1968 Chevrolet Camaro TCI Torque Arm Suspension

As a Super Chevy reader, you are well aware of the potential lurking in the first-generation Camaros. They have been a staple on every dragstrip across the country and now are starting to tear up the autocross courses. If you want to build a Camaro that is well-suited for quickly navigating corners the rear leaf spring set up should be replaced with a better system. There are multiple options out there, but Total Cost Involved Engineering's torque arm rear suspension is the latest thing on the market.

TCI president Sal Solorzano stated, "We designed the torque arm rear suspension to eliminate the suspension bind that occurs when cornering using the stock conventional leaf spring suspension. The torque arm features a slider on the front of the arm that slides fore and aft and rotates as the car goes through suspension travel, thus allowing the car's handling to be controlled by the coilover shocks and the rear sway bar with no suspension binding variables. The kit allows for a lower stance, great rear axle control and dramatically improved handling."

Here's TCI's complete torque arm system with the optional subframe connectors and driveshaft safety loop. The system ships in raw steel so you can powdercoat or paint it in your preferred color. The base system includes adjustable upper links, massive torque arm, coilover crossmember, coilover shocks and adjustable Panhard rod. The system can be upgraded with a sway bar, and if you are looking for max handling performance the sway bar is a must. We were very impressed with the quality of the welds on the TCI parts. They were not only pretty, but showed great penetration. This is critical since these parts are subjected to a lot of stress. The kit comes with brackets that need to be welded to the axle tubes of a 9-inch housing. TCI also sells a Currie housing with all the brackets already stitched in place.
Here's TCI's complete torque arm system with the optional subframe connectors and drivesha
First, the main bracket was bolted in place using three existing factory bolt holes. This helps properly locate the bracket and hold it in place until fully secured. After removing the rear seat and carpet we were ready to start drilling. Using a 5/16-inch bit, we drilled reinforcement holes through the floor.
First, the main bracket was bolted in place using three existing factory bolt holes. This

Even as sophisticated as the torque arm setup is, it's still a bolt-in installation. No floor mods are required, though you will have to drill a few dozen holes. These holes will be used to firmly integrate the suspension into the bottom of your Camaro. The only real thing that can pose extra work is welding on some tabs to a 9-inch housing, but they do offer pre-modded housings for those who don't want to break out the welder.

As for how it works, we recently saw the red '68 Camaro in action at the Super Chevy Show in Las Vegas. The car turned in some very quick autocross times with Mary Pozzi behind the wheel and her driving impression is featured at the end of the story. The point is, this system works and was proven to everyone watching.

With all the holes drilled, we then moved to the interior and put in the reinforcement plate using the supplied fasteners. This sandwiches the Camaro's floor between the two steel plates, keeping everything secure.
With all the holes drilled, we then moved to the interior and put in the reinforcement pla
Next, we used the supplied drill guide tool and a 3/8-inch bit to make the proper hole through the unibody.
Next, we used the supplied drill guide tool and a 3/8-inch bit to make the proper hole thr
With both brackets secured, it was time to install the shock crossmember between the framerails. It was a tight fit so we used a dead-blow hammer to persuade it into position.
With both brackets secured, it was time to install the shock crossmember between the frame

The crossmember bracket was held in place using four factory holes (two on each side) and then the drill jig was employed to drill through the factory framerails.
The crossmember bracket was held in place using four factory holes (two on each side) and
The Panhard rod mount was installed and torqued down to TCI's specifications. There were also two fasteners that went up through the trunk floor and further secured the mount with another set of reinforcement plates.
The Panhard rod mount was installed and torqued down to TCI's specifications. There were a
TCI's subframe connectors also have mounts for their new cross brace with drive shaft safety loop. These were designed to integrate into the TCI subframe, but the company offers ones that work with factory subframes as well.
TCI's subframe connectors also have mounts for their new cross brace with drive shaft safe

After the subframe connectors were tightened up, the front torque arm crossmember was installed.
After the subframe connectors were tightened up, the front torque arm crossmember was inst
With the crossmember support fully secured to the car, the upper links were bolted up. The adjuster side went toward the frame bracket.
With the crossmember support fully secured to the car, the upper links were bolted up. The
With that done it was finally time to put the rearend in place. A transmission jack makes this much easier. Once up high enough the links were bolted to the brackets on the housing. At this time the double adjustable coilover shocks went on.
With that done it was finally time to put the rearend in place. A transmission jack makes

TCI sends the brackets for the torque arm that will need to be welded to the 9-inch housing, or you can buy a TCI housing that has everything already welded in place. This car is using the already-welded housing so the torque arm simply bolts in place.
TCI sends the brackets for the torque arm that will need to be welded to the 9-inch housin
The front of the torque arm has a slider on the front of the arm that slides fore and aft and rotates putting
The front of the torque arm has a slider on the front of the arm that slides fore and aft
Here is an overall shot of the torque arm as it sits under the car.

There are two smaller rods that run from the top of the rearend housing down to the torque arm...
There are two smaller rods that run from the top of the rearend housing down to the torque
These will be used to adjust the pinion angle to ensure vibration free driving.
The adjustable Panhard rod, also referred to as a track bar, was then put in place and secured. The Panhard rod's job is to keep the rearend centered under the car.
The adjustable Panhard rod, also referred to as a track bar, was then put in place and sec

Lastly, the adjustable sway bar was installed and secured. The sway bar is an option, but it's worth every penny if you're looking to get the most performance out of this system. With that, we were finished and ready to strap on the wheels and test it.
Lastly, the adjustable sway bar was installed and secured. The sway bar is an option, but
The TCI team brought the car out the Super Chevy Show in Las Vegas to see how the torque arm suspension system worked. We put 11-time national autocross champion Mary Pozzi behind the wheel and here is what she had to say. "As for my driving impressions of the Total Cost Involved Test Car, this part's easy as the only thing about this car that I didn't like was the steering wheel (too small). The TCI Camaro was very compliant and what was especially cool was the predictability; I could lift off the throttle, turn the wheel, apply a light touch of brake, and voila-controllable, confirmed rotation...
The TCI team brought the car out the Super Chevy Show in Las Vegas to see how the torque a
It was a fight to get time behind the wheel as the car was quite popular with the TCI folks and friends, and I think it made about a hundred passes through the course over the two days. The Michelin Pilot Sport 2s are an incredible autocross tire for that '200 and above treadwear' limit events as they give good driver feedback and stick like glue when it counts. It was very easy to 'go low' with this car, which I did with the two fastest event times, a 37.4 for Saturday and 37.0 for Sunday. If a driver casting call goes out for future events for this Camaro, I want to be at the head of the line."
It was a fight to get time behind the wheel as the car was quite popular with the TCI folk