#1  
Old 10-21-2024, 03:50 PM
nh68gto's Avatar
nh68gto nh68gto is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hudson , NH
Posts: 1,657
Exclamation Changing things up

Hey all.
69 GTO A/c car is all factoryish suspension components.
Definitely think going tubular rear control arms with rear bar. As for front curious if should do Summit Upper lower A arms (best budget) or keep factory and try do a nice shock all the way around. All existing has poly bushings. Not sure if I can do front A arms and shocks. Shocks are just cheap Monroe or something.
15” rally wheels.
Trying to keep this around $1500

Thank guys.

__________________
Send it! It’s going home on a trailer.
  #2  
Old 10-21-2024, 06:03 PM
locomotivebreath's Avatar
locomotivebreath locomotivebreath is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: northern kentucky
Posts: 501
Default

I have a similar set up on my 68 . I added tubular rears because the stockers were rather rusty and add a 7/8 GM bar . Kept the stock A arms and 1” bar with poly bushings and end links . It has 500 lbs springs nos Edelbrock IAS shocks & 15s . JLMounce gave me some specs for a more modern alignment . It rides and handles great ! That’s where I would spend the $$ , good shocks and a proper alignment . My springs were too short , 2” inch drop - don’t do that lol ) I corners flat , I’m confident on the back country roads . I really liked the IAS shocks , ran them on a few rides , too bad they are long discontinued .

__________________
When I wore a younger man's clothes
  #3  
Old 10-21-2024, 07:49 PM
Verdoro 68's Avatar
Verdoro 68 Verdoro 68 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Clayton, CA
Posts: 2,914
Default

The best bang I got with my setup was a bigger front sway bar and adding a rear sway bar. I ran KYB shocks for a long time and switched to Bilsteins. TBH, I think I liked the KYBs better. Recently I installed some adjustable Ridetechs which made a world of difference, but those will blow out 2/3 of your budget. Konis might be a nice compromise.

I don't feel like the UMI 1" lower springs dramatically changed the ride quality - at least not compared to the sway bars.

The Global West rear control arms with spherical joints were a nice upgrade that I notice over bumps and around corners, but I don't know that I'd prioritize them over the other stuff if you have to make some choices. I'm still running stock control arms up front with no plans to change.

__________________
Ken
'68 GTO - 464 - Ram Air II heads - 236/242 roller - 9.5” TSP converter - Moser 3.55 Truetrac (build thread | walk around)
'95 Comp T/A #6 M6 - bone stock (pics)
  #4  
Old 10-22-2024, 04:47 AM
locomotivebreath's Avatar
locomotivebreath locomotivebreath is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: northern kentucky
Posts: 501
Default

Ken , what size bars did you end up with ? How do you like the UMI springs as far as the ride height ?

__________________
When I wore a younger man's clothes
  #5  
Old 10-22-2024, 12:19 PM
Verdoro 68's Avatar
Verdoro 68 Verdoro 68 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Clayton, CA
Posts: 2,914
Default

The front is a Summit 1-5/16". The rear is stock size - I think it's 7/8"?

I like the UMI springs. It's not so low that there's an issue getting in and out of places. I installed them when I went to 17" wheels so it didn't look like a 4x4. I started with 1" drop and ran those for a couple years until I installed a Moser rear. The spring perch geometry on the Moser housing is different so it actually raised the rear about 7/8" even with the drop springs. Now I've got kind of an oddball setup with the 1" drop in the front and 2" in the rear.

1" drop springs (with additional 1/2 coil cut out of the front springs)


Current setup w/the Moser - 1" drop in the front, 2" in the back.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0383.jpg
Views:	100
Size:	94.7 KB
ID:	641672   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4075.jpg
Views:	97
Size:	82.5 KB
ID:	641673  

__________________
Ken
'68 GTO - 464 - Ram Air II heads - 236/242 roller - 9.5” TSP converter - Moser 3.55 Truetrac (build thread | walk around)
'95 Comp T/A #6 M6 - bone stock (pics)
  #6  
Old 10-22-2024, 01:06 PM
JLMounce JLMounce is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Greeley, Colorado
Posts: 3,956
Send a message via AIM to JLMounce
Default

I did the summit racing A body uppers and lowers on my wife's chevelle. They were absolute garbage. The bushings were loose, ball joints were terrible. They clanked and clattered as you went down the road and refused to hold an alignment.

If you go with the china copies of the Global West arms, you need to factor in purchasing good bushings and ball joints. At that point, you're not that far off from getting actual Global West stuff.

I would keep your factory control arms and change out the springs and shocks and add a .5" tall ball joint to the upper arm. Definitely do the global west rear control arms if there is budget for it.

__________________
-Jason
1969 Pontiac Firebird
  #7  
Old 10-22-2024, 02:20 PM
rohrt rohrt is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Posts: 4,158
Default

What are trying to improve with the suspension?

  #8  
Old 10-22-2024, 04:49 PM
nh68gto's Avatar
nh68gto nh68gto is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hudson , NH
Posts: 1,657
Default

Great info. Much appreciated. Ken, car stance is great. Remember watching your build (I think lol).

I am wanting to stiffer her up. She is sloppy.

Thinking I the KYB front and rear. Up front sway bar to 1.25 and tubular rears and bar. Good deal buying both as package.

Not sure on stance if I should go the drop springs and how much to go. Buddy says 2”. Also Amazon has everything saved lot on shipping.

__________________
Send it! It’s going home on a trailer.
  #9  
Old 10-22-2024, 04:52 PM
nh68gto's Avatar
nh68gto nh68gto is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hudson , NH
Posts: 1,657
Default

Only side shots I have
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0574.jpg
Views:	31
Size:	146.7 KB
ID:	641678   Click image for larger version

Name:	Resized_Resized_20240523_181031_165933839373001_1716505226515_1716505228912.jpg
Views:	38
Size:	94.2 KB
ID:	641679  

__________________
Send it! It’s going home on a trailer.
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:25 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017