The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show, held annually in Las Vegas, prides itself as the automobile aftermarket industry’s largest assembly of manufacturers and products. SEMA’s most recent show, November 1-4, 2011, proved that in spite of the passing of the Pontiac brand, many manufacturers are developing new products to enhance your driving experience, whether it’s on the street or in racing environments, such as the dragstrip or the road course. We begin our SEMA New Parts Tech Guide with new-to-market suspension gear for vintage and late-model Pontiacs.
What is it?
Fully Adjustable Upper Control Arms and Tubular Lower Control Arms
Why you need it.
You want your 31- to 42-year-old Trans Am or Firebird to meet or exceed today’s performance standards for ride and handling.
Description
This upper and lower control arm set improves handling by allowing for more positive caster and more negative camber (which is easy to set). Featuring 4130 chromoly cross-shafts, ¾-inch pivot studs (uppers), and high-strength formed steel with greaseable Delrin bushings (lowers), they allow a total adjustment range up to 6 degrees each for camber and caster. The upper arms utilize stock or extended-length ball joints (your choice) for improved camber gain; the tubular lowers feature a slight drop for an aggressive stance. Optional ride-height tuning-spacer plates and coilover mounts are available. According to the manufacturer: “They’re perfect for fine-tuning the alignment angle on your Second-Gen Bird and are great for Pro-Touring.”
Applications
’70-’81 Trans Am and Firebird
MSRP
$263 (uppers, per side)
$617 (lowers, per pair)
What is it?
Tall Ball Joints
Why you need it.
Tall ball joints are one of the hottest trends in the musclecar market, and for good reason. They correct the undesirable positive camber curve (the top of the wheel tilting outwards when the car goes through a turn) in the Firebird and GTO’s front-end suspension.
Description
The camber curve is dictated by the distance between the lower ball joint head and the upper ball joint head; this is called effective spindle height. These Tall Ball Joints increase the effective spindle height, reversing the positive camber curve, and yield an aggressive improvement in handling. According to the manufacturer: “Firebirds should use a tall upper ball joint, and A-body applications should use a tall upper and lower ball joint.”
Applications
’67-’69 Firebird; ’64-’72 GTO, LeMans, and Tempest
What is it?
Drag Race Series Shock Absorber
Why you need it.
You want to get down the quarter-mile with firmer launches, better 60-foots, and improved e.t.’s.
Description
These drag-racing shocks feature a gas reactive force mono-tube design, which offers superior heat dissipation and is resistant to the foaming or performance fade that can be found in twin-tube-designed units. Its unique deflective disc-valved speed-sensitive piston is self-adjusting to shaft speed, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. They come with a stock mount, which makes installation a breeze, and promise improved initial weight transfer and consistency pass after pass down the track.
Applications
’64 through ’72 GTO, LeMans, and Tempest; ’67-’81 Trans Am and Firebird; ’73-’81 LeMans
What is it?
Strut Tower Brace
Why you need it?
Flexing of the body structure hinders performance, and the Third-Gen Trans Ams and Firebirds are notorious for it. Minimizing it at the struts during spirited driving provides more precise handling.
Description
This MIG-welded, mild-steel strut-tower brace reinforces the front sub-structure and strut towers. The result is improved handling through quicker and more precise steering reactions. It’s a direct bolt-in.
Applications
’85-’92 Trans Am and Firebird