COILOVER CONVERSION QUESTION

[wickedfirefighter]

DOES ANYONE NO WHERE I CAN FIND INFO ON HOW TO ELIMINATE MY TORSION BARS ON MY DART ..

I HAVE TUBULAR A ARMS AND ALDAN COIL OVER CONVERSION SHOCKS BUT I CANT REMEMBER WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ..

I STARTED THIS PROJECT ON MY DART ALONG TIME AGO AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS SENSE THAT HAVE  PUT THIS CAR ON HOLD FOR WAY TOO LONG .. 

[rjsjea]

Well....the AlterKtion is the best option. 

[hemicop]

    OR you could use the "Magnum Force" conversion as I did.There's several companies out there.Having done that,however, I must admit I actually prefer the old torsion bars. 

[Capt Jack]

OR you could use the "Magnum Force" conversion as I did.There's several companies out there.Having done that,however, I must admit I actually prefer the old torsion bars.

what an interesting statement.   I'd be curious to know why.

[wickedfirefighter]

well i aready own the coilovers and tubular control arms .... so buying a alterkation would be nice but not gonna happen on this car .. $450 bucks a week on unemployment just isnt gonna do much so im trying to use what i got ..         

can i stick with the stock LCA'S ?

do i have to reinforce anything ?

[rharveysr]

I would also like to know how to do the conversion. We are building a 68 Dart for both street and strip. Sure would be nice to remove the torsion bars for more header clearance. Not looking to do the tubelar K frame...just want to do the coil overs..
Any idea's

Thanks
Rick and Rickey Jr.

[Ciscodog]

All you need is the tubular uppers and the coil overs.  You have all the parts you need.  You just need to remove the bump stop metal that is on the frame.  The coil springs will hit it.  I fabbed up a bolt on the back of the LCA so it won't walk toward the rear of the car.  Bill sells all the stuff you need.

[rharveysr]

Nice....

Rick

[wickedfirefighter]

when you remove the torsion bars doesnt it put more pressure on the shock towers ?

if it does should i reinforce the towers ?

[bOb shingler]

i didn't do anything but install the coil-overs and remove the torsion bars.

[hemicop]

OR you could use the "Magnum Force" conversion as I did.There's several companies out there.Having done that,however, I must admit I actually prefer the old torsion bars.

what an interesting statement.   I'd be curious to know why.

   When I did my C/O change I kept the LCAs, bolted everything up and had so little ground clearence  (IMO) that I just didn't like it. the car sits right, has a nice, low stance & most people that see it thinks it looks good. As for my self. I like the more classic look of the old S/S Darts which is why I've been trying to get rid of the thing------- too modern

[CudaDon65]

Well....the AlterKtion is the best option. 

.

[JeffC]

when you remove the torsion bars doesnt it put more pressure on the shock towers ?

if it does should i reinforce the towers ?

 

It would be a good idea to reinforce the inner fenders/shock tower.

[4spdfury]

ok were are you guys getting the coil over conversion from . ive been looking and cant find one any where

[abodyjoe]

i'm pretty sure bill sells the stuff to do it..



  here are some pics of it done. they are on dusterdaves site...    http://hemiduster.com/coilover.htm

[Bakaruda]

That is the least costly method. I still like the best way. ALTERKATION

[wickedfirefighter]

ok were are you guys getting the coil over conversion from . ive been looking and cant find one any where

i got all of my stuff off of ebay which he  turned out to be  a member of  and he was upgrading to one of bills alterkations ..

[Bakaruda]

Now that is so cool.

[wickedfirefighter]

i'm pretty sure bill sells the stuff to do it..



 here are some pics of it done. they are on dusterdaves site... http://hemiduster.com/coilover.htm

does anyone have any pics of the shock tower reinforced with the inner fenderswells still in place .. 

[abodyjoe]

ummmm..  look like 7 posts up...  the inner fenders are there and the shock toer is reinforced. both were done close to the same way..  really not much else you can do....

[wickedfirefighter]

so no has has come with a way to reinforce the shock tower from underneath the fender 

well that bar would look weird im my car sittin next to a six pack 340 .. i was going for a stock look under the hood ..
i might aswell cage the car then and minitub it .. i shouldnt have anymore reinforcing to worry about ..   

[rjsjea]

They did in on "musclecar" tv show this morning (re-run) on the project "overkill" challenger.  They ran a bar from the inner wheel well, reinforced w/ a plate to the underside of the inner fender.  They'll play it again tomorrow morning, at least where I am (Oregon)

[abodyjoe]

XV selld the bar that goes from the firewall up front somewhere and you can't see it from under the hood. maybe you can make something like that and brace off of that?

[Ace]

I was on Bill's site and saw the arms, but didn't see the coilovers or the mounts for the coil overs.  I may be ordering a set up here shortly to get this done as I really like it!  I would love to go with the Alter K but can't swing it realistically.

[wickedfirefighter]

    i could not have siad it any better ...


mabe we can send bill a chrismas list and he could play santa for some good mopar kids like us ..     



 

for the trouble im having i might just have to sell you my stuff and wait till fire season to get a alterkation ..   

[abodyjoe]

I was on Bill's site and saw the arms, but didn't see the coilovers or the mounts for the coil overs.

  give him a call...  not everything is on the site yet...

[MyCreation68]

the arms and coil overs shown are both from mangnumforce. their actually pretty expensive like 600 just for the coilovers and mounts.

[Bill_Reilly]

The parts aren't anything special - you need the upper arms so they'll clear the springs, and then a pair of coil-overs with stud-top mounts. Magnum makes their "kit", but it's just a billet mount on top and regular coil over. Like Bob Shingler, I just put a stud-top on the shocks and they bolt right into the stock mounting points. Over time the top bushings will pound out from the weight, but they're like 15 bucks and will last a few years. To reinforce the tower, it is possible to do it underneath the fender, it's just more difficult. You have to make a tube of some sort that goes back to the firewall/cowl - it's the only way to reinforce it that will take the abuse - some guys have tried little gussets on the tower, but the whole rail will twist inwards eventually.

so, you need to reinforce some things, then install upper a-arms(300), and then add the shocks(360pr) and springs(85pr) - you'll also need a spanner wrench to adjust the shocks(20) and you should get a set of spring bearings to make the ride height adjustments easier(29). That's pretty much the whole cost of it... That's the price for single-adjustable QA1's. Double adjustables are double the cost, and other brands are even more. If you can swing the money, I'd avoid Aldan's if at all possible - they're the lowest quality shock on the market - just cheapo Gabriel shock parts inside the fancy housing...in my opinion, if you're going to spend some dough it should at least be a decent shock you bolt on.

[Ace]

The parts aren't anything special - you need the upper arms so they'll clear the springs, and then a pair of coil-overs with stud-top mounts. Magnum makes their "kit", but it's just a billet mount on top and regular coil over. Like Bob Shingler, I just put a stud-top on the shocks and they bolt right into the stock mounting points. Over time the top bushings will pound out from the weight, but they're like 15 bucks and will last a few years. To reinforce the tower, it is possible to do it underneath the fender, it's just more difficult. You have to make a tube of some sort that goes back to the firewall/cowl - it's the only way to reinforce it that will take the abuse - some guys have tried little gussets on the tower, but the whole rail will twist inwards eventually.

so, you need to reinforce some things, then install upper a-arms(300), and then add the shocks(360pr) and springs(85pr) - you'll also need a spanner wrench to adjust the shocks(20) and you should get a set of spring bearings to make the ride height adjustments easier(29). That's pretty much the whole cost of it... That's the price for single-adjustable QA1's. Double adjustables are double the cost, and other brands are even more. If you can swing the money, I'd avoid Aldan's if at all possible - they're the lowest quality shock on the market - just cheapo Gabriel shock parts inside the fancy housing...in my opinion, if you're going to spend some dough it should at least be a decent shock you bolt on.

EXACTLY the info I was looking for.  I thought I heard you were a stand up guy. 

[Ciscodog]

Ask Bill about the Air Ride tops for the shocks - nice pieces if you don't want to go the bushing route.