Just a note that another option for lowering the front 1/2" or 1" is lowering balljoints. I recently installed the 1" models on my otherwise stock-height Formula and they seems to work great.
Next comes cutting the rear springs a touch. Need to ballance it out. } ; ]
Red 5spd Formula Trot, the slowly-getting it there, fox...
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09:20 PM
Nov 29th, 2006
bmwguru Member
Posts: 4692 From: Howell, NJ USA Registered: Sep 2006
Fierohoho, Great post! Two of us removed and disassembled the struts, modified the new struts with the grinder, assembled, installed and adjusted the ride height in under 45 minutes. and I almost spent the money to buy the already made products. Dave
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06:33 PM
Nov 30th, 2006
fierohoho Member
Posts: 3494 From: Corner of No and Where Registered: Apr 2001
Fierohoho, Great post! Two of us removed and disassembled the struts, modified the new struts with the grinder, assembled, installed and adjusted the ride height in under 45 minutes. and I almost spent the money to buy the already made products. Dave
Glad to hear it worked out so well, what spring rate did you go with?
Steve
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01:11 AM
bmwguru Member
Posts: 4692 From: Howell, NJ USA Registered: Sep 2006
Hope that wasn't a reply to the previous post . First time I have looked at this, and I have to commend the work done,excellent!! Fierohoho..you have a '+' from me sorry it is so late in coming Nick
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 03-03-2007).]
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06:16 AM
vortecfiero Member
Posts: 996 From: Toronto Area, Canada Registered: Feb 2002
NICE POST !! to finish this properly.. you need a 4 corner scale to weigh each corner at the same time and adjust it to try to get some sort of balance. adjustable coil overs look cool but if they are not set up correctly you could upset the balance and create a real problem with handleing, weight transfer and braking.
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87 Fiero GT 5sp with Vortec L35 4300 Turbocharged V6 Bully Stage 2 clutch Syclone intake manifold and engine management with Moates adapter and chip burner Air/water intercooler and Devil's Own progressive water/alky injection 50lb injectors, 3 bar map sensor, Walboro fuel pump and Jabasco Intercooler pump LM1 wideband on custom manifolds and 3" stainless exhaust system T31/T04B S4 turbo with a Super T61 in the box S10 caliper conversion. Murphy's Constant Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics Things get worse under pressure. Arthur C. Clarke "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
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09:31 AM
PFF
System Bot
Mar 4th, 2007
fierohoho Member
Posts: 3494 From: Corner of No and Where Registered: Apr 2001
NICE POST !! to finish this properly.. you need a 4 corner scale to weigh each corner at the same time and adjust it to try to get some sort of balance. adjustable coil overs look cool but if they are not set up correctly you could upset the balance and create a real problem with handleing, weight transfer and braking.
so would adjustments make each side weigh the same or something of the sort?
bmw guru how is the ride with those?
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04:46 PM
May 31st, 2007
fierohoho Member
Posts: 3494 From: Corner of No and Where Registered: Apr 2001
so would adjustments make each side weigh the same or something of the sort?
If say one rear strut is adjusted longer than the other that wheel would have more weight on it and that could effect the way the vehicle corners.
It also changes the weight on the other wheels, lowering some and increasing others.
I don't really understand the whole physics of it but when I used to pit crew for a friend, he would always park the car on the scales before a race and adjust the suspension to make the car hook-up better in the turns, (oval track).
It helps in left turn racing to have more weight on certain wheels and less on others.
Steve
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09:04 AM
Jun 1st, 2007
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
It is not going to put enough weight change on any given side or wheel that any most common driver will feel just will look different on the way the car sets, unless you really over do it. Having the left side lower may help with turning left if you circle track raced it, I would say just go with a lower height tire it thats want your wanting, but for everyday driving not so much.
anyone whos done this how is it working? im thinking of putting on kyb rears and doing a coilover
The ride is so much better than stock...at my end. The car seems to take dips in the road much smoother. I did a little research and for my 3800 I was going to use 275 springs, but that motor with the s/c or turbo weighs as much as my V8. So, I'll be running 300 springs in my 3800 conversion. Dave
------------------ 1999 Mercedes ML430, 450hp 1987 Fiero GT, 1986 Fiero SE-soon to be 3800, certified master technician www.njautobahn.com
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06:13 AM
Jul 16th, 2007
frankenfiero1 Member
Posts: 441 From: maryville TN USA Registered: Oct 2006
I would LOVE to do this exact same thing, only COMPLETELY opposite. This would be a boon for my BAJA project! Is there a longer spring that I could use? I will be dropping my cradle and the front crossmember about 2.5-3" and I want to put a hitch on the rear. Over-all I am looking for 4" of lift, but more weight for the rear (Towing and going to off-set weight front to rear 40/60). I have a VERY unusual project and ask all for help. I just can't believe that NO ONE has thought about thefiero as a SERIOUS BAJA! I'm not talking about the folks from PISA, that is just a dress up kit. I'm talking a full out, beat up suspention test! I hope to do the "BAJA 500" in a few years!
I get my springs from summitracing.com and jegs.com. The QA1 springs are inexpensive and well-made.
Frankenfiero1, a longer spring wont help you... there is not much travel with the Fiero struts. Set the strut so its in the middle of its travel and then build a spacer that fits between the strut top and the strut tower to get your desired ride height.
If you want to set up your car completely level side-to-side, jack the front wheels off the ground with a small bottle jack or floor jack exactly in the middle of the front crossmember. This eliminates the possibility of a weak or saggy spring in the front influencing your adjustment. Adjust your rear coilovers for level in the back, and you're done.
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01:21 PM
Sleepy Member
Posts: 71 From: Mill Creek, WA Registered: Mar 2007
Speedwaymotors (.com), also has springs and sleeves. The 2" shock w/ coil over is heavily used in sprints and midgets. They primarily use aluminum threaded body shocks, but the springs are the same. Hypercoil, ARS, AFCO, QA1- are all reputable. I'd probably go with one of the powder coated ones like hypercoil over the chrome for durability, since rusting away is the only way you lose spring rate with a coil (unless you heat them). You can also get covers for these springs. They vary from velcro'd on nylon to foam lined vinyl. They are used on dirt cars to protect the shock body from rocks and increase seal life.
As far as the scaling and cross weight discussion, yes, adjusting the coil so that is raises that corner increases weight on that corner (preload). You've got a pretty good left/right balance in the fiero as is, so I'd just shoot for level ride height side to side. Your shock rates and difference in spring rate front to back will effect handling far more than the static heights will.
Here's my coil overs ;-) You can see the covers on the front in the 1st and 3rd pic
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01:42 PM
Jul 20th, 2007
sjmaye Member
Posts: 2468 From: Hendersonville, TN USA Registered: Jun 2003
Is everyone using the ID of 2 5/8 (2.625) or using the 2 1/2 (2.50) because the 2.5 there are plenty, the 2.625 not so much!
I may have missed it through all the pages of this thread, but what is the OD of the strut body? Just wondering how much clearance is being allowed between the sleeve and the strut body.
I would never buff the purch weld all the way off the strut. Here is what I did on my coil overs First thing I did was score the weld on the purch side all the way around the strut. Then I cut the part of the purch that goes around the strut so the large back half could be removed by hitting it with a hammer. This let the back half of the purch come off the strut and left all the weld on the strut. I then did the same thing to the front of the purch. Then I took my sleave and slowly ground down the weld till it would slid over the strut, I didnt have to take that much off the weld and you cant see it when the sleave. I am using Helds kit but the same would apply here.
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06:46 PM
Jul 25th, 2007
Sleepy Member
Posts: 71 From: Mill Creek, WA Registered: Mar 2007
Is everyone using the ID of 2 5/8 (2.625) or using the 2 1/2 (2.50) because the 2.5 there are plenty, the 2.625 not so much!
Either should work, as they are both used on the same sleeves- which mimic a 2" threaded body racing shock. Obviously, the 1 7/8" springs won't work, as they are intended for 1 5/8 "small body" racing shocks.
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04:54 PM
PFF
System Bot
Jul 26th, 2007
kinboyatuwo Member
Posts: 485 From: London, Ont. Canada Registered: Jun 2000
Either should work, as they are both used on the same sleeves- which mimic a 2" threaded body racing shock. Obviously, the 1 7/8" springs won't work, as they are intended for 1 5/8 "small body" racing shocks.
The ride is just as good as any other spring as long as you pick a conservative spring rate such as those mentioned above.
From the archives... The part numbers I used are in this thread about half way down. I'll include the link for you in case you looking for more information. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...060206-2-067796.html
***** These are from 2 years ago so forgive me if they're priced differently now. I did check the links and they were still accurate.*** Coleman 7" coilover kit (sleeves) $29.40 each http://www.colemanracing.co...427&products_id=1525
Summit 10" 350# coilover spring $34.88 each http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.as p?autofilter=1&Ntt=HAL%2D10%2D350&N=0&part=HAL%2D10%2D350&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch
If you want the front shocks too... KYB Gas-a-Just Shocks $29.95 each http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?au tofilter=1&Ntt=KYB%2DKG4538&N=0&part=KYB%2DKG4538&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch ***
Here is the work I did on our 88 w/ pics. It isn't coilover because I wanted to keep it stock (wife's car - her choice). But you'll be able to see what different on an 88 anyway. Mainly the sway bar. The coilover stuff is all the same. You might need to grind just a bit on the hub to allow for chamber adjustment. Ours had just barely enough play to almost make it to the minimum spec. We left it there. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-2-076850.html
--- Aslo, it looks like my webhost's server is down. $10 a year. I'm not gonna complain. The pics may be down now but they will be back.
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08:19 AM
Sep 9th, 2007
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
I have followed this thread with great interest. I have a 88 Fiero engine in the back of my 39 Chevy pickup ratrod. my unit weighs 100lbs in front and 1950 in the back -pretty close to a real Fiero I think. I started with 350# springs and when loaded they actually deflected i had to go to 450# to loose the deflection. My question to you guys is this , have you been able to get a sight on your springs to see if they are deflecting and if they are not why were mine ,I wonder. My struts also seem to be bottoming outwhen I hit a sharp bump I have a factory manuel and it shows the original spring is under tension when it is installed and nobody seems to be addressing this springtension factor with the coil overs.The top of my spring and the strut rod are bolted /attached directly to my strut tower. I did not use any of the original parts.This arrangement gives me no movement allowance at the point where the strut rod attaches.Got to do some more fine tuniing here as ths bumpthingie is quite jarring and feels like it could be stressing things.Any comments appreciated LFE
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