Gulstrand mod. yes or no with my planned componets?

[Blake Foster]

Originally Posted by marolf101x

Before I get flamed and upset guys I provide parts to (sorry Blake), I have to say I'm writing this from 80% personal, 20% professional.

Chevmech, you stated you had 3 main criteria for choosing these parts, but that you were also on a budget (I'm in the same boat. . .though I build these parts for a living I do have a wife, a kid, and a bad car habit, so "bang for the buck" is always on the top of my list.)

1-vette bearing packs
-$175-350 for Corvette bearing packs (EACH)
-$60 for stock Camaro bearing kit

2-improved geometry
-$1200 for AFX spindles
-$350 for Ridetech spindles (or $1000 for TruTurn with spindles, you can see a direct comparison here: http://www.ridetech.com/store/tru-turn/)

3-longer shocks
-Chicane kit with Ridetech single adjustables is $945
-Ridetech single adjustables to fit a stock subrfame are $700
(since you would be using the same lower control arms the only thing the Chicane kit gets you is a double sheer upper mount. the suspension can only move between the bumpstops, so it doesn't care if you have long stroke shocks. If you were using a different lower control arm the Chicane kit would then provide the correct stroke.)

So lets say you buy these parts, and in a couple of years have to replace the hub bearings (so we can factor that into the price just for S&G's).
You'd spend $2495 on the parts you want now.
You'd spend $1760 on an equal performance option (this includes the TruTurn, so I'd say it's even better performance wise).

If price and performance are equal factors you could easily have an extra $735 to throw at the rear.

FLAME!!!!!
lol
Now to be fair the comparison you show in the chart is with the AFX spindle and the Truturn steering arm which we know does not work! so why show the comparison.
The AFX spindle was designed to use the factory steering arm. The steering arm mounting location was optimizied for that arm. Not the truturn arm.
The truturn center link has been optimized to use the A body steering arm mounted backwards and on the opposite side, so that is why it has good numbers as a "SYSTEM" this is the part people neglect the "SYSTEM" has been designed to work with all the parts in the system,

I find it interesting how average joe can come up with a "SYSTEM" of parts from 5 different manufacturers and thinks that is the killer package.
why would the OP run 3 different brands of components instead of 1?
who does he blame when it doesn't meet his expectations?

The Chicane upper eliminates the single pin swivel top mount which shortens the efective shock length by 2" I know I have a set in my GN (thanks Brett the testing is going well) you would have a 5" stroke shock and a 10" spring with the chicane kit and a 3" stroke the other way.

there is a little more info to complicate you buying descision.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

there is a little more info to complicate you buying descision.

As my dad likes to say.... clear as mud!

[bret]

just goes to show that there are many ways to acheive a desired result. The key is:

[listen closely, this is important]

If you do not know exactly how to determine IF your assortment of components is compatible for not only installation but for performance...please purchase, install, and rely on one manufacturers system!

[Blake Foster]

What he said^^^^ you will find much less frustration

[marolf101x]

Blake,

thanks for jumping in. . .I was hoping you'd add more input. Your system is good, and people need to know that. I think it's even better with a set of Ridetech coil overs on it! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink!)

I was only trying to state to the masses that you will typically get the best performance from a "system" designed by a single manufacturer. (now that I re-read my post I guess I didn't say it exactly).

The one thing that always gets me is people don't understand motion ratio. The front suspension moves the wheel and tire 5". This, however, does not mean the shock moves 5". Since it's located on the lower control arm between two pivoting points it moves only about half as much as the wheel/tire. So a 3" stroke could provide 6", and a 5" stroke could provide 10". However, the bumpstops only allow 5" of total travel. So "travel wise" both shocks accomplish the exact same thing. The only difference being one uses a stud mount and one uses a ring mount.