4/7/03

QUESTION 1

Tim,

I have a '69 Chevelle that I did a frame off reconstruction. I plan on running a 509 BBC with nitrous. I already have a Moser 9-inch for it. My original plan was to run aftermarket suspension bars so I could adjust the pinion angle and run an air bag.

For the money, would it be better to run coil overs with adjustables instead of drag springs and an air bag?

Al

Al,

If you are looking for ride quality, I would go with the air bag system. If performance is a consideration, the coil overs are the way to go. The coil over shock system is going to ride much stiffer than the air bags, but will have the adjustability to tune the suspension correctly.

Tim

QUESTION 2

I have a mild steel chassis with 2x3 frame rails, full roll cage & funny car cage. I have a friend with the same chassis. He had a double frame rail installed by welding tubing on top of the 2x3 frame rail with about 3-inch tubing spacers along every foot or so. I want to know if all of this is necessary.

We have the same engine and trans, rearend, etc. I'm just about done with mine except for the added frame rail. We have about an 1800-hp blown, injected engine. His car

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is running 4.58 seconds in the 1/8 mile. Mine should be the same.

Do I really need to install this extra rail? Thanks for any input.

Jack

Jack,

If your engine combination is making an honest 1800, I would suggest stiffening the chassis in any way possible. In my opinion, that is too much hp for a 2x3 mild steel chassis.

The 3-inch spacers installed in your friend's chassis really aren't offering much in the way of support because the top frame rail is too close to the bottom one.

If you really want to do it right, spread the frame rails apart by 8-10 inches. In your application, more is really better, so adding to this chassis would be a good move.

Tim

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