Has anyone installed Heidts SuperRideII IFS? Im adding one to my 62 Nova Wagon. Can someone tell me what to expect once I get her back on the road? Handling? Ride? ect... Thanks
Heidts make an extremely nice suspension for the early Nova. A huge leap forward in handling and braking, turning a sometimes scary car into a very fun to drive car. I have a friend who I helped install one for. I do not like the super ride myself, I feel it is too zoomy looking and un-nessesarily complicated. Better by far IMO is their basic Nova subframe and suspension package. Its good looking, simple and functional. And far easier to get parts for down the road if it's a driver you are building. You really don't need the coil overs on the front. This is what we installed. http://www.heidts.com/scripts/prodList.asp
Shes a Driver for sure and Im sure Ill be wearing out some parts! I want to be able to carve up some corners so I thought the CoilOvers would be a good choice...Also wanted the bigger Wilwood brakes cuz going fast is fun but stopping is a nessesary evil
The coil overs are nice but the standard suspension with a sway bar works very well. In my experience the coil overs on front ends can be a problem later on. And IMO they don't handle that much better. The 11" rotors and GM calipers that are on the standard suspension are very good. Not as good as the Wilwoods, but very good. I believe you can get a Wilwood caliper to replace the GM intermediate iron calipers. In the end it amounts to how much extra you want to spend for the race inspired goodies that in most cases aren't needed in most street driving situations.
The shock portion of coil overs is subject to wear like any other shock absorber. When they leak you can replace them, some are rebuildable, just not as cheap or as easy as replacing regular shocks. The coil spring portion of a coil over will not usually last as long as a regular spring being smaller than a regular spring they tend to work harder. Again not as easy or affordable to replace. You can replace an entire coil over, just remember the expense involved. If you were broken down out in the desert somewhere with a broken part, parts for the super ride might be hard to come by. I don't think you did, just as long as you know the plus and minus side of things. I'm sure you will be happy with it either way. Didn't know you had already pulled the trigger before asking
I did a little research before buying but didnt really get any "real world" suggestions like I should have....I have a tendancy to think Im smarter than I really am.
I almost went with with RideTech Level 1 complete package....just cuz I love airbags..but I know even less about them...but for the $800 more it does include the rear...however Id still need to update brakes,steering.....uugghh...now im getting buyers remorse and a migraine. It just became Beer Thirty on my clock
I know it's sacrilege for my Falcon-owning-self to be talking to you about this, but! I went with an MII/coilovers/Wilwood discs for the Falcon. I wouldn't consider anything else (especially air ride). My considerations were simple: 1.) The car will be my primary mode of transportation 2.) I'll be driving long distances 3.) I will be transporting my wife and child - reliability, ride quality, and safety matter. I chose accordingly. ### Kustom Falcon Build Thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=734282
I have changed my mind several times on my build, sometimes because what I wanted to do wouldn't work, sometimes because I came up with something better. I have sold a bunch of parts to recover funds, or made exchanges with the vendor. I just opened a new box from Speedway motors that has a new Flaming River reversed corvair box to replace the Vega box I returned to them because it wouldnt work. So don't worry, even with buyers remorse you can sometimes make changes before you install the parts
2 center point connections, less surface contact area than an individual coil. Real WoRld: I welded back together/reenforced the lower shock mount on the A-arm on my 68 Chevelle. Now I've seen coilover convertions for this car but, Hell No! Why: 2 center point connections, less surface contact area than an individual coil.
I tend to push the upper A-arm ball-joint toward the back of the car to add Caster to the MMII lack of Caster
I have a return period all I have to do is pay shipping and the Vendor is easy to work with....IM the problem....Ive been sick all week so Ive done nothing but sit around pondering my choice.. Hell with the beer im going for the Crown Royal
Heidts is a quality company. I have no problem paying a little more for better quality. I doubt you pissed you money away.
Welcome to the sick club. Been home sick myself for the last 3 days. Damned cold and flu. Weigh your options and make a decision, then go for it. Just try to get it done inside the return period
i did the regular heidts on my 63 nova conv about a year ago world of difference in stopping and handling