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Front Coilover Conversion
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DRR Pro
posted
Has anyone done a front coilover conversion on their drag car?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy the parts to do this: springs, adjusters & Torrington bearings. I have been using the shocks many years with Moroso drag springs. The springs are sagging & I no longer need the stored energy of that type spring.

Below is the complete kit.

https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/afc-5dagm300

2BKING Smile

Relaxing


1980 Camaro
Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before!
3000 lbs.
Pump Gas 436
 
Posts: 2977 | Location: NV. | Registered: October 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
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Not about the coil spring conversion but about AFCO coil springs. I just purchased AFCO coil over rear shocks in December and bought their springs also. The springs are made in China. Had I known this I would have purchased Hyperco.
 
Posts: 2909 | Location: 53056 | Registered: December 30, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
Picture of Lenny5160
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I put tubular control arms and coilovers on the front of my '70 Nova 10+ years ago. The car works great, but if I could go back again I probably would have spent the money on top of the line bushings and full-length shocks/springs. I definitely lost some travel.


Tony Leonard
 
Posts: 3310 | Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN | Registered: March 18, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
Picture of TomR
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I have Autofab tubular control arms and Afco double adjustable coil over conversion on the front of my Nova.

I originally had QA1 coil over conv. doubles on the front but they limit the overall travel and the front end didn't work well. I switched to the Afco's and picked up .04-.06 in 60ft with no other changes.


72 Nova "Hooptie"
 
Posts: 816 | Location: Hanover, MD | Registered: June 20, 2016Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
Picture of Lenny5160
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quote:
Originally posted by TomR:
I have Autofab tubular control arms and Afco double adjustable coil over conversion on the front of my Nova.

I originally had QA1 coil over conv. doubles on the front but they limit the overall travel and the front end didn't work well. I switched to the Afco's and picked up .04-.06 in 60ft with no other changes.


That's interesting. I have Autofab control arms and QA1 stuff in mine. I did go with a shock that is a full 1" longer than what the QA1 catalog called for, though.


Tony Leonard
 
Posts: 3310 | Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN | Registered: March 18, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
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Many years ago, I had QA1 shocks double adjustable shocks on all 4 corners. I replaced one end or the other with a pair with AFCO double adjustable shocks & was so impressed I ordered them for the opposite end.

There was a night & day difference between the 2 brands. The AFCOs are the clear winner in my book.

2BKING Smile

Relaxing


1980 Camaro
Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before!
3000 lbs.
Pump Gas 436
 
Posts: 2977 | Location: NV. | Registered: October 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
Has anyone done a front coilover conversion on their drag car?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy the parts to do this: springs, adjusters & Torrington bearings. I have been using the shocks many years with Moroso drag springs. The springs are sagging & I no longer need the stored energy of that type spring.

Below is the complete kit.

https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/afc-5dagm300


I ordered the parts to do the coilover conversion, should have the parts this week.

During my research of the new coil tapered coil springs. It appears they will take about 15 lbs. of weight off over the Moroso springs. I'll weigh the difference when making the change.

I looked for my weight card when we last scaled the car, I couldn't find it. Anyway, from memory the car had around 50.2% on the front & 49.8% on the rear.

With the weight loss up front & the added weight from the parachute/mount (roughly 15-20 lbs.) we should be closer to 50/50 weight distribution. Hopefully we'll get the car re-scaled in the fall.

2BKING Smile

Relaxing


1980 Camaro
Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before!
3000 lbs.
Pump Gas 436
 
Posts: 2977 | Location: NV. | Registered: October 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post



DRR Pro
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
During my research of the new coil tapered coil springs. It appears they will take about 15 lbs. of weight off over the Moroso springs. I'll weigh the difference when making the change.


I did the conversion this morning, hopefully the system works well. I weighed the new springs vs. the old & the new was 11 Lbs. lighter. The spring rate was also different. The Moroso springs were 212 lb. & the new AFCOs are 300 lb.

I'm sure I'm going to lose some stored energy with the change but pretty sure I don't need that anymore.

2BKING Smile

Relaxing


1980 Camaro
Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before!
3000 lbs.
Pump Gas 436
 
Posts: 2977 | Location: NV. | Registered: October 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of FootbrakeJim
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Did it change your ride height much? I know you can adjust it with the new setup, was wondering how it sat when you finished the install. Also wondering if there will be a difference in travel with the new coilovers setup.
Let us know your thoughts when you get a chance to test it!


Dan "Jim" Moore
Much too young to feel this damn old!!
 
Posts: 1160 | Location: Farmersville, TX  | Registered: December 05, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by FootbrakeJim:
Did it change your ride height much? I know you can adjust it with the new setup, was wondering how it sat when you finished the install. Also wondering if there will be a difference in travel with the new coilovers setup.
Let us know your thoughts when you get a chance to test it!


I have the front ride height set higher than normal. I checked the travel & have 3", I used to have 5" at a lower ride height. The nice thing is I can adjust it as you mentioned. I'm unsure if I need more travel or not. Testing/racing is on summer break until fall. I might travel to another track in Sept. but hate testing/racing with new unknown set-up/parts out of town.

As mentioned in the OP, the Moroso springs were sagging pretty good. I put in coil spring spacers to bring the ride height up. I was having problems with RTs & 60's when I did that. I went from no spacers in my Biondo long travel transbrake switch to all the spacers & my RT still sucked. I finally fixed the RT with my pro light button & airing up the front tires 10 psi more.

2BKING Smile

Relaxing


1980 Camaro
Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before!
3000 lbs.
Pump Gas 436
 
Posts: 2977 | Location: NV. | Registered: October 20, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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