Vega Drag Car Project Help

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Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby misterchevyvega » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:43 am

I am building a '72 Vega drag car, i'm doing the competition series back-half kit with ladder bars to lighten it up, I have a 383 Stroker built for it that makes about 550-560 HP, I need some help on what route to take with the front suspension, i want something strong and light, but not too expensive. Any suggestions? I plan on using a ford 9" with 4:88 gears and a powerglide with trans brake. thanks
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Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby megavega » Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:23 am

From what you have listed there thats right around a 10 second car set up, what would be wrong with the stock front suspension? it will certainly work fine in that range, many have gone way,way deep into the 9's on the front suspension in a typical "backhalf" vega. just change the front brakes out to a wilwood set up and a set of coil springs,drag shocks would be all youd need. One thing you can do is swap the upper control arms from side to side and this will give you a good castor angle change( more positive castor) to help keep the car more steady on the topend, it makes it so its not twitchy with steering input.

If your going to put a complete tube chassis under the car, then the front suspension "cost" shouldnt be a factor. It would either be a tubular A arm set up or strut for the ultimate weight savings. Alston,Jegs,chassis works,etc. all sell front suspension kits if you go this route.
1972 hatchback, 28,000 orig miles, 427BBC/twin T4 turbo's/T56 six speed/big wheels, lowered down pro touring style-work in progress....

1973 vega wagon-under the blue flame knife.
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby misterchevyvega » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:58 pm

Ok, what lbs. of coil springs do you recommend? thanks for the reply
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Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby chevyart » Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:36 pm

don dont think i remember ever hearing of changing the upper control arms from side to side. would that mean there is a driver side and pass side control arm that comes from fasctory and are different. could you explain that one for me thanks art
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Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby spencerforhire » Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:00 am

The upper control arms are asymmetrical(the ball joint is not centered), and therefore different from left to right. By swapping them side to side, it puts the upper ball joint quite a bit behind the lower one. This gives you a whole bunch more caster(top of the tire leans back) so the car will be more stable at speed. Most purpose- built drag car front suspension kits have 10 degrees or so of caster designed into them.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

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Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby chevyart » Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:36 pm

now i get it. would it be to my advantage to do this with a street car. im planning on using the upper offset bushings only on the front side(as megavega had suggedted in a prior post thanks art
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Re: Vega Drag Car Project Help

Postby chevyart » Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:36 pm

now i get it. would it be to my advantage to do this with a street car. im planning on using the upper offset bushings only on the front side(as megavega had suggedted in a prior post thanks art
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