Finally got my KYB AGX's in to go with those Eibach springs! was like a total of 1.25 all the way around. Popped in the clear side markers as well as the stainless grills!! Still have yet to paint and drop the Brushed decals. Its riding and looking soooo freakin great now! I actually LIKE my rim choice! Before I was thinkin about ditchin them for a new set.

Dropin em' sure does make em look good!

Did you get grill incerts for the side vents too?

Yup sure did!

Very sharp!

nice it looks very clean bro nice wheel choice .

looks nice. it all goes together quite well.

Amazing what an inch will do. My TA looks much better lowered. Especially next to my Dad's stock height TA.

Matt

how much did it cost oyu guys to lower em . ? and what problems go with it ?

Looks good!

SRC, it really depends on how far you want to drop it. Most use a the Eibach Pro Kit with a koni shock. Seems to be a better setup. The Pro kit will give about 1" - 1.5" drop and you can use the stock shocks, but always better to get a shorter shock. Eibach has a Sportline kit that is for T-top and Hardtop models only that will drop 1.8" to 2.3".

Doing this, you need to get at least and adjustable panhard bar, to relocate the rear back to center, and a bump steer kit to get your outer tie rods back in line so you don't fight the bumps in the road.

Matt

looks really good creed! Your car has come a long way since you first joined TFS! It looks amazing, i really want to drop my car. I plan on using the Pro Kit, but i just have to save up some cash for that. how much did it cost you to do that (if you dont mind me asking)?

When I had done my drop with the Eibachs, the ride height was perfect. I think If I was to do it again, I'd get my next setup from Strano Performance.

$327 for KYB AGX Adjustable shocks/struts
$125 for a set of used Eibach springs that came off a WS6 in the local IWANTA.
=
$452
+
My own time installing them on a Saturday. Had the use of the entire shop and a Strut Tamer. Took about an hour and a half for the rear. and about 4 hours on the front. THEY are the MF to change out. Definately need a extra set of hands. for the front struts.

UMI sells Strano springs now

The best IMHO

For $3 grand you can get just get the full AirRide system and save trouble.

Matt

^ Or for that price i can make looots more HP. (H/C, full bolts ons, stall, or even BOOST ;-) haha. That's what i would do at least

Why just more HP? You can plant what you have and have a smooth ride and a great handling car to go with it.

Matt

tis true, tis true...

a smooth ride doesn't scare small children

But you won't look like a ricer bouncing down the street, Pyro.

Matt

It all looks good.

Got a question for you though, might sound a bit strange but...

On a flat level surface how many inches is it from the ground to the bottom of either door? I'm just wondering cause I've been thinking of lowering my 97 but for some reason it sits lower then most of our cars without being lowered and I'm concerned about clearance with opening the doors if I park along a street with curbs and stuff like that.

I can honestly say I wouldnt know.. I never have to go anywhere like that fortunately. But if you do, you know where your doors are now and if they hit or not.... now imagin that 1.25-.50 inches lower... a BIG difference one inch can make, your doors cant go over the curb as much as before likely scrubbing the bottom of the door or possibly dingin the corner/outside edge.

Thanks Dave. Yea I was sorta figuring that I'd have a problem if I lowered mine. Right now if I measure from my concrete driveway to the bottom of either door it's just under 8 inches so if I would lower my car that would put the bottom of my doors at right around 6.5 inches from the ground give or take.

I guess I'll have to either figure out different spots to park in the downtown area where I live so I wouldn't scrape my doors if I did lower it or I just can't lower it at all. I do love the look of our cars lowered though. Dang, decisions decisions.

Drop it!

I can only get two fingers between the tread and fender on the Z
A whole hand height on the Formie
and the tires had the same OD

With the Strano springs the ride is not harsh and it sits level

As you already do you will pick where you park to watch out for obsticals and other car doors.

With the 275's and the offset ot the C5 wheels Formie wouldnt need the fenders rolled
With 315's the Z had to have em' rolled

Charlie only you would tell me to drop it like that!

And I'm not worrying about tread/fender well clearance, I'm cool with that. It's the actual ride height that I'm wondering about. The way my car sits now I've only got like a hands height (my hand, approx 4 inches) between my driveway and the side ground effects and just about 7 3/4 inches from the ground to the bottom of the door on the 97 and I can barely squeeze under the nose clip now and I have to drive my 97 onto 2x4's to get a floor jack under the front and sides of it. That's why I'm wondering about the overall hieght from the ground to the bottom of the door. So like I said, decisions decisions.

But before I'd lower my 97 I have to save up for a new rear end for my 99, dang sucky stock 10 bolts. But I guess that's what I get for modding it and blowing the rear end.

Well I have about 4.5 inches clearance to the lowest part of the body (the front frnder rear lower bolts behind the front tire and about 3 inches y pipe to ground So yep its low enough but I take on bumps in parking lots at an angle and rarely hit. I always stop short from parking stops (Formie had the trans cooler in front of the air dam)
The Z sure does ride and look better dropped tho....

R U going to go with another stock rear end? or up grade? Didnt you say 12bolt?

That's my main worry, lots of speed bumps around here and sloped driveways too where I'm afraid I'll drag besides the curbs. But I guess if I'd take it really slow and easy over both of those and learn to park someplace without curbs I'd be cool dropping it some.

So if I do eventually get a lowering kit who's gonna come visit me and help me install it???


Charlie, I'm not even gonna bother putting in another stock rear end or rebuilding the 10 bolt since I know I'd just blow it again. Saving up for a 12 bolt to put in there. It's just going to be a while since those suckers aren't cheap.

You'll need a spring compressor - real pita job - er dangerous but with care not too hard.
The rears are real easy esp if you do the whole thing at the same time

Have you looked at the Strange engineering S60?

even stronger than a 12 bolt and ready to bolt in without mods required. Moving over the channels for abs and TC is all! Torque arm even bolts up.

Strange S60

Get the springs, shocks and rear end then I'll come help you do yours then I'll know how to do mine!

Sue, just look at the airRide setup. You can lower it AND still raise it at will to get over those bumps. Down fall is the price.

Matt

Charlie, I've looked at the Strange, both with their regular 12 bolt and with the Dana 60, and the Moser set up. I've even seen all three set up in action too cause different guys in the car club here have them on their cars. I'm not gonna make the 99 to where I'd need the Dana and with Strange 12 and Moser 12, I'm better off with the Moser for what I need. Plus I know someone I'll be able to get a decent price on the Moser thru.

But whenever I get the lowering kit I'll let you know and you can come help me put it in. Then I'll return the favor and come help you put yours in whenever you get it.

Yea I know Matt about the price. That would be nice to be able to raise and lower it at will but with the 97 being my daily driver and with the winters I get around here I'd be afraid that something would mess up and then I'd have a car that doesn't work right.

They make special antifreeze for air systems. LOL

(another item I am looking into HINT HINT)

Matt

That's cool that they make special antifreeze for those systems. Good to hear that you're looking into the sorta stuff for us.

Now if only they could make a special antifreeze for me, we're expecting snow again on Saturday. Man, I'm really starting to hate winter and snow.