Have a new set of "stock" springs coming fore and aft on my 71 riv, was wondering what others have done to get some of the "push" out of these queen marys, not that I mind the stock push? Any better shocks, what's else available? Bad Riv?
Mike, I have Bilstein shocks and springs all around, and with the factory Accu drive system, the car handles like a dream. I even lose Porsche drivers on motorway intersections now (in big roundabout type offramps), but make sure you change to at least 275's or 295's at the rear.
EriK 275 70's? I got an order in with Coil Spring Specialties in Kansas at the advice from others on V8. What do you run on the front? By the way, I find it interesting that some of the better aficianado's of the boattails comes from those on the otherside of the pond.
In the front 255/60/15's on 8 J rims, in the rear 295/50/15's on 10 J rims. With new and good aftermarket shocks/springs this will not cause any problems. If you stay with stock springs and the old shocks, 275/50/15's are a better choise. :TU:
One point of interest that sometimes people do not realize is that the suspension on the '71+ GM E,B and C bodies are pretty universal. So shocks for any year Caprice/Impala until I think '90 will work, this includes HD police/taxi shocks. Just something to keep in mind.
Erik and 73-225 I'm got some experimenting to do, start with some 60's, fatter lower is better, hmmm.
I ordered huge front and rear sway bars for mine. I also like KYB Gas Adjust shocks which I purchased for it. I haven't bought any coils yet, and could use advice on them. I would like about a 2 inch lower spring. All my other stuff is still in boxes. I will do it all at one time. I am running 265/60's on the front and 275/60's on the rear. Bigger tires really fill up those huge quarters. Can't wait to suprise a little sporty car on one of the mountains around here!
I've got KYB Gas-a-justs on the front, and LOVE them. Air shocks on the back, because I tow a boat every so often. 255/70-15 tires Rear anti-sway bar (with boxed lower control arms) will work wonders in balancing the front push, by keeping the body flatter, and also making the rear more likely to slip (which actually increases traction all the way around, go figure). I've got the parts to double up on my front anti-sway bars, just haven't put them in yet. (evil grin...)
Just a word of advice... if you lower the car - especially as much as 2", you should really think hard about putting in a stiffer front spring. Stock spring rates will probably cause a lot of suspension bottoming out. And the stiffer springs will aid handling.
Thanks Yardley. I bought a set of Ebiach? springs for the 71 GS. They dropped the car like I wanted and have a very high spring rate. With all new poly bushings, KYB's, big sway bars and all new braking system it really handles great. I then added a new aftermarket steering box. Now it feels like a modern small car in the mountains. The 17's with BF low profile tires gave it the final touch. Now, if I could find all this for a 71 Riv. Don't know which spring company to contact. I special ordered the sway bars and hope they fit right. Too much to think about. :rant:
Unaware about boxed rear arms and bars Didn't know these were available for the 71 riv, the GS rivs did not come with these did they?
I don't know about Riv's, my rear bar came off a '73 Electra, and I boxed in my own '71 LeSabre control arms with some steel plate. Don't forget to put a spacer inside the arm so that the bolts don't crush the arm. For sure, any car with a rear bar would have boxed control arms. I'd *guess* that a GS Riv came with a rear anti-sway bar, but...???
For those who can't afford KYBs, or just need to upgrade their shocks--use the heavy duty (your favorite brand) gas charged shocks for an Astro AWD mini van. The will *barelt* fit in the hole in the A-Arm. I used this, in conjunction with poly bushings and new springs...71 Riv was rocky steady at triple digits. Jason
You pooooooods, where did you find the rear bar? Does it mount like the original? What did you find out about that dual distributor you got on E-bay?
Riv's rear bars bolt to the bottom of the control arm through use of a "U" shaped channel. It fits open side up and is bolted into the arm with 4 bolts, the bar is then bolted to it with 2 beefy bolts on each side.
Bars are still in the box ou: . Special ordered them from a small parts store in North Carolina and can't remember the manuf. I will look at them and try to find a name. Distributor is still in the ebay box ou: . I will change my name to Lazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy! :grin:
So they're not "boxed" control arms, but the "U" channel is long enough inside the arm to stiffen it like boxing? Interesting aproach!
