Best way to adjust rear coil overs for proper height on my SPF

[patrickt]

FWIW, here is my iron block FE/aluminum head/intake/WP/flywheel, Tremec/ERA custom outboard braked rear car with half a tank of gas and a small bag of tools in the trunk. This is with me in the car, and I weigh 195lbs.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by scottj

If your numbers show that coil over adjustments are moving weight from rear to front or from side to side, then you have bad numbers. Coil over adjustments only cause change to cross-weight percentage. You have to relocate mass to cause a change in F/R and L/R percentages.

Yea I was thinking about that after reading again what all we wrote down. You're right, we do have a mistake somewhere. We have made two changes to the car to lighten it since I took those readings so I think once I get the new Billboards on next weekend I'll do it again and see what it reads.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Yea I was thinking about that after reading again what all we wrote down. You're right, we do have a mistake somewhere. We have made two changes to the car to lighten it since I took those readings so I think once I get the new Billboards on next weekend I'll do it again and see what it reads.

I wouldn't even bother screwing with the coilovers. I'd just go down in the basement and get those old weights from high school and stack them in the corners of your car to make it all even out. Throw a sack of cement in to the trunk too, just for good measure.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I wouldn't even bother screwing with the coilovers. I'd just go down in the basement and get those old weights from high school and stack them in the corners of your car to make it all even out. Throw a sack of cement in to the trunk too, just for good measure.

No I am hell bent on re-measuring now. I do know the last measurement is right because its in my hand writing. The first ones were taken by my alcohol imbibed buddy.

Did read somewhere that your club owns a set of these scales?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Did read somewhere that your club owns a set of these scales?

The scales were owned by an individual in the club... who has since moved on to greener pastures. I know DCDoug was trying to find a set, maybe two years ago, because that set was no longer available. Then his wife started having babies, apparently in rapid succession, and we haven't heard too much from him. I would think most race shops would rent them to you for a reasonably modest fee, along with a hefty deposit for their safe return.

[IndyCobra]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I saw a Lonestar with a Windsor in it not too long ago at a local show. I must say, I was struck with the high quality of the build, the careful attention to the the fine motor, and, overall, I would rate it top-notch. It was quite the fine automobile.

Hey now, I know when I'm being poked!

Actually, I don't care whether my car measures up to anyone's idea of what a cobra should be. I don't call it a cobra, and there's not one cobra badge to be found anywhere on the body.

I actually find it quite humorous when someone says "Hey, my FAKE cobra is a better FAKE cobra than your FAKE cobra". There are some small minds on this forum for sure.

[jhv48]

Who would have figured that:

"Jack up the car and use a spanner wrench (if you can't use your hands) to turn the spring seats either up or down as needed"

could go on for 5 pages and 61 responses?????

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Who would have figured that:

"Jack up the car and use a spanner wrench (if you can't use your hands) to turn the spring seats either up or down as needed"

could go on for 5 pages and 61 responses?????

When our resident thread troll with the "my daddy can beat up your daddy complex" gets involved expect this type of drivel. (not your post jvh48, the crap above.....)

[G-Pete]

Corner weight.

There are as many opinions out there how to corner weight and setup the car as cars out there.

A good scale setup gives you a better feel of the car and it is slightly more predictable...
..if you race and you are a pro driver.
That means you need to take the car out on the track (even Auto-X) and log your time and "feel" - Corner weight your car and go back and see what improvement you made (if any).

Is the car used for street use the corner weight is just another gimmick. It will NOT improve your skills to avoid sudden objects, like mentioned before.

It does not improve the ride characteristics and all adjustments are zero if you carry a passenger.

It gives a little edge on the track and some claim up to 1/2 second on the Auto-X.


But, I saw guys taking trophy's home they never heart of that method...

[G-Pete]

To answer the question "Best way to adjust rear coil overs for proper height on my SPF"

That is the correct answer:

Originally Posted by jhv48

"Jack up the car and use a spanner wrench (if you can't use your hands) to turn the spring seats either up or down as needed"

[G-Pete]

...and to Patickt,

if you offset the springs recalibrate the rebound on the damper.

[patrickt]

Well, the readers will just have to make the decision themselves. BUT, it doesn't seem to make a lot of intuitive sense to say "No, not only should you not adjust your corner weights, but you shouldn't even check them to see if they're off. If the car looks right, just trust that they're fine." By the way, the cost for a suspension shop to set your weights runs from $75 to $200. I bet most of them would just check them and give you the print out for $50 or less. Now c'mon Pete, surely you'll agree that just having them checked for $50 makes sense, right? And then, if the numbers shock the owner's conscience, then they can just deal with it as they will. Now, doesn't that sound reasonable?

[JBCOBRA]

Mine was so far out of whack from the start it was like driving on 3 wheels. I bet windshields can get cracked from this?

[Jerry Clayton]

Probably not on a SPF because they 'll twist enough thru the door area that practically no twist will get to the windshield area

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by JBCOBRA

Mine was so far out of whack from the start it was like driving on 3 wheels. I bet windshields can get cracked from this?

Save your breath. I can't even get some of the guys on here to buy in to checking the weights, much less correcting the imbalance. But for a graphical representation of what happens to each wheel as you dial in wedge you can download this little program from Performance Trends and play with it.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Now c'mon Pete, surely you'll agree that just having them checked for $50 makes sense, right?

Actually not, as I stated before - if you carry a passenger your "balance" is off. You just have an ideal car when you alone.


Honey, you can't ride with me my cross weight is off.......


No, it makes no sense.

[G-Pete]

Speaking of wife, mine will Auto-X with my Cobra. Should I set up the car for her or for me ---- or both.

[patrickt]

And if your weights are badly off, and a passenger even makes the numbers worse still, you don't even want to know that?

[D-CEL]

Patrick,

shhh (austin powers) - YouTube

[Hydramada]