Hey guys we want to stiffen up the ride of our 69. We dont want new subs or anything like that so I was looking at edelbrock performer shocks with sport springs in the front. Can you guys offer some advice on suspensions to look at for the front and back? Will sport leaf springs in the rear as well as shocks help stiffen the ride in the back? Thanks for any help guys. I am new to suspension mods so any insight would be great.
69 Nova Suspension
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How wild do you want to go? How much are you looking to spend? We're good at spending other people's money here on Steve's. :devil: We've also got some real CHEAP S.O.B.'s on here as well. 
If you want to go all out, check out my build thread. Full Hotchkis TVS kit with Speed Tech tubular control arms. If you look at the thread, it will give you good ideas! :stir: :devil:
If you want to go all out, check out my build thread. Full Hotchkis TVS kit with Speed Tech tubular control arms. If you look at the thread, it will give you good ideas! :stir: :devil:
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No problems with spontaneous chipping, and it holds up really well against brake fluid (don't ask me how I know
). Touch-ups are easy, since it's all in a rattle can. I do have to say the paint "chalks up" a little if you rub something up against it. Suspension:
- Hotchkis TVS kit off of eBay was $1050 (free shipping)
- Speed Tech control arms $1100 for upper and lower
- Moog tie rod ends, stabalizer, and pitman arm $250ish I believe
- Bilstein shocks (TVS tuned) were $100 each - so $400
So, $2800 total (excluding subframe connectors and wheels/tires). A lot of money if you think of it in the frame of mind that I put it all on a $3000 car, but really cheap for making a Nova handle like a new Corvette.
Thank you so much for the advice. I will be holding off on the suspension then seeing that its gonna be a little spendy. I like the way those IROC wheels look on your car. Im not done reading your build page yet so I got some free time now. I think im only on page 6-7. Man you have put alot of work into that thing.
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I'd start with new springs if yours are original or worn, and then move on to shocks and a sway bar. Hotchkis, DSE, and some of those brands have fantastic stuff but it is expensive. Summit has some cheaper brands of sways and such if you are on a tighter budget.
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Oh, and what condition are your bushings in?
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You like the IROC's? I just got 'em for something cheap. They do ok for rollers, but not my style. I'm going to upgrade to either Foose wheels or lately I've been scoping out Vintage Wheel Works (they are coming out with 18's soon).
Like I said before, it depends on your budget... it can be done cheap, or you can buy a fully tuned kit that is designed to work together. Not saying that cheap won't work... just be careful what components you use together. Suspension is like building an engine - you can take a stock small block and stuff a big hairy cam in there, and it runs like [email protected] You can take expensive shocks and put it in a car with clapped out steering components and it will handle poorly.
YES! :yes: Very good point. Make sure your frame mount bushings are in good shape (the bushings that go between the body and the front frame). Going to a polyurethane mount will stiffen it up even more. The stock rubber mounts didn't last very long.
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