How low...can you go. And how did you do it? |
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How low...can you go. And how did you do it? |
ottox914 |
Mar 2 2009, 09:55 PM
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#1
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The glory that once was. Group: Members Posts: 1,302 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Mahtomedi, MN Member No.: 1,438 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Thinking of lowering the 914 some more. I should be getting the new turbo motor done. 2 seasons ago I had it REAL low, so low that, while on a smooth auto cross course, the front "A" arm did not hit the pinch weld on the tub, but on the road, a good bump would = a big clunk. I confirmed this by putting some tape on the "A" arm and seeing it damaged, proved my theory. A little to low. I know if you go super low, the camber curve gets out of whack. I liked the look of the car lower, and it seemed to handle well also. I'd consider making a new lower "A" arm, but was wondering what I could learn from those who have been there/done that. I'm running a SA koni insert in front from something or other, that Jason Burkett from Paragon sold me, I needed to shorten the strut tubes about 5/8" to make them fit. The front is now low enough such that with the Koni snubbers, and a zip tie on the shock shaft, that during normal driving I have maybe 1/4' to the snubber. Rear ride height is currently set off the front, to achieve best possible corner balance/cross weights. As the Koni's are several seasons old, I'd not be adverse to sending them in for a re-build, and having them shortened, F and R. Anyone convert the rears to use a more commonly available "eye" style shock? Show me that too...
thanks- |
PeeGreen 914 |
Mar 2 2009, 10:10 PM
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#2
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Just when you think you're done...wait, there is more..lol Group: Members Posts: 10,219 Joined: 21-September 06 From: Seattle, WA... actually Everett Member No.: 6,884 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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Joe Ricard |
Mar 3 2009, 08:27 PM
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#3
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CUMONIWANNARACEU Group: Members Posts: 6,811 Joined: 5-January 03 From: Gautier, MS Member No.: 92 |
Running a Koni race insert I think 8610-1473. I cut and sectioned the strut tubes two inches. HOWEVER I am running ride hieght of about 4 1/2" at the lift donuts. Under full compression I am smashing the zip tie against a standard Koni foam snubber.
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brant |
Mar 3 2009, 10:42 PM
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#4
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 11,739 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
4 inches was my limit
that is with custom length shocks both front and rear (custom struts front also) here is a picture of 2.5 inches on my car: Attached thumbnail(s) |
J P Stein |
Mar 4 2009, 11:06 AM
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#5
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
I now have mine set to 4 inches at the doughnuts. The A-arm is parallel to the ground at static height......thas all for me with raised spindles.
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bam914 |
Mar 4 2009, 09:01 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 342 Joined: 23-November 03 From: Atlanta, Ga Member No.: 1,378 Region Association: None |
When I get time to finish it it will be about 3" at the seam weld on the rocker. In the picture it is 2 1/2"
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Brett W |
Mar 10 2009, 08:32 AM
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#7
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,858 Joined: 17-September 03 From: huntsville, al Member No.: 1,169 Region Association: None |
Without moving the suspension pickup points radically lowering a stock 914 will create all kinds of handling problems. You will move the roll centers below ground and the rear suspension does bad things when radically lowered, without moving the points up in the chassis.
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URY914 |
Mar 10 2009, 02:15 PM
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#8
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I built the lightest 914 in the history of mankind. Group: Members Posts: 123,027 Joined: 3-February 03 From: Jacksonville, FL Member No.: 222 Region Association: None |
Looks like about 2" of shock travel.
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bam914 |
Mar 13 2009, 08:00 PM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 342 Joined: 23-November 03 From: Atlanta, Ga Member No.: 1,378 Region Association: None |
I am getting shorter eyelets. It is about 2.5". It should be enough.
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grantsfo |
Mar 16 2009, 10:53 AM
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#10
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Arrrrhhhh! Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None |
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Randal |
Mar 16 2009, 08:52 PM
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#11
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
My car is now pretty low, but I'm thinking that Chris Foley's re welded spindles might be a good idea.
Here's a picture at speed. What do you think? |
grantsfo |
Mar 17 2009, 05:52 PM
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#12
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Arrrrhhhh! Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None |
My car is now pretty low, but I'm thinking that Chris Foley's re welded spindles might be a good idea. Here's a picture at speed. What do you think? Depending on what youre doing lower is probably what you really need to go a little faster at AX venues such as Alameda and Marina. If youre tracking the car lower would be good for Laguna Seca and Infineon too. Raise it back up a little for Hoopa. But as your car stands hieght wise its very fast - much faster than my old bag-o-bolts 914-6 but my car had one advantage it could hang on to 2nd gear all day long into low sixty MPH range and if I was feeling brave even higher without the rev limiter on. Biggest problem with your car from my observations in AX is you need to lose that short 2nd gear or gain top end RPMS. It was killing your times last year. I could see it with both you and Bill driving the car. You would get too unsettled in those short 3rd to 2nd shifts. The upshifts 2nd to 3rd were wasting time too. The car is so fast that it masks the problem with gearing/RPMs in AX. Hope you get that car on the track sometime. I bet it would fly! |
Randal |
Mar 17 2009, 06:20 PM
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#13
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
My car is now pretty low, but I'm thinking that Chris Foley's re welded spindles might be a good idea. Here's a picture at speed. What do you think? Depending on what youre doing lower is probably what you really need to go a little faster at AX venues such as Alameda and Marina. If youre tracking the car lower would be good for Laguna Seca and Infineon too. Raise it back up a little for Hoopa. But as your car stands height wise its very fast - much faster than my old bag-o-bolts 914-6 but my car had one advantage it could hang on to 2nd gear all day long into low sixty MPH range and if I was feeling brave even higher without the rev limiter on. Biggest problem with your car from my observations in AX is you need to lose that short 2nd gear or gain top end RPMS. It was killing your times last year. I could see it with both you and Bill driving the car. You would get too unsettled in those short 3rd to 2nd shifts. The upshifts 2nd to 3rd were wasting time too. The car is so fast that it masks the problem with gearing/RPMs in AX. Hope you get that car on the track sometime. I bet it would fly! The car was plagued by many gremlins, not withstanding the rev limit we had to impose to keep the valves from floating. That is now (hopefully) fixed, with dual valve springs, installed and awaiting dyno testing. Also Larry Sharp was right, getting a car sorted out is not as easy as one would suspect. He said it would take a year and I think he is right. It's interesting that just about every single aspect of suspension setup and mechanics were changed at most events searching for good handling. Some were right, but many wrong, so the path to salvation wasn't the least bit sequential. Now with a new and better cage we will likely have to start again, but hopefully we've learned some valuable lessons that we can now incorporate to steamline the process. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) |
J P Stein |
Mar 19 2009, 09:44 AM
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#14
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
Also Larry Sharp was right, getting a car sorted out is not as easy as one would suspect. He said it would take a year and I think he is right. It's interesting that just about every single aspect of suspension setup and mechanics were changed at most events searching for good handling. Some were right, but many wrong, so the path to salvation wasn't the least bit sequential. Now with a new and better cage we will likely have to start again, but hopefully we've learned some valuable lessons that we can now incorporate to steam line the process. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) The height/roll looks good to me. Your second para pretty well sums up my experience.....which is ongoing, of course. With the experience you already have, you should get pretty close to a good baseline for suspension. One thing I did learn is that a stiff chassis makes suspension changes noticeable they stay consistent.....this makes things easier. If something that should change the handling doesn't pan out as it should, look to why. I got into box with wide front wheels....nothing I could do would change the resultant scrub radius push. You may find something similar with the clutch type diff....sometimes "sorting" takes you places you don't want to go as those places cost money. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) |
grantsfo |
Mar 19 2009, 02:49 PM
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#15
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Arrrrhhhh! Group: Members Posts: 4,327 Joined: 16-March 03 Member No.: 433 Region Association: None |
That is now (hopefully) fixed, with dual valve springs, installed and awaiting dyno testing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) That is going to be the single best sortage for your $$$$. Congrats! Glad you got that issue fixed. You will be unbeatable in PCA. ...Now for AAS thats a different story. Hope you get out to one of their events. |
J P Stein |
Mar 20 2009, 08:43 AM
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#16
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
Just be ready come Shoot Out time.....don't wanna hear no excuses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Randal |
Mar 20 2009, 11:53 AM
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#17
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
Just be ready come Shoot Out time.....don't wanna hear no excuses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) No excuses.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistle[1].gif) |
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