fc_soldier

Im installing my coilovers on my 1996 corvette. They are hitting the shock brace. Pics are worth a million words so tell me what you think.

WVZR-1

That's a known issue and the tower requires being spread somewhat. I believe it's even covered in their instructions. Regardless it is a known issue and isn't much to overcome but it would certainly have been good to have known going in. I believe you bought this package from a private individual OR was it a direct purchase from them.

fc_soldier

Yep private..... Kinda just "winged" it for the install. Well guess back to the garage.

84wannabezo6

on my car its a real tight fit but yours look like they are way too wide do you know the diameter of the springs that you have? ill try to get a picture of mine for you

PLRX

I've seen few thread about those. They widened the tower with vice grips. I'd use a hammer.

383vett

Looks like a crescent wrench could easily widen the flange.

cgantner5150

I agree. The crescent wrench worked great for me.

PLRX

Yes, that would also work, and it would be cleaner than a hammer.

WVZR-1

A 1" or so piece of 1/4" bar stock and the crescent wrench might give a more presentable spread and the deeper the jaw of the crescent the more presentable also.

Impala Balko

As stated above you have to flare out the side edges of the upper shock mounts. I did this with an adjustable wrench, which worked quite well. As I noticed once I had everything hooked up and weight was put on the front suspension it actually drew the coilover away from the pocket and gave more clearance. So it may look bad now with no weight on the suspension but it changes after you have the car together and weight on it.

1991Z07

Wide jaw vice grips will work even better, and be much cleaner.



Any sheet metal supply house should have them in stock...about $15/ea.

WVZR-1

You would think that would do but I believe the material of the tower is a little to stout. I believe a friend tried it with those and he had a leverage issue and I believe the clamping wasn't effective. It's been a long while and I believe that he did as I mentioned to do it. The bar stock and maybe he used a "pair" of crescent wrenches. I believe his crescent was bought just for that and it might have been a 14" or so. It wasn't the normal crescent found in most boxes.

pkincy

On my 93.

mnstrlt1

I don't think I'm too crazy about the modification needed for these to work properly. Do all coil-overs need this type of moification?

PLRX

Modifications are needed most often when you by a non-OEM part. The Ghost is almost all modified. The only stock part in it is the transmission. From the radiator to the mufflers is aftermarket, and I had done a lot of surgery to make those fit.

I don't know if all coilover set-ups for C4 need modification; I do know these ones, QA1, and others that have been done here in the CF required relocation of sway bar, frame cutting, frame grinding, and other little things.

I had to move my sway bar towards the front for my aftermarket sway bar to clear the coilovers. To do that I had to create access thru the frame.

mnstrlt1

PLRX- I'm certainly not shy about modifications , but structural integrity, especially concerning modifying the minimal material around the shock tower, doesn't sound appealing to me. I guess I wasn't aware of the modification needed to the tower frame to get a coil-over to work.

I was aware of the sway-bar relocation, in which case structure isn't compromised.

fc_soldier

Yup just found out that my sway bar end links wont work with my aftermarket sway bar. Ill get a hole saw tomorrow. Sigh..... only thing I have left unmodified is my brakes. Just need to finish the c5 upgrade. I got the parts but they are on the east coast.

mako41

The Van Steel coilover kits with their unique mounting brackets and a pair of front Heim jointed front sway bar links are a straight up bolt on installation on '88~'95 C4's. Costs more, but no modifications required!

Van Steel Coilovers;

http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1972

Heim Jointed Sway front bar links;

http://www.guldstrand.com/scripts/pr...?idproduct=142