my GC shopping list... yay or nay?

**DSP74** · 03-18-2008, 03:03 PM

That sounds a little stiff to me. I'm not planning to go that stiff and I'll be on some big sticky tires. You can alway add a bigger front bar for roll resistance. The bar does most the work anyway.
I would add camber plates to that list. You need negative camber and you can't get enough without the plates. Plus you will gain back some suspension travel. One thing I'm going to look into is the shortened inserts. They are shortened 4"!!. If you have them cut that much off it's good for suspension up travel but bad for down....That combined with a big front bar would have you carrying inside fronts like crazy.....But maybe that's OK, since most do anyhow.

**Elephant** · 03-19-2008, 02:29 AM

On one of my former E30 M3's it had pretty stiff springs....I think 500/650 or maybe slightly higher. I drove it on the street, it was a street car in the sense that it did not have a roll bar/cage and it had a full interior, just an upgraded car. It wasn't horrible but it was a bit rough. My tolerance for this stuff is pretty high but the standard Koni's add harshness where other options might not be so rough. Course since you already have the SA's it might not be a huge change. I think the Eibach Pro Kit's are pretty soft though....as you note.

I'm also surprised by the spring recommendation, 450/600 is more or less the standard starting point for those who like a stiff car. Part of the reason an E30 needs more spring is due to chassis age/stiffness. If you had a cage you would not need as much spring to achieve the same handling capabilities.

Eastern PA....how are the roads where you're at? I have several friends over in that general area and I don't recall them ever speaking fondly of the road quality.

IME, with GC plan way ahead for timing.

Oh, to DPS74....his car weighs quite a bit more than yours too, don't forget that. ; )

Cheers.

**E30trash** · 03-19-2008, 05:39 AM

sounds awesome to me. i would only like to suggest that you run a 195/45 tire in the front, you will be more pleased with the appearance.

**MIKe30** · 03-23-2008, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by Elephant

I'm also surprised by the spring recommendation, 450/600 is more or less the standard starting point for those who like a stiff car. Part of the reason an E30 needs more spring is due to chassis age/stiffness. If you had a cage you would not need as much spring to achieve the same handling capabilities.

Eastern PA....how are the roads where you're at? I have several friends over in that general area and I don't recall them ever speaking fondly of the road quality.

IME, with GC plan way ahead for timing.

Oh, to DPS74....his car weighs quite a bit more than yours too, don't forget that. ; )

Cheers.

Does 50lbs difference on the front make that much of a difference?

The roads are absolutely terrible. But it will definately not be a daily driver so i'm not too concerned about it. I'll maybe keep an extra oil pan on the side... or I won't and if i ever brake one i'll just HAVE to say "oops, time for a swap!"

What is "IME" ?

Also to e30trash, I actually like only a little stretch. I know my rears are going to be extreme imo, and I dont think i'm going to like it so much. Maybe i should have gotten a 225/40 in the rear? dont know if it'll fit without anything more than fender rolling...

**DSP74** · 03-23-2008, 06:28 PM

For cars that really aren't that heavy Yeah I really do think that 50lbs would make a difference.....The front will be more sensitive, simply because of the motion ratio vs the rear.....The wheel rate sees more of the spring rate used up front than in the back....

As a point of reference. With my ESP Camaro, I was running a 600lb front spring with similar motion ratios. I was also using a 35mm front bar, which is huge, but that was on a car that was 3300lbs, and 60% of that was up front. I had very little roll even with 315/35/17 V710's. And FWIW Sam Strano won a couple national championships with that same setup..It's and apples to oranges comparison I know...But apples and oranges are still fruit.

**MIKe30** · 03-24-2008, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by DSP74

For cars that really aren't that heavy Yeah I really do think that 50lbs would make a difference.....The front will be more sensitive, simply because of the motion ratio vs the rear.....The wheel rate sees more of the spring rate used up front than in the back....

As a point of reference. With my ESP Camaro, I was running a 600lb front spring with similar motion ratios. I was also using a 35mm front bar, which is huge, but that was on a car that was 3300lbs, and 60% of that was up front. I had very little roll even with 315/35/17 V710's. And FWIW Sam Strano won a couple national championships with that same setup..It's and apples to oranges comparison I know...But apples and oranges are still fruit.

hmm, maybe i should see if i can find a local e30 or two with coils and get a ride to see what i like. Thanks for all the input so far...

edit: just realized IME is in my experience... why do you say that - did you have a lot of issues with them?

**rwh11385** · 03-24-2008, 09:42 PM

If you want to install your suspension in May... 2009, order now. (and it might be right and ready to bolt in by that time)

but it may take now until this May if you call everyday to get through to someone on the phone...

**Jean** · 03-24-2008, 10:19 PM

I am running 500/650 but w/o rear sway, works for me. And whoever said camber plates are for track only is wrong, you'll be kicking yourself silly for not doing it all at once. You don't have to run -3 , you can set them to -0.5 if you want.

**MIKe30** · 03-25-2008, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by lance_entities

If you want to install your suspension in May... 2009, order now. (and it might be right and ready to bolt in by that time)

but it may take now until this May if you call everyday to get through to someone on the phone...

Really? I called 2 or 3 times and everytime I got an answer and someone to help... maybe I just got lucky. Also, he said to shorten my housing it would take them 5 days, not including shipping time. maybe they are full of shit?

Originally posted by Jean

I am running 500/650 but w/o rear sway, works for me. And whoever said camber plates are for track only is wrong, you'll be kicking yourself silly for not doing it all at once. You don't have to run -3 , you can set them to -0.5 if you want.

The GC guy said I didnt need them. I'll be kicking myself because I'll need them? or I'll be kicking myself because when I decide I eventually want them, I'll have to go through the pain of unbolting everything again?

**moatilliatta** · 03-25-2008, 02:27 PM

I got some stuff from them coming. im exited. running 525F 675R for the ix. its my DD/ ill see you at the track to car.

**DSP74** · 03-27-2008, 03:15 AM

IME Ground Control is a royal PITA. But that was one time that I had to actually deal with them. I've since called a couple times to inquire about advance design shocks. And they seemed fine/available to answer calls. Like I said the one time I dealt with them they sucked. I'm not the only one with the same experience.

With that said, They do make some nice products that are priced very well..........Currently I'm debating between single adj shortened front Koni's, AST's, and Advanced Design inserts.....In the researching I've done I've got some seriously mixed reviews of the A/D shocks.....Which means I may be going with AST fronts, and Koni 28 series from TCK in the rear.....Maybe AST 4200 doubles

my GC shopping list... yay or nay?

my GC shopping list... yay or nay?

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