Ghetto lowering 4k?

[auditude at cox.net]

Kwattro at aol.com Kwattro at aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 02-10-23 01:26:42 EDT, you write:
>
> << I do not recommend cutting the springs.  In fact you can't really do that
>  on the front, because the ends of the coils actually changes to a smaller
>  diameter where it fits in the spring perchs.  You can't really just cut
>  off the ends and expect it to fit.  Heating and bending the spring will
>  damage the spring.
>   >>
>
> I cut the springs on my old Coupe GT, and it worked just fine.  The car
> handled well and wasn't too bouncy, although the Abt and coilover springs I
> went with in my new GT are much better solutions.  Jamex was making a wicked
> lowering kit for the 4K/GT's - 60mm or something, but they're probably tough
> to get a hold of.

I've cut Coupe GT springs as well and didn't have a problem with it.  I was also very happy with those ABT springs as well.

As for my current Coupe GT, it's actually getting the springs cut as well.  I'm putting in a set of previously-cut fronts, and will cut a set of stock rears to get it to sit right.  I just have to determine how much weight I will have in the back normally, like from a speaker box that isn't built yet.

In the front, it's not a big problem to cut the bottoms and put the cut end in the perch notch area that gets the original end, and in the rears I believe you want to cut them at the top and orient the rubber spacer similarly.  I'm not familiar with a 4kq rear yet.

I have a set of strut housings that have been cut down to accept Scirocco inserts, which gives you all the strut travel you could ever use (since something else bottoms out before the strut does internally, like the car if you don't have appropriate bump stops).  The strut inserts have both a shorter body and shorter compressed/extended lengths.

I understand cutting isn't as good as lowering springs.  It's not as bad as heating tho', and for the my purpose with this particular car in light of the rest of my fleet, I'm gonna go that way with it.

Ken