QA1 F and X Body coil over conversion

[71Nova]

about a week ago I searched for any info from people that have tried the QA1 coil over conversion. I was interested it them because I am installing DSE 3 in lower springs, and I wanted to be able to adjust the front to match. I could not find very much info from people that have tried it, so now that I have tried it I thought id put what I have found here for other people. I ordered the double adjustable coil over kit and Global west lower a arms that are made for the QA1s. Everything went together great and I was very impressed with the kit until I droped the car back onto the floor. The springs were almost completely compressed. the coils in the center section of the springs were touching each other coil to coil, fully compressed. My car has a gen 1 small block that is lighter then stock because of aluminum components. My interior is gutted because I am getting ready to put a roll bar in. I don't see how they claim those springs work good with a small block nova. I was going to order the qa1 big block springs but was worried that the ride height would be to high. The next day I had a job that was about half a mile from global west so I stoped by to see what they thought. They said they only recomend the springs they come with for drag racing and they came out with their own springs for street/road track for the qa1 conversion. They are 500lb short linear rate springs. One nice thing about them being shorter is that they are easier to install. I was very woried that they would be to harsh but now that they are in I love the new handeling. Huge improvement over my Eibach lower springs wich I liked. I have both compression and rebound set to 4 clicks.

[lowboy]

Cool, appreciate the info.. I too am considering QA1's for my 69 Camaro. Definately want a good spring though.

[fladoans]

Hey thanks for the post - very timely for me. How did the springs affect the ride height? Is it now where you want it? Do you have the part numbers from GW for these springs. I too am getting ready to purchase a coilover kit for my 69 Camaro and am currently debating whether to order big block or small block springs. I am planning on running a BB, but it will have alumumin heads, intake, and radiator, no A/C and headers, so I was thinking about the small block springs. I already have the DSE mint tub kit with 3" lowering springs for the rear. I just finished reading another post about the springs that said they springs don't affect the ride height, that they only affect the spring rate. That the ride height is determined by the adjustment collar on the shock. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Rybar]

With my LS1 swap I found the BB springs to be too stiff, and the ride height was way to high. I swapped over to the SB springs and now it sits perfect.

If any of you guys need a set of BB springs, I have an extra set with zero miles.

[71Nova]

If you get the qa1 big block springs they will afect ride height because they are a taller spring. Actually the same height as the qa1 small block springs, but wont compress as much. The global west springs are I would say about 2 inches shorter when not compressed. I have my front lowered about 2 inches with the coil over spring nut about .5" from bottom. I am running stock spindles for now but want to switch to ATS spindles. When I do I will just need to turn the coilover nut up about 1 inch to keep the same ride height since there spindles are I believe 1 inch drop spindles. I drove the car about 60 miles today (went to fast eddies in orange ca for a roll cage quote) mostly freeway and am very happy with the feel. I do not know the part number for the global west springs, but if you say the 500 lb springs for the qa1 coil over conversion they will know exactly what you are talking about.
David

[fladoans]

71NOVA - With the car being lowered 2" do you have any problem with front shock travel limits? I just got off the phone with QA1 to discuss the springs on their coilovers for my big block and found they do have some linear springs that will work with their coil overs (350 or 450 lb/in and others).

But then he got into this thing about the car should only be lowered 1" with their coilovers. He said the shock only has 4" of total travel (11.25" compressed length and 15.25" fully extended). So he says if you lower the car 2" the shock will bottom out. I know I've read about other people lowering the car more than 1", but now he got me nervous.

[71Nova]

Steve
I have not noticed the shock bottoming out at all. I know I have at least a couple of inches of shock travel. I would think you would be able to feel it bottoming out. I noticed at global west they had shorter QA1's and Longer QA1's, both for coil over conversions. They told me to make shure that I had the shorter ones and I did. The taller qa1 acually have less threads on the side then the short one. I guess once I switch over to an afx spindle I will gain around 1 inch of shock travel since it is a lowered spindle.
David

[fladoans]

Thanks David