Final Update since with pics since install. Jan 15 2010 ENJOY!


UPDATE! 12:44 AM CALI TIME, ENJOY PICS! I wanted to thank everyone on the forum for all of your help/input, especially Randy over at DRM. I would NOT have been able to do this project without this forum, and you guys. Thanks, thanks, thanks! Open to any questions, concerns or feedback that any one might have.

Sincerely,

Derrick


UPDATE UPDATE!!!! LOOK AT PAGE 2 11/17/09 11:30pm Cali Time.

HUGE SHOUT OUT TO RANDY AT DRM! DRM is awesome! In all seriousness tho, they run a great biz. Randy was more than helpfull answering my questions and getting me a spanner wrench within the time frame i needed. Thanks again Randy, i encourage everyone here, if you can support DRM for your corvette needs to go to them. %100 top notch guys over their on the East Coast.
Thanks,
Derrick

Recently purchased some DRM coilovers from a forum member here, great guy. I thought that i was only going to have to rebuild one, but came to find out that they all needed, or were going to need it soon. When i took them to bilstein in CA (they are 10 min from my house) the tech said that by looking at the rods, you can see where the chrome has started to wear. This means that the seal on the inside has/is breaking down, and that they will only get worse. I purchased a used product, and thats that, no big. $300 to rebuild / re rod all four, no shipping since i dropped them off, over all im pretty happy.

Now its 2:30 AM here in san diego and i figured i post up my progress.
So far i lifted the rear, disassembled the rear left and drilled two new holes in the frame to shift the shock 1/2 inch forward. Got some grade 8 bolts, locking split washers, and nuts. Unbolted the trailing arms and .........wow doesn't sound like i have done much.

Any way, if you look at my stock bushing that you place on the shock tower, it looks much thinner than the one i saw on the DRM over stock thread. Any one know if i need to purchase new bushings? You will need new bushings, stock will not work.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...tock-sale.html


Here is mine, notice the clearance difference. Now i am using my stock bushing, and i didn't use the washer that holds the stock bushing on due to the DRM shock tower.


OH, YEAH BABY


Moved forward strong 1/2 inch.

 

very cool

 

HA HA, nice, its like 5am in Wisconsin, now that's a dedicated forum member!
Thanks,

 

Very Nice ! So how much drilling needs to be done? I think Bilstein had ya for $300.

I can picture the Bilstein guy . vette owner walks in with coil overs.. hmm must have big wallet...

 

$300 is good, I think mine was $400, but I had them revalved too and they were FX3.

 

I think the fact that you now have essentially new shocks that won't need rebuilding while on the car is worth a bit too...

 

to rebuild regular non adjustable shocks all four is 65 each = 260
to rebuild adjustable shocks all four is 75 each = 300
this includes new rod, and re valve
+ shipping
NO SHIPPING FOR ME!

So project is at a dead stop now, i need to order the correct bushings from energy suspension. part number 3-8104.

If any body knows somewhere i can get this faster than 2 weeks out im all ears! (two weeks was what the energy suspension site said) Now its a mad dash to find them as soon as i can get my hands on them.

Little up in the air shot

 

So your the lucky guy who got them. Nice!

 

Great thread!

post pics untill you feel sick


This winter I am going to install my coil overs

 

Your parts are waiting for you in Modesto.

http://www.suspension.com/corvette.htm

 

Give Randy at DRM (Doug Rippie Motorsports) a call, he should have the bushings that you will need. Also be aware that you may have to modify the front sway bar end-links and possibly move the sway bar mounting holes forward a half inch or so. I have this same set-up on my 96 and I really like it! Good Luck with your project!

 

I'm out of them

Randy

 

looking good!

One of the nice things about my Penskes is that they use a smaller diameter coil so I don't have to open up any of the holes

 

Bilstein didn't have any? Every time I get mine rebuilt they send a bag full of bushings.

I wouldn't bother with the energy suspension ones, unless they're the same price as stock.

I have scores of them, I'd send you some but the ones I have left are a bit mismatched. I'd hate for them to be the wrong ones.

 

DUDE! I don't know why id didnt think of that myself, Bilstein is getting a call in the morning.

 

UPDATE! I now have the bushings, thanks to DRM. Install will continue in the AM (T minus 7 hours)

One last question before the install.
I was planning on using the grade 8 bolts that i bought with a split locking washer and drop it down from the inside of the frame. Is the split washer the best choice to keep things tight?

 

Nice job!

 

either that or lock nuts like on our seat tracks where the end it sort of oval to lock the nut in place

So what else has to be done to fit these on? I heard that bolts on the trailing arms need to be flipped ( head in) and the head ground down a bit?

I have yet to do the rear coilovers.

Also are the Poly bushings on the top required? or can you use Stock ones?

 

You don't have to move them forward? No modifications needed?

 

We checked the measurements last month.

I'm getting a new truck, as soon as I pick it up it goes into my friend's shop to get the engine installed. I'm going to start the build up then.