3 Competitours, which one and why?

[Musclerodz]

You can add 21st Century Street Machines with a front and rear clip, Art Morrison with their new sub or max-g chassis, ATS and their new package for the front sub modifications, SC&C, Air Ride, need i go on......

DSE's combination of products are well documented and proven for driveability and realitive comfort

I don't know anything about the Schwartz chassis or have heard of any feedback on one, but that is not saying much

Lateral Dynamics is the only 3 link out there I know of being marketed and will put performance before ride quality. I am not saying it isn't comfortable, I have not rode in one yet, my statement is based on how I have heard Mark speak about his products. Mark knows his stuff as well

21st Century makes a nice product and have not heard any complaints for those using one

Art Morrison, One of the biggest in the business when it comes to chassis', don't know of any complaints here either

ATS has their new coil over set up, AFX spindles, excellent for the budget minded guy

SC&C has AFX spindles from ATS, coupled with adjustable upper arms for another buget minded setup, and Marcus knows his stuff as well.

Air Ride has proven their Airbar setup will keep up with most any non professional driver out there and lay down very respectable numbers on the skid pad and is well documented through their Track Challenges.

I would break down into what you think your goals are. Bling, performance, ride, budget? That should narrow it some, but in the end, Go with who you will feel will work best for you.

Mike

[James OLC]

About this time last year I found myself asking the exact same questions - well almost the exact same. This is what I can tell you from my experience:

First of all - my criteria (and please keep in mind that these were what I valued and what I was looking for - they may not be the same for you or anyone else).

1. I wanted a no compromise suspension set up with respect to performance focusing on road racing and open highway competition. I have built many first gen Camaros and have always had to compromise one place or the other and always wound up wondering how much better the car would have performed if I had not given in due to dollars or streetability considerations.

2. I needed a suspension set up that would be functional in multiple disciplines. While my focus was on road racing and open highway events like the Silver State Challenge, the One Lap of America race includes drag racing, road course racing, skid pads, and anything else that Mr. Yates dreams up (including dirt track racing a couple of years ago). Not to mention 5,000 miles of highways between events.

3. I did not want to built this car as a full frame car. Yes, this is contrary to #1. Right or wrong, I wanted to build this as a Camaro - not a race car with a Camaro shell. That being said, the next one will be the other way around.

Armed with those criteria I scoured every message board that I could find, called every contact that I knew and exchanged a ton of emails and phone calls with manufactures across the country. I did make an effort to visit as many manufactures as I could - business took me to SC, I spent an extra day and went to NC - and I looked at what others were doing. (Thanks to Scott and this board there is a ton of experience to tap into if you take the time and initiative).

At that point I felt like you do the day you get back from Sema - completely overloaded with information and ideas. And it took some time, and thought, and consideration of the pro's and con's of everyones products - and nearly all of them have both pro's and con's worth considering.

In the end I chose:

Front - American Touring Specialties. Despite the fact that I was convinced that I wanted (or needed) an aftermarket front subframe, I ultimately came to the conclusion that a modified stock subframe offered the best solution given the alternatives. Geometry won this one.

Rear - Lateral Dynamics. There is simply no better road racing suspension than a 3-link and LD has put together a package for F-bodies that is well engineered, outstandingly fabricated, and simply works.

That being said, Scott's comments earlier are 100% true - particularly with respect to the so called "secondary components" like shock, springs, and tires. I would hazzard to say that these choices are as important, if not more important, than the actual suspension systems. That was one of the other factors that I took into consideration with ATS and Lateral Dynamics - they not only understood this, they preached it.

Anyway, that is my experience and my opinon only. I can go into more detail with respect to the technical aspects of my choices if you're interested but since this post is probably longer than all of my previous posts combined it's time to stop for now.

[Bill Howell]

I agree with most of the above comments, however, if you choose a different car, say an A-body, the picture clears a bit. I am going thru a similiar game right now with my next project, a 70 chevelle and have made the following choice. I will use the AirRide system, but with a twist. I will have the ATS spindles just because I have been so impressed with them on my malibu. For an A-body, I feel the Air Ride system is the best choice and will be flexible enough to do drag racing and road racing good with some practice and trial and error with settings. I will know more soon.

[tyoneal]

Since clarification was requested, I will add this.

Assume all the same Tires and wheels for each.

Is there any true distinsion between all the choices other than the engeineering?

Or Could it be said the 3-link is the closest thing to an all out track rear end suspension.

At the other end of the scale would be the Air Ride Tech, which would allow the choice of good handeling for the street and the option of a comfortable ride,

With the rest of them falling somewhere in between?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Just keep in mind that the Air Ride car was only .08 behind the DSE car at Run Through the Hills Camaro shootout!

[tyoneal]

Originally Posted by reboot04

About this time last year I found myself asking the exact same questions - well almost the exact same. This is what I can tell you from my experience:

First of all - my criteria (and please keep in mind that these were what I valued and what I was looking for - they may not be the same for you or anyone else).

1. I wanted a no compromise suspension set up with respect to performance focusing on road racing and open highway competition. I have built many first gen Camaros and have always had to compromise one place or the other and always wound up wondering how much better the car would have performed if I had not given in due to dollars or streetability considerations.

2. I needed a suspension set up that would be functional in multiple disciplines. While my focus was on road racing and open highway events like the Silver State Challenge, the One Lap of America race includes drag racing, road course racing, skid pads, and anything else that Mr. Yates dreams up (including dirt track racing a couple of years ago). Not to mention 5,000 miles of highways between events.

3. I did not want to built this car as a full frame car. Yes, this is contrary to #1. Right or wrong, I wanted to build this as a Camaro - not a race car with a Camaro shell. That being said, the next one will be the other way around.

Armed with those criteria I scoured every message board that I could find, called every contact that I knew and exchanged a ton of emails and phone calls with manufactures across the country. I did make an effort to visit as many manufactures as I could - business took me to SC, I spent an extra day and went to NC - and I looked at what others were doing. (Thanks to Scott and this board there is a ton of experience to tap into if you take the time and initiative).

At that point I felt like you do the day you get back from Sema - completely overloaded with information and ideas. And it took some time, and thought, and consideration of the pro's and con's of everyones products - and nearly all of them have both pro's and con's worth considering.

In the end I chose:

Front - American Touring Specialties. Despite the fact that I was convinced that I wanted (or needed) an aftermarket front subframe, I ultimately came to the conclusion that a modified stock subframe offered the best solution given the alternatives. Geometry won this one.

Rear - Lateral Dynamics. There is simply no better road racing suspension than a 3-link and LD has put together a package for F-bodies that is well engineered, outstandingly fabricated, and simply works.

That being said, Scott's comments earlier are 100% true - particularly with respect to the so called "secondary components" like shock, springs, and tires. I would hazzard to say that these choices are as important, if not more important, than the actual suspension systems. That was one of the other factors that I took into consideration with ATS and Lateral Dynamics - they not only understood this, they preached it.

Anyway, that is my experience and my opinon only. I can go into more detail with respect to the technical aspects of my choices if you're interested but since this post is probably longer than all of my previous posts combined it's time to stop for now.

James:

How have your choices paned out so far?

What type of shocks and springs did you decide to use, and what settings (Where applicable) have worked the best for Street or Track applications.

What wheels, tires and brakes did you go with?

Any hindsight you can share on your total experience?

Thanks,

tyoneal