Dr Bob,
As a fellow infallible MD <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" /> I was devastated by the very idea that you might be criticizing anything I said. <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />
After some serious soul searching and a few tranquilizers <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> I realized that you were probably just having a bad day and didn't mean it.
I forgive you!! <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

 

Good topic Ernest.

928 UK has a great tutorial (with pictures) on proper ride height adjustment. The link is located within the 'A New Vistor?...' topic above.

bob - so that's how urban legends get started. That is still a simple initial reference measurement for ride height though.

On the OB's ('78 - '81 I think), the front coils do not have adjustment collars. How have some of you addressed that when needing to prop up those tired fronts?

Have you used spacer rings, retrofitted to adjustable collars, or completely replaced with new coil-overs?

I've been putting off getting my fronts back up as I've yet to learn what is the best / least painfull ($) method to achieve that.

Thoughts?

 

Randy,
On the Nichols site Wally comments that you can add (no more than) two spacers to the non adjustable springs. Spacers seem to be the least expensive way to go. The Full Monte would be to replace your spring struts with new springs AND shocks from a later, adjustable car. I'll bet you can find these cheaply. Just be sure that their adjustment range and length match your MY's requirements.
One more comment:
After looking at the Nichols site with all references including the UK page, AND the PET 5 CD, lying on the garage floor with the picture in my hand, I STILL couldn't figure out where the reference point was for the front suspension. With over size front tires and a front spoiler practically dragging on the ground there's STILL inadequate information with regard to the reference point. I had to have a mechanic from Zim's point it out to me on a shark they had on a lift.

 

Thanks Ernest, but I'm really after first-hand experience on this one. I'm aware of what 'can' be done.

 

This is one of those 'critical' topics that comes up now and again. Alignment, height, shocks and settings. Interesting stuff.

The 78 had some troubles getting aligned recently. I had just done new shocks and ball joints and it wouldn't settle. So we loosened the lower rear A-arm bushings and bounced on the nose to help it droop a little more. The front bushing is self-contained so loosening there doesn't really do anything. I had driven about 45 miles from the house to the shop. Alignment turned out perfect.

The 84 is about an inch low all around and I can definitely feel the handling difference between the two. The 84 pushes while the 78 is almost exactly neutral. So ride height is pretty critical. Once you get it all sorted out and adjusted, a good set of tires complete the package. Then it's green, green, green...

 

Ernst........ this'll make you feel even better. drBob isn't an MD.... he's a PhD. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

So he's smarter than both of us put together!! <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

 

It just Piles higher and Deeper.

I often wish I was as smart as I often think I am.

Cheers!

 

Brian,
I have no doubt that he's smarter than me put together, but I don't know whether he's any smarter than you put together! <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

 

Well, if you ask my wife, I've never really had it "together" in any case!! <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Something about "all those toys".....

Hmmmm now that the P-car is up and running, there's a cute 'guzzi LeMans on e-bay..... <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

"And why can't you ever drive anything "normal"!!?? says she. <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

 

You would think that someone would publish ride height measurments at the front and rear lifting points. My car presently is set at 26 inches at the fender (front) and 24.5 inches rear fender lip. At these settings the distance from the floor to the front lifting pad is about 7 inches, same for the rear. It's close. By the way, when I first played with the adjustments last Wednesday night, I started with almost 27 inches (front).There may be truth to the fact that you need to drive quite a distance to settle the suspension.

 

Joe,
The reason the ride height measurements are taken where they are is that the lifting points, like the fender lips, are not fixed relative to the ground. There's a bunch of bushings and links in between the spring struts and those points.

 

Ernest, I have a set of ramps you can borrow. I know I won't need them for at least a week. (My "fun" job will preclude me from working on the reanimate) Just call before Tuesday. John C.

 

Hi John,
The rears were, apparantly, not adjusted by the PO. I'll put my new tires on Wednesday and let you know whether I need them after the car settles and before it's realigned.
I have an X brace for you. My carbon fiber brace came in and I noticed that your's is kinda grungy.

 

Yes,I saw that you had ordered a carbon fiber X brace. I think that was the post that riled Nicole. The triangular box one. HeHeHe. Borrowing ramps makes a lot more sense than buying some. Just let me know. See you soon.