QA-1 for TCI front clip

Guys
I have a a TCI front clip. What I would like to do is add these QA-1 coil overs to it. Can is be done. I don't mine if I have to modifiy my lower control arms. I think I have a picture of some one that has done this, but I don't know if this person went thur with it. Here what I'm talking about.http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productitem_10001_10002_750121_-1_377990
What do you think!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/62Nova/mod_arm1.jpg

Here's the picture that I was talking about.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/62Nova/122ms1365.jpg

And another.

They are nice shocks and ride better than a conventional full coil-over with smaller diameter springs. Your bottom mount looks OK. I hope you realize that these shock are to be used with the stock style upper spring cups. If you have that, they are a bolt-on.

i have a std Must II Heidt's clip. i purchased a set of A-arms for coil overs from Tim, "Ibuildm". i have the QA-1's you have pictured. after quite a few calls to QA-1 & Heidts i purchased 500lb springs.

you may want to call TCI (you can talk to Tim too i imagine) and definitely call QA-1 for spring weight specs. my springs are as i said, 500lb springs. i have the box in my shop if ya want the number...

64PRONOVA
I have the TCI mustang 2 front style clip. My kit came standard with regular spring not the coil over type, my has a cup that the spring fits in.http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/62Nova/P1010009.jpg
Like this.

500 lbs. sounds a little stiff for a small block. I run 400 lb. springs on mine. I have similar shocks and in the 90s used springs that didn't taper like these do. They rode pretty good but I have since bought the tapered style because a buddy of mine got them and they ride even better on his car. It's a nice set-up.

same as mine, but as i said, mine's a Heidt's.


sorry fer jumpin' on Pronova, you were addressing him

You weren't "jumping" on me Johnny. We're all here to shoot the sheet and help each other out.:)

I run AVO shocks on mine that are the exact same style.

Flyer
I'm running a standard SB with a 700r4 trans, 500lb spring should work. But I will call Tim just to be sure. If you could give me the part #, that would be great. Thanks

I'd consider adding a gusset on either side of the opening down to the lower shock mount. The way that is shown seems to have a long span from the shock to the A arms. A gusset going downward from the opening to the bushing(especially on the side closest to you) would add much strenght considering the little amount of steel needed to do this.

OK, Guys. So are these the right ones. I'm I on the right track.;)

Thanks Jeff...


ya know, yer reference to my springs. i agree they sound stiff. i called Heidt's i think 4 times and QA-1 i think the same before i ordered. i had seen a II with the same set up and his coils were adjusted up as far as they could go ta get fenders off his tires. he had 2" drops on his as i do and i didn't want the adjuster nuts topped out on the adjustment. i can run out and get a pic of mine as it sits now but i don't have my drivetrain installed. my a arms are about 1" off from being level.

i think, i may be wrong, the springs are somewhat inexpensive. i may find i MAY get rid of the spindles too and go with the std spindles...

i DO like the ease of assembly/disassembly. the wrenches are a must and it's Very quick work swapping or installing springs.

Flyer
I'm running a standard SB with a 700r4 trans, 500lb spring should work. But I will call Tim just to be sure. If you could give me the part #, that would be great. Thanks

back in a minute

QA-1 number 8MB500

Flyer
Is that the spring shock combo, or the spring only. Don't take this wrong, but what did you mean by "coils were adjusted up as far as they could go ta get fenders off his tires?????" and did this guy have the same rate spring that you have?

that number is for the coils only. i can get the shock numbers too i believe...


as far as my previous comments... this guy had a '63 with a Heidt's clip and 350lb springs and dropped spindles. to get the fenders above/off the tires he had to adjust the shock adjusting rings (on the shocks) almost all the way up. i mentioned this to QA-1 & Heidt's. i didn't think they should be maxed out on adjustment, high OR low. we discussed it and they stated they thought the other guy had too light of springs which accounted for his adjustment being so high. if ya want i can scoot back in the shop and get shock numbers and a quick pic of my assembly on the ground/no weight (drivertrain)

Ya, that would be great on the pictures. You don't have to do it till tomorrow. So do you think I can order this in a kit form. Or do I have to order them separate. I really would like the adjustability of this kit, I also don't want a really stiff ride either. Also I like the ability to adjust the shock stiffness.;) Guys, thanks for all your replies.

the A-Arms ya need from TCI. Tim "Ibuildm" can hook ta with a good price i think... the shocks & springs are separate units and mine i got from Summitt. after all my checking Tim had the best price on arms, Summitt on the QA-1 stuff.


i'll get ya the shock info tonight. i may ferget tomorrow. pic too... gimme a few minutes and i'll get it all for ya.

Flyer 10-4. So I can't modify my lowers that I have now. I have to buy other lower arms?

the tubing size is different from the stds to the coil overs. it was stressed VERY much that they should be swapped out. the through bolts for the shocks are larger too... the stds are i believe 3/8 and the coil overs take a 7/16. the coil over a arms are certainly beefier.


on the springs... I HIGHLY recommend you calling QA-1 and TCI and discuss. i'd not wish ya ta get incorrect units on what i have. i'm prepared to get different springs if needed so i'm not "really" concerned.


i'd also recommend maybe you listening ta Jeff's info before mine too... i don't mind sayin' what i'm doing, but i'm untested... 64PRONOVA's on the road... big difference, Yes ???


here's pics of numbers and my installed springs. OH, ya need ta get the adjusting wrenches too... don't forget them, you'll need 'em.

disregard the dirt/dust... nothing's been cleaned in a looooong time.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/64Flyer/qa1-22.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/64Flyer/coilover2.jpg

Flyer, thanks for your help! I'll PM you I need more info or help. Thanks again.

you're welcome, i hope i helped ;)


Later Alligator :D

The tubing used on the coil type Heidts a-arms is 1" in diameter. If you get their coilover type arms they ar made of 1 1/8" tubing. I have had the small diameter arms bend on some streetrods. Since Heidt's changed to the 1 1/8" tubing there has been no problem.
Tim

I'd also suggest buying grade 8 bolts for the bottom coil-over mount. The std TCI bolt that mounts the shock to the lower control arm is a grade 5 - 7/16-14. The bolt you'll need to mount the coil-over is 1/2" dia. I was considering the same change - from coil springs to QA's - and I was concerned about the fact that with the QA's all the weight of the front end would now be supported by that 1/2"dia bolt. I called Evan @ TCI and he felt the same way. You see, with the coil-springs that bolt only supports the shock because the spring is seated into the control arm itself. For additional strength, I'd look into the gusset idea posted earlier by Shane. I'd weld the gussets from the underside of the lower control arm to the lower bolt spacer tubes - if you are modifing the a-arms. You may not need to be concerned about this if you are buying new lower control arms, as I'm not sure how they are designed.


edit:....forget what I said about modifications to the TCI coil-spring lower control arm. You SHOULD buy the QA control arm for your new coil-overs. That way you WILL have the 1/2 dia lower shock mount bolt - since the TCI arms have the 7/16 (no way would I use the 7/16 bolt to support the entire front end assy)......another thing to consider - if you have TCI control arms that are shortened 5/8", make sure the QA arms are shortened as well. Otherwise, you will also need to replace the upper arms.

Hopefully Tim (Ibuildm) can jump in here again. Does Heidts (and TCI) make the 5/8 narrowed a-arms for the coilover lower conversion? I have the Mustang II setup from Heidts (like Johnny), but the car came with the 5/8 narrowed a-arms. If I convert to the coilover setup, does Heidts make the 5/8 narrowed lower a-arms for coilover conversion?

Didn't mean to hijack this thread with my questions, but it is relevant to the topic.

Yes Heidt's make narrowed lower control arms for coil-overs. I run narrowed tubular upper and lower contol arms with Heidt's 2 " drop spindles and the same shock set-up as in the topic of this thread with 400 lb. springs. When I first installed the front suspension in 1995, I went with 500 lb. springs and it rode a little too hard for may taste so I switched to 400 lb. springs and liked it better. Now I'm upgrading to a big block and and plan to switch back to 500 lb. springs. My car was had a Richmond 5-speed when I used the 400 lb. springs. As Johnny mentioned with his automatic trans it might be heavier and 500 lb. springs might be required for his set-up. My car still handled good with the 500 lb. springs though. It was just a little to stiff up front and gave a harsher ride.

When you go to narrowed control arms the ride gets a little rougher too due to the decreased fulcrum of the shorter control arms as compared to stock width arms. You can compensate for it by going to a lighter coil spring though. Like Johhny said though, the coil springs are relatively inexpensive so if you get ones that aren't exactly what you want, you can always buy different ones for under $100.

I thought the stock Heidts lower shock bolt was 7/16" ? not 1/2" as is required for all the force that will be applyed with the coil overs vs the stock coil spring and shock.

Just a thought .

I thought the stock Heidts lower shock bolt was 7/16" ? not 1/2" as is required for all the force that will be applyed with the coil overs vs the stock coil spring and shock.

Just a thought .

YES, i'm sorry 'bout that. the stds are 7/16 the coil overs take the 1/2" ;)


thanks for correcting me ;)

Guys, I believe I will be calling ibuildm, QA-1, TCI and CCP. I will get the lower a-arm for the coil over, now I have a set of lowers a-arms that are coated and a set of springs that I have to get rid of. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm also getting a set of aluminum heads, so maybe the 400lb spring might a better choice. Sometimes I just should of went ahead and bought the coil over front end and been done with it, hindsight is for-sight. Well I keep you posted on the progress.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/62Nova/mod_arm1.jpg

Here's the picture that I was talking about.

I am going with the TCI front clip also and was wondering about doing the same with the coilovers like you have pictured.Would this setup be placing a lot of load on the bottom coilover bolt?

My mistake, i should have read all the post.

qa has a ureathane kit for there shocks that steps you up to 5/8" bolt if 1/2 is a concern thats what i did on my street rod
cheers wayne