[JoePapa]

Howdy!

I'm looking for new front shocks. I'll need 90/10's for the track but want an adjustable shock so I can drive it on the street comfortably. One option being considering is a good coil over to gain full adjustability, ride height, and initial front to rear weight balance. I can get a QA-1 90/10 that has a firm compression with adjustible extension. The only downside is the cost. Coil over QA-1's are about $450 bucks. It has the right features but those obviously come at a price.

My question: Is the adjustability of right hight, weight distribution, and shock extension worth that $450? The shock is fully rebuildable so I'd probably never need to replace it.

I'm having a hard time with $450 when I can get the CE adjustibles for $40 bucks. Night and Day in the features though.

Thoughts from the experts?


If the QA-1's are felt to be worth the price, which spring rate is right for the 400?

Here's the QA-1 Spring Rates
Big block ----- 350 to 450 Variable rate spring
Small block ----- 250 to 350 Variable rate spring

[JoePapa]

Howdy!

I'm looking for new front shocks. I'll need 90/10's for the track but want an adjustable shock so I can drive it on the street comfortably. One option being considering is a good coil over to gain full adjustability, ride height, and initial front to rear weight balance. I can get a QA-1 90/10 that has a firm compression with adjustible extension. The only downside is the cost. Coil over QA-1's are about $450 bucks. It has the right features but those obviously come at a price.

My question: Is the adjustability of right hight, weight distribution, and shock extension worth that $450? The shock is fully rebuildable so I'd probably never need to replace it.

I'm having a hard time with $450 when I can get the CE adjustibles for $40 bucks. Night and Day in the features though.

Thoughts from the experts?


If the QA-1's are felt to be worth the price, which spring rate is right for the 400?

Here's the QA-1 Spring Rates
Big block ----- 350 to 450 Variable rate spring
Small block ----- 250 to 350 Variable rate spring

[kidgoat]

I put lakewood 90/10s on the front of my jacked up 67 Goat, theyre nice, but my buddy said that there was no real difference between those and the regular shocks on his 65 Chevelle (also jacked up, but not as much as my Goat). So who knows. -Jesse

[lust4speed]

(Edit: Learned that coilovers are available for the front - didn't know that.)

[JoePapa]

The coil overs would replace the stock Spring and Shock and utilize the factory spring bucket on top. They are designed to fit first gen's.

Here's a link for a visual:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...69&prmenbr=361

And one alternative mentioned:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...61&prmenbr=361

Thanks!

Joe

[JoePapa]

One last comment on the QA-1 shocks in case someone else is considering them. The Drag Race versions are part numbers RC GMP-13 and 14 where 13 is bigblock chevy and 14 is SBC. Variable spring rates are the same as posted earlier.

[fdowdy]

Perfect timing. I need to do a complete rehab on my suspension, and was considering the QA1 conversion kit because I need to replace the original and very dead springs on my '64. I figured the adjustability of the QA1 shock, as well as the height adjustment feature would be a big help in sorting stance when I put the new wheels/tires on. By the way, I found the QA1 kit on the Global West site. I'm thinking about buying their whole a-arm kit and the QA1 kit (have to replace ALL my suspension stuf, including ball joints).

Lemme ask this, though: If you buy a "big block" spring/shock kit, then put your engine compartment on a diet with E-heads, aluminum manifold, headers, rear battery, don't you have a more "small block" application, and you wind up oversprung? I'd sure like to get the opinion of somebody who knows suspension principles before I spend a lot of money for a less-than-optimal setup.

(windy dude, aren't I? sorry)

[JoePapa]

You and I are in the same boat. I too saw these on the Globalwest.net site - lots of good stuff there. I like that I can get the parts as I get the cash and it all works together while I build it.

I think what we need to know first is, how much does a small block chevy weigh compared to a Pontiac 400?