I've been thinking about trying to upgrade to the adjustable suspension on my '92. Has anyone ever tackled this project?

 

I believe Kittmaster did this. Hopefully he'll chime in. Seems like it would be a lot of work and expense.

 

I think the general concensus is that it is more of a pain than it is worth...

Need new wiring harness, computer, shocks, etc.

You're better off selling the car and buying one with it already installed.

 

hm... 800.00 just for the shocks.

I would spend my $$ on coil overs.

 

I'm in the process of doing this to my 92. First and foremost if you don't already have one get a service manual. You'll need it for the wiring diagrams. The hardest part was getting the connectors. I had to hunt around, I got the controller connector from contemporary corvette. I can't remember where I got the connector for the console switch. I got the actuators and shocks as part of the coil over kit from DRM. I believe the actuators were different front to rear. There is only one service replacement now though. I can't remember if it's front or rear but depending on which one you order you'll get an adapter pig tail harness. I just had DRM send me four of these. I'm going to clip the adapter end off and use these to build my harness. The only big deal is tapping off the ECM speed sensor input, I checked and splicing into wire shouldn't cause any load or impedance problems. I'm still researching if I can tap into/use the message center. I would like to be able to have the diagnostic function available. I'll try to post a how I did in the tech section just haven't had much free time lately. Let me know if you have any questions.


[Modified by Jeff M, 9:00 PM 9/18/2003]

 

Yes I've done this. The process is fairly easy. I bought all the parts from Vette masters and got a great deal. All said and done it ran me about $900 bucks and 10 hours for the install from the first to last screw. The conversion requires shocks, actuators, body harness, fx3 controller, wheel wheel fx3 guides, ride control switch with its minor harness. The car is totally plug and play. For those that insist that the option is a waste, well everyone has an opinion, but I speak from experience that the option when all the components are "new" i.e. freshly rebuilt shocks from Bilstein, is an excellent compliment to the car. If you use your car for long rides the tour setting is the best, and when you need more stablility tour and performance are where its at. FX3 is like anything else, its about what you like. Some may want a rougher ride......well coilovers will give you that. I just wanted the best of all worlds and I'd never own a vette again that doesn't have the ride control option. If you have any questions drop me a line at chris@kittmaster.com

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the info.

 

I've got a stock controller prom off of my 92. Make offer if interested.

Mike

 

If you're serious about doing this, I have a complete FX3 system I removed from my car @ 40k miles; everything in good shape and working:

4 Bilstein shocks
4 actuators w/ wiring connectors
FX3 controller w/ PROM and connectors
any other wiring I can remove without disassembling my interior
trade my console panel w/ FX3 switch for your standard one

This will get you 99% of what you need; just need to run some wiring as described. I will take $999 (+ship) for everything; a very fair price if you consider that's $100 for each piece and they're more than double that new. Plus you know you're getting a complete working system rather than trying to build it up piece by piece.

-George

 

The most important parts of the system are the wire harnesses. The biggy is the body harness that routes the ABS sensors and actuators. Without that the rest will be useless. Also the umbilical for the Bosch controller that connects the outboard harness and the ABS/ASR module must be swapped. This will mean downtime for both cars if you guys decide to swap. Also there is a direct difference between 92 and 93 harnesses for the ABS modules and speed inputs. Either way some interior disassembly will be required to meet this objective.

Kitt


[Modified by kittmaster, 4:53 PM 9/21/2003]

 

Make sure you do not loose the flat top washers and any of the gold cups. I had Bilstein redo my shocks and they do NOT have those parts. It was a major problem. They told me they did and then oooops sorry we do not have them.

Robin
:cheers: