burners

Here are the photos of the semi coil-overs installed.



They are semi coil-overs because the spring is conical shaped. So it is adjustable like a coil-over but you don't have to modify the frame shock mount because the top of the spring sits in the stock spring pocket. Here is a comparison with the old spring and shock.


The new shock is aluminum and the spring is powder coated silver. The spring is a progressive 350/450#. I just have to reconnect the sway bar and torque everything down before I drive it. I'll let you know how it performs.


EDIT - I finally got the last picture working


[Modified by burners, 9:50 AM 1/24/2003]

Jughead

So this replaces the stock shock & spring? They're specific to C-3's? :chevy

AlwaysWave

Looking good :cheers: :cheers:

burners

Yes it replaces the stock shock and spring and they are specific to C3's.

PatsLs1vette

let us know how it rides when your odne they look good.nice job :thumbs:

burners

Thanks for the compliments. I'm having trouble posting on picture. I'll try it here.


just a test





[Modified by burners, 9:52 AM 1/24/2003]

burners

There must be a limit to the amount of pictures you can post. I can't get my third one to show up (or any third picture, for that matter).

Jughead

Who sells them? Are they adjustable? I'd like to know if there's any difference in ride height.

PatsLs1vette

also to lens question,how much adjustability to ride height?

427V8

Pretty sweet!

I doubt the ride will change much, unless you had really soft springs or somthing...
But now you can corner balance the car :cheers:

So is the going to be a Speeddirect product?
We know where you work :steering:

burners

These are development pieces, they should be ready for sale in a couple of months. Ride height is adjustable. Shock valving isn't adjustable on these but shocks will be available as single or double adjustable valving. At the moment I have the ride height at it's lowest setting. The top of the fender lip is about 3 inches above the tire (the tire is a 265/50R15 which has a diameter of about 26 inches). This is with the stiffest springs available at the moment so ride height should be lower in the future (this car has a particularly light front end due to no A/C and a small block). It can certainly be adjusted as high as anyone would want. I'll post a picture of the ride height as soon as I figure out why I can't post any more pictures in this thread.

burners

You guessed it Keith. Once a few things are sorted out more spring choices should become available. Especially stiffer springs.

427V8

3 inches above the tire sounds like a 4x4 to me.
I'd want to see the ability to be even with the top of the tire +- an inch or so.

most of use are desperately trying to lower our cars...

burners

I completely agree but like I said, it's developmental, it's the stiffest springs with a fairly light front end and the tires are rather small in diameter. The goal is to get just what you describe. The fender lip should be right over the top of the tire and be able to be lowered another inch. That would give probably 3 or 4 inches of upward adjustment. The tires I have are quite a bit smaller in diameter. A lot of people are running tires that are 1 or 1.5 inches larger in dia. That would reduce the current gap to about 2 inches.

burners

I miss-stated the tire diameter. It is actually 24.25" and the fender lip is 27.25" above the ground. For those running 27" tires that would cut the gap to about 1.5 inches. Even without the suspension settled out the car is an inch lower than before. I'll test drive it today and then get some pictures and more measurements.

fauxrs

Did you upgrade the two bolts that connect the lower shock mount to the A-arm?

I ask because it seems to me that now all the forces from the spring and the shock are now transferred to the A-Arm through those two bolts - as opposed to the original setup wherein the spring transferred its energy to the a-arm pocket and only the shock mounted through those bolts - While not a suspension designer - I would expect a great deal more tensile force being placed on those two bolts and the thin (relatively) stamped sheet they bolt to. If even one of those bolts fail - or pull through - the nose of your car will be on the ground!!!:cry

I would be very interested in this setup when you release it - it looks way cool - how about a setup for the rear? :thumbs:


[Modified by fauxrs, 8:03 AM 1/24/2003]

Twin_Turbo

I agreem the spring cup takes all the weight and cornering loads of the car, the shock mount is only designed to take the forces from the shock, not the weight of the entire car. I've seen coilover setups been done on stock a-arms and they beefed up that section and weded in coil over mounting plates.

Marck

burners

Both of you (fauxrs and Twin_Turbo) are correct. The lower control arm needs to be reinforced in order to handle the new loads placed on it. There will be a steel plate that bolts into the control arm spring cup to help distribute the loads more evenly across the mounting points

NHvette

That looks like a fantastic idea. The development product looks great.

Regarding the reinforcement of the Aarm mounting place, it sounds like you
are thinking about a plate the sits on top of the A arm and is held in place
with the two mounting bolts. It seems to me that this plate (not welded in)
should be at least 1/4" thick. This may come into play with the installed
body height. The thickness will be amplified as you move outward toward
the wheel ... maybe adding 1/2" to body height.

Perhaps you could offer a welded (reinforced) Aarm as an optional part.
That way, folks wouldn't need to worry about messing up their originals.

Also, you state that these are the stiffest springs that you would employ.
Usually, the softer springs actually have a taller install height, due to the fact
that they must deflect further during normal travel. This may not apply to
the progressive rate springs that you show there - just food for thought.

Good luck getting the wrinkles out. :thumbs:


[Modified by NHvette, 1:19 PM 1/24/2003]

adam

What are the advantages of such a system?
What are the disadvantages?

:confused: