I don't know what you consider stiff? I have the Calvert split monos, cal tracs and the Rancho 9 ways on my 71. The car is very stiff. I am 160lbs and I can stand on the bumper and the car only moves 1/2" if that much and that is with the bars lose. I have dropped my tire pressure from 35 psi to 25 and it helped the ride some but that also affected cornering.

 

Multi leafs are very stiff. I changed from mono to multi and didn't like it, way to stiff. I will be getting Calvert's split mono's when $ permit.

 

I had the Hotchkis dropped leafs on mine and i thought they rode great. they weren't too stiff at all.

 

What shock were you using with the Hotchkis springs?

 

The G-bar set up is nice. I have the prodigy bar on mine, which is basically the original g-bar with adjustable arms. I'm running QA1 coilovers with it. One of the main reason I went with the g-bar is the adjustability. With leafs, once they settle, you are stuck with that ride height. With the g-bar set up, you have about 4 different settings to go to. I'm not at the point of driving mine yet, but from everything I've read, they are a great all around set up. There are quite a few guys on the pro-touring forums that run this set up and road race their cars as well as cruise in them. My vote would be the g-bar.

 

How firm is firm? I have the Hotchkis springs and Koni red shocks. It is pretty firm, but I like it that way. Your shocks will determin your ride as much as your springs will. The hotchkis leaf springs are 225 lbs. Stock springs are about 125 - 145 lbs depending on the car.

 

Due to the constant non-availability of the Hotchkis shocks for the rear does anyone have any alternate recommendations? I've pretty much had it with Hotchkis touting how great they are and not being able to supply a simple shock absorber. I want their crap off my car and plan to go G-Bar in the winter but I'll need an interim shock - can the regular Bilsteins be all that different? Someone like shockwarehouse should have something of a similar spec surely?

Thanks all

 

The regular Bilsteins will work. I like my Koni shocks a lot. QA-1s are another option that offers adjustability. If you are worried about ride comfort, get the double adjustable QA-1s. Edelbrock also makes a decent shock.

 

My car with the hotchkis 3 inch drop leaf springs, i like the spring rate and i am about to put on QA1 single adjustable shocks, should work really well.

 

Jason

Jason, I think your car looks bada--. I like the color and the way it sits. My old 71 I replaced the rear monos with multileafs and new stock shocks. I had trick springs in the front with CE 90/10 drag shocks. Rode good to me and worked well at the track with a 1.64-60' and an 11.60 e.t.. It would get the front tires up about 2 inches and that was leaving at a dead idle on the foot brake. Can't tell, but is your car paint metalflake or just a solid blue.?

 

It has a very slight metallic to it, its a VERY difficult color to photograph, it always comes out looking solid.

 

I never updated my own thread.

I ended up going with the Hotchkis 1.5" drop multi-leafs and love them! :yes: Great ride and cornering. I had them on even when I ran on the drag strip for Pinks All Out in June.

 

I will have a set of fairly new Cal-Tracs for sale soon. Let me know.

 

how much for the semi used Cal-Tracs?