I purchased a 67 firebird last summer, this summer I tore down the front end to rebuild it. I am now in the process of building it back up replacing everything. I decided on disc brakes on the front (Just ordered from Matt's Classic Bowties).

I am now looking for front springs and shocks, tie rods, and sway bars. As this is my first muscle car and my first rebuild, I am looking for advice. Right now I am leaning towards hotchkiss springs with a 2 inch drop. Hellwig 1 1/8 solid front sway bar, Moog tie rods and I have no idea on the front shocks. Any advice on the right parts for right price. Also, where to look. I am building a nice driver, not a show car or drag car.

Thanks
Smitter Bird

Sounds like a good plan to me....assuming you are after the low front end...

I have looked at a bunch of pictures on line of different firebirds. Most seem to sit at the right height for my taste, howwever no one mentions that they have dropped by 2 inches. I am not interested in a low rider look... Is it common to drop or stay at stock height?

Two inches is a lot of drop. It can affect handling and tire clearance in undesired ways. If executed properly, it can improve handling.

What size wheel and tire are you using?

Most stock springs can stand to lose 1" of height for a better stance. Every vendor's "stock" spring is different.

Thanks for the replies. That is what I am afraid of (clearance issues). As of now I have 14 inch rally wheels from a 69 on it. Not sure they will work with the 11 inch disc brakes I am putting on, so I may be forced to swap out the wheels.

Any idea of where to see before and after pictures? Or further quantify clearance or steering problems?

Thanks!

Many here have found that they can mount 15 inch wheel combos on stock suspensions with no problems (I am one of them).

The trick is to get a wheel/tire combo such that while the wheel may be a larger diameter, the outer tire diameter is close to original stock.

I installed the same brake kit. You will have to grind about 1/8 inch off the top of the caliper brackets for clearance unless those 14's were on a disc brake car originally.

Not a big deal and the kit worked great.

If you have the original front coils right now you will not get a full two inch drop from where it is sitting right now. More like one inch or so. I would run Bilstein shocks on all four corners. If they are to pricey check into the Monroe sence a tracs (sp).