Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
geno58

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by geno58 »

Not any more
pottsthomas
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:18 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spyder

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by pottsthomas »

Here is my car lowered. Sorry I can't figure out how to post photos either. Nothing rubbing yet, but I'm on 13" rimes with 60 series tires, about an inch shorter than the 80's that came standard.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater
speedracer

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by speedracer »

I really like the lowered look of all the Spiders I've seen here and I'm interested in doing it to my 79, which has 13" wheels.

So from what I've read and observed in this thread, it seems that the right formula for lowering your Spider when cutting the springs is to cut 1 turn out of the front and 1 1/2 turns out of the back for that perfect look.

Is that about right?
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chrisg
Posts: 746
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:30 am
Your car is a: 1971 FIAT

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by chrisg »

I thought I'd chime in a little here. I'm about to change springs and install Konis on my '72 Coupe. Did the same (with IAP red springs) years ago on a Coupe and I remember the front height was pretty much ideal while the rear ended up being too high....I don't recall what I ended up doing (cut the IAPs? Cut stock springs? Install without perches?....I think I left the upper perches off so that I could preserve the spring rate and effectively raise the upper suspension point slightly) to bring the back down. I also recall using Brava wagon rear springs on a spider and being very happy. This time around I have another set of IAP red springs that are new/never used that I've hung onto forever and I expect I'll be using a good set of Koni red springs I have.
Chris Granju
Knoxville, TN
'71 FIAT 124BS (pretty), '72 FIAT 124BC,'76 FIAT 128 Wagon(ratbeast), '85 Bertone X 1/9, '70 124BC (project), 79 X1/9 (hot rod in rehab), '73 124BS (2L, mean), '74 124 Special TC, '73 124CS, '73 124 Familiare
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giuliot60
Posts: 715
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:39 pm
Your car is a: 81 Fiat Turbo removed Spider
Location: Concord, NC (Charlotte area)

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by giuliot60 »

That's what I've also gathered speed, but there is also the camp that believes you shouldn't cut springs. I removed the front bumper off my 81 (which brought the front level with the back), so now I'm wondering if the front will require 1.5 coils removed as well.
speedracer wrote:I really like the lowered look of all the Spiders I've seen here and I'm interested in doing it to my 79, which has 13" wheels.

So from what I've read and observed in this thread, it seems that the right formula for lowering your Spider when cutting the springs is to cut 1 turn out of the front and 1 1/2 turns out of the back for that perfect look.

Is that about right?
Giulio/Charlotte
1st car '75 pistachio 128 sedan
Owned a '74 Spider, '68 Firebird, a '65 GTO convertible, and a customized '74 650 Yamaha
Currently own an '81 Turbo (removed) Spider
md88plt
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat spider
Location: tennessee

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by md88plt »

This is a work in progress. I'm thinking of lowering the front by cutting another 1/2 coil. So far I cut 1 coil from stock springs.Image
speedracer

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by speedracer »

giuliot60 wrote:That's what I've also gathered speed, but there is also the camp that believes you shouldn't cut springs. I removed the front bumper off my 81 (which brought the front level with the back), so now I'm wondering if the front will require 1.5 coils removed as well.
Yeah, I'm still undecided whether I should cut the coils. My Spider does most of her riding on NYC streets, and they are especially ugly after the winter we just had. So I'm a bit worried about losing some ride quality...
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giuliot60
Posts: 715
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:39 pm
Your car is a: 81 Fiat Turbo removed Spider
Location: Concord, NC (Charlotte area)

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by giuliot60 »

speedracer wrote:
giuliot60 wrote:That's what I've also gathered speed, but there is also the camp that believes you shouldn't cut springs. I removed the front bumper off my 81 (which brought the front level with the back), so now I'm wondering if the front will require 1.5 coils removed as well.
Yeah, I'm still undecided whether I should cut the coils. My Spider does most of her riding on NYC streets, and they are especially ugly after the winter we just had. So I'm a bit worried about losing some ride quality...
I grew up in NYC (Manhattan & Brooklyn), so I know exactly what you mean. I think if I was you I'd raise the car up :) Although I had a 74 Spider back then, and I don't recall having too many issues with the stock height.
Giulio/Charlotte
1st car '75 pistachio 128 sedan
Owned a '74 Spider, '68 Firebird, a '65 GTO convertible, and a customized '74 650 Yamaha
Currently own an '81 Turbo (removed) Spider
NotTheBest

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by NotTheBest »

jfrawley wrote:Before

Image

After taking one round out of the front and 1.5 rounds out of the rear stock springs.

Image
Hey, sorry for the late reply, but did you just cut the stock springs? Any instructions on how to do it and any 'side effects'? I think that looks really nice and I would love to lower my '73.
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jfrawley
Posts: 260
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:00 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by jfrawley »

I cut 1.5 coils out of the back and 1 out of the front. The ride is a bit more harsh, but it corners nice. The back ones are easy. I did the front ones when I re-did the front suspension and they were off the car. I just didn't like the way that car sat so ass high.
John Frawley
Frederick, MD
1982 Spider
http://www.dcfiats.org
pottsthomas
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:18 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spyder

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by pottsthomas »

Image
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giuliot60
Posts: 715
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:39 pm
Your car is a: 81 Fiat Turbo removed Spider
Location: Concord, NC (Charlotte area)

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by giuliot60 »

Finally addressed this issue by installing AR's progressive lowering springs.

Image

GT.
Giulio/Charlotte
1st car '75 pistachio 128 sedan
Owned a '74 Spider, '68 Firebird, a '65 GTO convertible, and a customized '74 650 Yamaha
Currently own an '81 Turbo (removed) Spider
TwinFast
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 2:06 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Post pics of your spider lowered ,

Post by TwinFast »

I finally cut 1 coil out of the front spring and 1 .5 coils out of the rear. The car looks better but lifting the car make the rear springs go out the rubber seats - i solved this with two 8" suspension limiting strap kit.

After solving this, i still have one problem : Even with this straps, the rear spings still doesn't want to seat correctly on the lower rubber seat

Any solution ?
Fiat 124 Spider 1.8L 1978
Jaguar XKR 4.2L 2009
Harley Davidson Fat Bob 96Ci 2011
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