project Rentedmule

I think so too. And, you can also set the load with a splined bar with a set screw and use it as a spring. Preloading the bar to use it as a spring is pretty much only used in dirt track and sprint car applications because the they are now running lightweight gas shocks with no coil springs, and they use the sway bar as a sway bar and a side to side torsion spring. They do it because it works well, and it saves a little weight. I think it would only be useful to guys like us if we were only doing oval tracks.

IF you are willing to get it splined, then yes. If you want one pre-splined and ready to drop in, then you are stuck to some standard lengths like 32, 33, 36, 40 and 42 inches. At least those are the ones I recall. The real advantage to splined bars is being able to custom bend the arms and get them tighter to the frame for better tire clearance then flare out and get the length and angle exact. Though the size is a VERY close second. Weight loss is third.

You know, it's really nice to be able to talk shop with other people that know what they're talking about. I don't know a whole lot about S10's specifically, but I know race cars, especially suspension set ups. Even more, suspension set up and scenarios that have worked for me, and that have beaten me. I'm really grateful that you guys are receptive to new ideas, and provide new ideas and concepts to me.

Right on!

The new LCAs are on.  It seems pretty apparent now that the 550 lb springs are too heavy but I'm going to try them on the track and live with them for a while before I do anything about it.



The endlink angle is obvious in this pic so we'll see how those hold up

Are the springs as high on the shock as you can get them, or do you still have ride height adjustment to make it lower?

Your LCA angle looks like my ZR2's blazer.

The ride height is really high at the moment, I probably have room to drop it 2" or more.  I'm going to drive it for a few days to see if it settles before I adjust it down.  It's not particularly hard to do but it is work so I don't want to redo it over and over!

Oh! it looks like you have the spring collar style of coil over shock. It looks like you've got plenty of adjustment. You might be ok with 550 lb springs if you bring your ride height down a bit.

The LCA's look really nice.

non-perpendicular endlinks will drop the efficiency of the swaybar. forces will be squeezing/pulling the bar rather than transmitting a torque to the other side

The spring rate is so stiff right now I'm not sure the swaybar is even necessary!  It seems like it should be straight forward to make an adapter to move the LCA endlink attachment point in an inch or so to straighten it out.

I realized yesterday that the coils aren't too stiff, they're too soft.  Looks like they may be the variable 250/350 lb ones that used to come on the procoil kits.  I went to adjust the ride height yesterday and the winds of the coils look like they've been laying on top of each other so the stiffness has been from the shocks bottoming out.  Going to look into some 450 lb coils

The 450lb coils arrived today and will go on this coming Monday.  I also finally sorted out the adapters needed to run the single adjustable rear QA1 shocks. For the record each shock is a QA1 part # TC1539P with a SS300LT thread-on loop and a BAR350K T-bar adapter.  The adapters aren't sold in pairs and were almost $100 plus a pile of shipping charges since I couldn't find them in Canada   

Spohn lists them in their catalog for 2wd S10's so maybe they can offer a better deal than buying all of the bits individually.  I got the shocks used (barely) so in the end I probably came out ahead but they definitely were not cheap.

shiny!

450lbs sounds about right. I ran up to 750 lb springs up front (non coil over) on a couple flatter tracks in an older stock car class I used to run. 

One thing you should know is that coil bind is not always bad. A Part you can get to make it work for you is a bearing that goes in between the spring and your spring collars. It allows the coil to unwind and wind up easily when it is loading and unloading.

I got the 450 lb coils in and they feel great.  They're softer than the ZQ8's but the shocks still cancel out most of the body roll.  I need to raise the front a hair to level it out but otherwise I'm really pleased with the compromise between ride/handling as it is.

450s? Now I don't know what the hell to do with my truck. I've got the taller stiffer springs in there now, z85s I think they are, they're fucking terrible. I can't find properly soft springs at the right height though. And GM just bumped his coils up stiffer and is loving it. You all make me think too damn much!

ive been quite happy with my cut z85s. from lack of a stiff enough swaybar I went the stiff coil route and been very happy.

How much did you cut them down? I've been considering it so that I can get the exact drop I want, and just hope that better shocks rein in the ride quality to a tolerable level. I like the cost of cut coils too!

sadly i dont remember the exact amount and i lost the software for all my modeling....
sorry

its a pretty harsh ride haha

I'm really happy with the 450s but that may be because the roads are just so crappy here. They make the truck somewhat tolerable to drive which it hasn't been for the last little while.  With my shocks 6 clicks in it's still a firm ride without being too jarring.  I haven't had a chance to race it yet so I'm not sure what it will be like on course.

Got the rear QA1's in and they feel great