ideal street/strip suspension setup

[badblackhemi]

hey guys, as some of you might know, i'm am serious about making the swap from dodge to chevy. the truck i will have will 100% be a rc/sb 1500. with at the MOST 2/4 in. of drop. while the motor is getting built i plan on getting the suspension setup right the first time. i know how much time can be had or lost with the suspenion. so my question to you all is what would you suggest on a setup that will perform very well at the track holding up to a good amount of rwhp, but also something that wont feel like i'm driving an all out racecar on the street. (is this too much to ask?) what kind of shocks/springs? caltracs? i think i read something on PT.net about "longbars"?? what exactly are those. basically any imput you might have is welcomed. thanks and no rush, since this is going to be a drawn out ongoing process.
thanks again,
-Kyle

[Botlfed]

well mine is a 2-4 and it rides like a damn stage coach, but its just a ground force drop kit, its better now that i removed the bump stops but im not sure how the dodge short wides ride, but stock chevy rcsb ride like crap anyways IMO, but my buddy shawn has a 4-6 drop on his truck that was c-notched, and drop spindles and it rode pretty good and he was running over 400hp, which your gonna be running more it sounds like. it looks like quik has a pretty good plan going.

[txarkitekt]

Ok, my two cents:
Overall, do a 2/4 drop. Get a good drop kit from a well known manufacturer who has a drop spindle setup for the front. With drop spindles, you can't go any smaller than a 17" wheel. a front sway bar is a good idea too.
As for the rear, C-notc, do some CalTracs, and a rear sway. Like Qwik said, keeping the rear springs from wrapping under a hard launch is crucial.
Depending on your setup, you probably will want to upgrade your rear end to a 14 bolt with a Detroit Tru-Trac. You will also want to have a good install shop do the job so that you get your rear pinion set correctly the first time so that you don't get any drivetrain shutter.
With any drop on a RCSB truck, your ride will not be a soft as stock. A lot of people say that if you do the right setup, it rides pretty damn well, but know before time that having that short wheelbase, you will compromise ride for height.

[SCIV]

I am planning a new suspension as we speak for my truck. But I am not giving any details out until it is done.

[badblackhemi]

ill tell you what i have planned. My setup when done will be something to hold the power of close to 4 digits. i sit on a 3/4 drop. i used v6 coils cut 1 coil off to give 3" of drop of front. i have rode with trucks with drop coils and they ride like crap compared to mine. for rear have typical setup.

now for the traction planting. first thing im going to do is get truck at full weight and then measure the pinion angle. at this time i will see how off it truely is. i will then do what it takes to get my pinion angle -2*. For me that will probably be cutting the welds for the perches and rewelding them at -2*. I will then use a set of Domination Long bars. Domination chassis will be a sponsor in 08 on PT.net. These bars will prevent the springs from wrapping so ill have a solid rear suspension. I ideal of having the pinion -2* is when you accel the pinion angle will change to -.5 to 0*. this will allow for most plant of tires. I also have elderbrock IAS shocks on front and rear. if i dont cut the times i want then ill swap to rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. I will also be C notching the rear for extra reasruance of nothing bottoming out on a hard launch. to aid in traction i had relocated the battery to underneath the bed. my battery is in the rear corner of the passengerside frame. where spare tire once was but tucked in corner as much as possible. that 50#s in that corner will act like 200 apond transfer of launching. Im also kicking the idea of running a hotchkis rear sway bar to also aid in keeping rear squared up. now when at track i will ahve front sway bar disconnected for best transfer of weight.

now for rear tires. im thinking of either 315/60/15 MT drag radials or 390/40/17 M&H drag radials for track days. up front not quite sure what options will be considering ill probably have 14" rotors

that sounds like a very good setup, i'll def. keep that in mind when doing mine.

[badblackhemi]

thanks lamborado and tx, i'm def. looking at a 14 bolt and tru-trac. so spindles are the way to go in the front? i think i can live with those b/c i plan on running some centerline 18's on the street, and then for the track i'll just get 16's for the rear and 17's for the front. or do i need to do some grinding and get 15's to fit on the rear?

[badblackhemi]

I am planning a new suspension as we speak for my truck. But I am not giving any details out until it is done.

man i'll def. take that one into consideration! haha j/k. can't wait to see what you decide on.

[txarkitekt]

15's will fit on the back if it doesn't have the factory rear disc brakes. You have the rear discs, you have to use the factory 16" wheels on back mounted to some DR's... Even some other factory GM 16" wheels won't fit due to the smaller I.D. of the wheel.

[SCIV]

man i'll def. take that one into consideration! haha j/k. can't wait to see what you decide on.

OK, small hint...coilovers at all 4 corners.

[badblackhemi]

OK, small hint...coilovers at all 4 corners.

should be sick, when do you plan on starting.
btw, i'll be sure to let you know when i'm around that area again. i've got a friend i graduated highschool with that's playing baseball up there.