Coil Over Installation - Page 9 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Demps · 06-16-2010

Sorry guys for being delinquent. Been busy lately. Yes I finished the install. Carter's stuff is amazing and works well. I could not find a machine shop close by that wanted the business to modify the stock stuff and Carter offered to help. AMAZING.

I've tried to put some miles on the car. It is everything I wanted. I also lowered the car about an inch and a half all around. Looks great. I'll get a write up soon.

Big 40 is this Saturday and we are having a blow out party. So maybe after.

Ted

4DSZR1 · 06-16-2010

Happy Birthday Ted.

secondchance · 06-17-2010

Happy Birthday!

-=Jeff=- · 06-17-2010

Happy 40th Vader!!!!

-=Jeff=- · 06-21-2010

Any pictures of the rear mount yet?

Polo-1 · 06-21-2010

back at post #66

-=Jeff=- · 06-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo-1

back at post #66

Thanks forgot about that one

Demps · 06-22-2010

Before

modified bracket (must open frame to fit)

had to shave top urethane bushing to fit gear on with increased thickness
note offset

I'm on the road. This is from iPhone. Will completely detail when I return.

Ted

installed

-=Jeff=- · 07-05-2010

So you have instructions for the mounts from Carter yet?

Demps · 07-06-2010

The Coil Over Installation Process
Jim Milstead, DRM and JeffVette all contributed to the pre-process. The following links are where I started.
Rears[/URL]
click the link then replace the *s with CF spelled out
Fronts[/URL]
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:

Ted

06-16-2010	#81
Demps Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Niceville Posts: 998	Re: Coil Over Installation Sorry guys for being delinquent. Been busy lately. Yes I finished the install. Carter's stuff is amazing and works well. I could not find a machine shop close by that wanted the business to modify the stock stuff and Carter offered to help. AMAZING. I've tried to put some miles on the car. It is everything I wanted. I also lowered the car about an inch and a half all around. Looks great. I'll get a write up soon. Big 40 is this Saturday and we are having a blow out party. So maybe after. Ted

06-16-2010	#82
4DSZR1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Re: Coil Over Installation Happy Birthday Ted.

06-17-2010	#83
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,723	Re: Coil Over Installation Happy Birthday!

06-17-2010	#84
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,169	Re: Coil Over Installation Happy 40th Vader!!!! __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

06-21-2010	#85
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,169	Re: Coil Over Installation Any pictures of the rear mount yet? __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

06-21-2010	#86
Polo-1 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 955	Re: Coil Over Installation back at post #66

06-22-2010	#88
Demps Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Niceville Posts: 998	Re: Coil Over Installation Before modified bracket (must open frame to fit) had to shave top urethane bushing to fit gear on with increased thickness note offset I'm on the road. This is from iPhone. Will completely detail when I return. Ted installed

07-05-2010	#89
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,169	Re: Coil Over Installation So you have instructions for the mounts from Carter yet? __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

07-06-2010	#90
Demps Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Niceville Posts: 998	Re: Coil Over Installation The Coil Over Installation Process Jim Milstead, DRM and JeffVette all contributed to the pre-process. The following links are where I started. Rears[/URL] click the link then replace the s with CF spelled out Fronts[/URL] 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: Ted