Last month, HPP brought you a selection of bolt-on suspension kits for your vintage GTO, LeMans, Tempest, or T-37. There were so many aftermarket offerings available that we couldn't fit all the manufacturers into one issue. So here we are again with four more companies that say they can help you turn your classic Pontiac A-body into a corner-carving conqueror of the open road, the road course, or the autocross.
Upgrading the suspension on your classic A-body is an easy way to improve its handling, give you greater performance, and gain a level of safety only modern components can offer. So as not to leave you in suspense any longer, let's get right to the kits.
Global West Suspension Components
(877) 470-2975
www.globalwest.net
Suspension Kits Manufactured
G-Plus (standard or dropped spindles)
Negative Roll (tall spindle conversion)
Fits the Following Models
All the above kits will fit:
'64-'67 GTO and LeMans
'68-'72 GTO and LeMans
'73-'77 LeMans
Features
G-Plus:
* Tubular upper and lower control arms are supplied with Del-a-lum bushings or polyurethane (option), billet shafts for upper arms, ball joints, and bumpstops. Preassembled
* Lower arms feature a rotating spring cushion for proper spring indexing
* Fast-ratio steering box
* Steering components (center link, idler, inner and outer tie rods, tubular sleeves)
* Front (11/8-inch) and rear (1-inch) sway bars
* Front (500-560 lb/in) and rear (130-160 lb/in) lowering springs
* Rear adjustable upper arms provide on-car pinion-angle adjustment. The upper arm uses a Teflon-lined spherical bearing
* Special spherical bearing-mount kit to replace the rearend bushings to remove bushing bind
* Tubular lower control arms with Teflon-lined spherical bearings
* Rear frame supports
* Disc brake kits front (11- to 13-inch) and rear (12- to 13-inch) with 0.810-inch thick rotors
* Direct replacement
Negative Roll:
* All the features of G-Plus plus:
* No rear sway bar
* Front springs (500-900 lb/in) and rear (130-160 lb/in) springs
* Disc brake kits front (12- to 13-inch six-piston) and rear (12- to 13-inch four-piston) with 11/4-inch "stock car-style" rotors
Benefits According to the Manufacturer
G-Plus: Changes geometry and provides
* Straight-line stability
* Faster corner entry-increases tire contact on pavement through geometry
* Reduced tire wear
* Can be used as a direct-replacement part
* Allows for large disc-brake conversions
Negative Roll: Ultimate handling package
* All of G-Plus as well as:
* Increases disc brake size up to 13 inches
* Keeps the tire flatter on the pavement through turns-used in road racing
Options and Upgrades:
* Coilover kits front and rear available
* Large disc brake kits, four- or six-piston setup-up to 13 inches front or rear
* Many options to choose from due to the wide variety of products
Mods Required
G-Plus: Bolt-on system, none
Negative Roll: Bolt-on system, none
MSRP
G-Plus: From $1,300 to $5,000 depending on options
Negative Roll System: From $2,000 to $7,000 depending on options
BMR Fabrication
(813) 986-9302
www.bmrfabrication.com
Suspension Kits Manufactured
Handling Performance Package Level 1 ('64-'67, '68-'72)
Handling Performance Package Level 2 ('64-'67, '68-'72)
Features
Handling Performance Package Level 1
* Front and rear 1-in lowering springs cold-wound from high-tensile-strength chrome-silicon-vanadium steel to provide the most long-lasting, consistent rate possible with minimal "memory loss"
* Front spring rate is 520 lb/in; rear spring rate is 200 lb/in
* Front and rear HD sway bars cold-formed from 1.25-inch and 1-inch solid-steel bar stock respectively; provided with polyurethane mounting bushings, endlinks, and Grade 8 mounting hardware, and powdercoated in red or black hammertone finishes
* Bilstein front and rear rising rate, self-adjusting monotube shock absorbers
Handling Performance Package Level 2
* All of the Handling Performance Package Level 1 components plus:
* BMR tubular upper and lower front A-arms manufactured from MIG-welded DOM tubing and assembled with low deflection, internally-fluted polyurethane bushings
* Upper A-arms come assembled with new billet-steel cross-shafts, ball joints, and bumpstops
* Upper and lower rear control arms are assembled with low deflection, internally-fluted polyurethane bushings
* Lower control arms are a boxed design, fabricated from 1.5x3.0-inch rectangular steel tubing, while the upper control arms are manufactured from 1.625x0.120-inch wall DOM tubing
* The upper control arms allow on-car pinion-angle adjustment thanks to a 1.125-inch diameter adjuster
* Control arm reinforcement braces add stiffness by tying the upper control arm mounting points to the lower control arm mounting points
Benefits According to the Manufacturer
* Components are matched and developed to work together
* Simple installation that can easily be done by the average enthusiast in the driveway with normal hand tools
* Low-cost installation if performed by a professional shop
* Average install time is 3-4 hours for Handling Performance Package Level 1 and 6-8 hours for Handling Performance Package Level 2
* All components proudly made in the USA
Options and Upgrades
* Color-Available in red or black hammertone; no charge for powdercoating
* No upgrades necessary; this kit already includes all the best components
Mods Required
* None, all components bolt onto vehicle using existing mounting holes
* This suspension kit can be removed in the future if the owner wants to put the car back to stock
MSRP
Level 1: $949
Level 2: $2,099
Edelbrock Corporation
(310) 781-2222
www.edelbrock.com/suspension
Suspension Kits Manufactured
Touring Kit
Pro-Touring Kit
Fits the Following Models
LeMans, GTO, Tempest
Features
Touring Kit:
* Lower trailing arms
* Adjustable upper arms
* Adjustable frame braces
* Front (hollow-core 1.25-inch) and rear (solid-core 1-inch) sway bars
* All of the necessary hardware and installation instructions
Pro-Touring Kit:
* Everything in the Touring plus:
* Adjustable frame braces
* IAS Shocks
* Spring set (lowers car 1.3 inches front and back) (rates unavailable)
* Tie rods
Benefits According to the Manufacturer
Touring Kit:
* Best combination of components needed to upgrade your stock suspension
* Entry level and most economical upgrade in Edelbrock's line of kits
* Tailored for each vehicle-specific application
* Uses the stock mounting locations for a simple install
Pro-Touring Kit:
* Ultimate upgrade for your Pontiac's suspension in one box
* Help plant your car's power on the pavement
* Custom-tailored for each application in order to provide the right combination to improve handling and reaction to road conditions
* Uses the stock mounting locations for a simple install
Options and Upgrades
None available at this time
Mods Required
Touring Kit ('64-'67) Adjustable upper arms may require purchase of new differential bushings
Pro-Touring Kits ('64-'66, '67)Adjustable upper arms may require purchase of new differential bushings
MSRP
$989-$1,750 (Contact the company for specific application pricing)
PMT Fabrication
(214) 592-2308
www.pmtfabrication.com
Suspension Kits Manufactured
Rear Trailing Arm Touring Kits
Rear Trailing Arm Road Race/Autocross Kits(Options vary depending upon year model. Please contact the company for your application.)
Fits the Following Models
'64-'67 GTO and LeMans
'68-'72 GTO and LeMans
'73-'77 LeMans
Features
Rear Trailing Arm Touring Kits
* Non-adjustable uppers
* 1.5x0.120-inch DOM tubing
* Red, blue, silver, or black powdercoat finish
* Red, blue, or black polyurethane bushings
* Rear sway bar mounting provisions
Rear Trailing Arm Road Race/Autocross Kits
* Adjustable or non-adjustable uppers
* 1.75x0.120-inch DOM tubing
* Red, blue, silver, or black powdercoat finish
* Red, blue, or black polyurethane bushings
* Severe-duty sway bar mounting provisions
* Individual requests accommodated
Benefits According to the Manufacturer
* Proudly made in the USA Touring Kits:
* Offer a superior strength alternative to the OE configuration, positively locating the rear axle Road Race Kits:
* Designed to provide precise handling with components that resist deflection for predictability under hard cornering Options and Upgrades
* Adjustable upper arms available for touring kits ($50 upgrade)
* Adjustable trailing arm mount braces with hardware and choice of red or black housing bushings, all available in kit form
Mods Required
None, all kits replace factory components
MSRP
Rear Trailing Arm Touring Kits: Start at $249
Rear Trailing Arm Road Race/Autocross Kits: Start at $289