Suspension Modification for TurboCharged Kingswood

KingDrive · Postby **KingDrive** » July 7th, 2010, 9:21 pm

I am looking for a place that does exceptional Alignment, Cambering and/or Modification to suspension of older vehicles, example: Nissan 280C, Toyota Cressida, etc...
I am the owner of a Holden Kingswood (excellent condition), presently with a RB25 Turbo.
The car is Wild with Power. I need to have the front wheels aligned and cambered, also cambering of the rear wheels followed by a dropped suspension to increase my handling.
I am not just looking for someone who knows how to, but someone who is an expert at it.
Can anyone give advice as to where I can go?

OldSkoolRule · Postby **OldSkoolRule** » July 8th, 2010, 11:07 am

You wanna camber the rear wheels??? do you have an independent setup in the rear or a live-axle/banjo type diff???you could probably get an energy suspension kit for the front, install some KYB Gas-Adjust shocks, etc to firm up the handling a bit. Mikey's Alignment in Orange Field is a suspension specialist..........check him and see what he'll do for you.

KingDrive · Postby **KingDrive** » July 8th, 2010, 10:07 pm

The car presently has the original Diff. It manages the power well enough so far but I will upgrade in the future. The cambering of the rear wheels may not be necessary and is not really my main concern. What I am interested in is the front end. It definitely needs cambering and the alignment is a bit off.
It is presently running on 15" Rims with 225 R60 tyres (real muscle look). I intend to go with larger rim size and lower profiles but with the cambering off this would be a catastrophy, it is also presently dangerous with the existing power.
Some amateur alignment men said that the cambering of this type of vehicle is a bit different to that of the average japanese cars.
Although everyday I see another ole school car reborn, modified end to end, I still haven't met anybody up to the task of at least a proper camber and alignment.

This picture below is my Intention...

Thanks for all suggestions and advice...

sigma-turbo · Postby **sigma-turbo** » July 9th, 2010, 3:33 am

Pedders suspension will have everything you need to get your kingswood cornering great

to adjust the camber requires shims to be added/removed on the rear of the top suspension arm

I just couldnt imagine a kingwood being a handfull with an rb25 lol

Strugglerzinc · Postby **Strugglerzinc** » July 9th, 2010, 6:38 pm

Listen to the Aussie... they know about Holdens

There's a guy off the highway (on the rd in front of Nagar headin North) Sparkie i think it is.

Used to work wonders with our old 280C where the computerised alignment guys couldn't.

KingDrive · Postby **KingDrive** » July 9th, 2010, 10:33 pm

sigma-turbo wrote:Pedders suspension will have everything you need to get your kingswood cornering great

to adjust the camber requires shims to be added/removed on the rear of the top suspension arm

Can you tell me who or what is "Pedders Suspension"?
I remember someone telling me that same thing, about adding shims, but I didn't quite understand what they were talking about...
Most of the technicians in my country are somewhat afraid of a little work and most of the times 'run' from these sort of jobs. Is this process that tedeous?

KingDrive · Postby **KingDrive** » July 9th, 2010, 10:45 pm

Strugglerzinc wrote:There's a guy off the highway (on the rd in front of Nagar headin North) Sparkie i think it is.
Used to work wonders with our old 280C where the computerised alignment guys couldn't.

Do you have a phone number for "Sparkie"?
I really am interested in checking someone out to do this job...

Thanks...

KingDrive · Postby **KingDrive** » July 9th, 2010, 11:43 pm

sigma-turbo wrote:I just couldnt imagine a kingwood being a handfull with an rb25 lol

The thing is, in this country although there are suprisingly alot of Holden Kingswood on the roads, there isn't much availability for parts. And like I was saying, the mechanics here just like to deal with those easier japanese cars (just to change parts / engine and charge a price). I also thought that a RB25 in this type of car should be a breeze.
I didn't know that this was the situation before I started building this car. But I'm too far in it already to stop and besides that I'm in love with the Strong, Muscular look of the Kingswood SL model. I must go all the way with this...
If you can link me up with an online supplier, of this Kingswood model, parts etc,
I will be much grateful...

Thanks Again...
Feel Free to send anymore advice or info, it will be greatly appreciated

sigma-turbo · Postby **sigma-turbo** » July 10th, 2010, 3:23 am

KingDrive wrote:
sigma-turbo wrote:Pedders suspension will have everything you need to get your kingswood cornering great

to adjust the camber requires shims to be added/removed on the rear of the top suspension arm

Can you tell me who or what is "Pedders Suspension"?
I remember someone telling me that same thing, about adding shims, but I didn't quite understand what they were talking about...
Most of the technicians in my country are somewhat afraid of a little work and most of the times 'run' from these sort of jobs. Is this process that tedeous?

http://www.pedders.com.au/

Postby **~VēġÃ³~** » July 11th, 2010, 6:54 pm

Kingswood deserves V8 business...just my preference though.

jockey-shorts · Postby **jockey-shorts** » July 13th, 2010, 8:21 pm

^^^^ Vega know what he talkin bout!! but surprisingly, the Kngswood shares some of its suspension with the Chev. Camaro. so you could probably substitute some Camaro performance bits. oh, and PLEASE don't install those cheesy-a$$ crims on your car. it only makes things worse.!!!

Red Dawg · Postby **Red Dawg** » July 13th, 2010, 8:40 pm

Alignment alone will not solve handling problems.
I suggest that you start with the shocks and springs.
The first thing I would do would be to replace all the bushings with urethane
Energy Suspensions sell individual bushings to suit any size.
Automotive Components can camber and caster and toe align the front. The rear cannot be cambered but should be checked for correct thrust angle.
Make sure that all the suspension and steering links are firm and tight to remove any sloppiness in the handling. Sway bars will eliminate some of the body roll along with some good shocks and springs.
All of these will also help your car put the power to the ground and accelerate quicker and straighter and stop quicker and safer.

trini kingswood · Postby **trini kingswood** » September 25th, 2013, 3:48 pm

How is the project going ???

droppa · Postby **droppa** » September 26th, 2013, 8:22 am

did u ever check cotoorams in el socorro, just off the highway, they used the older alignment method of dials as opposed to those newer places that use laser beam, where the latter may be more precise, when i had my surf and lifted it i ha dto set ove the camber and alignmnet, and laser beam could not get me running right, as much as 0.00' it was closest set to, the guys with the old school set up, tweaked and tweaked until it was correct, steering straight, no trye squealing when pelting around corners, no try cutting.........

first things first is try to modify and maintain your suspension as much as possible to now cater for your additional power and weight diff (+/-) maybe you can talk to V8boys or others on the old school projects thread for more info, there are alot of tuners here with a wealth of knowledge, but they just backseat, and let the lil pompeks rah rah.........