Coil Over Installation

[Demps]

The Coil Over Installation Process

Jim Milstead, DRM and JeffVette all contributed to the pre-process. The following links are where I started.

Rears
click the link then replace the *s with CF spelled out
Fronts
click the link then replace the *s with CF spelled out

So, good start. I did not like some parts of it. In comes Carter. Here's where I departed and some lessons learned.


Get the car on jacks as high as you can. Remove the old stuff per the service manual. You will need a puller to remove the tie rods and spindle in the front.

*****TIP*****
Remove the lower and upper A-arms completely. It will help remove the spring and then spread out the mount.

I had all of the old stuff removed in about two hours. It took two months to get it back together.

*****TIP*****
Have all of the parts necessary prior to starting. Carter has a tremendous start on this--now.

I did not want to cut into my front frame area. Carter made these mounting devices and I replaced the stock sway bar mounting brackets with Energy Suspension brackets (see picture) from Autozone for a 1inch sway bar.



The stock bolts will not do to mount into the frame. You need bolts long enough to go through the block into the frame. Size is 10mm x 1.5 pitch. Two long for the outsides and one smaller for the inside (threaded). You can see how I did it here:



*****TIP*****
Fronts are fairly straight forward.



Now for the fun--Rears.

You will need to mill the head and reverse the suspension mounting bolts per Milstead's thread above.

Get a pry bar.

I did not like the weld then drill method for the old mounts--did have the resources. Carter made some great mounting brackets but they require shaving the upper urethane bushing. I figured it only mounts the gear and the bracket and bushing insert take up the slack.

*****TIP******
Get a dremel with a quick attachment cutting wheel. After I figured this out I was done in an hour. Use it to open the rear frame area. I did not have the necessary tools or experience to accomplish Milstead's write up opening. It also would have required removing most/all of the rear suspension. I used a grinding bit on an air compressor small grider to round the corners.

Here's what I did:

Old


New


Carter's Bracket


Mounted on frame:


D@mn site--can't put up more than 8 images. This will get sporty. Go to end to see more.

Ted