Gerst Tubular Suspensions

[junior636]

I've had two a body kits with zero issues. I also know that these front ends were fully designed and load tested in CAD by an engineer. Carl designed them but they were checked and engineered as far as construction by an engineer. I'm not sure about the truck kits, that does seem to be an oversight but it could easily be remedied.

 

[HemiMark]

Ouch, have you talked to Carl about this?

Those don’t look grade 8 either, mine came with grade 8s. Wonder if you got the wrong bolts sent to you.

Carl sold out to QA1

 

[HemiMark]

Yeah I don't know why you'd even try that method of attachment for a coil over. You're supporting that entire corner of the vehicle on that span, makes zero sense.

It would be easy to box in and reinforce that entire section between the ears back to the frame. Hell none of those tabs are supported laterally either.



No, on the original Gerst conversions they look like this...

Again, literally no reason to have joints in those locations at all.



While it is not without some of its own drawbacks, it was designed by real engineers that put in the work to make sure it wouldn't just fail.

The aftermarket you have to be far more careful with, most don't do anywhere near the same level of engineering. And some don't do any, which is pretty clear with Gerst. Some of those designs are obviously a poor choice.

Real Engineers? They need fired.

 

[HemiMark]

No product has 100 percent perfection that’s for sure. Search enough and you’ll find a complaint with any product. As long as customer service is good and it’s taken care of in a timely manner, I’m good with it.

For 4 to 5 grand it should be perfect!

 

[HemiMark]

For 4 to 5 grand it should be perfect!

My truck is now finished. QA1 sent replacement parts and my friend Jason made gussets to make it stronger

 

[HemiMark]

My truck is now finished. QA1 sent replacement parts and my friend Jason made gussets to make it stronger

View attachment 1716415926

View attachment 1716415927

 

[HemiMark]

dash

 

[HemiMark]

more

 

[darndart]

Looks Great!

 

[4spdragtop]

Beauty! Which gauges are those Mark?

 

[Robzilla]

Way cool!

 

[HemiMark]

Beauty! Which gauges are those Mark?

Classic Insterments

 

[Bigdummy]

FAR OUT

 

[HemiDenny]

I drove most of the 3 hours to Carlisle.....what a great combo, the 6.1 cruised with the A/C blowing ice cold @ 70 around 1500-1600 RPM, accelerated effortlessly even from a dead stop. 20 plus (s)miles a gallon. Mark was all smiles!

Suspension wise, it took small bumps like a champ but anything else, those short shocks and 7" springs did not like and IMO, could not handle. The upper shock mount will get an HDK make over this winter to add a much needed, longer shock and spring combination. (side note: the Qa1 suspension was bought thru HDK, when the upper shock mount had the issue, I contacted my rep at Qa1 who put me in touch with the right Qa1 people)

Final thought.....I believe I talked Mark into adding cruise control too.

 

[DionR]

Final thought.....I believe I talked Mark into adding cruise control too.

I love having CC on my '74 even though I mostly use if just for the 30 miles between home and the "big city". So it has been a must add feature all along for my G3 swap.

Make sure to post it some where, love to see how you do it.

 

[dukeboy440]

I drove most of the 3 hours to Carlisle.....what a great combo, the 6.1 cruised with the A/C blowing ice cold @ 70 around 1500-1600 RPM, accelerated effortlessly even from a dead stop. 20 plus (s)miles a gallon. Mark was all smiles!

Suspension wise, it took small bumps like a champ but anything else, those short shocks and 7" springs did not like and IMO, could not handle. The upper shock mount will get an HDK make over this winter to add a much needed, longer shock and spring combination. (side note: the Qa1 suspension was bought thru HDK, when the upper shock mount had the issue, I contacted my rep at Qa1 who put me in touch with the right Qa1 people)

Final thought.....I believe I talked Mark into adding cruise control too.

View attachment 1716430257

Glad it worked out.

 

[HemiDenny]

Glad it worked out.

it is OK for a start, I see lots of room for improvement and looking forward to getting my hands on it.................

 

[dukeboy440]

it is OK for a start, I see lots of room for improvement and looking forward to getting my hands on it.................

Yeah, every product is refined and improved over time. I’m glad Carl traded my OG out for the 2nd gen revised kit.

That said, I will likely be having a conversation with you in the future. I owe you an apology. You gonna be at the Nats? If so, I’ll do it in person and maybe with a beer or three.

 

[HemiDenny]

Hard for me to miss the Nats, it is always fun and only 100 miles away. I'll be at the usual spot off to the side at the front of the staging lanes, hanging around the (HDK sponsored) tent with race cars and hot rods in and around it.

I look forward to seeing you there.

 

[HemiMark]

I drove most of the 3 hours to Carlisle.....what a great combo, the 6.1 cruised with the A/C blowing ice cold @ 70 around 1500-1600 RPM, accelerated effortlessly even from a dead stop. 20 plus (s)miles a gallon. Mark was all smiles!

Suspension wise, it took small bumps like a champ but anything else, those short shocks and 7" springs did not like and IMO, could not handle. The upper shock mount will get an HDK make over this winter to add a much needed, longer shock and spring combination. (side note: the Qa1 suspension was bought thru HDK, when the upper shock mount had the issue, I contacted my rep at Qa1 who put me in touch with the right Qa1 people)

Final thought.....I believe I talked Mark into adding cruise control too.

View attachment 1716430257

I talked to Jason about the cruise control, he is looking into it

 

[HemiMark]

I talked to Jason about the cruise control, he is looking into it

puddle lights