coilover on stock front a-body?

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john burdine

Drag Radial Duster
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what lenth shocks are you running on an a-body that has been converted to coilovers. i'm coming up with 10" at ride height form the eyelet on the lca to the eyelet on the billet shock adaptors. this seems pretty short to me, reqireing a shock with a very short stroke. HELP?

BTW, what lbs springs are you running?
 
That would definitely be a short stroke shock, but that is not the only factor to consider. More important, from my research, is the motion ratio. How much is the wheel/tire moving in relation to the shock. In my lengthy conversions with the engineer at Ride Tech, he recommends 5" total wheel travel split between compression and extension. One simple calculation for motion ratio is:

distance from LCA mounting bolt to middle of tire / distance from LCA mounting bolt to shock mount = motion ratio

Take the motion ratio and multiply that but the shocks compression for total compression travel, then multiply the motion ratio by the shocks extension for total extension travel. Add the two and you have total suspension travel. So I recommend determining your current motion ratio, then set out to find a shock that will fit within your needs to get you adequate suspension travel, again from my discussions with Ride Tech that is 5".

I'm no help with springs because I'm running air. Ride Tech does have a calculator on their website to help determine spring rate since they now sell coil-overs as well.
 
heres a monroe part number for front coilover's. Keep in mind, these are for a stock suspension a body.

58253
 
the shocks are qa1's and the stud adaptors are from rms.
 

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A worthwhile conversion if seeking to go big block! Even loses some weight off the front end. Could be a cheaper way than the magnum force stuff,which is way overpriced. I'd get the rms adaptor and then go shopping for the correct shock.
 
Thanks, but they told me you can't get the stud adapter. Anyone have apart number?
 
on the HDK coil over only (no rack and pinion) conversion.....

Qa1.....#DS 303 single adjustable or #DD 303 double adjustable

the HDK conversion utilizes the same re-enforced upper shock mount and chromoly support hoops as in the full r/p conversion.
 
on the HDK coil over only (no rack and pinion) conversion.....

Qa1.....#DS 303 single adjustable or #DD 303 double adjustable

the HDK conversion utilizes the same re-enforced upper shock mount and chromoly support hoops as in the full r/p conversion.
I had 500 lb. springs that came w/ the 12" coil overs on my mag. force front end. Stiff as a board. Went to 350 lb. springs, starting to sag (breaking in, probably normal). Have the front end up in the air as we speak, have to pull the front tires to get the shocks off, which is just about as easy to do as trying to adjust them on the car. Will probably have the front end realighned before too long also. My front end is supported by 1 1/2" tubing (firewall to frame) w/ reinforcement at the shock towers, and the upper shock mount them selves. Thinking 400 lb. springs might be better for a street n strip type 440 .
 
I had 500 lb. springs that came w/ the 12" coil overs on my mag. force front end. Stiff as a board. Went to 350 lb. springs, starting to sag (breaking in, probably normal). Have the front end up in the air as we speak, have to pull the front tires to get the shocks off, which is just about as easy to do as trying to adjust them on the car. Will probably have the front end realighned before too long also. My front end is supported by 1 1/2" tubing (firewall to frame) w/ reinforcement at the shock towers, and the upper shock mount them selves. Thinking 400 lb. springs might be better for a street n strip type 440 .





Ya that's gonna be part of my issue is the weight. I got a 72 demon that is getting a 2010 6.1 hemi. And it used to be a 6cyl car so I kno the torsion bars won't take the weight

IMG_2614.JPG
 
on the HDK conversions....same spring for the 6.1 as a factory smallblock.

I would try #450lb rate
 
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Ya that's gonna be part of my issue is the weight. I got a 72 demon that is getting a 2010 6.1 hemi. And it used to be a 6cyl car so I kno the torsion bars won't take the weight

View attachment 1715087233
We ran the stock 318 belvedere torsion bars on the hemi car for yrs. and never had a problem, it ended up being a drag only car tho.
 
Also used slant 6 t bars on my big block car before the coil overs. Slant 6 bars worked fine.
 
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