Car sits too high, springs maybe?

[robftw]

The previous owner put these flares on, not me.. I think he cut the fenders out to far, the wheel gap is HUGE.

I don't want to get bigger wheels because i enjoy the ones i have, but i'm wondering if there is a spring that will lower the car down about 1.5-2'' to make up this gap.

[johnnyt]

Two things. First, you will need to lower the car about the amount you mentioned. You can get Arizona springs which I have heard will lower your car about 1.5", or you can do what I did and just cut your stock springs (about 1.5 coils from the top and bottom on each spring) car drives nice and sits low.

Second, if you want to keep those wheels, you will need a very wide wheel adapter to fill the gap between fenders and wheels, possibly a 2 inch adapter which is not the safest recommendation.

[bpilati]

Do a search on here to find more about cutting springs. I don't think it is the most advisable thing to do.

[sblake01]

If you're not spot on with your cuts, which is virtually impossible to do, you'll never be able to get it properly aligned.

[johnnyt]

Well, I did not actually tell him that he should cut his springs, rather suggested it. I have come across over 20 cars including mine and friends who have never had issues with ride or alignment, first I have heard of this. My 280 rides better than my brothers Z which has a Tokico set up, go figure.

[240260280z]

Cut (with saw) 2 coils off front and two coils off back. Spring coefficient will go up 30% to 35%

Reference:

0.5" drop = cutting upper and lower coil

1.5" to 2" drop = cutting upper two coils or lower two coils (recommended)

2" to 2.5" drop = cutting upper 2 coils and lower coil

[Jeff G 78]

Cut (with saw) 2 coils off front and two coils off back. Spring coefficient will go up 30% to 35%

Reference:

0.5" drop = cutting upper and lower coil

1.5" to 2" drop = cutting upper two coils or lower two coils (recommended)

2" to 2.5" drop = cutting upper 2 coils and lower coil

This is exactly what I did on my 260 crapcan racer. I cut 2 full coils front and rear. We did add much longer jounce bumpers as well which are in contact at curb height. They add quite a bit of additional rate. We started with 102 lbs/in and ended up with around 170 lbs/in. It has new poly FRONT TC bushings with old rubber rear TC bushings and everything else is old rubber. The car seems to ride better than my 280 on Tokicos.

[robftw]

Okay i'll give it a try sometime down the road, one thing i was going to ask. I'm looking at an 8'' wide wheel, does anyone have a suggestion for offset? i'm thinking 0 should work, IIRC for a 9.5'' rear -17 offset was recommended, so with basic maths in my head 0 offset should work.. i think?

[Jeff G 78]

Depends on the tire size. Zero might work if the tires aren't too wide, but you might need to be a bit positive to clear the fender lips. I had terrible rubbing in the rear of my '78 with 225/50R16 on zero offset Panasports. I had to trim the fender lips to make them fit. Other people have had no trouble with similar sizes. The tire brand and model will make a big difference too. Some run taller or wider than others.

[johnnyt]

With a zero offset wheel you will actually be closer towards the suspension than the -17 wheel which would move closer towards the outer fender. Be careful unless you plan to remove them, you have ZG flares on your car, if I remember correctly you can use a very low offset wheel, 16x9 -13 in the front and a 16x9.5 -19 in the rear. This would make the wheel(s) sit just right in the wheel wells.

[robftw]

At most i would be using 15x8 or 16x8

[Jeff G 78]

When I replied about the wheels, I wasn't even thinking about your flares. Is the sheetmetal fender still intact behind them, or has any of it been cut out? If it has been removed, ignore what I said. If it's intact, what I said still applies. Sorry about the brain fart I had.