Single or Double adjustable shocks - Lateral-g Forums

ProdigyCustoms · #1 03-29-2007, 07:33 PM

I ran shorten Carrea shocks from the get go. I determined the ride problem was two fold, The supports are farther outbound then on a Corvette. I also think the spring is stronger and more progressive then the Corvette spring. The hop is down right wicked over speed bumps. The front of the car literly jumps in the air. It was a bad beotch on the autocross though.

I dug up the first page of the install story I did. 1992, WOW I can't believe I talk about things 15 years ago. It was Pro Touring before Pro Touring was cool!

Also incuded a picture of the car when I was 50LBS lighter

Jeremy · #2 03-30-2007, 02:30 PM

Frank,

I appreciate your input. As for the "hop" we are definitely talking about the same thing, although I don't think it is no where near as bad for me.

I notice it most at low speeds, especially when its cold. Above 30 mph it gets a little better, better again at 50, and I can't say I've ever noticed above 75 or so.

I re read all the posts and if I under stand now, you are refering to the inboard supports under the motor being farther outboard compared to a vette. It would be interesting to see if VBP tested the spring rate in compression and rebound. It definitely sounds and feels like it is stiffer in rebound than compression.

I am guessing you would recommend double adjustables giving me the most tuning options.

I drive mine daily during good weather and had some teeth rattling moments with the edelbrock shocks, but haven't had any with the bilsteins. This seems a little odd to me as the Edelbrocks don't control the suspension no where near as good as the bilsteins.

Tony@AirRideTech · #3 04-02-2007, 07:24 AM

frank.... I am calling you out here big time man...... 50lbs????

Jeremy · #4 04-02-2007, 04:01 PM

I talked to quite a few shock companies today and I ended up ordering some vari shock double adjustables.

I was suprised to find out that the Bilsteins were valved 82 % stiffer in rebound than compression. The Bilsteins are digressively valved and it is possible that the sharp bumps exceed the point on the curve where the rebound does not increase anymore. I am hoping that I can find a curve on the adjustables that is nearly the same. Since the vari shocks are linear, if I match the rate, then it should have more damping force at the upper extremes to control the rebound and still ride well.

I'll post the results after getting them installed. Hopefully they will be here by the end of the week.

rocketman · #5 06-17-2007, 02:38 PM

I love Koni's on the street,ride is awesome I but them on my 94 Z and wife's 68 camaro.very nice

ProdigyCustoms · #6 04-02-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony@AirRideTech

frank.... I am calling you out here big time man...... 50lbs????

LOL, I grew into my nose!

Jeremy · #7 04-10-2007, 04:31 PM

The Hotchkiss Bilsteins worked well for most driving but I wanted more. I just got my varishock double adjustables today. I can't wait to get them in and see how they work. I may even have to knock them out tonight after the little one goes to sleep.

I'll keep you updated on how they work, but they looked great in the spun aluminum. The instructions were well written with great diagrams. All of the hardware and associated pieces are definitely beefy.

Jeremy · #8 04-10-2007, 07:47 PM

First impression is that these shocks are awesome.

It took about 1.5 hours to get the swapped out and the worst was figuring out how I was going to mount the bottom. SC&C recommended on top of the arm but due to the construction of the VBP arm, I would have had to do a lot of fitting to the front side of the cross bar.

Since the lower mount is three piece, I disassembled it and slid the eye through the arm and re assembled. This proved the ticket and it mounted up perfectly.

While I was at it I checked total wheel travel and I have 5 1/4 inches.

I checked with Bilstein and the Hotchkiss shocks were 1.81 times stiffer in rebound than compression. Varishock recommended starting on 3 and working from there. I put the compression on 3 and since I needed more rebound than the Bilsteins set the rebound to 6.

On my normal "test" circuit it road like a new car. Bumps were soaked up and no "bouncing."

Two bumps in 10 miles felt a little soft on rebound but the ride was so soft, yet controlled I am leary of going stiffer. The nice thing is I can try and go back. One on ramp at speed used to feel real jittery and it was so smooth now.

Turn in is amazingly quick now even though I backed of the tension on the sway bar endlinks. The front end does not roll at all, or at least it does not feel like it. The car is a little tail happy now but not unnerving.

If anyone considers the VBP setup, go with this shocks as they let you dial in the unique properties of the suspension. I am so happy with it that I was others were closer so I could let them ride in it. It is so much better than the factory setup.

**Steve1968LS2** · #9 04-11-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

First impression is that these shocks are awesome.

It took about 1.5 hours to get the swapped out and the worst was figuring out how I was going to mount the bottom. SC&C recommended on top of the arm but due to the construction of the VBP arm, I would have had to do a lot of fitting to the front side of the cross bar.

Since the lower mount is three piece, I disassembled it and slid the eye through the arm and re assembled. This proved the ticket and it mounted up perfectly.

While I was at it I checked total wheel travel and I have 5 1/4 inches.

I checked with Bilstein and the Hotchkiss shocks were 1.81 times stiffer in rebound than compression. Varishock recommended starting on 3 and working from there. I put the compression on 3 and since I needed more rebound than the Bilsteins set the rebound to 6.

On my normal "test" circuit it road like a new car. Bumps were soaked up and no "bouncing."

Two bumps in 10 miles felt a little soft on rebound but the ride was so soft, yet controlled I am leary of going stiffer. The nice thing is I can try and go back. One on ramp at speed used to feel real jittery and it was so smooth now.

Turn in is amazingly quick now even though I backed of the tension on the sway bar endlinks. The front end does not roll at all, or at least it does not feel like it. The car is a little tail happy now but not unnerving.

If anyone considers the VBP setup, go with this shocks as they let you dial in the unique properties of the suspension. I am so happy with it that I was others were closer so I could let them ride in it. It is so much better than the factory setup.

The normal spread between rebound and compression is 3 settings. I'm starting with 6 and 9 on my Varishocks then I will tune them from there. Very happy with the Varishock quality.

itlbtu · #10 07-06-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProdigyCustoms

I dug up the first page of the install story I did. 1992, WOW I can't believe I talk about things 15 years ago. It was Pro Touring before Pro Touring was cool!

Frank,
I think I have you beat. I think I attached a pic of my current re-do-correctly pro-touring '69 Camaro. I hade the largest 50 series Pirelli tires that they made back in '84 when I fixed up my Camaro the first time.I think they were p235-50zr15's. I didn't have as much to use as today as far as the suspension went. I was limited to a larger front sway bar and I installed a rear sway bar too, around '90.

http://www.itlbtu.com/images/camaro2.jpg