Coil-Over kit options?

[Arctc Wolf]

I know of Ground control and Global West coil over systems, but are there any other coil-over kits out there for our cars? Also, I have heard that the coil-overs for the rears aren't really true coil-overs? something about being on an adj. spring perch. I thought the perch goes on the shocks neways. Coule somebody clarify all this for me?

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Read a few topics below, and there might be a few found with a search, i'm not sure.

GC's are coilover sleeves that sit on a ridge on the shock of your choice. Front HALs are a true coilover shock with sliding rings. LGM makes true coilovers for all 4 corners, but they're mad expensive.

Don't get coilovers just to have coilovers. Research your investment.

-Rob

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

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Rob makes a pretty good point there..

There are two grades of coil overs the way i see it..

the real kind.. and the "lowering kind"..

All the kits listed above are all coil overs in the front..

here is some more info..

Hals dont have rear high adjsutment less of messing with your insulators.. the do have 12 valve settings for ride adjustment nad front height adjsutment..

the Ground control and global west kits are not "acctualy" coil overs in the rear because the spring dosent coild over the shock.. they simply have a threaded sleave in the stock location that a spring sits on.. Shock options are endless.. koni's, blistines, stockers.. whatever..

the LG motorsports kit is prety much the real deal.. but its expensive as ****..
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pros and cons..

cant really comment on the hals.. only thing that may be an issue is rear hight adjustment..

cant really comment on the LG's but i hear its bad arsh!! if you got the change

ground control- (I use them)
Its a pretty dam good kit.. and will really allow you to lower the car quite a bit..
the trick to making them work for you is
1) gettting a good shock
2) getting springs to match
now.. with the ground controll kit it basicly adapts a "generic" sized spring to the suspension.. and you can swap that spring for any rate that you could ever want.. therefor the suspension tuning is basicly endless..

This is why I went with the kit..

from what i understand the global west kit also is adaptable to differnet rate springs.. however i hear they are a PITA to get..

with ground conrtoll i cen get them overnight with one phonecall (not that i have ever exercized that ability)..
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Bottom line is.. if you are simply looking for the "lowered look" get some springs..

Notice.. that coil over kits wont get you much lower then a nice set of lowering springs.. the suspension tavel is simply not there.. less of putting on some massivly stiff springs with will only give you a crappy ride and be quite hazzardous..

ragerdless.. good luck.. if you have any other questions let us know..

[ November 17, 2003: Message edited by: AllTheGoodNamesAreGone ]</p>

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

also.. if you want some free profesional help.. call sam strano.. he is the man..

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

focker...

i forgot one more thing.. from waht i understand edelbrock will also soon be relesing a front coil over kit.. however its only the fronts.. similar to a HAL (QA1) setup..

[Arctc Wolf]

so basically, the wannabe coil-overs are good only to be able to adjust ride height. they don't drop weight off like the QA1 shock/spring combo would. So Koni shocks and lowering springs would work well even if they weren't coil-overs. oh, 1 more question, what's the difference between koni single adj. and double adj.? I know the single adjusts shock stiffness, but what does the double do?

[Wicked 3800 V6]

"Stiffness" is an inappropriate, though semi-appropriate word. A DA shock adjusts compression and rebound (open your eyes to that one, think about what happens when you go over a bump). Fancy remote reservoir racing shocks are even 3x Adjustable or 4x adjustable, having stuff for high speed and low speed rebound / compression.

Anyway, HALs are a generic 12-setting dial that does both comp and rebound at once, so they're kinda single-adjustable. They do drop weight (two lbs per side), but that should not be the reason you go to coilovers.

You've got to get a shock that's designed to be lowered, afaik -- you can't just put GCs on stock shocks.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Wicked 3800 V6:

You've got to get a shock that's designed to be lowered, afaik -- you can't just put GCs on stock shocks.<hr></blockquote>

well.. sorta.. you "can" put the kit on the stock shocks.. however it would not realy be worth the time, and about the wost suspesion setup in the worl.. it would wear out the stock shocks in no time.. this is all not to mention the fact that the stock shocks are in now was valved properly for the stock springs let alone stiffer ones..

but... the kit will "fit"..

Wolf, what do you meen by "drop weight off"..

if you just mean total physical weight of the spring shock combintation vs stock..

all and all the ground control combination with any shock will probably weight about the same as a QA1 setup.. all the components are billit aluminum.. and the new front springs are alot lighter becuase they are smaller (both shorter, and tighter coiled then stock)..
not to mention you ditch all the lower mouting stuff..

so.. its lighter.. probably in the same realm as the QA1's.. but i dont have any specific figure..

[ November 18, 2003: Message edited by: AllTheGoodNamesAreGone ]</p>

[Arctc Wolf]

when I look at K-members they advertise the weight loss in the front, and then talk about compounding it with lightweight brakes, a-arms, and coil-overs. I was just wondering for that reason how much less they weighed compared to the stock setup. I'm looking at all aspects of new uspension pieces, not just "they make the car look good" or "it corners great now". I also take into account weight, price, quality, ect. and I'm trying to see what's out there that's what I'm looking for.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

If i knew you were interested i would have weighed all hte components.. but.. That was not a big concern to me..

what I can say however is that a coil over spring and shock setup is pretty much allways gunna weigh less then stock because of the spring size alone.. I think my springs were like 7" long and 2.4 internal diameter.. and that is a ton smaller and tighter then the beasts on the stock suspension.. a few other little things..

accourding to ground controls site a 2.5 ID spring at 7" long with a 350lb spring rate weighs 2.31 lbs .. i am pretty sure thats the spring I am runing right now up front..

2.31 lbs is alot lighter then stock and probably alot lighter then typical lowering springs..

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

Hmmm.. on an interesting side note is seems that ground control has ben working on their f-body line up.. lots of new good stuff..

one of which is a true rear coil over setup.. they dont have a price but they say they can do it..

check it all out..

http://www.ground-control.com/?D=72f...7607aca9045a31

[Wicked 3800 V6]

You will NOT save significant weight with coilovers. Going with a tiny tiny front spring and HALs might net you 10 lbs at best -- the aluminum shocks themselves save only 2 lbs a side. You're better off going to a small hawker genesis battery like me -- instant 20+ lbs off the front!

Now a K-member, on the other hand, helloooooo weight savings and space! I'm debating it, but definitely waiting to see what LG has to offer.

[Arctc Wolf]

I like the way LG's setup seems to "bolt right in" so to speak, even tho spring compressors and other needed equipment don't make it that straight-forward a task. Assuming a person has some inkling of how the f-body suspension is designed, and knows how to work all required tools, I'd say that the LG coil-overs seem to be the easiest to install. I know that the suspension won't drop a ton of weight, and that there are other weight loos/transer ideas out there, but considering the fact that most of the weight is over the front wheels, anything off the front could only help handling improve.

BWT, I have looked at relocating my battery and installing a dry-cell in it's place in the spare compartment.

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Tsk tsk on relocating the battery -- replacing is much simpler -- no heavy wire, no inductance working directly against you starting the car. Save that space for a nitrous bottle!

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

2-3 lbs per side is jack squat as far as total car weight goes.. thats for dam sure.. but as total sprung suspension weight it probably has some slight effects on shock articulaton.. probably not ehough to really worry about in our setups.. but.. i was just noting that it exists.. not the acctual effects..

relocating the batt is not a hot idea either..