Front suspension from Bob

[marc556]

Hi guys,


I saw some pictures of Bob ASCONA A.
He made a wonderfull job on the from suspension.
Does anyone made the same job on a GT ?
Doe he keep the original spring ?
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7555/bob1wc.th.jpg

[RallyBob]

Marc, I have modified many GT front suspensions as well.

I am nearly complete with another GT front suspension at the moment, it uses the standard front leaf spring, but I have shortened the top two leaves a bit (better ride), and have added HDPE (high density polyethylene) plastic between each leaf as well to make it smoother. It also has different lower ball joints to lower the suspension (but this does not reduce shock travel), and also to improve the suspension geometry. I have made custom rack and pinion mounts from steel (no rubber), and the camber is fully adjustable.

In the past I have done other GT suspensions with my fiberglass front leaf spring design, and a few with coil-over front shocks.

My next GT front suspension will be for my father's GT, it will be completely custom fabricated, with power steering, and inboard rocker-arm actuated coil-over Koni shocks.

Bob

[marc556]

Hi Bob,

thank you for your reply.
I found the followed picture on the net and I want to do the same, but I need more infos like drawing, mesurement.....
Could you help me?



http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8459/10007306pk.th.jpg

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by marc556 Hi Bob, thank you for your reply. I found the followed picture on the net and I want to do the same, but I need more infos like drawing, mesurement..... Could you help me?

It requires a lot of work to make the car safe. The biggest problem is that under full droop (suspension hanging down), the coil springs will strike the upper a-arm and bind the spring. So if you decide to use 2.25" or 2.5" coil springs (common for racing), then you will have to make new custom upper control arms for clearance.

As an alternative, you can grind the standard upper a-arm for clearance, and use a small-body shock absorber with a 1.875" racing spring. But most of those springs have coils that are too tightly spaced for the weight of a full-size car, so I had custom springs made for me that were 275 lbs (for road use).

You will also have to weld reinforcements to the lower arm to mount the shock absorber, since now the original mount is supporting the shock and the spring.

You will have to bolt or weld a reinforcement to the bottom of the lower control arm to keep it stabilized, since without the leaf spring in place it is weakened.

You should seam-weld the crossmember to strengthen it...it will be under more stress than originally designed. And you must be sure the top shock absorber mounts are not rusted at all, since they are now supporting the weight of the front of the car. A good idea as well is to make a support bar (strut tower bar) under the hood, just like they do with new cars with strut suspension. This will keep the top shock mounts from flexing the body and crossmember and making it weaker.

Hope this helps,
Bob