MUSCLE CARS HAVE COME a long way since the 1960s, when performance was defined strictly by how quickly the car accelerated in a straight line. Today, the definition is far more encompassing, covering all aspects of driving, including ride, handling, and braking.
But taking one of those cars of the ’60s or ’70s and making it more capable in the corners, while also improving its braking performance and its ride quality, can compromise some collector-car norms. We thought the best way to address this challenge would be to break it down into systems.
The process outlined here is certainly not chiseled in stone. We’ll present the various facets of this approach and let you decide on the actual sequence. So, for example, if better shocks are right up at the top of your “must-have” parts list, that’s certainly acceptable. You’ll have to determine the most effective place to begin on your car based on its current state.
A SOLID FOUNDATION
As with most systems, the process is most successful when building on a solid foundation, so that’s where we’ll start. Before we can begin with modifications, the car’s basic suspension must be in solid shape. For the sake of this story, we’ll assume you’ve just acquired the muscle car of your dreams and that its suspension is in proper order. To verify this, the areas that will require close inspection include ball joints, upper and lower control-arms bushings (front and rear), body bushings, and steering components like tie-rod ends and even the steering box itself.
TIRES & WHEELS
The 600-pound gorilla in the room throughout
