chevelle suspension questions

mannymen · 09-30-2009, 09:55 AM

talk to 1320 racer at DRR he can best help you with this exact subject.

Bimbo Jones · 09-30-2009, 10:35 AM

Kychevyman I run 7.20's using a t-brake and 9" slicks in my 65 chevelle wagon. The best tool for me is a infrared heat gun to tell the track temp. I'm running a sbc and don't have near the torque of a bbc. when the track gets over 110 degrees I have to lower the luanch rpm from 4200 to 3400 plus add about 150lbs in the rear to get it to hook. As long as you are limited to using 9" slicks you will have this battle using a transbrake. Now my car is deadly as a foot breaker even in the heat. That has a lot to do with hitting an unloaded suspension and those little slicks. I'm wanting to put the stocker motor in the wagon so traction will no longer be an issue. and take my drivetrain and put it into a 79 Malibu with some big slicks to deal with the slippery tracks in the Texas heat. BTW, I slowed the car down almost two tenths to get it to stick in the heat. Good Luck though.

67ss · 09-30-2009, 10:53 AM

I don't buy the pinion angle post. 2-2.5 degrees down should be sufficient in relation to the trans or you can measure off the damper. If the damper is 3 up then the pinion should be 5 down for a difference of 2. When the pinion climbs the ring gear the pinion angle will go up and your goal is to be parallel with the trans yoke or 0 degrees pinion angle going down track. Pinion angle on these cars has no bearing on traction but more on driveline efficiency. I used to run the hop stops and stock type lowers and never had my pinion angle at 0 or up nor did I see the pinion angle go negative with rear end separation.

I ran that same tire but not the ST. I ran the L8 compound tire. The M5 is a harder compound but if your issues are in the heat that shouldn't be an issue and maybe needed with a transbrake launch to keep from shearing the rubber. Are these mounted on at least 8" rims?

You could kill some of the hit with a gear change to say a 4.33. I know my 396 gave me fits with a 5.13 so I stepped back to a 4.56 and tamed the car down.

Some rear mounted ballast isn't a bad idea as well.

Work on the front end and some of the other incidentals and hopefully you will see some progress.

kychevyman · 09-30-2009, 11:31 AM

They are mounted on 8 inch rims. I've heard of using a 10" rim. Bigger footprint is the only benifit? Can I expect any change from say 50 lbs in the trunk? This weekend I'm gonna see what turning the starting line down and some ballast in the trunk does.

67ss · 09-30-2009, 12:10 PM

50 is better than 0

. It is a good start. I probably started with 50 when I was trying to be convinced to put some ballast in. I run 140 lbs. now and have had as much as 190 with the bigger 460 BBC I run now. But 140 seems to be about right for me. Put 50 in and see what it does.

8" rim is ok with those tires. I always ran mine on 8" rims and run my 9" hoosier radial slicks on 8" as well. I'm sure a 10" rim would be better. Just wanted to make sure you didn't have them on a 7". The worst thing is too wide a tire on too narrow a rim.

Good luck.

kychevyman · 09-30-2009, 03:53 PM

What are you guys using to get 150 lbs of ballast?

67ss · 09-30-2009, 08:03 PM

I went to a metal scrap yard and they had big chunks of metal that had been cut up with their big scrap metal shear. Got 4 pieces (3 were 50 lbs each and 1 that was 25 lbs). I can't really remember what I paid but I think they charged me about $50-$75 for it all which was a lot cheaper than lead and easier to work with as far as mounting. I used 2 pieces of it and welded straps to it to bolt to trunk floor. These 2 chunks are at rear of trunk. Then in front of cell I used a 40 lb dumbell with a strap welded around the handle and bolted to floor. I think going strictly by the rules it should be bolted to the chassis but I use large fender washers and grade 8 bolts to make sure it stays put. Got another chunk made up that can go to left of cell when I need it.

blasttime · 10-03-2009, 07:48 AM

I have never put weight in my chevelle. There are lots of rear suspension kits out there that will work sway bar antia roll bar a must, Untilll you free up up front end and gain travel you wont be happy. Take a look at tony janes car the red 68 lower body line and spindle and how it leaves. Iam only going 10.50s yet hook good. Trick springs are great yet Ihave 6cyl wagon spring cut 1coil plus 60 mil. Ball joint selection is key here along with control arm bushings. That said have 4 wheel alinment done by frame shop. Good luck

09-30-2009, 09:55 AM	#1
mannymen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 728 Likes: 5 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions talk to 1320 racer at DRR he can best help you with this exact subject. __________________ N/A

09-30-2009, 10:35 AM	#2
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions Kychevyman I run 7.20's using a t-brake and 9" slicks in my 65 chevelle wagon. The best tool for me is a infrared heat gun to tell the track temp. I'm running a sbc and don't have near the torque of a bbc. when the track gets over 110 degrees I have to lower the luanch rpm from 4200 to 3400 plus add about 150lbs in the rear to get it to hook. As long as you are limited to using 9" slicks you will have this battle using a transbrake. Now my car is deadly as a foot breaker even in the heat. That has a lot to do with hitting an unloaded suspension and those little slicks. I'm wanting to put the stocker motor in the wagon so traction will no longer be an issue. and take my drivetrain and put it into a 79 Malibu with some big slicks to deal with the slippery tracks in the Texas heat. BTW, I slowed the car down almost two tenths to get it to stick in the heat. Good Luck though.

09-30-2009, 10:53 AM	#3
67ss Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions I don't buy the pinion angle post. 2-2.5 degrees down should be sufficient in relation to the trans or you can measure off the damper. If the damper is 3 up then the pinion should be 5 down for a difference of 2. When the pinion climbs the ring gear the pinion angle will go up and your goal is to be parallel with the trans yoke or 0 degrees pinion angle going down track. Pinion angle on these cars has no bearing on traction but more on driveline efficiency. I used to run the hop stops and stock type lowers and never had my pinion angle at 0 or up nor did I see the pinion angle go negative with rear end separation. I ran that same tire but not the ST. I ran the L8 compound tire. The M5 is a harder compound but if your issues are in the heat that shouldn't be an issue and maybe needed with a transbrake launch to keep from shearing the rubber. Are these mounted on at least 8" rims? You could kill some of the hit with a gear change to say a 4.33. I know my 396 gave me fits with a 5.13 so I stepped back to a 4.56 and tamed the car down. Some rear mounted ballast isn't a bad idea as well. Work on the front end and some of the other incidentals and hopefully you will see some progress. __________________ Chad Harris 67 Chevelle SS http://mysite.verizon.net/harrisracing

09-30-2009, 11:31 AM	#4
kychevyman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions They are mounted on 8 inch rims. I've heard of using a 10" rim. Bigger footprint is the only benifit? Can I expect any change from say 50 lbs in the trunk? This weekend I'm gonna see what turning the starting line down and some ballast in the trunk does.

09-30-2009, 12:10 PM	#5
67ss Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions 50 is better than 0. It is a good start. I probably started with 50 when I was trying to be convinced to put some ballast in. I run 140 lbs. now and have had as much as 190 with the bigger 460 BBC I run now. But 140 seems to be about right for me. Put 50 in and see what it does. 8" rim is ok with those tires. I always ran mine on 8" rims and run my 9" hoosier radial slicks on 8" as well. I'm sure a 10" rim would be better. Just wanted to make sure you didn't have them on a 7". The worst thing is too wide a tire on too narrow a rim. Good luck. __________________ Chad Harris 67 Chevelle SS http://mysite.verizon.net/harrisracing

09-30-2009, 03:53 PM	#6
kychevyman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions What are you guys using to get 150 lbs of ballast?

09-30-2009, 08:03 PM	#7
67ss Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions I went to a metal scrap yard and they had big chunks of metal that had been cut up with their big scrap metal shear. Got 4 pieces (3 were 50 lbs each and 1 that was 25 lbs). I can't really remember what I paid but I think they charged me about $50-$75 for it all which was a lot cheaper than lead and easier to work with as far as mounting. I used 2 pieces of it and welded straps to it to bolt to trunk floor. These 2 chunks are at rear of trunk. Then in front of cell I used a 40 lb dumbell with a strap welded around the handle and bolted to floor. I think going strictly by the rules it should be bolted to the chassis but I use large fender washers and grade 8 bolts to make sure it stays put. Got another chunk made up that can go to left of cell when I need it. __________________ Chad Harris 67 Chevelle SS http://mysite.verizon.net/harrisracing

10-03-2009, 07:48 AM	#8
blasttime Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 43 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chevelle suspension questions I have never put weight in my chevelle. There are lots of rear suspension kits out there that will work sway bar antia roll bar a must, Untilll you free up up front end and gain travel you wont be happy. Take a look at tony janes car the red 68 lower body line and spindle and how it leaves. Iam only going 10.50s yet hook good. Trick springs are great yet Ihave 6cyl wagon spring cut 1coil plus 60 mil. Ball joint selection is key here along with control arm bushings. That said have 4 wheel alinment done by frame shop. Good luck

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