4 Link Rear Suspension
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
October 2009 ROTM
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,560
From: Eastern PA,
ROTM Winner's Club
What are you looking for? Torque range, tire setup, street or track?
Are you looking to make one from scratch? I have done it on race cars. I have never done it on a street cars. Race cars need to be stronger but they are a lot more forgiving if a angle is off a little. They also need a ton of adjustability, I am sure you can find someone who has done street cars. In fact you will need someone to help you setup the 4 link after it is built. A 4 link that is not adjusted right may not be much better then your leaf springs. There are a lot of variable that go into the proper adjustments. There are guys out there that do nothing but setup 4 links and they make good money and even race teams stand inline to get their help. Talking to the local expert you may enlist to help you get it adjusted may save you headaches and redos.
There are a ton of kits out there. You can spend anywhere from 350 to $2500 just on kits. Converting over to just a 4 link seems to be the most popular and I would guess it would be good up to maybe 450 HP without slicks. Over the 450 HP with slicks you looking at a whole add in sub frame that could be tied into a roll cage. If I was doing it on a 1st gen I would be tempted to copy a 4th gen. That way I could use a the factory settings as a starting point. This would just be the angle setup with the panhard bar.
Note I am conservatives, IMO seeing the small tear in the back corner of the drivers window is a fail in my book.
Are you looking to make one from scratch? I have done it on race cars. I have never done it on a street cars. Race cars need to be stronger but they are a lot more forgiving if a angle is off a little. They also need a ton of adjustability, I am sure you can find someone who has done street cars. In fact you will need someone to help you setup the 4 link after it is built. A 4 link that is not adjusted right may not be much better then your leaf springs. There are a lot of variable that go into the proper adjustments. There are guys out there that do nothing but setup 4 links and they make good money and even race teams stand inline to get their help. Talking to the local expert you may enlist to help you get it adjusted may save you headaches and redos.
There are a ton of kits out there. You can spend anywhere from 350 to $2500 just on kits. Converting over to just a 4 link seems to be the most popular and I would guess it would be good up to maybe 450 HP without slicks. Over the 450 HP with slicks you looking at a whole add in sub frame that could be tied into a roll cage. If I was doing it on a 1st gen I would be tempted to copy a 4th gen. That way I could use a the factory settings as a starting point. This would just be the angle setup with the panhard bar.
Note I am conservatives, IMO seeing the small tear in the back corner of the drivers window is a fail in my book.
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 3
What are you looking for? Torque range, tire setup, street or track?
Are you looking to make one from scratch? I have done it on race cars. I have never done it on a street cars. Race cars need to be stronger but they are a lot more forgiving if a angle is off a little. They also need a ton of adjustability, I am sure you can find someone who has done street cars. In fact you will need someone to help you setup the 4 link after it is built. A 4 link that is not adjusted right may not be much better then your leaf springs. There are a lot of variable that go into the proper adjustments. There are guys out there that do nothing but setup 4 links and they make good money and even race teams stand inline to get their help. Talking to the local expert you may enlist to help you get it adjusted may save you headaches and redos.
There are a ton of kits out there. You can spend anywhere from 350 to $2500 just on kits. Converting over to just a 4 link seems to be the most popular and I would guess it would be good up to maybe 450 HP without slicks. Over the 450 HP with slicks you looking at a whole add in sub frame that could be tied into a roll cage. If I was doing it on a 1st gen I would be tempted to copy a 4th gen. That way I could use a the factory settings as a starting point. This would just be the angle setup with the panhard bar.
Note I am conservatives, IMO seeing the small tear in the back corner of the drivers window is a fail in my book.
Are you looking to make one from scratch? I have done it on race cars. I have never done it on a street cars. Race cars need to be stronger but they are a lot more forgiving if a angle is off a little. They also need a ton of adjustability, I am sure you can find someone who has done street cars. In fact you will need someone to help you setup the 4 link after it is built. A 4 link that is not adjusted right may not be much better then your leaf springs. There are a lot of variable that go into the proper adjustments. There are guys out there that do nothing but setup 4 links and they make good money and even race teams stand inline to get their help. Talking to the local expert you may enlist to help you get it adjusted may save you headaches and redos.
There are a ton of kits out there. You can spend anywhere from 350 to $2500 just on kits. Converting over to just a 4 link seems to be the most popular and I would guess it would be good up to maybe 450 HP without slicks. Over the 450 HP with slicks you looking at a whole add in sub frame that could be tied into a roll cage. If I was doing it on a 1st gen I would be tempted to copy a 4th gen. That way I could use a the factory settings as a starting point. This would just be the angle setup with the panhard bar.
Note I am conservatives, IMO seeing the small tear in the back corner of the drivers window is a fail in my book.
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
October 2009 ROTM
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,560
From: Eastern PA,
ROTM Winner's Club
Yes, companies like ride tech have bolt in coil over kits. I would expect to pay about a $1000 in parts and you can get then in bolt on kits so no welding required. If it is a US company they should have decent instructions and if it a popular one I am sure they a few you tube videos to walk you thru the process. There is also the next level of independent rear suspension. I would guess that would be 3-4X the cost.
The upside to the bolt in kits is just about anyone can do it and it can be reversed and put back to stock. A welded in system should be welded by a pro an but they are more rigid and will spread the torque out over a greater area of the unibody.
Are you 100% sure you current rear suspension is working as it should and have you done any upgrades. I have upgraded mine to a multi leaf setup like is in the 69 and added some gas charged KYB shock. When people ride in my car the first time I get comments about how nice it rides. I think it surprises people, I cant tell you how many times I have gotten into older cars and the rear suspension was setup to get the right ride height but not in good working order. I was thinking about adjustable rear shock and a sway bar but it's a convertible its not going to handle well no matter what I do.
The upside to the bolt in kits is just about anyone can do it and it can be reversed and put back to stock. A welded in system should be welded by a pro an but they are more rigid and will spread the torque out over a greater area of the unibody.
Are you 100% sure you current rear suspension is working as it should and have you done any upgrades. I have upgraded mine to a multi leaf setup like is in the 69 and added some gas charged KYB shock. When people ride in my car the first time I get comments about how nice it rides. I think it surprises people, I cant tell you how many times I have gotten into older cars and the rear suspension was setup to get the right ride height but not in good working order. I was thinking about adjustable rear shock and a sway bar but it's a convertible its not going to handle well no matter what I do.
Thread Starter
|
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 3
Yes, companies like ride tech have bolt in coil over kits. I would expect to pay about a $1000 in parts and you can get then in bolt on kits so no welding required. If it is a US company they should have decent instructions and if it a popular one I am sure they a few you tube videos to walk you thru the process. There is also the next level of independent rear suspension. I would guess that would be 3-4X the cost.
The upside to the bolt in kits is just about anyone can do it and it can be reversed and put back to stock. A welded in system should be welded by a pro an but they are more rigid and will spread the torque out over a greater area of the unibody.
Are you 100% sure you current rear suspension is working as it should and have you done any upgrades. I have upgraded mine to a multi leaf setup like is in the 69 and added some gas charged KYB shock. When people ride in my car the first time I get comments about how nice it rides. I think it surprises people, I cant tell you how many times I have gotten into older cars and the rear suspension was setup to get the right ride height but not in good working order. I was thinking about adjustable rear shock and a sway bar but it's a convertible its not going to handle well no matter what I do.
The upside to the bolt in kits is just about anyone can do it and it can be reversed and put back to stock. A welded in system should be welded by a pro an but they are more rigid and will spread the torque out over a greater area of the unibody.
Are you 100% sure you current rear suspension is working as it should and have you done any upgrades. I have upgraded mine to a multi leaf setup like is in the 69 and added some gas charged KYB shock. When people ride in my car the first time I get comments about how nice it rides. I think it surprises people, I cant tell you how many times I have gotten into older cars and the rear suspension was setup to get the right ride height but not in good working order. I was thinking about adjustable rear shock and a sway bar but it's a convertible its not going to handle well no matter what I do.
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