Lowering Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
I went ahead and installed the WCC bolts today. I didnt lower it all the way, just left about a half inch of the bolt showing. Sits a little higher than I wanted right now but im gonna give it a little drive time to settle. If it doesnt, ill just crank them the rest of the way. And i did read about the WCC bolts failing, but one the car will see maybe 300 miles a month, and like you said, this is only a temporary fix until i can afford some coil overs. We shall see, pictures coming soon after i get and install my black ZR1's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 11
From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
That's insane (in a very good way) 
I love the wide body rear but can't afford the conversion PLUS the wheels, etc. Looks great! I added a Z06 front splitter to mine today and it really looks nice especially since the car is lowered. I'll try to get a pic up soon but it won't match your's 
Oh, wait a minute. Aren't you the guy who did a complete color change and mixed that beautiful shade of "AO"?
I love the wide body rear but can't afford the conversion PLUS the wheels, etc. Looks great! I added a Z06 front splitter to mine today and it really looks nice especially since the car is lowered. I'll try to get a pic up soon but it won't match your's Oh, wait a minute. Aren't you the guy who did a complete color change and mixed that beautiful shade of "AO"?
I've been photoshopping wheels on my car. The ones above are photoshopped on. It's lots cheaper than actually putting them on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad CA
Here's my new splitter for those who like that sort of thing. I like the balance it gives the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 11
From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I think I'm liking the black Z06s better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
Likes: 4
Thanks!
PS. I was just thinking of another huge benefit to the Delrin bolts (no, I own no stock 
). You hate the thought of taking your suspension apart right? Well, the design of the Delrin bolts eliminates a ton of that IF you don't want to save your OEM bolts. A word of caution, you cannot buy OEM bolts separately. They ONLY come with springs! So, if you want to keep them because some vette owners keep the plastic crap the carpets are shipped in, then you don't need to read further.
With the Delrin bolts they come as 2 parts. The bolts and the Delrin bushing. When I swapped from the POS WCC bolts all I did is use a saw (like a small sawzall) cut the bolt between the spring and the bolt's bushing. Bingo, no further need to obtain all that spread between the springs and the A-Arm to back the OEM bolts all the way out. Once you've eliminated the bushing end of the bolt there's plenty of room to run the top of the bolt the rest of the way through the spring.
Then, drum roll, the new Delrin bolt runs in through the top of the spring and all you need in space between the spring and the A-Arm is room for the Delrin bushing! The bolt just threads in to the top of the bushing. I did use a dab of locktight and added a tad of grease to help "cut" the bushing to match the surface of the A-Arm. Trust me, you can do this job in no time and only need to have the car up on jack stands and then use like a short piece of 2x4 on the craddle of your floor jack under the spring to get a few inches of separation. You will not regret this as it is hours less time! You do not need to remove any susepension parts ...... other than the wheels for access.
Again, the only down side is that you destroy the OEM bolts.
If my description wasn't clear, feel free to send me a PM or ask me again here.
PSS. I also agree that you should start with aftermarket rear bolts and lower the front on the OEM bolts, all the way if necessary. I really think you will get plenty of drop from the OEM bolts in front. But not in back.
). You hate the thought of taking your suspension apart right? Well, the design of the Delrin bolts eliminates a ton of that IF you don't want to save your OEM bolts. A word of caution, you cannot buy OEM bolts separately. They ONLY come with springs! So, if you want to keep them because some vette owners keep the plastic crap the carpets are shipped in, then you don't need to read further.With the Delrin bolts they come as 2 parts. The bolts and the Delrin bushing. When I swapped from the POS WCC bolts all I did is use a saw (like a small sawzall) cut the bolt between the spring and the bolt's bushing. Bingo, no further need to obtain all that spread between the springs and the A-Arm to back the OEM bolts all the way out. Once you've eliminated the bushing end of the bolt there's plenty of room to run the top of the bolt the rest of the way through the spring.
Then, drum roll, the new Delrin bolt runs in through the top of the spring and all you need in space between the spring and the A-Arm is room for the Delrin bushing! The bolt just threads in to the top of the bushing. I did use a dab of locktight and added a tad of grease to help "cut" the bushing to match the surface of the A-Arm. Trust me, you can do this job in no time and only need to have the car up on jack stands and then use like a short piece of 2x4 on the craddle of your floor jack under the spring to get a few inches of separation. You will not regret this as it is hours less time! You do not need to remove any susepension parts ...... other than the wheels for access.
Again, the only down side is that you destroy the OEM bolts.
If my description wasn't clear, feel free to send me a PM or ask me again here.
PSS. I also agree that you should start with aftermarket rear bolts and lower the front on the OEM bolts, all the way if necessary. I really think you will get plenty of drop from the OEM bolts in front. But not in back.
Last week I lowered my 2005 Z51 all the way down on stock bolts. As most others stated, the back needed a little more.
So I ordered the HardBar delrin bolts as replacements for the stock ones if I needed to throw the stock bolts away after cutting the bushings down to "The top bun".
The delrin's, per Hardbar, will go very low but not as low as a cut stock bolt will.
So I raised her up and got to work. Some people suggested a sawzall to cut the bushing using a long blade. No good! So I tried a mini hacksaw, no good. As mentioned, the PVC line cutter was best, but you need one per wheel, as they dull easily.
Also, the cut will be uneven with the line cutter so you need to be as careful as possible.
Then finally, I liberally applied some marine bearing grease to the contact surface area for possible squeaks.
What a difference!! The car is now slightly raked and looks perfect. I took it for a ride and the speed bumps I scraped with my air dam before, well I still scrape them and nothing else!!! (So far....)
I will take some pics and post some measurements from the ground the the jacking points a little later nit I know the car has at least 4-1/4" in the front and a little more in the back.
So I recommend to cut the stocks and have a set of HardBar delrin lowering sprimg ends standing by for a return to stock height at a later date.
Just IMO!
Jeff
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
Likes: 4
Pics
Here are the pics I promised of my car lowered in the front on stock bolts and in the rear on cut stock bolts.
Thanks,
Jeff
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette008.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette007.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette006.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette005.jpg
Thanks,
Jeff
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette008.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette007.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette006.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette005.jpg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 11
From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Here are the pics I promised of my car lowered in the front on stock bolts and in the rear on cut stock bolts.
Thanks,
Jeff
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette008.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette007.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette006.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette005.jpg
Thanks,
Jeff
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette008.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette007.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette006.jpg
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/Vette005.jpg
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: SO-CAL
Guys, Ive recently purchased the KW Variant 3 Coilover kit for the c6 Zo6, and plan to install myself and w/a friend. Going to be removing the rear leaf springs and prob going to need to modify the front a bit.
-Has anyone installed coilover kits before OR Give me some advice of the do's and don'ts ?
Thanks in advance,
G
-Has anyone installed coilover kits before OR Give me some advice of the do's and don'ts ?
Thanks in advance,
G
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad CA
Guys, Ive recently purchased the KW Variant 3 Coilover kit for the c6 Zo6, and plan to install myself and w/a friend. Going to be removing the rear leaf springs and prob going to need to modify the front a bit.
-Has anyone installed coilover kits before OR Give me some advice of the do's and don'ts ?
Thanks in advance,
G
-Has anyone installed coilover kits before OR Give me some advice of the do's and don'ts ?
Thanks in advance,
G
Good luck, I'll have to google that setup to see what your installing. I'm not familiar with that.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: SO-CAL
Well, I'm not familiar with the set you bought but I have the Pfadt coilovers and they replace the transverse springs and OEM shocks front and back. It's probably a good 8 hour job. Most of the suspension comes loose if not disconnected and apart. If your a decent mechanic with a good variety of tools it's not that tough just alot of wrenching. Air tools are very helpful and probably a full lift will be easier on your back than jack stands.
Good luck, I'll have to google that setup to see what your installing. I'm not familiar with that.
Good luck, I'll have to google that setup to see what your installing. I'm not familiar with that.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 14
From: California
I've got the rear OEM bushing completely cut but still want it about 3/4" lower in the rear. Until I get coilovers, has anyone completely removed the corner bolts and run without them by just inserting a poly pad? I don't see why any bolt is needed, but there's a lot I don't know!! Anyone?
Last edited by rectifyer2000; Sep 2, 2009 at 12:20 AM.