I had really bad wheelhop and put in Bilstein shocks which cured it. Everything else was still stock at that point. Did swaybars next, then a QA1 panhard rod, then my LCA's and Torque arm together. Springs are still stock, I have no intent of lowering this car.
The swaybars and torque arm make the most difference imo. Almost no body roll side to side and less nose dive during hard braking.
After I did my swaybars I swear I could feel my stock panhard rod deflecting / bending during hard tight cornering so that's why I put the QA1 in. I swear I could feel the rear end moving out a bit side to side.
I've had the car for seven years so I'm pretty in tune with how it handles and feels. Maybe I'm just autistic though.
Hudson Bailey
Thinking about getting a firebird, just wanted to ask if yours was Manual or an auto? There are a couple of manual ones but they are highly modified and high miles, and a lot of the auto Trans Ams and Formulas are fairly low miles and babied. That being said, would you happen to know how easy a manual swap would be on one?
Gavin Lopez
Cool, bilsteins are what I'm probably going to end up getting. Plan to keep rear sway stock with poly bushings. I ha e an aftermarket Panhard bar with the poly bushings, but I believe the mounts are flexing a bit. I destroyed the old one towing a truck.
I have no intent on lowering mine either, springs are staying stock. There are supposed to be stiffer springs from a gm van that will fit, may do that but no ride-heighth changes.
I may have to look into tq arms since you said that, I always thought they were more for purpose drag cars, but if it keeps it stable better during braking that would be nice. Had mine for 13 years and it's had a shot suspension for about the last 6, this should be a nice change.
Nicholas Garcia
I got my 4L60E rebuilt with a bunch of goodies in it. 3400 stall too. I love it. My 1991 GTA is a 5 speed. I also love it. Yes, people have done auto -> manual as well as manual -> auto. It's a decent amount of work. Not a beginner project that's for sure. You can probably google on LS1Tech or other forums more on the subject than I can provide.
With my 255 wide MT ET Streets and rear suspension setup I can go WOT off the line at my local strip with zero wheelspin. It hooks right from a dead stop.
I'm not making much power right now though. Computer isn't happy with my big cam. Also still running stock injectors which are maxed out.
