Topic: Suspension upgrade

[Wartie]

Elff has been lowered (new hip) also has the Z0K springs in his car, his truck and I suspect his jeep have trailer hitches, he just barely clears the ground.

Poor Elff, but that clears it up for me!!!!

[elff]

Apparently I need to start tying people's shoelaces together again.

[Critterman]

Can you reach up that high?

[Sol Asylum]

Can you reach up that high?

Don't you have Velcro on your shoes?

[TomatoSoup]

Don't you have Velcro on your shoes?

You mean, like these?

[Sol Asylum]

Yep

[elff]

Are those old peoples shoes?

[roxer]

Are those old peoples shoes?

Define "old".  At what age are you suggesting one gets "old"? 

[elff]

At Critters age
Muhahahahaha

[Sol Asylum]

Damn that's a pretty high benchmark.

[roxer]

Finished the DDM brace bundle install and Z0K swaybar/spring installs.  Other than feeling like I got beat with a baseball bat, it went very well. Dropping the exhaust to change out the rear sway bar was the biggest obstacle. Everything else was cheese.

I was suprised the ride was not harsh and the car felt tighter and more controllable. Nice not being beaten to death just to have a more responsive car.  Wife didn't notice a major change in ride. New tires will make it great.  I'll drive it around until Wednesday and then get the Z0K alignment. I got the half inch drop immediately.  Makes the car look so much better. Just have to control the speed bump issue.

Thanks to GJ for the how to and others for their input and advise.  Overall really happy with the upgrade.

[elff]

Glad to hear you are happy with it.  It really is a great setup for our cars.

[Robotech]

Finished the DDM brace bundle install and Z0K swaybar/spring installs.  Other than feeling like I got beat with a baseball bat, it went very well. Dropping the exhaust to change out the rear sway bar was the biggest obstacle....

Thanks to GJ for the how to and others for their input and advise.  Overall really happy with the upgrade.

Glad to hear you like it and got it installed. A little trick I learned for the exhaust was to put a little grease on the metal tabs so that the rubber hangers slide on and off of them easier...then wipe them all down when you're done.  Makes those things a LOT easier.

[roxer]

Glad to hear you like it and got it installed. A little trick I learned for the exhaust was to put a little grease on the metal tabs so that the rubber hangers slide on and off of them easier...then wipe them all down when you're done.  Makes those things a LOT easier.

I figured that out after struggling with if for a wasted 15 min.    I sprayed liquid wrench and the ends slid right in - learning moment. With the stage 2 tune, HFC and now suspension upgrades, seems like the car runs and drives like it should have from the factory.  The majority of engine lug is gone and it doesn't feel as spongy and drifts less - especially after hitting a dip in the road.

This board has been awesome and very helpful with information. Only thing I hate is seeing new mods show up! Just shows me I have a long row to hoe. Engine bay is next me thinks - charge pipes and other thingys.

[Billablehours]

I used a good bit of silicone spray on the hangers.  Made them more supple and plyable.  No need to wipe it off either.
I am also surprised each time I drive the car after the bundle install.  Not harsh at all.  Amazing how solid the car feels now. The flex from before the install is gone.  It does feel like it should have from the start. Feels like some of my prior German cars except more fun!

[wspohn]

Only thing I hate is seeing new mods show up! Just shows me I have a long row to hoe. Engine bay is next me thinks - charge pipes and other thingys.

Try the new short throw shifter.  Very nice!

[roxer]

Try the new short throw shifter.  Very nice!

Great idea!  So do you feel a "binding" sometimes when you shift?    I get that from time to time. My Fiero shifter was awesome - a little clunky, but smooth for what it was.  I get more of the mechanical feel with this shifter - not so smooth. Maybe an issue with mileage?  I have ~ 28K on it right now. Does the short throw help eliminate that?

[wspohn]

Great idea!  So do you feel a "binding" sometimes when you shift?    I get that from time to time. My Fiero shifter was awesome - a little clunky, but smooth for what it was.  I get more of the mechanical feel with this shifter - not so smooth. Maybe an issue with mileage? 

I only have 8000 miles  on my car and am always very easy on shifters and the notchiness was always there - just not as smooth shifting as the Fiero was, which is ironic given that a rear/mid engine location normally entails some shifting issues.

The shorter throw shifter (NOT a shorter shift lever) means that you only have to move your hand maybe half as far as stock to shift and the notchiness is there, but now for some reason doesn't bother me as much.

It is a very well executed kit and can be installed in a half hour even by a non-mechanic, but I'd caution you that the set screw holding the top of the stock shifter on the lower stub can be VERY tight.  I had to exert every ounce of grunt using a box end to give additional lever to get mine to crack free.  I actually put a 30 deg. twist into the hardened steel Allen key (I was lucky it bent and didn't snap, or I might have buried my fist in the radio!.

I'd recommend that you have a special socket with the right Allen key pattern available - you can buy them at tool shops.

[roxer]

Thanks wspohn.  Thought it was me. It is annoying sometimes when I want to speed shift and I hit a "notch". Shifting normally it does fine - I usually change slowly around 2K rpms when driving for gas mileage.  I'll snag that and hope it helps eliminate or lessen my problem.

On another note - I wonder what the Fiero would be now with the 2.0L engine we have in the GXP.  Oh the possibilities...

[DaveOC]

I only have 8000 miles  on my car and am always very easy on shifters and the notchiness was always there - just not as smooth shifting as the Fiero was, which is ironic given that a rear/mid engine location normally entails some shifting issues.

Don't forget that your Solstice has a manual transmisson that started out in a truck.  A little bit of notchiness might be expected. 

[wspohn]

On another note - I wonder what the Fiero would be now with the 2.0L engine we have in the GXP.  Oh the possibilities...

I can tell exactly - I ran my 88 GT for a couple of decades with a 300 bhp engine I built for it!

I've told the Fiero crowd about the LNF but I think they are too cheap - they seem to want to use 20 year old American engines they can find for next to nothing.

[Robotech]

The Fiero was a V6, yea?  I know some folks who put the Series II 3800 Supercharged motors in those cars...that will wake it up even more than a LNF if the 3800 is properly done.