7 Mods to Make the 4th Generation Camaro/Firebird Handle Better
03-02-2017, 07:27 AM
#4
Not sure I agree with motor mounts though...
03-02-2017, 11:53 AM
#6
Not a great article. It didn't say the items were in order of importance, but shocks should be #1. Tires could be item #2 in order of importance. A panhard bar is an OK improvement, but the article should talk about Watts links, as an actual better handling item. The list included bump stops, dumb IMO, but could have talked about adjustable torque arm, if you are going to lower the car. And motor mounts, are also a bottom of the list kind of item. To be complete, the article could have said STB's are not worth it, or are highly debated, so don't spend money on them first. Overall it was just too simplistic. Sounds like it was written by an f-bod newb. There's far too much good info out here already that could be pointed to.
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03-02-2017, 01:30 PM
#8
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Hey Guys,
I edited that and contributed to it. Sorry It was not up to your standards, but it was meant to be a basic guide to a beginner who just picked up a tired F-body and wants to improve it. Sure, motor mounts are not going to make a huge difference in the handling, but if you are starting with a tired 20 year old car with lots of miles on it the originals probably need changing, and they are going to help you put the power down. Yes, of course, a watts linkage is better than a panhard bar at laterally locating the rear of the car, but my point was that the stock bar is 1) flexible and 2) non-adjustable, and both of those things are a problem if you lower the car, start cornering hard, and want to put the power down. I'm sorry I did not dedicate a slide to telling people not to bother with strut tower braces, but then I didn't dedicate a slide to telling them not to bother with subframe connectors, or filling their tires with nitrogen either. As far as favoring one brand/vendor over any other, I must admit I was lazy. Here in the forums you guys are always swearing by the Strano springs with Koni shock combo, and I just picked a bunch of other links from them as well. As far as tires being #2 on the list, "...but just tires alone will amplify just how worn out everything else is."
As far as bump stops go, you all seem to be hashing that out all by yourselves.
I edited that and contributed to it. Sorry It was not up to your standards, but it was meant to be a basic guide to a beginner who just picked up a tired F-body and wants to improve it. Sure, motor mounts are not going to make a huge difference in the handling, but if you are starting with a tired 20 year old car with lots of miles on it the originals probably need changing, and they are going to help you put the power down. Yes, of course, a watts linkage is better than a panhard bar at laterally locating the rear of the car, but my point was that the stock bar is 1) flexible and 2) non-adjustable, and both of those things are a problem if you lower the car, start cornering hard, and want to put the power down. I'm sorry I did not dedicate a slide to telling people not to bother with strut tower braces, but then I didn't dedicate a slide to telling them not to bother with subframe connectors, or filling their tires with nitrogen either. As far as favoring one brand/vendor over any other, I must admit I was lazy. Here in the forums you guys are always swearing by the Strano springs with Koni shock combo, and I just picked a bunch of other links from them as well. As far as tires being #2 on the list, "...but just tires alone will amplify just how worn out everything else is."
As far as bump stops go, you all seem to be hashing that out all by yourselves.
03-02-2017, 02:34 PM
#9
I think bumpstops are critically important and I won't run without them. 
And even with high rate rear springs like say 275, my car, when it had them showed definite signs of using them. And I prefer to think of them as bump rubbers as opposed to bumpstops. I hate hard, unforgiving, non progressive stops, which is why I don't tend to use them.
As for the rest, it was a pretty basic article but touched the high points. And fwiw, I had nothing to do with any of it other than I've been around here a long time, making a lot of happy setups and that was translated in that article. I don't think anything in there was wrong.
And even with high rate rear springs like say 275, my car, when it had them showed definite signs of using them. And I prefer to think of them as bump rubbers as opposed to bumpstops. I hate hard, unforgiving, non progressive stops, which is why I don't tend to use them.
As for the rest, it was a pretty basic article but touched the high points. And fwiw, I had nothing to do with any of it other than I've been around here a long time, making a lot of happy setups and that was translated in that article. I don't think anything in there was wrong.
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03-02-2017, 08:54 PM
#10
I think bumpstops are critically important and I won't run without them.
And even with high rate rear springs like say 275, my car, when it had them showed definite signs of using them. And I prefer to think of them as bump rubbers as opposed to bumpstops. I hate hard, unforgiving, non progressive stops, which is why I don't tend to use them.
As for the rest, it was a pretty basic article but touched the high points. And fwiw, I had nothing to do with any of it other than I've been around here a long time, making a lot of happy setups and that was translated in that article. I don't think anything in there was wrong.
And even with high rate rear springs like say 275, my car, when it had them showed definite signs of using them. And I prefer to think of them as bump rubbers as opposed to bumpstops. I hate hard, unforgiving, non progressive stops, which is why I don't tend to use them.
As for the rest, it was a pretty basic article but touched the high points. And fwiw, I had nothing to do with any of it other than I've been around here a long time, making a lot of happy setups and that was translated in that article. I don't think anything in there was wrong.
And your rear spring rate is exactly half of mine
03-03-2017, 09:30 AM
#12
On a side note, thanks for writing an article and putting yourself out there. This is a tough crowd and I admire anyone willing to give it a shot.
ramey
ramey
Hey Guys,
I edited that and contributed to it. Sorry It was not up to your standards, but it was meant to be a basic guide to a beginner who just picked up a tired F-body and wants to improve it. Sure, motor mounts are not going to make a huge difference in the handling, but if you are starting with a tired 20 year old car with lots of miles on it the originals probably need changing, and they are going to help you put the power down. Yes, of course, a watts linkage is better than a panhard bar at laterally locating the rear of the car, but my point was that the stock bar is 1) flexible and 2) non-adjustable, and both of those things are a problem if you lower the car, start cornering hard, and want to put the power down. I'm sorry I did not dedicate a slide to telling people not to bother with strut tower braces, but then I didn't dedicate a slide to telling them not to bother with subframe connectors, or filling their tires with nitrogen either. As far as favoring one brand/vendor over any other, I must admit I was lazy. Here in the forums you guys are always swearing by the Strano springs with Koni shock combo, and I just picked a bunch of other links from them as well. As far as tires being #2 on the list, "...but just tires alone will amplify just how worn out everything else is."
As far as bump stops go, you all seem to be hashing that out all by yourselves.
I edited that and contributed to it. Sorry It was not up to your standards, but it was meant to be a basic guide to a beginner who just picked up a tired F-body and wants to improve it. Sure, motor mounts are not going to make a huge difference in the handling, but if you are starting with a tired 20 year old car with lots of miles on it the originals probably need changing, and they are going to help you put the power down. Yes, of course, a watts linkage is better than a panhard bar at laterally locating the rear of the car, but my point was that the stock bar is 1) flexible and 2) non-adjustable, and both of those things are a problem if you lower the car, start cornering hard, and want to put the power down. I'm sorry I did not dedicate a slide to telling people not to bother with strut tower braces, but then I didn't dedicate a slide to telling them not to bother with subframe connectors, or filling their tires with nitrogen either. As far as favoring one brand/vendor over any other, I must admit I was lazy. Here in the forums you guys are always swearing by the Strano springs with Koni shock combo, and I just picked a bunch of other links from them as well. As far as tires being #2 on the list, "...but just tires alone will amplify just how worn out everything else is."
As far as bump stops go, you all seem to be hashing that out all by yourselves.
03-03-2017, 02:02 PM
#13
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
18 SCCA National Championships in house, many more for our customers prove we know our stuff.Talk is cheap, results matter.
Check out our KONI prices, our Master Cylinder Brace, and new Xtracker Hub/wheel bearing upgrade kits!
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
18 SCCA National Championships in house, many more for our customers prove we know our stuff.Talk is cheap, results matter.
Check out our KONI prices, our Master Cylinder Brace, and new Xtracker Hub/wheel bearing upgrade kits!
