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Lowering a Berlinetta- trials and tribulations...

 
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RSFreak
The other "John"


Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 2946
Location: Renton

1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:47 pm    Post subject: Lowering a Berlinetta- trials and tribulations... Reply with quote

Yesterday Aaron and I strarted on what should have been a simple afternoon of cutting coils and lowering my Berli from its sky-high stance to something much lower. A tweak to the broken shifter and a look at the sticking choke were on the schedule as well. Of course the shifter was not as simple as it should have been requiring us to virtually break two shifters in the attempt to fix the one. Then we pull the front springs and cut a coil off only to find that the super long non-performance springs absolutely will not go back into the spring pockets. Spring compressor was a no-go as well. Luckily I had given James a set of Eibachs and he had only installed the rears (I'm gonna hook you up with my Jamex springs when I dig them out of storage). So a trip to Tacoma then back to Graham and we were finally ready to go. Nope, the springs still wouldn't seat! After much cursing and hammering we decided to ditch the spring isolators to gain an extra 1/4" of clearance. Bingo! The springs dropped right in! It was already 9:00pm by now and the rear springs were gonna have to wait. We quickly determined that the non-removable Quadrajet choke was crapped out and called it a night. Just another day at the Mountain Man's cave! Very Happy

Before:


After:


Still needs to come down about 1" in the front but Aaron says it will settle a bit over time. The "redneck rake" is not the look I am going for so the rears need about a 3" drop as well! Cool

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'85 Camaro Berlinetta - IROC clone
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QwkTrip
11sec Club


Joined: 17 Feb 2004
Posts: 3942
Location: Peoria, IL

1989 Pontiac Firebird

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it normal for nobody to be parked next to you?
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RSFreak
The other "John"


Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 2946
Location: Renton

1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

QwkTrip wrote:
Is it normal for nobody to be parked next to you?


They all fear the Berli!!! Very Happy Actually, I parked way back in the Target parking lot so I could take this pic. Wink
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turbo_jimi
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Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 1206
Location: Tacoma

1985 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

just put some taller tires in the back and you have that 70s stance (which i always kinda liked) I also like the non-spoiler look, but I know that's going to change.
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1985 Z28 Crate 350, Hurst T-5, 3.23s, Flowmaster Under previous set-up: 143.82 rwhp 216.98 lbs. torque @4390 rpms 3/12/11
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Alphius
Peanut


Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 2429
Location: Grand Mound

1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's looking good John. The front is almost there, but you're right the back needs to come down... Very Happy

I never had any trouble putting my Z28 springs in and out, even when they were barely cut. Those suckers must be hella long!

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Twilightoptics
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Joined: 13 Jan 2004
Posts: 9191
Location: Auburn , WA

1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Iroc springs were a PITA before cutting. 3/4 coil on the front of mine, goes in alot easier without disconnecting the a-arm from the frame.
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RSFreak
The other "John"


Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 2946
Location: Renton

1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aaron has a pic of the cut stocker next to the Eibach. It is hella long! Very Happy
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Twilightoptics
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Location: Auburn , WA

1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RSFreak wrote:
Aaron has a pic of the cut stocker next to the Eibach. It is hella long! Very Happy


I bet your Eibachs are progressive springs though.

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chevymad
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Joined: 11 Jan 2004
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1987 Pontiac Formula

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I once had to replace a set of stock springs in a v/6 car.. Not fun! The springs were waaay too long and the v/6 wasnt heavy enough to compress them. Used several spring compressors and a chain binder before I managed to get them mashed back in.
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RSFreak
The other "John"


Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 2946
Location: Renton

1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Twilightoptics wrote:
Iroc springs were a PITA before cutting. 3/4 coil on the front of mine, goes in alot easier without disconnecting the a-arm from the frame.


We were trying to avoid removing the a-arms. That was gonna be our next option. Sad

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aaron_sK
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Joined: 23 Jan 2006
Posts: 8834
Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton

1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

chevymad wrote:
I once had to replace a set of stock springs in a v/6 car.. Not fun! The springs were waaay too long and the v/6 wasnt heavy enough to compress them. Used several spring compressors and a chain binder before I managed to get them mashed back in.


I hear ya, B. I figured we would have had to cut 1 1/2 to 2 full coils off from stock to get them back in without pulling the a-arms.

This seems to keep happening.


Rust never sleeps. Seems to be missing something as well.


Bear in mind that we had already cut 3/4's of a coil off of the stockers before lining them up for a picture. Also note that both springs have the same number of coils. Wink
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Twilightoptics
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1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Means the eibach will be near the same spring rate, just a lower ride height.
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aaron_sK
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Location: Back in beautiful Tacompton

1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Twilightoptics wrote:
Means the eibach will be near the same spring rate, just a lower ride height.


If they were apples-to-apples then yes. But the Eibach weighs about twice what the stocker does, and is a significantly thicker coil. I can tell you from experience they are a much harder ride. Wink
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Twilightoptics
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Joined: 13 Jan 2004
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1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

aHH. Didn't look that much thicker than the stockers when you take away the fresh powder coat. Those are definitely not the progressive ones though.
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Alphius
Peanut


Joined: 05 Sep 2006
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Location: Grand Mound

1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A couple years back I went -.75 coils on my stock Z28 springs and it made the front drop acceptably. I went another -.5 coils when I installed my Z06 brakes, but I haven't had the car back off the stands since then. I think I was too aggressive and it'll be too low at -1.25 coils. Embarassed My springs actually now have room to move up and down when I insert them into the pocket, it takes exactly 0 compression to put them in.

I wanna be low, but this might be crazy, I might pull an Ian and be riding on my bumpstops. Laughing

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iansane
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Joined: 16 Jan 2004
Posts: 5742
Location: Bothell

1991 Pontiac Trans Am

PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get out the sawzall and cut them like I did. Very Happy I had been thinking about going lower but decided against it because I already scrape everyday in the school parking garage. Good thing! I need to go stiffer though.

John, the berl is looking better. Maybe you should think about tires for those zo6 wheels now. Very Happy
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blue89
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Joined: 23 May 2006
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Location: Bellingham/Eugene

1986 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who needs bump stops? I took mine out a long. time ago.
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Dewey316
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Joined: 08 Jan 2004
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Location: Bringing the tech

1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just customize them, you can trim them, and make them more tapered to act more progressively. Then, you don't have to have an all-or-nothing affair, you can have them work if you hit a BIG bump, but not be an issue during normal use.
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RSFreak
The other "John"


Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 2946
Location: Renton

1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS

PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iansane wrote:
John, the berl is looking better. Maybe you should think about tires for those zo6 wheels now. Very Happy


Thanks! If I do get tires for the Z06s, they are going on the T/A! The Berli is gonna be my daily driver. Cool
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fiveoformula
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Posts: 1799
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1988 Pontiac Formula

PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty cool when you get a new car and already have a bunch of parts to slap on it!
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