NOR-CAL General Chat.

[Wh33lhop]

Yeah, and you push those opinions religiously.

I see what you did there.

[BlackbirdM3]

...what... what are you even saying here

The only real theoretical advantage of coilovers over a shock/spring setup is the conversion to linear universal race springs and adjustable ride height. That sounds exactly like what you want:

1. customizable spring rate since h&r race is too soft (and they ARE too soft)
2. Manually set ride height independent of spring rate

Coilover kits also tend to come with camber plates and custom application dampers, which is where the bulk of the cost (and a lot of the benefit) is. If you want to forgo these you can get a simple coilover conversion kit which will provide some decent linear race springs, threaded sleeves/collars and spring hats for ~$400.

You seem to be under the impression that adjusting preload will not let you raise the car up from ludicrous height. It absolutely will; it is the short-stroke dampers that come with most of these kits that put constraints on ride height. Get a coilover conversion kit with higher rates and long-stroke dampers and you will be fine.

Also, GC Konis are not off-the-shelf E30 Konis. They are custom valved and shortened, and the strut tubes they provide are shortened to match.

I already have most of the stuff that you mention. The dampers are the short stroke (even though I said I wanted full travel) revalved for an M3 http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac-...uts-p2273.aspx and these guys (that don't work well with the stock spring hats) http://store.vacmotorsports.com/gc--...ngs-p1761.aspx.

Sure, you can corner balance the car, but who wants to drive a crooked looking car outside of a race track?

I've set up enough full suspension mountain bikes that use Mac Strut type setups to know that preloading the spring doesn't raise
the suspension, it eliminates any sag causing the suspension to be less sensitive. This causes the suspension to only work on big hits, not small irregularities can cause the car to skip rather than grip. A linear rate spring is nice, but I think the H&Rs are a linear rate spring. If not, I haven't found any documentation stating otherwise. The coils are all evenly spaced and of the same diameter (on the front) wire. Yes, I could get more camber out of the small diameter springs, but that isn't an issue I have. I have 2.75 degrees camber already, tire temps are even across the tread. I don't even thing the spring rate is too low if the roll center is correct. The problem is, getting the roll center correct. You can't do it with the parts on the market. Sure, if I went to larger wheels I could run a set of these

But I'd need at least a 16 inch wheel to make it work. I neither have a set of 16 inch wheels nor do I really want to buy a set since tire choices are slim to none when it comes to performance tires. (Again, 15 inch wheels aren't much better tire choice wise.) Running 17s is a waste of time and effort because the car drives like shit on them.

Really, all I want is for the roll center to be correct, and for some stupid reason, no one makes the right parts to make it happen.

Will

[JinormusJ]

anyone have a carfax with some remaining lookups?

Vsvin.info

[freeride53]

Living with a family member with dementia is pretty difficult.
My grandpa, who used be general back in Iran has been getting it pretty bad recently.
Today, he had forgotten to charge his mobility scooter right so I had search all around town today and finally found him.
Pushed the thing back a mile or so back my grandparents' house, but he refused to let me do it myself, so I pushed him on it lol.

Just made it back home where I'm finishing painting a few pieces for the Pug.

Ahhhh I need this day to end and a few brews in my hand.

[kronus]

Vsvin.info

is dead :(

[JinormusJ]

is dead :(

NO...
Serious?
I just used it last week too

[decay]

Living with a family member with dementia is pretty difficult.
My grandpa, who used be general back in Iran has been getting it pretty bad recently.
Today, he had forgotten to charge his mobility scooter right so I had search all around town today and finally found him.
Pushed the thing back a mile or so back my grandparents' house, but he refused to let me do it myself, so I pushed him on it lol.

Just made it back home where I'm finishing painting a few pieces for the Pug.

Ahhhh I need this day to end and a few brews in my hand.

sorry to hear this.

was he involved in the iran/iraq war in the 80s?

i had an art teacher a few years ago who was a political dissident in iran in that timeframe and was given the choice of "jail or go fight saddam", and he opted for the latter. we swapped a lot of good stories, as i was just back from the middle east myself.

[kronus]

Will, they do make the part to make it happen, you've even included a picture of it in your post. If you are so married to your 15"s that you can't even consider the possibility of something bigger, then you are boned. The strut physically doesn't fit in 15" wheels with the spacers installed, that's pretty much the long and short of it. You need to get bigger wheels, or care about roll center less.

There are r888s and ZIIs available in 225/45r16, which is already more meat than a power-wise stock M3 can effectively use.

[decay]

ooh i've never seen the ZIIs before... 200 treadwear and cheaper than another set of KDWs. nice.

[Pantless Spency]

Living with a family member with dementia is pretty difficult.
My grandpa, who used be general back in Iran has been getting it pretty bad recently.
Today, he had forgotten to charge his mobility scooter right so I had search all around town today and finally found him.
Pushed the thing back a mile or so back my grandparents' house, but he refused to let me do it myself, so I pushed him on it lol.

Just made it back home where I'm finishing painting a few pieces for the Pug.

Ahhhh I need this day to end and a few brews in my hand.

I feel you. My grandma just moved In with us and she's pretty forgetful, will wake up in the middle of the night confused as to where she is and who we are and it's really sad. She also can't eat anymore so she has a feeding tube, I have to help her eat and drink and take her medicines through her feeding tube every day.

[Wh33lhop]

I already have most of the stuff that you mention. The dampers are the short stroke (even though I said I wanted full travel) revalved for an M3 http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac-...uts-p2273.aspx and these guys (that don't work well with the stock spring hats) http://store.vacmotorsports.com/gc--...ngs-p1761.aspx.

So by my math you have already paid $1450 (750 dampers + 350 springs + 350 camber plates) for your suspension, that is not a far cry from the $1800 or so (IIRC) that GCs come in at.

Sure, you can corner balance the car, but who wants to drive a crooked looking car outside of a race track?

If you need to make your car ride unevenly to corner balance it you are doing it wrong.

I've set up enough full suspension mountain bikes that use Mac Strut type setups to know that preloading the spring doesn't raise
the suspension, it eliminates any sag causing the suspension to be less sensitive.

From what I recall most mountain bikes ride topped out in their suspension travel, which may explain why you have this conception. This is not at ALL how automotive suspension operates. Extra preload WILL raise the car; I speak not only from experience but frankly from common knowledge.

This causes the suspension to only work on big hits, not small irregularities can cause the car to skip rather than grip. A linear rate spring is nice, but I think the H&Rs are a linear rate spring.

I have never cared much about whether or not they are linear, all I know is that they are soft. Around 300-350lbs/in in the front, right? It is all subjective obviously, but to most E30ers those are DD rates, not really track or autocross rates. I am on 450#/in on the front on 205 R888s and they still feel a bit soft to me. Most track or autocross guys go for 500-600.

Yes, I could get more camber out of the small diameter springs, but that isn't an issue I have. I have 2.75 degrees camber already, tire temps are even across the tread. I don't even thing the spring rate is too low if the roll center is correct. The problem is, getting the roll center correct. You can't do it with the parts on the market.

You could if you grabbed a kit that let you adjust your ride height and dampers that accommodated it.

[smyleboyd]

Hello anybody have a late model valance? or an eairly model with the is/es air dam? PM me if so.

[decay]

bored and drinking beer @ work.

SOMEONE ENTERTAIN ME

[kronus]

this your last day? no shame in bouncing early

[decay]

negative- taking vacation next week to visit new company in ATL, giving 2 weeks notice monday after next; just got a big sales project dumped on me so i imagine most of my remaining time here will be spent on that.