69 camaro with ridetech's 4-link

[st83]

I'm looking at purchasing Ridetech's 4-link kit with coil-overs and I'm wondering how low you can go with the ride height? I currently have DSE mini tubs, 20 x 12 wheels with 335/30/20 rear tires and went to tuck the rear wheels up and have a nice low ride height. I like the quadralink obviously, but the ridetech kit seems like a much simpler, and less intrusive install. I've also looked at Speedtech's torque arm, but I don't like that I wouldn't be able to run a x-pipe in the exhaust. I'm not interested in air ride, I really want to go with coil-overs.

Anybody that has pics of 69 Camaro's with their 4-link installed, post them up! Visual examples are always the best! I tried a search, but couldn't really find much, other than ones with shockwaves and the air dumped.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

There are 3 adjustments on the lower trailing arm bracket so you can get pretty low.


I have a Nova in the shop with a RideTech air bar coil over and its dumped. I thought I had a picture on file here. I don't but I can get one this week.

Plus side for you is a 20 is a tall tire and will fill that well up naturally. You will not have to lower much to gain the same look as an 18 or 19.

Example is the Chevelle. The 20in rear just makes the car look lower than it really is.

[st83]

Perfect, thanks for the reply!

1 more question... How is the tire clearance with the lower links? Could you fit a 345/25/20 if you wanted to, or is it already going to be a tight squeeze with the 335/30? I believe the 345's measure about .4" wider, but are 1" lower.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

that would be pretty tight but I know Frank @ Prodigy has done it with a similar product.

[Chassisworks]

The Chassisworks g-Link system will allow you to lower the car about 2-3 inches. For moderate to high-horsepower cars it's a great option. More adjustment for ride height and geometry changes, spherical pivots are stronger than the rubber or polyurethane bushed style arms but quieter than a traditional rod-end. You can read more about all the options here: http://www.cachassisworks.com/Attachments/Catalogs/BG_400.pdf

We typically don't recommend trying to shove a 345 in a mini-tub car. We don't find it to be practical for regular driving. You could probably do it on a show car, but not something that will see any sort of aggressive driving.

The '69 below is running our front and rear suspension systems. It has 18x11 wheels wrapped in a 325/30-18 tire. It belongs to forum member Mark Deutsch.

Remember that while the taller 20" tire will extend further toward the fender lip, it's also going to push the car's rocker further off the ground.

[st83]

That's the exact issue I'm worried about... I understand the 20" wheel and 27.8" tall tire will fill the wheel well more, and push it closer to the fender lip (Which is why I went with it). I still want a nice level stance, which means I'll need to lower down the rear more than the front (front tires are 245/35/19, 25.7" tall) to prevent excessive rake.

I understand that I'm always going to be limited by the stock floor, and if it was in the budget I'd be throwing a Roadster Shop or AME chassis under it, but unfortunately that isn't in the budget!

It seems like you can go pretty low with the Speedtech torque arm, but as lame as it sounds, I really don't like that you can't run an x-pipe in the exhaust! And like I said about the quadralink... You can't argue with how well it performs, but I don't really like how intrusive it is!

The car is simply a cruiser. I want a system that gives a great stance, looks good at shows, rides well, and that you can go on the odd road trip with! It won't be autocrossed, or drag raced. Well, for now it won't be haha!

[Vegas69]

This is the lowest I ever had mine. http://www.lateral-g.net/members/akes/
19x12 with a 345/30. At this ride height you will get mild tub rubbing on the inside and you need to be careful of your pinion housing contacting the floor, rear end cover contacting the cross bar in back. They have curved lower control arms now. I had the straight bars on mine and it would rub under heavy load. This was with about 2.25" of shock bump travel.

Best thing to do is mock it up at ride height without springs on the shocks. Run it through full travel.

Bottom line, it will work on a rowdy street car. Not a car that will be raced.

[st83]

Vegas69, you're car looks amazing! That wheel combo looks perfect, and the stance is exactly what I'm looking for! Couple more questions for you if you don't mind...

Which kit did you go with? Is it the poly bushings, or swivel link? I would like to go with the poly, just because they are a little quieter on the street, but the arms in the pictures on chassisworks site don't look like they offer a whole lot of clearance. Would you happen to have any pictures of the ride height it's set at normally, or is that how you've been driving it?

Also would tire height effect clearance inside the tubs? If I did go with 345/25/20 it's about .3" shorter than your combo. I know the 335/30/20's will clear, but the height has me a bit worried as to not being able to bring the body down over top of them enough to not have a bunch of rake, and push the rockers up to much at the rear.

Again, beautiful car!

[Vegas69]

Ridetech or Chassisworks? They are two separate suspension set ups. Back when I built my car, chassisworks was selling a G Bar using Ridtech's air bar and varishocks. Basically the same thing Ridetech sells now.

If you are looking at the G Link, look at Rybar's thread as he got his pretty low.

That 345/30/19 was all I'd ever try to stuff in that wheel well.