ULTIMATE SUSPENSION BUYER'S GUIDE: 1970-1981 2ND GEN GM F-BODY CAMARO & FIREBIRD
GM’s famed F-body vehicle platform reigns among the car hobby’s most popular and endlessly customizable muscle car families, and the second-generation (1970-81) sisters, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, certainly carry their weight among the GM faithful.
Building on the successes of the first-generation models, and intended as true performance vehicles, the second-generation F-bodies were well equipped from the factory, featuring both front and rear sway bars as original equipment, paired with a traditional A-arm front end and leaf springs in the rear. While ideal for typical driving habits, GM’s designs left much to be improved upon, and as time and the elements have weathered those stock components, and restomod enthusiasts have fired up their interest in these classic muscle machines, there’s never been greater demand for performance-engineered, aftermarket suspension components for them than there is today.
If you’re looking to give your car modern, high-performance ride quality and handling characteristics, and replace your 50-plus year-old factory suspension with brand new components, QA1 has multiple solutions to fit your needs.
FIRST, SET YOUR GOALS
Before exploring suspension upgrades for your F-body, first evaluate your use cases and your goals to ensure you make the right choice. Some common points to consider include:
Type of Build: Are you aiming for budget-friendly updates, a top-tier show car, or a performance-oriented project with competitive racing mind?
Overall Condition: Assess your car's condition, including the frame and suspension components, to address any existing issues. Are the ball joints or bushings worn out? Are the control arms, shocks, springs, and mounting bracket and hardware showing their age, or been subject to considerable rust? Is the chassis suitable for upgrades, or does it have structural issues requiring major repairs before installing new suspension components?
Performance Expectations: What are you planning to use the car for? Consider factors like handling, ride comfort, and adjustability to match your driving preferences, along with your horsepower and torque expectations.
Budget: Finally, your project budget is a key consideration. If you want to gain a degree of bolt-on adjustability and replace some of the key components for improved handling, solutions start for less than $2,000, while a more extensive overhaul of your vehicle to give it a true full-vehicle suspension system with all the bells and whistles, can cost over $8,000.
By considering these factors, you'll make an informed decision that best suits your needs.
ENHANCED DRIVABILITY AND COMFORT
If you'relooking for a practical upgrade for improved handling and cruising comfort, a bolt-in solution that pairs with your factory suspension components can give you a better feel for the road. Adjustable coilover front shocks allow you to adjust your vehicle’s ride height at the nose and dial in the ride for improved comfort, while the lightweight tubular front sway bar enhances the overall stiffness of the front suspension, giving you a high performance level of control. QA1 adjustable rear shocks present newfound adjustability for tuning your compression and rebound.
Luckily, QA1 has assembled all of these items into a simple kit, taking the guess work out of ordering, while optimizing the parts selection for this type of driving. The Level 1 Handling kit provides you the ability to:
- Dial In Your Stance: Adjustable coilovers provide easy ride height adjustment.
- Experience a Smoother Ride: Enjoy improved comfort and handling thanks to adjustable valving on your QA1 shocks.
- Easy Installation: Bolt-on components that replace your stock parts make for a simple at-home install.
- Cruise with confidence: Built for durability and reliability, the QA1 system ensures a worry-free driving experience.
SHOW AND GO: A HIGH PERFORMANCE RIDE NO MATTER THE SITUATION
If you love sporty driving on twisty back roads and competing in weekend track-day events, but you don’t want to build a dedicated racing machine, replacing your entire front and rear suspension will optimize your ride quality and take your handling and performance potential to a new level.
By replacing your factory leaf spring rear suspension and antiquated rear sway bar design with coilovers and a tubular 4-link system shocks, you’ll gain the ability to dial in your ride height and overall vehicle stance for improved weight transfer and control, as well as aesthetics, and you’ll no doubt feel the increased stiffness of the car’s chassis in the seat of your pants. Additionally, the double-adjustable valving of the QA1 shocks will provide you with independent control over both compression and rebound for a smooth, dialed ride right from the first drive.
The Level 2 Handling Kit is packaged together with everything you need, allowing for significant improvements in several areas:
- Clean Sheet Design: The fresh approach to second-gen suspension design allows for modern performance geometry and enhanced strength and stiffness, with brand new, tubular components tuned to the specific needs of the vehicle.
- Big Tires In The Rear: Designed to work with stock or aftermarket mini tubs, QA1’s four-link has been optimized to accommodate wider rear tires (up to 12-inch-wide wheels and 335mm tires) for improved traction and grip and more aggressive aesthetics
- Bind Free, Light-weight Front Suspension: QA1's tubular front control arms stand out as some of the lightest available in the markets and are paired with low friction polyurethane bushings to reduce flex for a bind-free movement.
- Engineered for High Performance: Built with fine-tuning adjustability and stiffness in mind for a ride that can handle the rigors of spirited driving or competition use.
- Easy Installation: Thoughtful design results in effortless installation with a completely bolt-in front suspension and a 4-link requiring minimal welding.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS KIT (1970-1974)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS KIT (1975-1981)
THE ULTIMATE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE CONTROL
For those looking for uncompromising performance in competitive autocross and track day events, replace your car’s front suspension both front and rear and add QA1’s ultimate performance shock, the four-way adjustable MOD Series, for complete control over your handling, control, and grip. You’ll gain brand-new, lightweight, tubular components throughout for a fully modern makeover of your GM classic, with complete control over your ride height, superior stiffness in your suspension for maximum control and grip, and more room in the rear to accommodate wider wheels and tires. The MOD Series shocks, designed for pro touring and track cars that require higher force curves, provide independent control over high and low speed compression and rebound to dial in your handling in situations when every second matters.
These parts can all be found in the QA1 Level 3 Handling kit, providing a one-stop-shop for:
- Peak Performance: QA1's MOD Series coiloversare built for ultimate tunability, for both road courses and autocross events, with complete control over your ride and your ride height.
- Brand New Everything: Replace your 50+ year-old stock components with brand new, lightweight tubular components built for today’s highest levels of performance driving.
- Wide Wheels & Tires: The rear 4-link is designed to fit wider wheels and tires for unparalleled grip on the track, accommodating up to 355mm tires when paired with mini tubs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS KIT (1970-1974)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS KIT (1975-1981)
IN CONCLUSION
By carefully assessing your goals, vehicle condition, performance expectations, and budget, you can choose from a range of QA1 kits tailored to your needs. Whether opting for a bolt-in solution for everyday comfort or a comprehensive overhaul for competitive racing, QA1 provides the components necessary to transform your classic muscle car into a high-performance machine. Embrace the opportunity to modernize your ride, ensuring it meets the demands of today’s driving while preserving its iconic heritage.