Suspension experts, is this a mistake?
 

I have a 1950 3100 that I've been wrestling with for the last 5 years. I'm closing in on finishing up the chassis part of the build, but I fear that my wishy washy decision making has finally done me in so I've started this thread because I'm second guessing myself, yet again.


Let me give a quick run down on what I have.

• '79 Firebird clip (that is too wide)
  
• Triangulated 4 bar in back
  
• Ride Tech E3 system
  
• Ride Tech Shockwaves on all four corners (specifically to fit a Firebird in the front, and "Hot Rod" spec versions for the rear, whatever that means)

All of the chassis stuff has recently either been powder coated (frame) or painted (everything else), and after assembly and seeing it all kind of work together for the first time, I'm rather concerned. The front sits higher than the rear at full suspension drop. The Firebird clip runs out of travel well before the rear end does. In fact, the front running board support sits 3/4 of an inch higher than the rear (the front is 4 1/2 inches from the ground when measured at the top).

I know that I can lower the front more with drop spindles. I also know that I can narrow the front track width with control arms. But, both of those parts together will run me about $1,300. Frankly, that frosts me a little bit because that is the cost of a new MII front end which would have been perfect, and specifically made to fit this application. One that accepts REAL air ride stuff, and gets LOW.

Now for the rear end. The c-notch and shock tower you see in the pics below was a suggestion from the guy who build it. He got me all excited about air ride stuff, and I jumped on it immediately. I agreed way too fast, I fear. I didn't do any research at all, and if I had I would have gone with a full notch kit to get it on the ground. But, that probably really would have screwed up the front end, which can't keep up as it is. Any hoooo, about the rear..... I don't trust that dang thing. It just looks to thin and flimsy.

Here are some pics so you can keep up:

Note the running board support differences. The front and back are sitting all the way down right now, save for some cloth between the frame c-notch and the axle.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...PICT0002-3.jpg


An angled shot:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...PICT0003-2.jpg


The front right:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/PICT0009.jpg


Front left:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/PICT0010.jpg


Rear end:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/PICT0012.jpg



How I got to this point....... I'm a rookie who is impressionistic, unfortunately. Until I grew a brain and learned to research this stuff myself, I simply listened to other "expert car guys" and did what ever they told me to do. The Firebird clip was never planned, it just happened. The 4 bar was a "my stock rear end that came on the truck is destroyed, now what?". Some guy said "put a 4 bar in it!" during a night of beer drinking. Then, another guy comes along and said "You should put an air ride in it, man!". So I spend $2,800 bucks on that. Long story short, it's a hodge podge conglomeration of crap, IMO, that isn't really working together. Or at least, I've come to fear that after reading THREAD after THREAD after THREAD of Advance-Design truck builds.

No one runs shockwaves.

No one has a shock tower in the rear like this thing has.

No one is running an air ride on an F-body clip.



I'm beginning to chicken out on this truck. I'm thinking that I could simply put the factory coils back in the Firebird clip, buy some cheapo shocks for the front, and some coil overs for the rear, finish putting it together as cheaply as possible and sell it, then start over and save all of the expensive Ride Tech stuff for something else. Or, I could continue on.

I just don't know. I fear that this thing is going to be a laughing stock in the end. Please give me your opinion.

Yeah, it's shiny and what not. New parts and all, BUT............... is it a cluster bomb of stuff that shouldn't go together? That's the ten million dollar question.

Be honest with your opinion please.

Re: Suspension experts, is this a mistake?
 

Should you continue on w/what you have is subjective. To me, the main priority would be the quality/execution of the current fabrication. The next deciding factor would be how much do you currently have invested (not including the air ride stuff)? That is a major factor in what to do. If you're too deep into that set-up, some possible options....

Drop spindles up front should help get things closer to 'evened out' as far as F/R height & not hurt the wallet too bad. The narrowed a-arms could be purchased later if needed. You might need to narrow the track width, or, you might be able to use everything as is w/the 'right' wheel back-spacing (*right = optimal for this application).

If there's no possible way the front track width will work w/o the narrowed a-arms because of a super low ride height & $1300 is more than you want to spend additionally toward the chassis..... you already know your answer.

Re: Suspension experts, is this a mistake?
 

Currently have invested, minus air ride parts....... $7,200.

Re: Suspension experts, is this a mistake?
 

I'm going to have to agree with Scoti. If its quality work and you can get what you have to work. Why not use it? Selling it and starting over is going to most likely put you even deeper in the hole. It's all what you want to do, but if I was that far into it I want to continue on and get it on the road.