Hi,

I'm building an 1988 SE up for drift, drag, and autocross. Drag isn't anywhere near the main focus just something to do with my drag buddies. Anyway, are coilovers a necessity, or can I start out with just lowering springs, and than move up?

I swapped my mustang for the SE , and it came with now motor or tranny. It did come with two rear ends, a five lug conversion, slotted and drilled rotors, EBC ceramic pads, SS brake lines, great interior (Blue, it's for sale), and $150 bucks.

I'm dropping in a lq4 6.0, and a t-56 (I know, Booo!! No rotary.). It might be twin turbo'd when everything is said and done.

Just giving a little more info on the car setup if it helps with my question.

 

Lq4 isn't a 6.0, it's a 5.3 and yes if you are really gonna swap a cast iron block v8 in you should have coilovers with at least 10kg springs up front but that jus what I would do but here are guys that have run struts and springs I guess it come down to what's in your budget and if you can afford a twin turbo you should have coilovers

 

o rly

 

Vortex 6000

LQ4 (VIN U)

The Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 6.0 L (~366 cu in) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum (2000 model year engines had cast iron heads) design and produces 300 horsepower (220 kW) to 325 horsepower (242 kW) and 360 lb·ft (488 N·m) to 370 lb·ft (502 N·m). LQ4s are built in Romulus, Michigan and Silao, Mexico.

LQ4 applications:

* Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
* Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Pickup, 3500 Pickup, Crew Cab, and Chassis Cab/GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pickup and Crew Cab, C3, Denali, and 3500 Pickup and Chassis Cab, 1500HD Crew Cab
* Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL Denali
* Hummer H2 SUT
* GMC Yukon Denali

It might end up twin turbo'd, but it's getting installed as an NA engine. I'm going to determine at a later date if I should turbo it. Also, when I'm talking about a twin turbo setup I'm going to be running two grand national turbo's that have been hooked up to modified Camaro manifolds. We are talking about a home fab setup. A friend of a friend has done it, and said he put down around 570 rwhp with the setup. I think that would be over kill for my build.

Back to the question I originally asked. Could I just run lowering springs (or stock springs), or is it absolutely required that I have coil-overs before I do track time?

 

I'm mainly talking about just getting up and going, and getting a feel for the sport. Would it give me the wrong impression about drift to not be doing it on coil-overs? Adventually I will be going to them, but I've got other expenses first. Like a Hinson conversion kit, a cage, clutch and fly wheel.

 

I stand corrected I thought the 6.0 motor was the lq9, anyways I started out drifting with stock suspension and an open diff then, gradually upgraded my equipment

 

get coilovers with dampening adjustments as well as ride height. Its pretty much impossible to build a car that would do great in all three. But you can build a car that will do OK in all three.

Autocross suspension needs to be tuned per the track.

Drifting needs stiffness.

Drag needs stiff up front, and soft in the back.

 

The lq9 had slightly high compression pistons.

Wouldn't that be the point of having adjustable coil-overs? Being able to adjust the suspension to fit your needs. Also, going to the drag stip would be only for fun. He's building a 1973 Vega with an Ecotec. He's all about the drag stip, and I'd just be tagging along to put down some numbers.

Also, I've got a turbo II rear end for my autocross/ street setup, and the SE rear is getting a welded diff for drift and drag. Why tear up a good limited slip.

Thanks for the info on being able to drift on the stock suspension. At some point the car will get coil-overs, but I wanted to know if it was possible with stock or just spring upgrades,

 

if your going to compete in all three coilovers are the only way.

 

You will run the risk of crashing with out proper suspension and seat time. Power does not make up for ****. Invest your money in suspension first. I have a 2JZGTE powered Cressida and I have still not gotten sideways because of how unpredictable the car is without good suspension.

An FC with coilovers is a night and day transformation and you will even have to get used to that before you will be comfortable trying to throw the car around a track.


And by the way....... if you're only getting 570rwhp on a twin turbo 6.0L you're doing something really wrong.

 

570 rwhp on stock internals at 8 lbs of boost.

 

With better internals it can be cranked up to 11. Not 11 lbs of boost, but 11 on the amp... you know like... never mind.

 

coilovers

 

coilovers,seat,steering wheel.

 

No kidding. Get a seat.


MOST of us run coilovers here.

 

Well I'm runnin coils and a v8 also soo ..... But your best bet is coils and a bucket especially for drift and auto-x

 

coilover's..but if your on a budget. purch and spring (wannabe coilover's.)

:AA:

 

Well does anyone have any advice on which coilover company to buy from? I see Megan's racing has coilover kits for $800 shipped. Their track package one at that. Any advice, are these good?

 

Do you want advice, or the cheapest ****?

Choose your own adventure:

Advice: But Coilovers from a reputable company, as we have mentioned DG-5's are AMAZING, from there, you can find the JIC, TEIN, etc... On down to the Megans and the PSM on the cheap end of things...

Cheapest ****: Get some Megans or Ksports or whatever china is offering these days to make your car low and cool... and impress your friends...

Either way, there is a Drift Set-up thread, read some of the dudes that are actually good at this ****, or know how to set up a car, and use the parts and settings they use, until you have enough time in seat, to find what YOU need to make the car work the way YOU want it to.

Not trying to be an *******, but there is a lot of reference in this forum that you do not need to ask any more about it.

 

So I take it you have no valuable input on Megan racing, or Ksport coil overs? I mean no first hand experience with them, or linking to a thread with first hand experience?

I'm just starting to look into the suspension setup I want to run. The point is I'm here looking for help on putting together. I haven't had my FC for more than three months, and it just now got into my garage. Been doing a lot of work on my roommates WRX lately, and now that is done I can start on this car.

I have read other people's post on their drift setup, but that doesn't tell me anything about each component. Also, I haven't seen any write-ups like other car forums have. No in depth comparison between TEIN, Megan, etc. I only see the occasional comment here or there. Nothing spelling out why they're bad, just people saying they are. No sticky, nothing that gives feedback or ratings.

If I missed it than I'm sorry, but it's not on the front page of the drift setup, or suspension setup.

I am asking for advice before I drop 1k+ on suspension parts. No need for trolling.

 

Also, the DG-5 are $2600. We're talking D-1 setup. I'm just getting into drift, and want something that can take me from novice to intermidate. A coilover that isn't going to break a year down the road, but isn't going to cost me close to 3k.

 

I'm not trying to skimp on the suspension. If Stance Coilovers - GR+ are tons better I'll pay the extra 400-600 if they're worth it. I just need advice now on which coilovers are good, and which ones to stay away from.