1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

How low can a 1st gen go on t3 coilovers?

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Old 02-22-16, 03:37 AM
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How low can a 1st gen go on t3 coilovers?

As the title states. I did some poking around and learned a bunch about the coilovers but have yet to see any pictures of an FB lowered beyond maybe 1.5" from stock. I'm wanting a pretty aggressive look, so post em if you've got em. Even if you're not that low a picture and an explanation of how far down the perch is adjusted would help a ton. Thanks!

Pic is my goal (and if anyone knows the car in the picture let me know)

Old 02-22-16, 08:48 AM
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Why?
Old 02-22-16, 09:23 AM
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Because function < form. Duh....
Old 02-22-16, 07:17 PM
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^ Duh

But seriously just looking answers or info here please don't flame me for wanting to lower it that much. I'm still planning on keeping it functional and pretty low, if that involves cutting fenders and running flares then so be it.
Old 02-23-16, 08:01 AM
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If you make it that low it won't be "functional", as in being able to corner or drive well.
Old 02-23-16, 10:13 AM
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Agreed^^^
Old 02-23-16, 03:02 PM
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Ok maybe that picture is a little over exaggerated. I'm not going for a rock solid auto-x build, I just want it to be low and still be fun to drive. Here's a a bit more of an exception as far as ride hight/wheel gap goes.



Im going in to the T3 shop today, since I just learned they are 20mins away. If I learn anything I'll post back so we can have some actual answers in the thread.
Old 02-23-16, 03:08 PM
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Also, bonus points to anyone who can tell me what side skirts those are lol
Old 02-23-16, 06:48 PM
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If your going to the T3 shop, then they should be able to help with their product and help guide you to what you need.
Old 02-25-16, 01:14 AM
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So I had a chance to visit the Techno Toy Tuning garage today. Met the owner and a couple of the guys at the shop, they do awesome work and were super cool. They let me look around the shop and it just so happened they had an fb set up with every suspension component they make and some that they don't even offer yet. Here's the car.



This is on 15x8 et+15 wheels and is dropped pretty low, right about where I want to sit, plus it had about 1" more available drop all the way around. So safe to say you can slam it pretty damn low on this setup if that's what you want. Looking forward to getting a set when the car is ready.
Old 02-25-16, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Machupicchu
They let me look around the shop and it just so happened they had an fb set up with every suspension component they make and some that they don't even offer yet. Here's the car.
What are the bits they don't have available yet?
Old 02-25-16, 11:16 AM
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It had a cross brace that went just behind the seats, I believe it actually bolted in somewhere. Also traction bracket to rear diff braces.

Last edited by Machupicchu; 02-25-16 at 11:18 AM.
Old 02-25-16, 03:53 PM
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That is cool you got to visit TTT.

Check the website, the rear harness bar and the traction drop mounts are available.

I hope to be placing an order with them soon, I have Stance Coils bu will get TTT front arms and traction rods and rear lower trailing arms.

Looks to be very quality stuff.

Get their coils and install them.
Old 02-26-16, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Machupicchu
Ok maybe that picture is a little over exaggerated. I'm not going for a rock solid auto-x build, I just want it to be low and still be fun to drive. Here's a a bit more of an exception as far as ride hight/wheel gap goes.



Im going in to the T3 shop today, since I just learned they are 20mins away. If I learn anything I'll post back so we can have some actual answers in the thread.
those look like mariah skirts, i just traded a set to bryan harvey in VA and my gf's 79 LE has them (the brown one (brilliant black back in '79) in the pic below)
Attached Thumbnails How low can a 1st gen go on t3 coilovers?-both-rear.jpeg  
Old 02-26-16, 03:11 PM
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If anyone knows where I can get a set of Mariah side skirts let me know.
Old 02-28-16, 12:28 AM
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Check put mariahmotorsports, aka Design Energy in CA. Also, the skirts look to me like Pacific, as they are much more 'pointy' where they go up the wells. In the second pic posted by a forum member, those are Mazda Factory Race skirts, which were flatter going up the wells, and with a pronounced rounded edge which curled under toward the bottom side.

The MFR skirts are fiberglass, and Pacific are Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP).
Old 02-28-16, 11:35 AM
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Even though the Mariah web site list them, the skirts have not be available for a few years now. When I purchased my Mode 4 front bumper, they told me the skirts have been discontinued because the shop that made them doesn't have good molds any longer.
Old 02-28-16, 01:03 PM
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Does anyone know what that hatch is on the red car , it looks like the Mariah hatch, but without the side louvers
Old 02-28-16, 07:05 PM
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Low + Fun to drive? That's impossible.

Here's my technique for balancing appearance.

1) Go to a bar.
2) Get into a fight. Black eyes help.

Or!

Run longer side panels and front and rear valences made of urethane that are designed to scrape and absorb impact. The BODY of the vehicle can stay at OEM height or a little lower, yet it appears to be totally stanced out.

Taller tires = higher ride height (good), and better functionality

Shorter tires = scraping on factory suspension (bad)

There's no reason to ruin a beautiful car with stupid, but I can't fix stupid.
Old 02-29-16, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by SirLaughsALot
Low + Fun to drive? That's impossible.

Here's my technique for balancing appearance.

1) Go to a bar.
2) Get into a fight. Black eyes help.

Or!

Run longer side panels and front and rear valences made of urethane that are designed to scrape and absorb impact. The BODY of the vehicle can stay at OEM height or a little lower, yet it appears to be totally stanced out.

Taller tires = higher ride height (good), and better functionality

Shorter tires = scraping on factory suspension (bad)

There's no reason to ruin a beautiful car with stupid, but I can't fix stupid.
I'm not trying to make it "stanced out" I already have a car that's lowered beyond function, I would still like to clear speedbumps and driveway curbs with this one lol. The picture of the grey one is what I'm going for.

Also thanks a bunch for the skirt info!
Old 02-29-16, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Machupicchu
I'm not trying to make it "stanced out" I already have a car that's lowered beyond function, I would still like to clear speedbumps and driveway curbs with this one lol. The picture of the grey one is what I'm going for.

Also thanks a bunch for the skirt info!
#1 The name of your thread is wrong. "What's the ride height of this Gray Rx7?"

#2 You should be more concerned with damper travel, riding on bumpstops, and fender well clearances.


Low is slow. Slow is always uncomfortable. I wanna go fast.
Old 03-01-16, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by SirLaughsALot
#1 The name of your thread is wrong. "What's the ride height of this Gray Rx7?"

#2 You should be more concerned with damper travel, riding on bumpstops, and fender well clearances.


Low is slow. Slow is always uncomfortable. I wanna go fast.
Old 03-04-16, 07:45 AM
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I have the T3 suspension package. I had the front dialed down to about what they have on the car posted in this thread. I had < 1" of travel left on the struts. T3 also makes a spacer you can put in the raise the top of the strut to add travel but I haven't tried that.

I bought their complete coilover setup where they weld the struts for you and what they should have done is welded the collar lower on the strut tubes allowing for more travel.
Old 03-04-16, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Machupicchu
I'm not trying to make it "stanced out" I already have a car that's lowered beyond function, I would still like to clear speedbumps and driveway curbs with this one lol. The picture of the grey one is what I'm going for.

Also thanks a bunch for the skirt info!
Sometimes here and other places, doing what you want to your own car is frowned upon. Do what you want. I have t3 coilovers on my sa but haven't received my tires yet and i'm still waiting on my rear springs and perches to come in. My SA is in MINT condition and i'm putting flares on it because i wanted really wide wheels and have a gsl-se suspension installed.
Old 05-31-16, 06:24 PM
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Reviving this thread for some opinions...

For those of you that have T3 coilovers and other parts, what's been your experience so far? What spring rates did you go with? I'm building my car for rallycross, hillclimb, rallysprint, and eventually stage rally. I'm considering the pre-built front and rear set, camber plates, and perhaps some other adjustable bits. Any advice on what I should get and what I should avoid?


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