Picking a shock to go with a T-bar
#2780046
05/31/20 12:29 PM
05/31/20 12:29 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 906 Washington
hemienvy
OP
super stock
|
OP
super stock
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 906
Washington
|
I gather that picking a T-bar should depend somewhat on front end weight, although it is subjective on what you want the car to do, to feel like.
In theory the shock should work in tandem with that T-bar, spring and damper.
So once you pick a T-bar, how do you pick a shock ? Just trial and error, or get an adjustable shock and experiment ?
In my particular case, I'm planning a street driven E-body with a guesstimated engine weight of 550 lbs. 4-speed, aluminum flywheel, Steel hood, battery in trunk, manual steering, no A/C. I can only guess at the front end weight at this point, but maybe 1700 lbs ?
I was going to start with either a 1.00 or a 1.03 T-bar. What shock would you use ? At this particular date I see that Koni reds are on sale...............
*************
I should probably add, 15-in wheels with 60-series tires.
Last edited by hemienvy; 05/31/20 12:33 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Picking a shock to go with a T-bar
[Re: hemienvy]
#2780078
05/31/20 01:50 PM
05/31/20 01:50 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,221 nowhere
Sniper
master
|
master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,221
nowhere
|
I should probably add, 15-in wheels with 60-series tires.
That really tells us nothing, what, exactly, is a 60 series tire? Heck, I'm going with V rated P255/50R17's all around on my 51 Plymouth, more tire than the suspension can use, but I'll address that and the V rating will never be stressed, have no plans to address that though.
|
|
|
Re: Picking a shock to go with a T-bar
[Re: hemienvy]
#2780335
06/01/20 01:42 PM
06/01/20 01:42 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442 NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
|
With shocks.. you pay for what get. In the past years the single, and especially double adjustable are available... yes, more $$.. but worth it.
Otherwise, buy a name brand... such as Bilstein, etc and you won't go wrong.
Your 60-series tires will give you a softer ride vs 50 or 40 or less profile... as the taller sidewall will absorb more impact. I use 60 series for local cruising along with 1.24" torsion bars (and red Koni shocks... being replaced by QA1 double adjustable).... the for track time (AX, HSAX, HPDE) I use 50 series tires or less... pending the event.
Mopar Mitch
"Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers!
Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
|
|
|
Re: Picking a shock to go with a T-bar
[Re: Mopar Mitch]
#2780450
06/01/20 06:01 PM
06/01/20 06:01 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 801 central CT
cudazappa
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 801
central CT
|
I agree with Mitch, with shocks you get what you pay for. I had RCD Bilsteins in my Challenger and switched to QA1 single adjustable and it was a night/day difference better. Suspension is a system where one change affects everything else. And tastes in ride are just as varied as the people that drive. Single adjustable shocks are good bang for the buck
1971 Challenger
|
|
|
Re: Picking a shock to go with a T-bar
[Re: hemienvy]
#2780733
06/02/20 02:14 PM
06/02/20 02:14 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
|
Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999
Salem
|
OK thanks gents, but what I want to know is matching a shock to a vehicle weight and it's spring.
If the car was 2100 pounds front weight instead of 1700, and the T-bar was 1.24 instead of 1.00, would I still use a Koni Red
Yes
or would I look for a truck shock,
No
i.e. MORE damping ?
If anything, a truck shock would have less dampening because it has longer suspension travel. The progressive rate springs are what makes them seem stiff because they are engineered to be loaded
How do you match the shock to the T-bar ?
All the shock does is control the speed of rebound and compression. The stiffer the bars you are using, the higher the compression and rebound need to be. You would have to know the internal specs of the shock.
When it comes time to go through all this on my cars, I think I'll take the short cut and just look at modern sports cars and use a similar setup that weighs the same.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
|
|
|
|
|