Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

RE: Suspension and ignition upgrades

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

60 foots were 1.60 flat.. I lost 2 tenths in ET with the heat and humidity 11.64 compared to 11.45 when we went to Rockfalls in the cooler air

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Are you running stock A-arms. I am curious if you start getting the front end in the air if the front end needs a lot more attention beefing up ? Did you actually notice a different feel on your luanch with newer setup ? That looks so cool : )

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

The short end of it is.. Yes the front is going to get some upgrades. I had the Old B body spindle swap with 12" disc brakes up front. It had Hotchkiss upper A-arms that don't have provisions for a bump stop so the arms are hitting the top of the frame. Ive now ordered Drag race style A arms with Del a lum bushings and am going back to stock spindles.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Well after waiting 3.5 weeks Global west still cannot tell me when my spindles I ordered will come... So I called CPP and they had them in stock. So I ordered two from them and also the correct outer tie rod ends... Global west sent me two 64-70 rod ends that are too small in diameter. and then sent me one that is supposed to be right.. Im betting it isnt.. Lesson learned.. they make great A-arms and bushings.. But I would hesitate to order anything else you could get elsewhere... They just dont seem to have their act together with that stuff.

The A-arms are trick though... Del-a -lum bushings

Global West Drag A-arms.JPG

I also like the ajustable bump stops... you remove the aluminum discs to adjust.

adjustable bump stop.JPG

Im hoping to be able to have put back together in time to test it before the Rock closes... But with work demands Im not holding my breath.

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Those look awsome. Do you know if they make a set good for street and drag ?

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

They have the drag set using stock spinles and the handlling set uses B-body spindles...So its covering one end of the spectrum or the other

Lost in the 60s · President

Now that my car is drivable, I will find a Saturday to come over and help. I think we could swap them out in a day....

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Now that my car is drivable, I will find a Saturday to come over and help. I think we could swap them out in a day....

I might take you up on that... I still have to get the damn spindles here.. then work will be on full tilt till after Labor day.. I might start taking the old stuff out as time permits.

-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Wednesday 10th of August 2011 07:33:01 PM

-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Wednesday 10th of August 2011 07:33:31 PM

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Took the B-Body spindles and brakes off tonight and weighed them quick..55lbs.. The Wilwood dynalite brakes and factory spindles weigh in at 30 lbs..so I should be cutting at least 50lbs weight off the front.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

By working all last weekend Ive managed to finagle Labor day weekend off,, so reassembly is gonna start

SShink · 3K+ Club

Tony, when is track day to test it out when it's back together?

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
By working all last weekend Ive managed to finagle Labor day weekend off,, so reassembly is gonna start
Let me know if you want a hand for a few hours. I will set aside some time over the 3 days. I have 4 tires to mount and install on the Pete and a raised garden bed to make for some shrubs we bought 3 months ago too.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Mitch maybe Saturday?? Ill keep you posted.. work has been quiet this week so far ...

as to when to go? Oct has lots of days of racing at the rock.
October 1 -- Saturday Fun Race
October 2 -- Sunday Muscle Car Race
October 8/9 -- $69 Test Day**/Bracket Drag Race
October 15/16 -- $69 Test Day**/Bracket Drag Race & King of the
Track Race (Rain Date: Sat. Oct. 22)
October 22 -- Saturday RFR Bonanza Race PLUS
FREE Special RFR Member Appreciation Race
(Rain Date: Sun. Oct. 23)
October 23 -- RAIN DATE
October 29 -- Saturday Fun Race

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

My new clutch is on backorder at Centerforce. I thought for sure I'd have it installed by now.

If I don't get it in before the chosen date, I'll have to pass. The last day at the drags really beat up the clutch- there isn't enough left to push it for another full day out there.

Honestly, it should be here soon, and it'll go in as soon as I get it. But...it ain't here yet.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Yeah I might go a couple of times in October... Lets get our stuff together then figure it out.

Lost in the 60s · President

I still need to rig up a clutch switch but otherwise, it's ready. I may not need the slicks. With the posi now, it doesn't have enough power to smoke them both...

Scott, did they check for a clutch safety switch on your car ?

Chris R · 2K+ Club

66-67 did not have a factory clutch safety switch.

Lost in the 60s · President

Chris R wrote:
66-67 did not have a factory clutch safety switch.
I know that but the track requires one for sanctioned events. I don't know if I need one for the Muscle Car races..

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

hard to tell what they night make a big deal out of down there...Id think it woukd be OK....But I in no way will speak for tech @ the rocj

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
hard to tell what they night make a big deal out of down there...Id think it woukd be OK....But I in no way will speak for tech @ the rocj
Exactly. I don't want to ge there and not be able to run the car over that. I may have come up with a plan today. I can use a jake brake switch from my Pete to cut the power to the starter.
Saturday could work for coming over. It looks like rain in the forecast right now, so I wouldn't be able to do yard work anyway.

Bungy L-76 · Active Member

Mitch, maybe you could use a brake light switch and mount it behind the clutch pedal. Just like the brake pedal activating the brake lights, the other switch could be wired into the starter wiring.

Lost in the 60s · President

Bungy L-76 wrote:
Mitch, maybe you could use a brake light switch and mount it behind the clutch pedal. Just like the brake pedal activating the brake lights, the other switch could be wired into the starter wiring.
I was thinking the same thing, Steve. I will look into that also...

67ss · 1K+ Club

Send an email to jennifer over at rock, I'm sure she will let you know what you need to do.

Lost in the 60s · President

67ss wrote:
Send an email to jennifer over at rock, I'm sure she will let you know what you need to do.
I thought about doing that. Guess I should.
You need to have John change your user name to "66 300 Deluxe"...

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Chris R wrote:
66-67 did not have a factory clutch safety switch.
I know that but the track requires one for sanctioned events. I don't know if I need one for the Muscle Car races..

Really? I guess I didnt know that. Keith Anderson was the only one in our club I can think of that raced with a manual transmission. Everyone else had an automatic.

Lost in the 60s · President

Scott raced his wagon there with us in June and he has a 5 speed. He may have converted to a hydraulic clutch and has a switch on the master ???

I sent her an email last night, haven't heard back yet...

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

I talked to my neighbor Rian who raced a 4 speed Mopar there in the points program for years.. They never checked his car once since he doesnt have a neutral saftey switch and never did..LOL Again my fear is the minute I say its OK they look at Mitches car and decide to make an issue of it..

bwild70ss396 · Active Member

I plan on using a neutral safety switch like the one you mentioned with a kit deal mounting a brake switch to the clutch side. How you liking your CPP arms Tony? Mine fit nice.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

bwild70ss396 wrote:
How you liking your CPP arms Tony? Mine fit nice.

I havent put anything together yet.. Im coming offa work overload hangover and now I get to go shopping for school supplies..

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
bwild70ss396 wrote:
How you liking your CPP arms Tony? Mine fit nice.
I havent put anything together yet.. Im coming offa work overload hangover and now I get to go shopping for school supplies..
Good luck with that. My wife went to parent orientation the other night and a couple teachers gave out "supply" lists. She went to 3 stores and there is very little left...

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

$155.00 for school supplies... goddamn have pencils and paper got expensive..

SShink · 3K+ Club

Tony Hoffer wrote:
$155.00 for school supplies... goddamn have pencils and paper got expensive..

Minnesota has great public schools and our kids got a great education here, but we weren't used to having to buy the school supplies... the school supplied them in Nebraska. They DO add up!

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
$155.00 for school supplies... goddamn have pencils and paper got expensive..
Keep ALL reciepts for things like that. They ARE deductable on your taxes. We had to buy a "required" calculator for $130 alone last year. Our district decided to extend the "walking distance" to 2 miles a few years ago to save more money. They offered the bus service but we had to pay $250 a year for 3 years on that scam too. We initially liked the area because we were within a couple miles from the Junior High he would attend.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

One step foreward three steps back...

Ive got a header tube in the way of the rear two lower control arm bolts on each side..

This means loosening , if not pulling, the headers on each side and possibly loosening a motor mount..Nothing is fun with the equal length Stahl headers in this car.. just the act of loosening them up, trying to clean them still in the car, and installing new gaskets in such a manner that they wont leak is a half day project in itself... if the headers need to be completely pulled I practically have to pull the engine...

Rethinking my ambition levels for today...

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

They didn't check my car for any kind of safety switches at Rock Falls. Just basics- return springs, battery hold downs, decent tread...and I think he checked for brake pedal firmness, but I'm not sure.

He couldn't have checked for any kind of neutral safety switch, since i don't have one on the 6-speed.

Clutch still isn't here, by the way.

Also, I get a nice steam cloud out of my LH exhaust pipe when starting hot now. That started on Friday and instead of healing up and going away, it's decided to get worse. So we'll be replacing the head gasket on Saturday instead of coming to the meeting. You're all welcome to stop by and help out if you'd like.

That 150 shot at Car Craft was just a sliver too much, I guess. I'll have to jet it down to 100 so I can use it at will. I'm glad the head gasket chose to hold out for another 500 miles since Car Craft. That was very nice of it to do. I just have to swap it out before it gets worse and hydraulic-locks the engine for me. That would suck.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Scott.. Its Time for some nice Cometic MLS's

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

springs and spindles are in..

spindle installation.jpg

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

That looks very nice. Any special kind of shocks vs stock size you have to run with that setup ?

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Its set up for stock type mounting..so any shock or system that uses stock mounting will work. pro coil whatever.Im just going to use my basic Koni 3 ways for now..might switch to a sp1 drag shock if the front doesnt settle down midtrack.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Went to put the brakes together last night and realized the supplied wheel studs were too short... Since they screw into the hub before the adapter and rotor Im stalled until I get some 3" studs... I ordered some from Summit.. should be here by the end of the week

bwild70ss396 · Active Member

Looking good Tony, It always seeems like ya need at least one extra part order or part run.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

Head is back on mine too- still finishing getting it all put back together.

I'll be out of town this weekend picking up another car. The '58 Impala I got when I was 14! I left it with my Dad when I joined the Air Force at 18, and he's been taking care of it ever since. He's too ill to drive anymore, so he asked me to come and get it. I'm heading out Friday AM and will be back with it late Saturday. I have no idea how drivable it is, but I'll probably putz with it on Sunday and figure it all out. I'm aiming to bring both the wagon and the '58 to the Oct 1st cruise. We'll see how much the 'ol Impala needs...

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

WTF!!!! I went to instal the brake hubs and the spindle nuts stop dead on the spindle threads... Thinking that NAPA may have mis-packaged the spindle nuts I took the old ones off the B-body spindles and tried them.. no go! Both nuts should be 3/4 x 20 thread... now Im sitting here fuming on a Sunday.. and Im facing pulling both spindles and another return!!!

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Factory spindles? Too bad you're not closer, I'm certain I threw some in the scrap bin at Dad's yesterday while sorting through my junk.

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

OK two friends came over... one is a machinist.. We took a thread gauge to the spindle and the threads ARE 3/4 x 20.. but the machine work was terrible... especially around where the four holes are drilled for the cotter pin ....30 minutes with a wire wheel and a thread file and now the nut will go on.. These were brand new parts! Ill have another 15 minutes to clean up the burrs out of the slot for the washer and I should be alright.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

I'm glad your stuff worked out Tony. Your vision for that program is all coming into focus...I've got some adjustable front shocks that will probably fit if you want to try them. They're good, but require removal for adjustment. I like the ones I have on there now with the external knobs a lot better.

The '58 Impala is home now too. It's not ready for road trips though. Trans leak (anyone else worked on a Turboglide lately? I didn't think so), coolant leak (a minor one, but leaks into the fan so it goes everywhere), and some other stupid minor stuff that does more to **** me off than anything (when was the last time you dialed in tri-power carbs on a 348?). It'll need a thorough going-over before I take it anywhere....and even then, I'm no fan of the drum brakes. That might have to change before I take it on the freeway.

Lost in the 60s · President

Turboglide.....

I have a POWERGLIDE in my Camaro...

Tony Hoffer · Moderator

Mitch.. 58 was a weird year....the turboglide is different than the powerglide.. its more like the Buick dynaflow..

Turboglide - Five element torque converter with pump, three turbines and dual pitch stator controlled by accelerator pedal. Two turbine operated planetary gear sets. Single forward "Drive" range. Grade retarder, powerful reverse and positive parking lock. Selector sequence P-R-N-D-GR.

-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 10:19:15 AM

Lost in the 60s · President

Tony Hoffer wrote:
Mitch.. 58 was a weird year....the turboglide is different than the powerglide.. its more like the Buick dynaflow..

Turboglide - Five element torque converter with pump, three turbines and dual pitch stator controlled by accelerator pedal. Two turbine operated planetary gear sets. Single forward "Drive" range. Grade retarder, powerful reverse and positive parking lock. Selector sequence P-R-N-D-GR.

-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 10:19:15 AM
I remember seeing that shift indicator years ago. Sounds like a better trans than the powerslide.