was thinking about adding on the fx3 option has anybody done this and how hard would it be? dont know if i will just a thought. does it really make alot of difference?

 

I have FX3 which is disabled for the time being. having the shocks re-valved from bilstein, going with gas-a-djusts untill everything is fixed.

FX3 has 4 actuators, and 4 adjustable shocks. There's a selector switch you'll need to put in someplace, and run all the wires back to the FX3 computer. I imagine you could wire up the light on the info panel too, but it sounds like a lot more work, but meybe you might as well since the computer will have to interface with the speedo (the rates are controlled based off the speed you're going + switch position)

Anyway, last I checked shocks were 200 ea. actuators were 200 ea. and I have never seen a computer for sale, although you might find it on e-bay. For that kind of money i could think of a few other things to do to the car, but if you can get everything from someone who's deleting it altogether for cheap (like I was until I changed my mind) then it's feasable..

I just didn't know that I could have the original fx3 bilsteins revalved and figured it would have been too expensive to fix. But since I live right next to their westcoast HQ and it's only $65 per shock, I'm gonna do it anyway.

As for worth it or not, I guess you could get the same thing with any adjustable upper-end ($$$) shocks, except you'd have to crawl around the car when you go to the autocross or plan to do any sort of racing, and crawl around it again when you're done and it's time for some comfort on your way to Trader Joes for a bottle of wine in the evening... It's not like fx3 has magic shocks, they're the same bilsteins as you can have, except instead of being valved as as compromise between the two extremes of handling v. comfort (leaning to handling) you can change it, and unlike typical adjustable shocks you can do it on the fly.

PS. purty vette you got there

PPS. Some ferraris came with the bilstein selctive ride system (same as ours) so I guess you'd be able to say your car shares parts of it's suspension with a ferrari

 

thankyou appreciate that, and it sounds like a pretty pricey upgrade might hang out awhile on that and maybe catch one on ebay one day or check around the junkyards. you said about a computer is this a seperate computer? and where is it located at?

 

hey bluevette,
just picked up on a fx-3 system that a forum member is removing from his car. complete system, (shocks, actuators, harness, switch, the whole enchilada) for a really decent price that i am intending to put on my 86. but i have one advantage, my 89 and 90 both have the fx-3 system on them so i can use them for a guide. keep looking on the forum, someone else will have a complete system, maybe check e-bay but beware.

 

let me know how it goes putting it in so i can see what i have to look forward to you think maybe you can make a log of pics as you go through it that would be a great addition to the forum not to be nosey but how much did you pick up the system for if you dont mind saying?

 

I believe forum member Kittmaster installed an FX3 system in a non-FX3 car. If he doesn't chime in on this thread, you might do a search and contact him.

I have FX3 in my '92, but I don't believe it would be worth installing unless you road race the car on a track. There's just not that much difference between the settings. In fact, you can only barely feel a difference between the stiffest and softest settings when you hit bumps. The Performance setting will give just a little harsher feel to a bump, but you really have to be concentrating on it to feel the difference. It's definitely not like you can go from an almost Cadillac ride to a race car with the turn of the switch. If you're thinking about it, I would suggest you find someone with an FX3 car, and go for a ride.

The retrofit would involve a fair amount of work and expense. Installing the shocks and actuators is easy, but wiring up all the computer connections would take some work, and a knowlege of the car's systems. Most people don't realize it, but the FX3 system adjusts automatically with the vehicle's speed. In each setting, the stiffness increases as speed increases. So the shock valving might actually be stiffer in Sport at 100mph than in Performance at 40mph. All this means the FX3 computer is connected to the other computers in order to get data from the vehicle speed sensor, so it's a little more complicated than it might first seem. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I don't know how Sleazy Rider will get the system to work properly in an '86.

Incidentally, Mid America used to sell a kit with everything needed to install an FX3-like system into a non-FX3 car. I don't know who made it, but I don't think it was factory-type Bilstein equipment.

 

THANKYOU FOR THE VALUABLE INFORMATION I WILL BE DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH BEFORE I JUST START JUMPING IN AND BUYING A BUNCH OF USELESS (TO ME) PARTS THANKS AGAIN

 

If you get the custom prom's from Bilstein, you can completely change the feel of the car with the settings. It is nice for a combination car because it is so easy to change from street to track. Pretty painful though if you don't already have it in the car. Coil-overs with adj shocks might be better and allow easy (sort-of) spring changes too.

 

Latest price info is $100 - $145 per shock depending on condition of the shock and what valving needs you have. Controller is $230 from Bilstein.

The Corvette actuators are now being made for Bilstein by the same company that makes the Ferrari actuators. A mere $298 each and you can get them from Bilstein.

 

well, i bought the whole setup for $350.00 shipped. what i will do is send the shocks to drm to get revalved and setup for coilovers. couple that up to 14" rotors and 4-piston calipers, z51 sway's and my suspension should be complete. the car is gutted right now, no drivetrain, no suspension, no interior. what i need to find out is if the abs from 86-87, 88? is different from 89 and later. like i mentioned earlier, i have an 89 and a 90, both with fx-3 on them to use as a reference. i've had mine out lots of times changing out shocks from autox/roadracing to drags, no problem.
but i will take a ton of pics to document everything and will post the link on the forum. maybe help someone down the road.

 

Good info. Damn that sucks about the prices from bilstein, I was going by their website

Eh, I guess KYBs for now, and FX3 will go back in once I go coil-overs (whenever that happens)

 

I'm calling Jack French at Bilstein tomorrow because I am sending my shocks in for revalve tomorrow - week end autoX with new controller. If the price is different I'll let you know.