Lowering on a budget ?

[bottledbird68]

Ok, now that it's finally all nice and shiny the Camaro really needs to come down a little in height. I've been fighting it cause I love not scraping everywhere but the wheel gap just does the rest of the look no justice lol.

Anyhow, as with everything else on this car I want to lower it as cheaply as possible. I'd like to see at least an inch, if not two.
I figure I'll start with the "heater hose mod". In practice what is that really worth? I hear an inch but is the factory isolator really that thick? Never had a 4th gen one out and in my hands.
Then, next step, whack out a coil or a half a coil from the springs? My only issue is I like how the car rides now. How much harsher is that going to make it ride? A little bit I don't mind much but I don't want it to ride like a tank. Opinions from those that have done it please on that one.
Lastly, am I going to wind up needing lca relocation brackets?
I think I about covered it there. So, opinion away please. I'm all ears. I'm thinking this and a set of strano sway bars and I'm good to go handling wise.

[Batman]

If you are going to take the springs out put in drop springs. The heater hose mod is not going to give you an inch. I'd also be skeptical if you can get 2 inches without major work and not have the wheels off camber or rubbing. A set of drop springs is going to be the cheapest and easiest way to get about 1.5"es

[TrickrTreat]

Some cars are different, depends on there "history" and how hard there springs where worked , and the current wieght of the car. my transam actually did drop slightly more then an inch in the back with the heater hose mod, drives the same havnt had any problems in 3 years. Had the springs out last month and the heater hose wasnt even rubbed through. Very worth worth the 15 minutes in my opinion. also keeps your spring rate so your ride doesnt change.

Now for the front , id buy lowering springs. Ive never cut springs but ive rode in cars that had it done and they rode way to stiff of course this is ALL in my opionin. hope this helps :)

[Formula413]

I will 2nd what they said and recommend getting springs. But any method of lowering except the heater hose mod will change the spring rate and make it ride hasher. I could actually lower my car all around with the stock springs if I wanted to, because I have Konis which have a lower perch in front, and I could do the heater hose mod in the back. But I dont want to give up clearence.

[bottledbird68]

And while I would normally agree about not cutting springs I started considering it when slowhawk mentioned that's his preferred method of lowering. Made me think it may not be all that bad on the 4th gens

[c4boom]

as long as you don't go nuts cutting 1/2-1 coil off isn't bad. remember a lower spring is going to need to be stiffer any ways just so that you don't bottom out all the time. any lowering spring will rid stiffer than stock.

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

cutting off a coil will lower the car but it will bottom out easier as the installed hieght has changed but the rate has staid the same. its good if your looking for a half inch ish but will hit if your looking for lower. a GOOD set of shocks and progressively wound springs wont hit nearly as hard as a straight lowering spring. if it were my car and i was going for an inch or better id get a set of springs and be done with it BUT thats me.

[bottledbird68]

I've just heard so many horror stories of lowering springs giving a horrible ride. If it's going to ride like ass I don't want to pay money for it lol.

I know the end all be all way would be a full set of coil overs with custom spring rates but I'm NOT going to spend that kind of money on this car. I honestly don't care enough about it. Super budget bang for the buck all the way here. That formula has been working great so far on this project :)

So, in thinking heater hose mod and whack out a half a coil? Is there a similar sized isolator in the front or is it a lot thinner up front?
Think that'll get me at least an inch to inch and a half?

[Formula413]

The spring isolator in the front isnt a simple round flat piece like the rear, you couldnt replace it with a piece of hose like the rear. You could try the cutting method, the worst that can happen is you will bottom out occasionaly.

[bottledbird68]

The spring isolator in the front isnt a simple round flat piece like the rear, you couldnt replace it with a piece of hose like the rear. You could try the cutting method, the worst that can happen is you will bottom out occasionaly.

Hmm, well alrighty then. About how much height will I lose if I just chop off one full coil on both ends and call it a day?
I suppose worst case I try it and if it sucks I go buy springs anyhow

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

you cant cut a coil off the top. its tappered like i sed it will have to come from the bottom if you are to cut anything. id say DONT but hey its me.

[bottledbird68]

Yeah, reread what I said and realized it could be confusing. I meant one full coil from each spring. Not one coil from both ends of all four ;)

[Batman]

You're gonna regret cutting it..... Keep in mind when you talk to Don he considered his car a "street car", so his idea of acceptable may be a smidgen different the yours. Your best bet is to spend the money to do it right or just leave it alone. The SLP Bilsten/eibach kit is fairly cheap, has a good ride and lowers the car over an inch.

[bottledbird68]

You're gonna regret cutting it..... Keep in mind when you talk to Don he considered his car a "street car", so his idea of acceptable may be a smidgen different the yours. Your best bet is to spend the money to do it right or just leave it alone. The SLP Bilsten/eibach kit is fairly cheap, has a good ride and lowers the car over an inch.
Well, you've never seen my 68 bird. Trust me, my definition of "street car" may be even broader than his lol.

On another note, got a link to a bilstein/eibach kit? Didn't know anyone offered them in a package

[Batman]

http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=70002
They are a 1" drop

[bottledbird68]

http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=70002
They are a 1" drop
Ouch! $700? That's not exactly what I would call a budget upgrade. At that point I'd just go the extra few hundred to go full coilovers at all four corners.
Don't get me wrong, I'll spend that no problem on some of my other projects, this one just doesn't get that much love from me lol.

[DemonWithin99]

http://www.lmperformance.com/18763/1.html

cheapest I could find and will drop you right were you are aiming. + free shipping!!!

I might be interested in something like this. they have a few others but @ a tiny bit higher $$

like these
http://www.lmperformance.com/1857/1.html

[Batman]

Ouch! $700? That's not exactly what I would call a budget upgrade. At that point I'd just go the extra few hundred to go full coilovers at all four corners.
Don't get me wrong, I'll spend that no problem on some of my other projects, this one just doesn't get that much love from me lol.

Well I don't see you getting 4 coil overs for just a *few* hundred more. and if that is the case just get drop spirngs for around $250.00 but I don't see you retaining any kind of ride comfort unless you do it correctly. If that isn't a true concern then just cut the springs and be done with it. it'll ride like crap but will be lower. I guess the other question is how old are your shocks? If your shocks are old then I would worry about them first

[bottledbird68]

Here's the rear kit:
http://www.spohn.net/shop/1998-2002-GM-F-Body/Suspension/Rear-Coil-Over-Kits/Rear-Coil-Over-Kit-QA1-Single-Adjustable-Shocks.html
And here's the front:
http://www.spohn.net/shop/1998-2002-GM-F-Body/Suspension/Shocks-Accessories/QA1-12-Way-Single-Adj-Front-Shock.html

All totaled up it's a fully height adjustable coil over setup with 12 way adjustable shocks for $30 more than what you linked. I'd go this route if I were to spend that kind of money.

But, as far as my shocks go I honestly have no idea how old they are. They were on the car when I got it. They look ok and still ride just fine though so I'm not too worried there.

I'm not saying that what you guys are saying isn't the best way, of course it is. And for a couple of my other projects I'd spend the money no hesitation. But, this is a car I got a too good to pass up deal on that I'm trying to see how far I can get for how little so yeah, I'm being a cheapskate. In the end, I'm a firebird guy who refuses to spend a lot of money on a Camaro when I still have a couple of my firebird projects waiting for my attention lol

[Batman]

You now those are priced each and you need to buy the springs too right? $550 for the rears, $360 for the fronts and $100 for the front springs. That's $1010.00 for coil overs :)

[frankzlt1]

Idk if it matters but I got ebac 1.5" lowering springs on cregslist for 150$ and kept the stock shocks. I did change panhard bar lower rear control arms and tourg bar, and I think the car rides and handles great. Doesn't bottom out hardly at all with some ect. But you should get a front end alignment after get lowered.

[bottledbird68]

You now those are priced each and you need to buy the springs too right? $550 for the rears, $360 for the fronts and $100 for the front springs. That's $1010.00 for coil overs :)

Ah poo. No I didn't catch they were each on the fronts. Got me there lol.
Either way, it also says you can keep stock front springs so grand total extra to go coil overs $160. Still within a few hundred :p

[Northeast Rod Run]

I've just heard so many horror stories of lowering springs giving a horrible ride. If it's going to ride like ass I don't want to pay money for it

The reason behind that, is because a lot of people just buy cheap off-shore crap. Those people are only concerned about "the look", so as long as the spring promises that they will get their desired ride height, at a cheap cost, they go for it. Then once they install the parts, they bitch and moan how bad the car rides. What did they think was going to happen when they got springs for half of the price of the major manufacturers? Lots of people are penny wise and pound foolish

Suspension (like all safety systems in a car) is not an area where you should be trying to save a buck. A properly designed spring is going to give you the drop that you want AND improved performance. When you see an unknown source selling springs on a places like Ebay, for hundreds less than a well respected manufacturer, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out how they can do that.

Bottom line is that you get what you pay for

[SLP IROC-Z]

i have a set of intrax lowering springs for a thirdgen, you could use the rears. vin and jackie have a set of eibach pro kit springs sitting around

[941LE]

i still got my lowering springs kicking around

[bottledbird68]

Eh, as of right now I'm not spending any money on this car I don't have to until the 68 is back together.
After that we'll see what's still floating around ;)

[KLAB]

Strano springs $250 bucks best stance eva. And I've read about people switching from BMR lowering springs to Strano's and stating a world of difference in ride quality. That's what I'm getting..

:sFun_IthinkImgoing:

[SLP IROC-Z]

a cut off wheel will get you lowered on a budget hahahah

[camarokid91]

Strano springs $250 bucks best stance eva. And I've read about people switching from BMR lowering springs to Strano's and stating a world of difference in ride quality. That's what I'm getting..

:sFun_IthinkImgoing:

strano's and an adjustable panhard bar is all you will need to do it.