1967 Firebird Handling Upgrades

Suspension Kit
But this was just the start of our handling upgrades. Next was the install of the Hotchkis Total Vehicle System (TVS). This suspension package kit for our '67 Firebird includes tuned sway bars, sport coil springs, competition leaf springs with new shackles and U-bolts. The sport coil springs have an increased spring rate to handle the nose-heavy 1st generation F-Body. The matched rear leaf springs are forward biased to hold the pinion angle, and greatly complement the front springs. A complete hardware package that includes bushings, nut-clips, brackets and end-links is also provided. We also elected to go with the optional Hotchkis Performance shock absorbers. These units are built to Hotchkis' specifications by Bilstein and offer superior dampening. All of these parts are offered as individual components but, as the TVS name implies, the entire collection of components is engineered to work best as a complete system.


With the suspension upgrade now complete, our Bird's new stance just begged for a test drive. We took it for a run through the neighborhood and were amazed at the handling improvements over stock. Now we only have to validate the new suspension, so this Bird will really soar.

To The Track
As a matter of routine, the Hotchkis Performance crew is constantly testing its products. We had previously attended one of these "test days" to get a baseline on our stock '67 suspension. Sporting the factory 14-inch tires and wheels, our run through the 600-foot slalom was better likened to a bathtub on roller skates with the tires squealing (and the owner who wanted to save his Redlines!). The car was hard to keep under control as the rear kept sliding out. We managed a speed of only 38 mph through the 100-foot-spaced cones.


So our next step was to take our Firebird out to California Speedway for another test session. Cruising at 70 mph down the highway gave us the chance to get a good seat-of-the-pants feel for the new suspension. The highway ride is firm and responsive, very comparable to a well set up 4th generation Trans Am.


Upon arrival at the track we met John Hotchkis and Gary Pinkley as they were getting set up to test a Subaru WRX equipped with their Hotchkis TVS package and a Dodge Ram SRT-10 (the Viper-powered truck). The course was a 600-foot slalom with cones spaced every 100 feet, just as our baseline testing. Conditions were not as good as all had hoped for but, given that we would be able to compare to the other test vehicles, John was confident we would be pleased. The hope was to enter the course at about 55 mph and maintain speed throughout.