Complete front end suspension/steering opinions requested

[Horseplay]

It's been covered a thousand times, and I've read most all of them...but one more time can't hurt. Finally reassembling the 65 and looking for firsthand knowledge and advice on part selection. This is a street car that will do a fair amount of drag racing. It will be driven "sportingly" on the street but that is the extent of any cornering needs.

I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set of OTR control arms, stock uppers, spherical bearing in lowers. I've already got a set of roller perches. Planning on a pair of Shaun's adjustable strut rods. Coil spring choice? Would I be wasting cash on tubular arms? If not, whose and why? Would a roller bearing UCA make enough difference to justify the expense? Whatever I go with, the UCAs will be lowered.

Brakes? I've gone Wilwood at all four corners with the front using a custom set-up that eliminates the normal push-out Wilwood hubs provide.

Aside from control arm choice the toughest decision I am having to make is steering. I am all but sold on a TCP rack but can't decide if I want to go power or not. Given the quick ratio of the manual I'm not so sure I want or need the power assist. Really would appreciate input from anyone with firsthand experience.

I know it's always old to go back through this but I appreciate any input you guys provide. Thanks

 

[daveSanborn]

I'm not sure how the upgraded front suspension is going to help you on a car that will see a lot of drag strip time. Upgrades to the front suspension primarily are for those who want better handling/response going into/out of the corners. The suspension you have in mind will work fine for the strip, it's just not going to provide much added benefit.

Where the front suspension DOES come into play at the strip is in it's ability to effectively transfer weight to the rear of the car. You'll want a set of shocks that are valved to help achieve a steady/consistant weight transfer . 620# coil springs and stock front shocks would not be ideal at the strip.

I love my power rack.

Your brakes are good.

 

[gotstang]

Where the front suspension DOES come into play at the strip is in it's ability to effectively transfer weight to the rear of the car. You'll want a set of shocks that are valved to help achieve a steady/consistant weight transfer . 620# coil springs and stock front shocks would not be ideal at the strip.

I love my power rack.

Your brakes are good.

+1. For the strip, you'd want roller everything, plus adjustabe strut rods, and the mushiest, most wore out front springs and shocks you can find.

Unless this is a driver?

If I was going with a rack, I'd go power. No point, IMHO to going to all the trouble of putting in a R&P and staying manual...might as well keep the stock stuff and save the $$, not gonna be much different than stock MS.

Super duper tubular arms aren't really worth the $$, even opentracker's "everything but the kitchen sink" units are probly overkill for a street car.

 

[Horseplay]

I understand the strip needs. 90/10 type shock, etc. This is also a street driven car. I don't mind swapping a shock or even the front springs for the serious weekend at the track. I'm already planning those weekends. I'm most interested in any reason why I wouldn't just go with the mildly improved stock arms. I couldn't really come up with anything and it sounds as if you guys agree.

Now as far as steering, I'm still listening. The TCP, even in manual state, is an improvement over stock or, I would believe, rollerized arrangement. Quicker ratio, etc. It also gets me away from the Spear-o-Matic option. What I don't know is whether I want power assist. Has anyone driven both? Or maybe just the manual and can give firsthand opinion. Dave, is yours a TCP unit?

While I'm picking brains...does anyone have experience with Coy wheels? Quality? Service?

 

[daveSanborn]

Mine is not a TCP unit. It's a Unisteer R&P and I'm running a MII type front suspension.

One of the biggest improvements I've noticed is the more responsive steering.... also there is "zero" play/slop in the system. It's akin to driving a modern vehicle.

 

[Rorin67]

What I don't know is whether I want power assist. Has anyone driven both?

Me! Me! Me! ... but in a heavier '67.

The difference in a '67 between manual R&P and power R&P is night and day. I had a manual Flaming River R&P unit for a couple of years, which I hated, so I switched to a power Randalls Rack, which has been very very nice for the last year or so. My car is 95% street and 5% strip though (it's my daily driver), so the convenience of power steering is really nice. If my car was going to be 95% strip and 5% street, then I might have just kept the manual R&P.

As posted above, either of them will give you great feel and handling on the road once you're moving.

 

[Horseplay]

Good stuff. Thanks.
I guess the next big question would be do I spend the bigger bucks for the TCP? It's my understanding from all I've read that the TCP is top definitely top tier. What about turning radius? TCP is supposed to maintain stick while others give up a bit. What's the real world concensus?