Chevrolet has made many a collectible car throughout the decades. Cars like the Chevelle, Impala, Nova, and Camaro are considered icons by many enthusiasts. But what about the cars built after the “muscle car” era that many feel ended after 1972?

While the late-’70s and early ’80s-era G-body (Malibu, Cutlass, Grand Prix, and even Monte Carlo), are not considered a muscle car, the popularity of these ’80s-engineering marvels is on the rise. And why not? They are “small”, will accept a small-block, big block, or LS engine, and the aftermarket is recognizing them as the next big thing to build. In fact, the folks at QA1 think so and have put together a short guideline of suspension upgrades for these cars.

QA1’s complete handling suspension kits are available in three different levels of performance and offer easy, bolt-in installation and seamlessly work with whatever OE component each piece attaches to. These kits include spring rates carefully selected to maximize performance while maintaining a smooth, comfortable ride.

From its inception, the G-body was an intermediate-sized means of transportation, perfect for the post-performance era. The low entry cost of currently obtaining a G-body means you’ll have that much more to spend on a wide range of aftermarket goodies when you decide it’s time to up the performance.

These ’80s-on-par-performers of the day were never designed to be corner-carving hot rods. With coil springs on all four corners and ludicrously soft hydraulic shocks to control the spring action, they handled terribly but offered a cushy ride.

According to the QA1 outline, “The GM G-body platform is arguably one of the hottest vehicles on the road today. Recently, the popularity of LS swaps and other late-model performance upgrades makes these vehicles perfect for drag racing, pro-touring, or cruising backcountry roads.”

QA1’s Pro Coil systems provide both ride height and valving adjustment. These stock-mounted coilover shocks are a great option for anyone looking for fully adjustable ride height and valving control. On-the-car adjustable valving makes it easy to dial in your desired level of comfort and performance.

As true as that statement is, luckily, QA1 realizes that while a full-vehicle suspension system is a popular upgrade for the G-body, financial limits might prevent many from buying the complete parts list all at once. Also, many enthusiasts like to build their vehicle piecemeal, using the parts list of the suspension system as a sort of road map for upgrades. This helps stay within a budgetary guideline (buying parts individually costs the same as buying the full kit, it’s just spread out over time) while also minimizing the time the vehicle is down for upgrades.

To help enthusiasts accomplish this time-honored process of building as you can, the company has developed a guideline of sorts to help you understand the suggested way to approach a build-as-you-can upgrade process. If you’re ready to understand the fundamentals of upgrading your suspension in steps, check out the QA1 website to follow the guideline the technicians have assembled.