Austarion

The rear already has monroe shocks, currently sitting at stock ride height after finding someone had taken to the springs with a hack saw. So what have you done in terms of shock/spring combos to make handling better?

First step is to make sure everything is in good condition. Replace the bushes with Noltec ones, new tie rod ends and so on.

Next can be a bigger sway bar. The one out of a GJ and later sigma is 4mm larger, and is a direct swap. You will need the larger bushes and the U shaped brackets to suit.

Next i would consider lowering with proper springs, they aren't that dear, and just take a little time to swap.

Alternatively you can fit Starion struts to the front. This lowers the front about an inch, plus you get the benefits of the vented disc brakes.

I currently have the Noltec bushes, Sigma sway bar, Starion struts and the rear springs are original (but have sagged an inch) with Bilstein shocks in the back. Grips the road pretty good considering the scabby 185 tires on the front, but that will be changed soon (225's on the front, 265's on the back).

Chris

I seem to have trouble with my 215's on my 14" standard rims are rubbing against the struts constantly... Will Starion struts enable you to have wider than 215's on the front?

As for making a scorp handle better, I haven't touched my suspension yet but I'd take it to a suspension shop and get them to put on stiffer springs and lower it a bit..

Tyres rubbing??. Any mag wheel seller will be able to sell you 5mm spacers to fix the problem. You can double them up to make 10mm, but then you will need longer studs. :beer

205's will fit the front OK on standard rims, 215's will rub as you found out. The 215's are also getting a bit wide for a 5.5" rim and can actually make it handle worse. To use 225's on the front i had a pair of sigma steelies widened to 7 inches, with as much offset as possible to give me a little bit of clearance. For the rear i had the steelies widened to 8 inches.

If you fit the longer studs as mentioned above you can use any spacer up to around 25mm thick, that will really fill the guards.

Chris, saw your scorp at Hexham this morning. Looks like a drag car from the rear. Those are big wheels on the back.

It's amazing how much of difference the 30mm spacers make :D Wait till i get the 265's on there.

I don't want to use spacers and they're shitty quality tyres on my car at the moment, so I'll either get 195's or 205's on front and i have no problem with 215's on the rear....
And I believe the tyres are too wide for the rims, the car tends to feel sloppy and steering heavy..

If Chris was to put up a pic of the arse end of his car with spacers, you would be straight out to buy a set. Actually make the scorp look like a modern wide track car instead of the massive overhang that was popular in the 70's and 80's. Just think, 8" rims + 30mm spacers, and they are still inside the guards. :beer

They are the sevens on the back still. The 8's i had made have about 20mm more 'dish' than the 7's, so will stay out a similar amount even without spacers.

Once i get my tyres i'll put them on and see just how much room there is. Theres no rubbing at all with the 7's and 30mm spacers, so i may be able to space the 8's out slightly.

Added bit: Forgot to mention i ordered some rod ends today so that i can make an adjustable strut brace when i get some spare time :D

Another added bit: Some downforce may help. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... gory=43807

Just to keep you happy, and to stop confusing you, i ordered the rear tyres today. Pick them up Friday afternoon so hopefully they will all be on the right corners sometime over the weekend. :D

Got the 265's on Friday and put them on the back. They fit without any problems, and don't rub at all. Fill the guards real nice :D

Today i put the 225's onto the front. Only problems is the dust cap thingies on the hubs stick out too far to use the centres i made. Still have to put the short studs back in as well, but it's too hot today so they can wait.

It no longer looks like a drag car, i've been told it looks more like a V8 Supercar!!!!! Has heaps of grip and is extreemly responsive when you move the steering wheel - not like a boat which is how it felt before.

and a huge cry of "PIIIIICS" was heard...

Took a heap of pics today at my friends house. They should be on the net in the next day or 2.

http://www.pbase.com/gjscorp/tyres

Please excuse the quality of the pics from my friends crappy digital camera. An no picking on me about how rough the car looks

Bumpage cause editing posts doesn't bump the thread.