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Hey all! Long time forum reader, first time poster.. I know there is a Shocks/Springs thread just below this one, but I don't want to hi-jack it.
I am almost done my Phase 1 Mods to my 2002 Trans Am WS6 - The last piece for this year is Lowering Springs, Shocks, Bumpers and a Pan Hard bar.
My Questions:
What is the best Shocks/Lowering Spring recommendation for a Sunday Cruiser Street Beast with no budget constraints-ish..? I will drive this car once a week for about 4 Months out of the year, while comfort is important, I don't plan to put many miles on this car.
I recently installed custom offset weld wheels Front: 18x10 +41 (305/35/18) & Rear: 18x11 +43 (275/35/18) - One of my concerns would be clearance for the tire if I lowered it too much - The front has about 2" of gap and could tuck the bridge of the tire just a tiny bit and the rear about about 3" of gap and cant tuck the tire at all, it will bottom out. What are your thoughts on this?
Is there anything I am missing or should get replaced while I am doing this upgrade?
Thanks for your time! Here a picture of my baby- Just bought it about 2 Months ago -17,000Miles, Black on Black; Exhaust, SLP Intake, Blacked out tint, Weld Wheels on Nitto's
and for those of you with keen eyes, yes I am missing my front center caps - 2 were crushed in transport, weld is sending me new ones though.
For a cruiser that I didn't want to get too low, I'd probably run stock springs on Koni Sports. Do the heater hose mode in the rear, and run the front springs on the lower perch.
For a cruiser that I didn't want to get too low, I'd probably run stock springs on Koni Sports. Do the heater hose mode in the rear, and run the front springs on the lower perch.
What is the heater hose mode?
I know the ride won't be as comfortable, but I really have a certain look i want, as mentioned, I want this car to be a street beast that is built as if it a track car.
Next year, I am going to rebuild the trans, install cam, headers, true dual exhaust, tune, breaks, subframe connectors.
There are various videos on the heater hose mod on youtube. The front lower Koni shock perch along with the heater hose mod in the rear will give about a 3/4" drop. The ride will be comparable to what you have now.
If you wanted more of a drop, the Koni Sports will have the valving to handle that. Lowering springs generally get you 1" to 1.5" of a drop depending on brand. Strano's springs are very popular, and those drop you to 1.25" over stock. That said, lowering is generally geared towards handling, and so not great if by track you mean - drag race track. You're trading the ability to weight transfer (if that matters to you), and trading ride comfort, for looks and handling. There are lots of pics of that combo.
Are your fenders rolled? The lower you go, the more likely you are to rub. Just eyeballing that offset, you're likely to have contact with the fender lip, if the fender lip is not rolled. In that case, you'll need to buy or rent a fender roller. The inner fender, with 305's, and that offset isn't likely to be as much of an issue. However, if it is you'll have to hammer that in until it doesn't rub. A 5lb sledge (BFH as it's called) or ideally an air hammer will do the trick.
The other thing to watch, since you mentioned headers, and true duals is that as you get lower, the flanges at end of the long tubes are going to be your low points. Scrapping could be an issue.
What is the best Shocks/Lowering Spring recommendation for a Sunday Cruiser Street Beast with no budget constraints-ish..? I will drive this car once a week for about 4 Months out of the year, while comfort is important, I don't plan to put many miles on this car [QUOTE]. Lowering springs made by various manufacturers all work fine. The trick is to install sets of four, all from the same source. Both the BMR and Eisbach's are well thought of. Mixing spring brands F+R is like mixing tire brands and tread patters F+R. Not Ideal.
The softest, smoothest riding strut/shock is the Koni adjustable set full soft. No one has a better choice.
I went with Strano springs and Koni's Sport shocks about a month ago and could not be happier. Imo everything about it is perfect. Handles and rides so much better....I could not of imagined it would be this big of a difference.
From the ground to the middle of my wheel was at 28" front and back and looked like trash when stock.
All 3rd + 4th gen F body's dynamically are best at between 26.0" to 27.0" top of the fender to the ground. 26.5" F+R seems optimal, regardless of which wheels and tires you use. Rake looks nice but isn't ideal for ride, handling or braking. My 98 seems best with Michelin Super Sports 285/35-18' square. The extra width of 305's comes with extra height. For my F body, not ideal because the 285/35 puts the ride height right at the sweet spot. 17's would work but tire choice is now too limited.
Strano/Koni here. Been more than happy with the drop and ride.
What a clean looking ride, sexy as hell!! What size wheels/Tires?
I am so skeptical about pulling the trigger, emailed Sam and he seemed to be hesitant about what option I should go with, and I will admit I didn't fully understand the email.
I know there is that one 2002 CETA owned by a guy named Tim - I wonder that he's running
What a clean looking ride, sexy as hell!! What size wheels/Tires?
I am so skeptical about pulling the trigger, emailed Sam and he seemed to be hesitant about what option I should go with, and I will admit I didn't fully understand the email.
I know there is that one 2002 CETA owned by a guy named Tim - I wonder that he's running
Thanks! 17x9.5 wearing 275/40/17’s and 17x11 out back with 315/35/17’s. The drop really isn’t extreme. I would not have wanted it any lower than this. I never bottom out or scrape on anything though. Not even my ARH Y pipe scrapes on anything. It ticks up better than the stock exhaust did.
Thanks! 17x9.5 wearing 275/40/17’s and 17x11 out back with 315/35/17’s. The drop really isn’t extreme. I would not have wanted it any lower than this. I never bottom out or scrape on anything though. Not even my ARH Y pipe scrapes on anything. It ticks up better than the stock exhaust did.
Fabulous! What brand tires? HP 17's are so rare now.
I use the Nitto 275/50-17 555G2 on a 94 Impala SS on OEM wheels and they are the best tires I've ever had on that car. My 96 Caprice stroked 383 LT-1 (Specialty Vehicles International T-56 Saudi export car) got the Motorsport Tech adapters to use 2014 Caprice 18's widened to 18X9" with PS4's in 275/40-18 square. The best handling B-body I've ever driven. Black painted steel wheels just like the original 96 Caprice 15x7's but the 2023 improved version.
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Lowering a 2002 WS6 
