Oct 23, 2017 Just a quick video as I finally received the C4 Corvette front suspension from America. Why does a boat take so long. Dummy fitted to the Flat Out Engineering x. OEM Suspension development and design has come a long way since your classic was built. Utilizing Flat Out Engineering’s Weld On Front Installation Kit, your classic iron can have the same suspension characteristics of one of Americas leading performance vehicles, the Chevrolet Corvette.
C4 IRS installation kits for Tri-5 Chevys
As with our other C4 conversion products, CLASSIC EDGE Designs offers two levels of rear installation kits. Our design allows you to use the stock C4 Corvette rear swaybar or an aftermarket swaybar, and you can choose to use the stock C4 composite rear spring or coilover shocks. Shock mounts are set up to allow the use of either standard shocks or coilover shocks. A 'dropped' rear toe adjuster is required to clear the frame and allow full suspension travel and is not included. It is available from other sources or could be assembled from parts by the owner.
BASIC Rear Installation Kit
The 'BASIC' rear installation kit provides the basic parts to enable you to mount your rear suspension into the frame, less swaybar. This is an inexpensive kit that is ideal for the builder who wants to customize his installation or just do some of his own fabrication work to save money. It includes a welded, stepped 2x2' shock crossmember, dogbone (C4 4-link) tubes, dogbone retainer plates, and batwing brackets and gussets. Once these parts are installed using our instructions, you can bolt the C4 suspension into your frame and complete the rest of the fab work.
Basic IRS installation kit - $375 plus shipping
FULL Rear Installation Kit
The 'FULL' rear installation kit includes the parts in the basic kit, except the shock crossmember has upper shock mount holes drilled, and bushings and nuts welded on. It also includes a pair of axle bumper brackets, swaybar mount brackets, lower shock mounts, and a pinion support bracket kit with urethane bushings. No bolts or other hardware are included. Rear bolt kits are available for additional cost. Rear suspensions are available for $950 for early or late Dana 36, or $1950 for an early Dana 44 and $2050 for a late Dana 44. A late Dana 44 in an early suspension is $2150.
FULL IRS installation kit - $650 plus shipping
Opera mini 4.5 jar.
With the Front Axle Centerline marked in Step 1, Mark installed the C4 Corvette front suspension crossmember in the frame. Mark is using the 1988-96 Corvette front suspension with the 12″ brake rotors. The rack & pinion C-notches were also marked, cut and welded in.
Next, the crossmember was slid up between the frame rails and centered left to right. Equal amounts can be trimmed of the crossmember to slide up between the frame rails, if needed. Measure front the lower control arm mounting tube to the frame on both side to insure it is centered. The Lower control arm tubes should be up 1 degree, front to rear, with the vehicle at ride height rake.
The lower front coil-over/Shockwave mounts were installed into the lower control arms. These are pushed as far towards the rear as possible. Next, the new urethane lower arm bushings were installed. Why do this, you say? We feel the the lower arms, with all of the load, should have 5/8″ bolts instead of the stock 12MM. We have custom bushings and bolts made to accommodate this. The front suspension is bolted into place and the lower control arms are leveled.
With the suspension all mounted into place and the vehicle mocked up at it’s ride height, Mark set the alignment listed in the instructions. Mark took the the coil-over and set it at it’s specified ride height. That’s the distance where it should be when the car is fully loaded and done. Mark then bolt the coil-overs to the lower mount and make a cardboard copy of the upper coil-over mount. He trimmed the template to where the coil-over fits. It should “butt” up against the upper arm mount as well as sit on the top of the frame. We always suggest to check to make sure that there is enough clearance for the coil-over or Shockwave when the suspension goes thru it total travel.
Mark made a template of the inner fender panels to determine how to do the cut-outs for the front suspension. This allowed Mark to do a nice neat job on the cut-outs.