Last month, we installed Chris Alston’s Chassisworks’ gStreet suspension on the front of Pat McNeil’s clean ’69 Chevelle. Now we’re moving on to the rear suspension; this should make sure all 765 horses stay hooked up on the street and on the track.
Similar to the gStreet’s front suspension, the g-Link rear suspension package is a complete bolt-on system, with the upper and lower control arms, your choice of VariShock coilovers or air springs, spherical rearend bushings, control arm braces, and an antiroll bar. All you need to do is choose between the air spring or coilover shocks, select a spring rate, and decide between single- or double-adjustable VariShocks.
Keeping the focus on straight-line performance, we went with the double-adjustable VariShock coilovers. When it came to the spring rate, Mike Saiki, from Motivational, went with the 200-lb/in VariSprings; this rate would offer the best weight transfer to the rear, all the while helping to keep the tires planted.
Getting 3,500 pounds moving is no easy feat so make sure you stayed tuned for round three, where we take the Chevelle through its paces and show you how well this suspension can perform at the dragstrip!
Available 12-inch VariSprings |
| Rate (lb/in) |
PN |
| 110 |
VAS 21-12110 |
| 130 |
VAS 21-12130 |
| 150 |
VAS 21-12150 |
| 175 |
VAS 21-12175 |
| 200 |
VAS 21-12200 |
| 250 |
VAS 21-12250 |
| 300 |
VAS 21-12300 |
| 350 |
VAS 21-12350 |
| 400 |
VAS 21-12400 |
The Goods |
| PN |
Components |
| 5823-A20 |
gStreet pivot ball upper control arms (pair) |
| 5826-A10 |
gStreet pivot ball lower control arms (pair) |
| 5825-A20-18-AU |
Rear g-Link antiroll bar (U-bolt mounts) 11/8-inch |
| 5834-A10-HB |
’68-72 A-body spherical axlehousing bushings |
| 5824-A10 |
’64-72 A-body rear coilover conversion |
The first step was to install...
The first step was to install the spherical bushings in the rear housing for the upper control arms. Unlike a standard bushing, the spherical bushing allows the control arm to articulate with the movement of the rear suspension, preventing the suspension from binding.
The g-Link upper control arms...
The g-Link upper control arms feature Chassisworks’ maintenance-friendly pivot-ball assemblies with a zerk fitting and threaded retaining ring to keep the bearing inside the joint greased and moving freely.
Similar to the uppers, the...
Similar to the uppers, the lower arms also feature maintainable pivot-ball spherical joints. Any free play in the joint can be eliminated by tightening the retaining ring.
The antiroll bar kit comes...
The antiroll bar kit comes with a 11/8-inch sway bar, billet housing clamps, and billet endlinks with urethane spool bushings.
The endlinks fit where the...
The endlinks fit where the factory exhaust hangers were originally placed. Note: You will need to enlarge the factory hole to 13/32-inch and use the endlink bracket as a template.
We installed the top antiroll...
We installed the top antiroll brackets onto the housing, spaced evenly so that the antiroll bar will be centered onto the rearend.