coilover questions

[itskingsteelo]

im looking to pop some coilovers on my car (87 325) and i have a few questions.
do coilovers ALWAYS have to be welded to your car?
if i get c/o and i switch from a e30 to a e36 or z3 steering rack, would i have to remove the coilovers?
if i go from a 4 lug to a 5 lug conversion, do i have to switch coilovers?

[RedReplicant]

No
No
No

You cut the front spring perch off and then you can just slide the collar over. You should weld the perch reinforcement but you don't have to. If you want to go low (tuck tire) then you need to section the front strut housing which does require welding.

[itskingsteelo]

i was thinking about going with CATuned coilovers but im still not sure (like I said im looking around at the moment)
what set up are you running?

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Ground controls are a great setup I love them.

[itskingsteelo]

ive heard some good things about GC
how long have you had your set up for?

[RedReplicant]

Quoting my post from another thread

My budget setup is the Ground Control coilover conversion kit ($447 shipped), 98 Camaro Z28 KYB Gas-A-Just struts out back ($73 shipped) with 2x McMaster Carr sleeve bearings ($14 shipped), and MR2 KYB AGX struts - pn KYB 765016 ($170 shipped) with the strut shaft milled down to fit the stock front suspension bushing and a spacer inside the strut tube.

Cut off the stock front spring perch, lower both adjusters all the way front/rear and it's somewhat low - front sits an inch or less above a 14" tire and the rear tire is tucked an inch or so. Get a race camber plate setup up front and you can lop off another inch. You can lose another inch in the rear by removing the coil adjuster... then you can lose another 2" up front by sectioning the housing.

It DOES NOT get cheaper than this. It will handle well. I went 440lb/650lb springs. $704 for a legit setup is hard to beat in E30 land. I'll post pics of my car tomorrow.

[JM35]

A cheap setup is a cheap setup. I dont believe GC offers adjustable dampening do they?

[RedReplicant]

A cheap setup is a cheap setup. I dont believe GC offers adjustable dampening do they?

Dampening comes from the shock, not the coilover sleeve. AGXes are adjustable. Rides fine to me, but I don't know chocolate from shit in terms of cars - I've got a Suzuki with Ohlins for that stuff.