Minor/cheap suspension mods.

[Tbird232ci]

I've been reading, talking to people and doing some thinking. I don't have much money, just like everyone, so I'm trying to do the small things that can make a difference in handling.

The car needs and alignment, so I am looking at getting it aligned with 1* negative camber.

I'm looking at getting some poly swaybar D-bushings and poly endlink bushings.

Thinking about a shock tower brace.

Does anyone else have any suggestions of stuff of this magnitude that won't break the bank, but give at least a little bit of something to tinker and smile when I feel the difference?

[proace4]

i would try like the usual stuff but maybe get the cheaper versions? say like the ebay brands... panhard bar, lower control arms, lca relocation brackets, strut tower brace isnt bad but i havent heard of it lowering 60 ft times. but idk much about suspension.

[94Blackbird]

You ever think about getting the stock stuff boxed? I've heard of alot of people who got great results doing that. I can't imagine it would cost all that much, especially if you have any kind of fabrication skills.

[Tbird232ci]

I do browse around on Ebay, but the prices aren't much better than new, and I have a "do it once" mentality, so I'd prefer to get the best of what I need.

Boxing the stock stuff would be alright, but at the same time, I really wouldn't want to pull it all apart, to put it back together, then pull it off when I can afford the good stuff.

I guess I'm just trying to find some cheap, low budget things that will tie me over until I can get the good stuff, and that I won't have to replace. I do appreciate the input though.

[LT1_Fireman]

get a good panhard rod it will transform the car then shocks

[CamaroGirl]

get a good panhard rod it will transform the car then shocks
x2, panhards are the cheapest suspension piece, then lcas, then stb, or sfc, shocks are dirt cheap as well, if you're doing the struts with them, the $ starts to get higher. if you want cheap shock/strut combo, then tokicos are decent for the price. cheap springs would be suspension techniques. just a note though, quality is usually reflected by the price.

[Fixxer99TA]

just a note though, quality is usually reflected by the price.

100% True.

And also, adjustability is the way to go if you plan on taking the car further at the track. Although more expensive, you will need it.

[96LT1355Z28]

I would do SFC's, LCA's w/ relocation brackets, TA, and shocks. Competition Engineering has some decent SFC's, Lakewood has some boxed LCA's with polybushings that are pretty cheap. KYB AGX's are a decent adjustable shock that won't break the bank. You could always watch the FS section for some used chromoly parts at a discount. I wouldn't bother with a strut tower brace unless your plan on doing some serious corner carving!

[jaysz2893]

I got my Sub Frame Connectors (bolt in, soon to be wleded), on-car adjustable Panhard, non adj tubular A- arms, Bolt In (soon to be welded) Relocation brackets, and a Strut tower brace all recently diretlcy from UMI Performance. I like thier stuff and have talked personally to Ryan over a scam that someone tried to perpetrate with him and our club members. He is a really good guy. Total for all the stuff shipped was about $570. It was all mild steel, not Chromoly. THe fit was perfect, and the quality was great. I wnt to do new sway sawy bars too, but they are pricey, and I dont drive the car enough to justify them yet. An OEM 1LE front bar would be nice if you can fine one. I may just go with the Kit UMI has for $320, it come with the poly busings and end links.
Definatley do the endlinks and bushings with Poly. These cars are getting old and the old rubber stuff is dry - rotting.

I got my Eibachs off a buddy for $100. THey are used LS1 Pro Kit springs, so they lowered the front down a bit more so I had to remove the isolators, do the hose mod, and trim about 2 inhes off the top coil in the rear. I have seen them around on ebay and CL sometimes pretty cheap.

As for shocks I still need to get new ones, prob Tokicko or KYB. Bilstiens would be great, but i dont have that money sitting around.

Lookt at spending around $1200 - $1500 for a complete overhaul.