Coil-Over vs. torsion Bars • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Gerrad Friedline (Gmfried** » 14 Sep 2002 19:13

I know that Mopar did well with the torsion bars, and they are fine for most applications as is, but does anyone know if coilover is a better option for adjustability?
Also, on a 70 the shock tower is in the inner fender, am I correct? How does a person get away with cutting the inner fenders on a 70' E-Body?

by **Alex (Alex)** » 14 Sep 2002 21:11

Torsion bars give a simple way of adjusting ride height over coils, take about as long to change to a different rate.

If you remove the inner wings on an E body, you have to fabricate a tube front end to carry the shox, big job, little gain, total loss of value....

by **Richard Ward (Richard)** » 14 Sep 2002 21:49

The inner fenders on challengers (and most muscle era mopars) were not designed to take the weight of the car's front end only the forces from the dampers. You would need to re-engineer the whole front of the car to use coil overs ditto above.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 15 Sep 2002 8:17

You can't beat torsion bars for a front suspension. They are much better than coil springs for many reasons which i don't have time to go into now.

by **Tig (Cathtig)** » 18 Sep 2002 21:15

Check out www.magnumforceracing.com These do a bolt in tubular cross member and coil over kit for e bodys. Costs a small fortune but saves over 250 lb in weight they claim. Thats got to be over 2 tenths at the strip and its right over the nose for better weight transfer.(Jeez do I have an obsession or something?)

by **John P (Blue)** » 19 Sep 2002 8:55

Antony Jones Engineering also manufacture one of these kits, at a much more reasonable price. They do offer good weight savings and oil pan and header clearance would seem to be excellent as it converts to rack and pinoin steering. I have some worries about the strength of these kits for street use, and I have heard on the grapevine that there has been a suspension collapse at the track on a car equipped with such a kit. I must admit though it doe's look very trick.....

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 19 Sep 2002 9:17

I doubt it saves a lot of weight but it sure is a neat way to get decent r & p steering and header clearence. It is a dream come true for A-body drivers wanting to fit a 440.

But if the original k-frame and suspension parts were 250lbs heavier than all that tubing then I must be bloody strong to have carried mine around my workshop.

The two main drawbacks to this system that stick out to me are a)No engine mounts and b)you will need to tie the upper shock mount into a cage so it will take the front end weight on that coil-over shock.

Still. It is an interesting bit of kit. Mmmm.

by **John P (Blue)** » 19 Sep 2002 15:58

I suspect that the big savings are in the brakes, hubs and spindles, that stock stuff weighs a ton! I do fancy fitting such a system though, and I'm keeping an eye out for further reports from guys that have fitted them, early reports on Moparts have been a bit of a mixed bag... To get back to the original question, I wouldn't change from the torsion bar set up if this is a "handling" application, there is enough aftermarket equipment out there to enable you to set up the stock suspension to your liking.

by **Tig (Cathtig)** » 19 Sep 2002 21:53

Sorry guys, I thought you could lose 250 lb but they claim a max of 185lb with wilwood discs. I wouldn't use it either without downbars tied to the chassis and cage (for coil over top mount). Also I thought it was $5000 last time I looked, not the $3500 stated.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 20 Sep 2002 7:27

Oh well I can afford two then Tig! NOT!