Coil over conversion for stock k member/steering

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junior636

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Uses 67-72 sway bar, all chrome moly self lubricating Teflon injected heim joints, viking double adjustable coil overs, bolt on and weld on rear brace, cnc pivot shafts


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The shock length is 12.6" and the travel is 3.19", travel at the spindle is 5.00". I was really hoping to be able to put a longer shock in there but this was all that I could get to fit. It is essentially the same as the QA1 shocks that they have been selling for coil over kits for these cars for years now. There is a big block in this car and with a 8" 450lb spring there is 2.25" of travel at ride height. I could probably go a little lighter but a 400lb spring might be a little light for this set up.

Are you asking how much the camber is affected as the wheel turns? I am not sure. The lower arms are 100% to the stock dimensions, the caster can be adjusted slightly at the lower arm or the upper control arms are caster and camber adjustable. Those dimensions are going to change depending upon how your alignment is set up. I have not measured these types of adjustments as they were designed off stock parts and made adjustable so guys wanting these types of adjustments could make them at their own discretion.
 
So what is a "teflon infected" heim joint any way?

I know I know, spell check got ya again huh? Them little rascals. Sorta reminds me of an olde beer commercial. Artisans, I like everything about 'em. Except their sense of humor.
 
So what is a "teflon infected" heim joint any way?

I know I know, spell check got ya again huh? Them little rascals. Sorta reminds me of an olde beer commercial. Artisans, I like everything about 'em. Except their sense of humor.

Lol, thanks for the catch.
 
I was checking out the GTS catalog to see about this new system and on the first web page they state:

"Unlike some competitors, the GTS K frames use a built in upper coil over mounting point instead of using
the factory weak shock mount. Factory shock mounts were never designed to take the weight of the vehicle
and the movement of the suspension. Even braced or supported, this is one area GTS felt should not be trusted
and developed the stand alone coil mounts for our kits."


So what's with the hoop style upper shock mounts if, as they state, they can't be trusted?
 
I was checking out the GTS catalog to see about this new system and on the first web page they state:

"Unlike some competitors, the GTS K frames use a built in upper coil over mounting point instead of using
the factory weak shock mount. Factory shock mounts were never designed to take the weight of the vehicle
and the movement of the suspension. Even braced or supported, this is one area GTS felt should not be trusted
and developed the stand alone coil mounts for our kits."


So what's with the hoop style upper shock mounts if, as they state, they can't be trusted?

I think he is talking about the stock shock towers.

What I can't figure out is why he doesn't tie the snout bar to the shock tower and the hickey the shock bolts to? I can see a car that doesn't have snout bars tying to the frame with the hoop, but why this one? He probably could have tied and reinforced the shock tower to the snout bar and been OK, IMO.

That looks like a pretty nice set-up. Very similar to the LCA / coil over I'm putting on my Demon which has the same kind of snout bar. I plan to tie in the upper shock mount, and I am going to try to not use a rear brace.

Are the LCA pivot bushings Delron? The Urethane ones I have may not have much durability so I've read.
 
They are talking about the stock shock towers.

What I can't figure out is why they didn't tie the snout bar to the shock tower and the hickey the shock bolts to? I can see a car that doesn't have snout bars tying to the frame with the hoop, but why this one? They probably could have tied and reinforced the shock tower to the snout bar and been OK, IMO.

I'm putting a little different LCA / coil over on my Demon and have the same kind of snout bar. I plan to tie it to the upper shock mount.

These are mocked up on my car that does have the forward strut bars already in place off the cage, they are tied into the shock tower. It is a little hard to see because of the forward bars off the cage but the shock hoop bolts into the factory shock mounting hole, the shock mounts as close as possible to the hoop tube so that it takes the majority of the energy from the shock.
 
I got new SBJ Moogs but the boots won't work with my UCAs. How are you getting a boot to fit the upper BJ?

I have C203 Vikings also. When I ordered the springs I mis-estimated the location of the shock on the LCA, and ended up with 500# 8" springs. But the motor has a heavy mega block and heavy 4.25 crank.

On mine it is easier to see and get to the adjusters with the shock upside down.
 
To answer your wondering, it all has to do with load rating and load angles, because the Mustang 2 spindle has a greater pin inclination than a mopar, it forces the upper control arm to be shorter,(upper ball joint closer to the frame) therefore moving the top of the coil over in at a greater angle, increasing the the load inward, I wanted to keep the load as vertical as possible, with a stock setup, that is easier attained since the upper ball joint is out further from the frame, allowing for a more vertical load on this stock coil over conversion kit, so in fact, mounting the coil overs on my ifs kit would put greater stress on the stock shock tower than the factory conversion kit,when braced the same, it's all a matter of leverage/load angle,just wanted to clear that up so there's no confusion.


I was checking out the GTS catalog to see about this new system and on the first web page they state:

"Unlike some competitors, the GTS K frames use a built in upper coil over mounting point instead of using
the factory weak shock mount. Factory shock mounts were never designed to take the weight of the vehicle
and the movement of the suspension. Even braced or supported, this is one area GTS felt should not be trusted
and developed the stand alone coil mounts for our kits."


So what's with the hoop style upper shock mounts if, as they state, they can't be trusted?
 
That looks awesome! One question- What's this-

2015-11-08%2013.38.56.jpg
 
Hey, I just went through the first 17 pages of your Dart build on yellowbullit. I had no idea... you got skillz.
 
I got new SBJ Moogs but the boots won't work with my UCAs. How are you getting a boot to fit the upper BJ?

I have C203 Vikings also. When I ordered the springs I mis-estimated the location of the shock on the LCA, and ended up with 500# 8" springs. But the motor has a heavy mega block and heavy 4.25 crank.

On mine it is easier to see and get to the adjusters with the shock upside down.

The boots suck! Maybe try an aftermarket boot?

I have a 450lb spring with a big block on this car and i think it is a touch heavy.
 
To answer your wondering, it all has to do with load rating and load angles, because the Mustang 2 spindle has a greater pin inclination than a mopar, it forces the upper control arm to be shorter,(upper ball joint closer to the frame) therefore moving the top of the coil over in at a greater angle, increasing the the load inward, I wanted to keep the load as vertical as possible, with a stock setup, that is easier attained since the upper ball joint is out further from the frame, allowing for a more vertical load on this stock coil over conversion kit, so in fact, mounting the coil overs on my ifs kit would put greater stress on the stock shock tower than the factory conversion kit,when braced the same, it's all a matter of leverage/load angle,just wanted to clear that up so there's no confusion.

So the hoops are fine (as I suspected) but you were commenting on not mounting the coil overs directly to the stock shock absorber mounts with no reinforcement?
 
$1350 for the complete kit. Sounds affordable as well. These A bodies must have had the worst front suspension of any MoPar I have owned.
 
Forgot to post this here if anyone is interested, only have a few left.
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