Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

Alright, i know there've gotta be at least a few of you FC owners out there who have hit the same point that I have: You're in love with your 2nd gen, you've sunk unmentionable amounts of money into it , and want to keep it and upgrade the handling to be on-par with, say, a 3rd gen.

We will overlook the fact that my car still doesn't run

Anyway: What does it take to get my car, a 1990 GXL (?) --> TII conversion (soon) to pull 1.00 lateral G's on the skidpad or handle as well as an FD?

Thanks!,
Manolis

HWO

Harder springs, something like 400lb fronts and 275/300 rears
bigger sway bars like racing beat offer (or similar)
rear camber adjuster
Front Camber plates

New shocks of some description

Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

Do you know where i can get a set of linear-rate springs with the spring rates you mentioned? Are the camber adjusting plates necessary in order to correct the camber after the car is lowered, or are they there so i can increase the camber? I know that increasing the camber will adversely affect the tire wear, are there any guidelines for these settings?

Thanks!,
Manolis


Haltech should be here in a couple weeks... this is gonna be fun

SleepR1

You might want to send PaulyDee a PM regarding how to set up an FC for outstanding handling. I've driven Paul D'Angelo's '91 FC Coupe around Putnam Park, and his car is absolutely perfect with regard to handling. He's done some trick stuff with his chassis.

Off-hand, I recall he has Ground Control coil-overs, camber plates, rear strut brace, sway bars, 7 x 16 RP0-1 wheels with 225/50-16 Toyo Proxes RA-1 R-compound track tires.

Perhaps he could describe his FC's underpinnings in better detail??

For those who don't know Pauly Dee, Paul D' Angelo is co-owner of Advanced Import Motorsports Tuning, the shop that maintains my FD, and preps my car for track events.

You can also email him at PaulyDee@aol.com

The shop's number is 317-381-0898. Their address is 298F Gasoline Alley, Indianapolis IN 46222

Visit the shop by copying and pasting the AIM Tuning urls in my signature below.

Scott 89t2

well it depends on how much you want to spend... coil overs are great but not needed to only hit 1g. a brand new Turbo II (so 12 years ago with new susp etc...) with nothing but nice tires pulled 1g.

http://ug.solarwinds.com/mac/images/...r/rx7part1.htm
http://ug.solarwinds.com/mac/images/...r/rx7part2.htm
http://ug.solarwinds.com/mac/images/...r/rx7part3.htm
http://ug.solarwinds.com/mac/images/...r/rx7part4.htm

for a sweet street setup, I'd go with:
kyb agx shocks $350
either ground control coilver kit $400 or ST springs $250?
racing beat sway bars 200
soild rear toe bushings 45
rear camber link $100,
front camber plates aren't really needed for the street, but I'll be getting a set (only work with coil overs)

the other option is the kr2d coilover kit for $950 but I'm still trying to find more info on it. but it's agx shocks, coil overs, front camber plates, and rear camber link. add the sway bars and toe bushings and you have a sweet setup for $1200.

also front and rear strut tower bars will help.

then add a good set of tires and an alignment. you can go farther and replace all the bushings. but it's very labour intensive.

PaulyDee

I was asked to chime in on this subject so here I go. I spent some time balancing my `91 Coupe to handle well on a raod course. To make a long story short I'll explain what I have now:

KYB/AGX shocks
Ground Control Coil over kit with 7" front springs @ 425lbs, 6" Rear springs at 275 lbs
Ground Control front camber/caster plates running 2.75degrees negative camber and 5degrees positive caster
Racing Beat Rear sway bar with adj. links
Stock front sway bar
Trust front strut bar
Cusco rear strut bar

With this setup, when on a smooth course (Putnam park or VIR) I run the shocks full stiffness (4 fronts, 8 rears)

With the 225/50/16 Toyo RA-1s the car is well balanced. Under certain conditions the car has a smidge of understeer but overall the car is dead neutral.

Keep in mind theat I never had the opportunity to corner weight the car or do any adjustment of the rear camber (in work).

I just want to say something on the comment of making an FC handle like and FD. Not going to happen. It's not saying that you can't make an FC handle well, it's just that an FD has a whole different geometry in it's suspension. It's a much more capable handler. The level I'm at gets me in line with an FD with mild suspension work like a spring or shock change. Keep that in mind, just to keep your goals within reach.

If you have any specific questions by all means PM me or e-mail me.

Pauly D

SleepR1

Well boyz, you read the post from the FC suspension god himself...take heed of his advice!

Seriously, Paul's right about his car being dead neutral. It's absolutely neutral IMO. Currently my FD understeers with wider tires in back...at least I won't go off backwards in the weeds anymore

HWO

the FD brandishes 4 wheel double wishbone suspension - something the FC doesn't even come close too

If you know of a friendly wheel alignment expert you can set up some marks on your camber plates for very little or no camber for road usage and then 2 or 3 degrees camber for spirited driving