Gauging interest: Rear coilovers

[JMatt]

OK - I've been working to help develop true, racing coilovers for the LX platform for the last three months. I've removed and replaced my rear suspension probably 30 times. I've taken measurements, photographs, test drives, test drives, test drives. I've been able to make my car ride holy smokes harsh, and Cadillac smooth, all with quick, tool-free adjustments. I can make my car oversteer, I can make it understeer. The point is - tunability to the drivers wants and needs. It's not what I want - it's what you want.

So now this may actually become a reality. Many of you have seen my posts, and now is the time to see if we can make this a reality.

But I need to check interest. Maybe I'm the only one who wants real racing suspension on his LX.

So I just want to check interest, and try to convince the manufacturer to actually make these in at least small batches. In order to fit coilovers on our LX's, they had to fab some custom pieces. I've been told they have to to fabrication runs in at least 50 pieces at a time - 25 cars. So I need to find out if anyone is really interested.

So here's what might become available:

Rear, racing coilovers, manufactured by AFCO Racing. If you're not familiar with AFCO, it's because they are truly a race parts company. Not normally a manufacturer for mass market cars. Generally, they produce for circle track and drag racing first, and that bleeds over into the musclecar market to a little extent.

The coilovers have the following features:

1) 2 basic choices for valve damping - road race/street or drag race/street
2) Adjustable rebound damping without removing tire
3) Adjustable compression damping without removing tire
4) Adjustable ride height - can drop at least 1 1/2" compared to stock
5) Custom spring rates. I've tested everything from 350 pounds to 550 pounds, which is equal to softer than stock, all the way to firmer than anything else on the market
6) Available spring rubbers to adjust spring rate by 10% without tools
7) Springs made to the highest racing specs available in the industry
8) Shocks are individually dyno tested to assure matching

Price: Still to be determined, but here's what I expect:

Full rear kit including springs: $975 +/- $25.
2nd set of springs: $120 +/- $5
Rear shocks, but use stock springs (lowers rear end 1/2"): $855 +/- $25.

I timed it last night, and I could remove a coilover, change springs, and replace the coilover in 17 minutes from jack up to jack down. Ride height adjusts in about 2-5 minutes per side. Damping adjusts in about 30 seconds per side.

I've contacted Admin ahead of time, and they know I'm posting this. Nothing exists for sale yet. What I'm trying to do, is convince AFCO that there's enough initial interest to merit bringing these to market.

Please let me know, either in this thread or via PM if you'd be interested in adding these to your LX. With enough interest, I can get them to do the manufacturing run.

Feel free to load me up with questions. I'll see what answers I can get.

Thank you.

(I do expect matching front coilovers, but that may take a couple more months)

 

[HalV48]

Looks good. I'm assuming you talked to Ron?

 

[JMatt]

Looks good. I'm assuming you talked to Ron?

Exactly. :thumb:

 

[HEMISFEAR]

Looks sweet...but I'd like some more info on how you've found they make a significant difference...how do you like them for dragracing?

 

[JMatt]

Looks sweet...but I'd like some more info on how you've found they make a significant difference...how do you like them for dragracing?

My initial goal was for drag-racing. I use a lot of nitrous, and dyno'd at 620 foot pounds of torque at the rear wheels. The last times I raced on stock suspension I'd get horrific wheel hop, which is the rapid loss and regaining of traction. It typically breaks stuff anywhere in the drivetrain as the torque rapidly loads and unloads.

I also experienced several very eventful trips down the track where I was concerned for safety as I lost traction and swerved sideways under the power. Generally I just lifted and aborted the run.

I put the coilovers on, and instantly had the most relaxed, uneventful runs because the suspension worked and the car just hooked up and went, with no drama. I set a personal record of 11.750 seconds at 123.05 miles per hour.

Mods: Nitrous, Diablo, full exhaust. All stock internals, stock halfshafts.

I believe my 620 foot pounds of torque is the highest peak number ever dyno'd on an LX (I could be wrong), and if I could safely put that to the track........

 

[1fastsedan]

Vote me in. I actually don't mind the front Bilsteins, this would make a great replacement for the Nivomats.