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I was looking for information on a front coilover shock conversion . spring rates , travel distance and such . I believe this will be my next project . Also what headers can be used once the torsion bars are removed ? Looking to pull my entire exhaust and use it on rbman's truck and run new for mine with long tube headers .

I can post some pics. Will look for my reciept for the spring rates. I run long tube headers for a camero late 60's early 70's I think its been awhile for the conversion.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

QA1 actually makes a coil over shock that has the stud mount on top and will bolt in place of the factory shock . I'm thinking about going this route . The shock bracket looks strong enough to hold the weight of the truck . I also need stories about spring rates .

I belive mine are #230 lb, but I'm not 100% positive. My group usually finds a set of ahem 'preowned' shocks and fab a top mount to work with the height of the shock. Best I can do. QA1's are nice. I'd spring for the double adjustable to help with the fine tuning if I were buying new.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

Mine are 250lbs and ride a little stiff. They are from Art Morrision.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Thanks guys , this is the quality info im looking for . Keep it coming . I'll try and keep you posted on the progress .

This is good stuff. I plan on doing this conversion when i get back too.

So what is the advantage of the coil overs.

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Too much to do and not enough time or money!
Courage is the other side of fear!
Pain is the weakness leaving the body!

One big reason is room. with the torsion bars you are very limited on your choice of headers. Starter removal would be easier with coilovers as well. Also you have more flexibility with the coilovers.

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Resident lurker

After reading my previous post I didnt' want any misunderstanding about what I meant by flexibility... you have control over ride height, without necessarily compromising ride quality, you have control over weight transfer, corner loading, adjustable spring rates. You have more options with coilovers vs the torsion bars.

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Resident lurker

What he said. Lots of room to work underneath. Fab a removeable crossmember for the tranny and the annoyance factor during tranny changes goes way down.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

How much would a mod like this set ya back? I'm going to be setting my sbc back aways and could use the extra room.

I think mine were about $280 shipped plus a little time to install.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Here is an example of a mount made to use the existing shock pocket on one of the old dirt trucks We ran.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

QA1 makes a "stud on top" style coil over I might go this route .

Yeah, if I was buying new, that's the route I'd go. The pics show a set that are "preowned" dirt track shocks that were $50 bucks for the pair. I've had taller "preowned" shocks, and cut the factory mount and made some mounts to fit.
A set of double adjustable HAL's are pretty sweet though. I think the springs on this set up is 200 lbs due to the engine, cab setback. Not positive as this one was built so long ago...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I've seen pictures of the Luv shock towers with a coilovers after coming down hard because of a wheelie, and they bent and stretched around the coilover. mytmouz has a good idea that looks like it reinforces the stock setup. It seems to me the factory metal will not be strong enough to support the extra weight that the springs used to carry plus the extra weight of the V8 for extended periods of time. If you were to wrap the outside of the shock tower with 3/16 steel and weld it to the frame I think that would be strong enough.

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I want to be different like everybody else.

you know for some reason i vaugly remember early 90's honda civic and/or accord coilovers to be short and rather small.

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1975 LUV with a caddy 500ci, 12.5-1 comp, 850CFM holley sucking E85 through 110 jets and torquing the hell out of a TH400. Currently @ 6mpg

Bowties may be for little boys, but ponies are DEFINATLY for little girls....

and now that i think about it...i think that one of those coilovers probably would collape and explode under the weight of an SBC

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1975 LUV with a caddy 500ci, 12.5-1 comp, 850CFM holley sucking E85 through 110 jets and torquing the hell out of a TH400. Currently @ 6mpg

Bowties may be for little boys, but ponies are DEFINATLY for little girls....

I would like to know if anyone could supply some pics and maybe a QA1 part # on shocks (single adjustable ) that will work on a 79 luv with sbc, also do I need to go with a 7in or 9 in spring and what rate. My truck is drag race only, back halfed , and weight is 2405 ready to run. Thanks for any help you can give me on this mod.