Project Splitter

[cdoggy81]

Never mind... watched the video again, 450#.

OK, so then how do you like the ride of the 450# spring???

[2ndgenracer]

I can't complain about the ride. I missed on the weight of the car, and thought the 450# would be a good starting point, but missing the total weight by 700lbs will change everything. Sorry I don't have any feedback yet from a road course, but just guessing at this stage, I'll need something stiffer. The car works almost too good at the strip, and I have the front end limited, so I know I have room to go to a stiffer spring and still work for drag racing. I've hammered a few cloverleafs on the highway, car is amazing, but they have been large sweeping ramps. I'm not sure about the real hard/short corners yet.

[cdoggy81]

Thanks for the info. I'm not trying to kill it on the road I just want it to ride nice & have the PT look + a little better performance but without bottoming out or riding like a stage coach... I would give up a bit of performance for a little better ride. I know most of the ride quality comes from the rear & I already have a Hotchkis Rear Leaf Spring kit (has a 1.5" drop & a little stiffer springs).

Did you lower the car in the front any & if so how did you do it? Drop spindles or just adjust the coil out?
The problem I'm running into is QA1 is saying a 350# spring BC of the LS1 I have up front (~250lbs lighter than an all iron Poncho mill). DSE recommends 550#. BIG DIFFERENCE... Also, people have said when you adj. the QA1 out you loose a lot of travel & it bottoms easy. Something I want to avoid! One member recommended the Speedway 91645552 hidden spring shim to help this.

Here is what I'm planning on going with so LMK what you think:

QA1 GMP3450-3 450# front coil overs w/ 12 way adj. shocks
QA1 TC2109P rear 12 way adj. shocks

I currently also have:
DSE-030102 Tubular Upper Arm Kit - 70-81
DSE-010201 Body Mounts- 1/2" Drop (this will also help out)
DSE-031402 FRONT SWAY BAR 1-3/8" HOLLOW 70-81
DSE-010103 SUBFRAME CONNECTORS 1970- 1981
To save $ I stayed with the stock lower arms but went with GW Del-Alum bushings.
Hotchkis Rear Leaf Spring kit

I did talk to Frank today & he recommended the old way...
Hotchkis 500# standard coil springs
Hotchkis f shocks
Hotchkis r shocks
2" Drop spindles

Not real sure about this + the added $$$...

Thanks for the help!

[cdoggy81]

Here is that speedway part. Not 100% how this works with the QA1...

[2ndgenracer]

Since you have an LS1 and are more concerned with the ride then definitely go with the 350#. If you can go to a 250# that might even be better since the LS1 is that much lighter. But before deciding between the 250 and 350 do you know what your front/rear weight is and total?

[cdoggy81]

No idea on total weight or F/R weight
Any idea how much lighter that LS1 will be comp to the all iron 455?

[2ndgenracer]

Sorry I don't have a clue on the weight difference. I would say invest a few bucks and scale the car, you'll have a much better idea of where you need to be. If the car isn't together yet and you can't weigh it, I would guess going with the 350# springs. If you aren't in a hurry I plan on swapping springs here in a few weeks, and I can send you these 450's to try out. The cool thing is they've been driven hard and have settled.

[cdoggy81]

Wow that's cool, no hurry. Thanks! I'll get the 350# ones & also try your 450# springs. I assume you are going with the 550# ones?

BTW, did you lower the car in the front any & if so how did you do it? I think you just adjusted the coil out but maybe you got drop spindles...

[2ndgenracer]

No drop spindles. The adjustability with a coil over is nice, but rumor has it you have to be close. I think all of the weight up front contributes to being able to get away with the lowered stance, but the collar is close to center. Another reason to scale your car, make sure you get your cross weights close. If you look at the video of Splitter in the beginning, don't be fooled by the ride height. That was when I just got the suspension together. I had the collar only adjusted 1/4-3/8 up on the threads. Here is a shot of the car properly adjusted. It used to sit a little higher than this, but both front and rear have settled 3/8" from driving.

[cdoggy81]

Dude.... That is just sweeeeeet!!!!! Your stance is EXACTLY what I want mine to look like
More pics please!