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What are some setups some of you guys are running? I want a more of a JDM look, lowered and perfect fitment. If anyone has any advice let me know, thanks.
I attached some pictures of lowered first gens that I like to give you an idea of something that I would want.
The widebody look is certainly something but not for me. Not for a streetcar at least. Some of these widebody cars are all show. It would take a very serious chassis, suspension ,engine setup to match.
I don't think you can beat a set of mesh wheels!! Not that I was round in 1982, but I imagine them to be relatively period correct? I find lots of wheels on the FB look out of place, need to keep it a bit more retro.
15x7+20mm is a popular fitment for a stock body FB that will end up driving nicely. Can still run proper tires and sidewall.
I am running 15x7+20mm Rota Mesh OS. 4x110 PCD. Lowered on coilovers slightly. 195/50/15 F and 205/50/15 R staggered tire.
EDIT , oh about the wheels, you pretty much have 4 options Enki lace, rota lace , Konig rewinds , and parasports if you have a 12 a with a 4x110 pattern
4x114 you have lots of options my dude, lots of options!
Only way to lower cars properly is with coil-overs , the only way to have a proper handling car with coil overs is by tweaking your entire suspension geometry. If you want it for a weekend cruiser / race car go for it . If you want to do daily it or drive it more often, don't do it . Getting coil-overs without other modifications to the geometry destroys the comfort and drivability of the car and makes the handling worse UNLESS you buy a whole suspension set up . @aeenox has his car lowered and tracks his car HARD so I would ask him for advice since I know his car has great handling and isn't just a dude who claims to have good handling lowered car. I honestly don't trust most dudes who have lowered cars and claim they have good handling unless they have modified strut hats that are taller/ have a whole settup. These cars' stock suspension systems can only tolerate about a inch less before they realistically bottom out .
Also, the first two cars are only lowered an inch and a half, they used the flairs to close the gap. the dark grey car might even be sprit R's ( he is on this forum too, I forget his username, great guy! he took time out of his day to dial in my stock nikki step by step with me on insta ) https://www.instagram.com/voegtchenrx7/
If you just want looks then slap some coil overs on it, if you really want a good handling 7, prepare to drop some $$$$ and headaches haha !
Richard those are beauty wheels. What offset and size?
Hey Frog,
So my experience with a lowered FB on aftermarket coilovers has not been the negative experience you describe. I am running Stance coilovers, the early versions, which maintain the two piece rear setup, ie springs adjustable perches, and adjustable dampers.
(I do not like the one piece rear coilovers on our chassis, I know they work, I just can't get comfortable putting spring and damper load into one point on the unibody and rear axle it was not designed for.)
I have:
-Stance Coilovers
-T3 front control arms and tension rods
Rear:
-All new Mazda OEM upper links, watts links and bracket.
-T3 adjustable lower link
My car is lowered slightly, to a useable daily drive height (never a scrape or rub) and I think it handles very nicely. The alignment is typical and I haven't found any band tendencies. Keep in mind I am not a race car driver, nor do I track the car however.
Those wheels do look nice Richard. Looking forward to seeing that car of yours on the road.
I'm running some Konig Rewinds with 205/50R15 tires all around on my SA. I'm also on some BC Racing coilovers and lowered about 2" (that's the smallest drop you can do with a BC kit), as well as poly bushings everywhere but the trailing arms and watts link. I personally love how the car drives - when it's driving... - although it is a bit stiff over bumps. Not terrible though, and you can adjust the damping on the BCs to help dial that in for your tastes.
I'll also say that I don't think you can fit much wider than a 7" wheel with a 205 on the front without rolling the fender or running a decent bit of camber. Being lowered 2" I have little clearance for the tire, but it does clear and I haven't scuffed it yet. The rear definitely has more room. I'd think a 225 would fit easily without much fuss; perhaps just a small spacer to keep the fitment even with the front.
My vote is some Rewinds. I admit I didn't like them at first (in favor of meshies), but on the car they don't look so bad. They're also a good company and the wheels aren't absurdly heavy while being priced competitively too. I've also gotten nothing but compliments on them since they've been installed.
I think they are 6.5" wide. That is if you measure from inside the bead. 7.5" from edge to edge. 15" diameter. 102mm backspace, so 6.75mm offset according to the online calculator I used.
the tires on this picture were not right sized and were taller than appropriate.
Last edited by Richard Miller; 11-25-21 at 08:33 PM.
Those wheels do look nice Richard. Looking forward to seeing that car of yours on the road.
I'm running some Konig Rewinds with 205/50R15 tires all around on my SA. I'm also on some BC Racing coilovers and lowered about 2" (that's the smallest drop you can do with a BC kit), as well as poly bushings everywhere but the trailing arms and watts link. I personally love how the car drives - when it's driving... - although it is a bit stiff over bumps. Not terrible though, and you can adjust the damping on the BCs to help dial that in for your tastes.
I'll also say that I don't think you can fit much wider than a 7" wheel with a 205 on the front without rolling the fender or running a decent bit of camber. Being lowered 2" I have little clearance for the tire, but it does clear and I haven't scuffed it yet. The rear definitely has more room. I'd think a 225 would fit easily without much fuss; perhaps just a small spacer to keep the fitment even with the front.
My vote is some Rewinds. I admit I didn't like them at first (in favor of meshies), but on the car they don't look so bad. They're also a good company and the wheels aren't absurdly heavy while being priced competitively too. I've also gotten nothing but compliments on them since they've been installed.
The rewinds look a lot better in person, they look bad in pictures for some reason.
I'm running the factory 13s refinished with a 205/60 in the rear. I also got a set of Weld Draglites 15x3 and 15x8 that someday I will install but I would love to get a set of mesh wheels for my girl......
11-20-21, 04:57 PM
