Need coilover recommendations, LS6/NB/full race car
 

I want great coilovers but not sure I want to lay down the cost of the top 949 units so please help me figure out what to do. If they are a must then I would do so but want to spend a bit less if possible and get the job done.

This is not a car being built to win a national title and may even be more car than I know how to drive(I have a driver lined up if needed:) But I want it fast, stable, tunable, etc..........


Let me know your recommendations please and no offense but real expert advice is what I really need, I already know the basics as have had many cars and many systems, just not a radical Miata:)


Thanks:)

Rick

Ohlins DFV
Flyin' Miatas AFCO system
JIC
KW

Something custom from FCM would work well. Suspension is one of those things that if you have the money to buy the best...do so.

if you budget $2000, you'll be able to get something ideal for your car. there's a bunch of options in that price range. the next tier down is 1700 for the Tein flex and honestly, i'd rather spend a few hundred more and get something developed by FCM or 949 for a race car.

Just why I asked, thanks very much, so far the AFCO seems to be quite a nice setup and a great price, I will move further down the listed units and see what they have to offer as well:)

P.S. I have had direct feedback from somebody I trust on one brand, they do not recommend them for my needs.

Thanks a bunch!!!

Rick

Hey Rick. Great sound deadening stuff. I'll be ordering some today for my Miata.

I found out about you on subaruforester.com and NASIOC back a few years ago. You might remember my username from sf.com. I had one of the highest powered FXTs back in the day. ('05 or so).

I'm almost done my LS6 into an '01 swap. I'm running FCM (Fatcatmotorsports) custom valved Bilsteins with 400/300 springs for the street. They were incredible with 375/300s when my car was a turbo. I bumped up the front spring rate because I wanted some longer fronts anyway. Cally up Shaikh at Fatcat and see what he recommends. The guy knows his stuff.

Frank

Frank,
Great to hear from you buddy:)

Please do me a favor, I am here as a enthusiast, not business, that might change a bit but always enthusiast first and foremost like I have always done on sites, lets keep business off line:):)

I will look into the Fatcat setup as well:)

Thanks!
Rick

Rick,

No problem. The good thing about Shaikh at FatCat is you get his cell number and talk to him. He's very hands on with his customers. Heck, he called me back a few times and left messages at work for me checking how the suspension was going. I was an early adopter of his first revalved Bilsteins. Unfortunately my LS6 swap has taken more time than I would like but I hope to have it fired up 4th of July weekend. Haven't gotten as much driving time as I'd like.

His setup takes the standard 2.5 inch coilovers so you can get different rating and length springs fairly easily from Summit or Jegs.

Frank

I just had a short chat with him, he was heading out to a birthday lunch and will call me back a bit later, I can tell he is very cool to deal with already:)

I am checking on as many options as I can and the main thing I need is advice on setting the car up the best out of the box as I do not have a great deal of time to work on development, etc, just to busy and to brain dead to think that much at the end of my normally quite long days. (I have to have beer time, at least a little:)

Thanks!
Rick

shaikh is awesome. get something from him!

I'd like to know what Shaikh suggests for spring rates on an LS conversion. Sure, they weigh about the same as a turbo car in the front, but you also have to compensate for the possibility of massive, instantaneous torque oversteer.:giggle:

Wouldn't that be the job of your right foot and not the suspension?

When I talked a while back, for the street he was recommending 400/300 or 450/300. I've got 400/300 now. Bumped up from 375/300. Strictly street though so it should be fine for me.

Rick is building a race car so he'll probably go much stiffer.

Frank

Go with Shaikh at FCM. I just got my coilovers from him a few weeks ago and he has been an delight to work with. Explains things in the K.I.S.S. method. Give him a call and he will set you in the right direction. I went with 550/350 on my turbo car and you would never know it didn't have stock suspension underneath it until you start to push it. Crazy grip.

Michael