for these heavy duty springs and shocks. I'm aware and have many places to choose from however I like to hear from guys like ya'll (southern for all of you) that have the actual cars with experience!!!
Click to expand...
Yup, we're not too far apart. Was just up in your area a couple of weeks ago picking up some parts for a rear end build for a guy that's building up a 71 Duster with a late model Hemi. I'm pretty sure he's still going with stock/modified suspension pieces. I have his lower control arms in the shop and they have that added support plate welded to the bottom. Adds a bit of weight though. His build thread is here... http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=302169
He shows the K frame and modified LCA with the 1 1/4 Helwig bar in post #15. He bought Eaton rear springs from Peter Bergman http://bergmanautocraft.com/about.php Don't think he has picked out shocks yet and it's been years since I've done aftermarket performance shocks so I really can't make a recommendation on that but I recently threw on a set of Monroe's (Gas-Magnums iirc) on my 95 V6 Dakota. With a set of 255-65-15 Goodyear Eagles (damn old ones too lol) on 15x8 Durango rims and a stock front only sway bar, it handles surprisingly well. My 92 V8 Dakota didn't come close but it was running the factory stock skinny wheels and tires. It had bad understeer unless you stabbed the gas and then it went into massive oversteer lol. It's pretty amazing just what wheels and tires will do.
 
The best all around shock that I could recommend is Bilstien. With the digressive valving they provide better control while not sacrificing ride quality and the harshness that some experience with performance shocks. The only other option I could recommend would be Vikings double adjustable shocks. The nice thing with them is the multitude of adjustments. You can go from a cushy ride for just cruising to a nice strong stiff ride with just a few clicks. It the best of both worlds and a shock that you can grow with performance wise.

Thanks
James
 
Guys cant thank you enough....several great ideas here... I have to look into the 456/457 Super Stock although my car will never require them....I want the ride stability and tighten it up a bunch! the bilstein I've used on former projects and loved them. So thanks to Cranky, Dennis...well all of you! Dennis your car is what I'm after as the "look" or "stance" goes....I'm sold!
 
Okay..... idea here? Denis or anyone can you tell me if the 275/60/15 will fit under the Satellite rear without putting in the new suspension parts? I will be doing that also but anxious just to cruise around the area for now until I get my sealer for the underbody (gonna do it all while I have it in the air). so the point is she needs tires NOW and if they will fit without issue then I'll go ahead and put them on until I have a weekend to do the rear suspension. Also I'm thinking the 68 has 4.5 bolt pattern?
 
It will depend on your wheel offset, but a 11" section width tire will fit with the right rim.
 
69 GTX said:
It will depend on your wheel offset, but a 11" section width tire will fit with the right rim.
Click to expand...

Thank you 69GTX. I saw your post earlier and placed my order. I believe the guy has the right offset ordered. I'm going with the American Racing Torque Thrust. 15x7 front and 8's in the back. So anybody chime in on the offset for the rear? Tire guy seems pretty competent but just like input from you professionals :headbang:

Per the other comments, I'll add the sway bar improvements later.
 
Okay, some minor changes made, the rear is in good order now, last night I lowered the front and I love the look of these cars with that rake like that yeller one up top.
so for Bilsteins ...is there a model seems I had several options for the front. Any pros /cons and do I need the heavy duty model.
 
My Bilsteins cam from Hotchkiss advertised as Mopar-Tuned. It was reported that they no longer carry them. Check with James at PST for application. They work the best for me. I shoved 295/50-15's on the rear of the R/T. 69. 8 inch rims with Cooper Cobras mounted and balanced to the door from Summit Racing.

Don't like sounding like a parts list, but the combo that worked for me is Firm Feel, Bilstein, USCartool, tubular UCA's from PST, and the modified truck leaf each side from Summit. This all came together over years without a recipe. Just good advice and luck. Feels as good at 100 as it does at 70. I run the brakes-in-a-box too with the 11" drums. www.musclecarbrakes.com
 
Denis...no problem that's what I want is good experienced parts recommendations! I've already lowered the front and took care of the rear suspension and the rake is EXACTLY as I want. Very similar to yours and the fond memory I had as an 11 year old watching two young soldiers having some fun before they shipped off to Viet Nam with a 68 RoadRunner.

I watched in awe as they raced up and down Hwy 41 south of Clarksville Tn the car was wicked and I was hooked on cars ever since.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cudak888
Less BS about changing tire alignment specs from stock (a.k.a. let's rant about Mopar suspension some more)
2 3 4
Replies
74
Views
5K
dvw
dvw
matthon
"Hard" Power Steering
Replies
0
Views
804
matthon
matthon
3
Estimated 1/4 mile - 71 Roadrunner 340 4 speed
11 12 13
Replies
258
Views
10K
RemCharger
RemCharger
9
Lowering the car but turning the control arm?
2 3
Replies
47
Views
4K
j-c-c-62
J
70gtx440dana
  • Locked
SOLD NOS 2857241 turn signal switch
Replies
1
Views
510
dadsbee
dadsbee
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top