C5 and C6 Suspension
for your 1953-1982 Corvette
Improve your '53 - '82 Corvette's Performance...
with the most up to date suspension options!
That’s right, Street Shop also offers their mandrel formed rectangular tube chassis for the C1, C2, & C3 Corvettes utilizing the most up to date suspension system available in the automotive market today. You can have the same technology that powers the awesome ZR1 and C6 Z06 under your 1953-1982 Corvette.
Street Shop has specifically designed the chassis so that it can be configured in two ways:
- We can incorporate the C5 transaxle and torque tube assembly. This provides the “perfect” front-to-rear weight distribution, but at a cost, the transaxle will require significant floor pan, tunnel, and seat modifications. (See pictures below labeled "c5 Chassis With Torque Tube")
- Street Shop’s preferred approach is to use an open driveshaft configuration with a forward mounted transmission. 4 speed, TKO 5 speed, or auto all work fine. Couple this with a proven variation of the Dana 44 differential and you have an unbeatable combination with flexibility, performance, and great looks. Furthermore, this option only requires floor modifications for the storage area behind the seats. Nothing in the passenger compartment is touched! (See pictures below labeled "c6 Chassis Without Torque Tube")
Performance vehicles are greatly defined by the suspension systems they use. While many OEM variations exist for “Average” production cars, most people still associate a “4-link rear” or even a “strut frontend” as being drag racing oriented terms. Hi performance, track specific, purpose built race cars even share production components with their street legal brethren. For example, the triangulated 4 link rear was made popular on the early Chevelles. Independent rear suspension was made popular in the US primarily by the Corvette. The common unequal length arm on the front suspension setups on most cars actually started appearing on passenger cars in the mid 1950s.
No matter what the terminology or basic design elements, all suspension systems have one common function: wheel control. Vehicular dynamics depend on it. Drag racing cars want the front wheels to be straight up; no camber and lots of caster! Road cars prefer a good camber gain curve and less caster for better cornering. Every OEM manufacturer has their own variation of all the basic suspension combinations.
Which setup is best? Intended application is the first question to be asked. Many vehicle specific questions will follow, but the final answer can still depend somewhat on personal preference or some other outside requirement that pushes us to make compromises. That is the exact issue we face in our pusuit of improving the performance of the early Corvette. Right or wrong, we have chosen to stray true to the Corvette’s heritage and legacy, while incorporating the more modern Corvette suspension under the old Corvettes.
C4, C5, and C6 have their own benefits and disadvantages. For example, the 1984-1996 suspension packages allow for an excellent fit under the stock floor pans with little or no modifications. We can also fit vintage style wheels and high performance brakes while maintining the classic look of the old Corvette. The c4 can, however, have somewhat of a choppy ride. Rear cradle design and transaxle mounting points make the 1997-2004 suspensions attractive in a retrofit scenario. These components lend themselves easily to the modifications required for the more narrow track widths of the older cars. 2005-current Corvette suspension provides more adjustability, the best production brakes, and still provides the best ride characteristics
So which is it for your car? Simple, cut the floors, or don’t cut the floors? If you choose to cut the floors, how much modification can you stand? Take a look at the “Decision Maker” table below.
Suspension Characteristic |
C4 Package |
C5 Package |
C6 Package |
Floor pan modification required. |
X |
X |
|
Tunnel modification required. |
X |
X |
|
"Big" brakes avaialble. |
X |
X |
X |
Vintage wheels. |
X |
||
Modern OEM wheels . |
X* |
X |
X |
Up to 12" wide rear wheels. |
X |
X |
Costs aside, the c6 has some great advantages for wheel choices, tire sizes, ride, handling, big brakes etc, but it has the drawback of floorpan modification. If you want ultimate performance, but you do not want to sacrifice your original car, then c4 suspension is your best Choice. If cost is the priority, then perhaps C5. The final decision lies in the weighting placed on each compromise.
Bottom Line, when starting your corvette project, spend some time and decide what you want from your old Corvette, then call Street Shop for the best combination of performance and technology for you!
General Photos:
C5 Chassis With Torque Tube Photos:
C6 Chassis Without Torque Tube Photos:
Standard Specifications:
- 4" x 2" x 0.120" Mandrel bent tubing.
- Poweder coat finish in semi-gloss black.
- CAD designed, CNC laser cut components
- Mounts for 1997-Current Corvette suspension front & rear.
- Track width allows for use of stock C5Z06 offset wheels.
- Mounts for front and rear bumbers using stock mid-year brackets.
- Engine & transmission mounts in factory locations.
- Removable transmission crossmember.
- Clutch pivot bracket in stock location.
- Mounts for stock mid-year core support.
- Body mounts in stock locations.
- Body mounts in positions #2 & #3 feature captured nuts as originals.
- Accepts stock gas tank support and gas tank.
- Rear suspension & torque tube modifications at no additional cost!
- Stock C5 / C6 brakes.
- Drilled & slotted rotors for stock calipers.
- C6 Z06 brakes.
- Powder coat rebuilt stock calipers.
- Wilwood 6 piston caliper with rotor front brake kt with 2 piece rotors.
- Hydroboost hydraulic brake booster systems.
- Power steering line kit.
Classic Auto Air systems for original A/C and non-A/C Corvettes ('58-'77) - Tremec Transmission Kits with stock shifter location.
- Rock Valley stainless steel fuel tanks with in-tank electric fuel pump.
- Custom wheels from American Racing, Budnik, Billet Specialties, and many more.
- Most brands of tires available.
- Multiple rear gear ratios available.
- Custom Addco front and rear sway bars.
- Flaming River Steering columns, tilt 63-69.
- Turn signal harness adapters for Flaming River columns.
- Griffin aluminum radiatiors with custom outlet configurations available.
- GMPP crate engines LS2, LS3, LS3H0, LS7, LSA, LS9
- LS engine harness with ECM controls.
- LS engine drive accessory package with A/C, power steering, 140 amp alternator, and billet brackets LS9 available.
Feature Cars:
Check out these feature cars in our Project Gallery that use the C5/C6 Chassis:
Chassis Kits & Accessories
| STANDARD CHASSIS KIT |
| 1953-1962 1963-1982 |
| Welded Chassis with stock mounting locations for Body, Bumper, engine mounts and Removeable transmission Crossmember, Powder Coated Semi-gloss Black (Other Colors Available at additional cost) |
| Standard Components |
| Factory-type Frame Mounted Battery Tray, C1 |
| Install Provision for Factory Battery Tray, C2 (Specify LH or RH) |
| AGR Power Rack & Pinion w/ New Tie Rod Ends |
| New 1" Front Sway Bar w/ Urethane Bushings & Billet Endlinks |
| Steering Shaft Adapter, Mustang Rack to Corvette Column | Billet Rear Cover for Street Shop HD44 Rear |
| QA1 Aluminum Coil-Over Shocks, Single Adjustable, Front |
| QA1 Aluminum Coil-Over Shocks, Single Adjustable, Rear |
| Stainless Steel Brake System w/ Stainless Braided Hoses |
| Accessories |
| Stainless Steel Fuel Line w/ AN Fittings |
| Stainless Steel Fuel Return Line w/ AN Fittings for EFI |
| LS Fuel Single Line Fuel System w/ SS Line, Return-Style Filter, Flexible Fuel Lines Using OEM Connectors From Engine to Fuel Tank |
| Rebuilt Calipers w/ New Brake pads, Includes Mounting Brackets |
| New OEM-style Rotors, Complete Set of Four |
| Drilled And Slotted Performance Rotor Kit w/ 13" Front, Complete Set of four |
| Lokar Universal Parking Brake Cable Kit w/ Corvette Clevis |
| Power Steering Line Kit |
| Griffin Aluminum Radiators, Dual 1", 1.25" or 1.5" Cores Available |
| Hydratech Hydraulic Brake Assist Kits for 53-82 Corvettes |
| Master Power Dual Stage Master Cylinder Upgrade Kit for C1 |
| Prothane Urethane Body Mount Kits for C2 and C3 |
| Flaming River Steering Column for 1953 - 1962 Corvette, Non-Tilt, Paintable |
| Flaming River Tilt Steering Column for 1963 - 1967 Corvette, Paintable |
| Flaming River Tilt Steering Column for 1968 - 1975 Corvette, Paintable |
| Rock Valley Stainless Steel Fuel Tanks |
| Classic Auto Air A/C Systems |
| GM Performance Parts Crate Engines |
| Classic Industries 5spd Tremec Transmission Conversions |
| LS1-LS7 Engine Adapters w/ Urethane Engine Mounts |
| LS Accessory Drive Kit; A/C, P/S, Alt. (ADD $500 for Chrome/Polish) |
| New GM C5 & C6 Suspension |
Request Information:
Here at Street Shop, we are always happy to give you whatever information you need. To submit a question by email, or to request a member of our staff contact you by phone, simply visit our Contact Page or call us right now at:
Street Shop Inc.