new 72 2002 owner

Joe78sc · 02-14-2006, 10:41 PM

Hi, i don't have any pictures yet to post up, but will soon. The car looks pretty solid, has some rust, but can be easily taken care of. So the question since i'am new to the 2002, i'm sure people have lowered your cars, and how do you do it? lowering blocks? coilovers? i would like to bring the car down a few inches.. any suggestions are greatly appreciated for it or against it, thanks.

joe

mmastro · 02-17-2006, 08:03 AM

Hi,
I'm also new to 2002 ownership, '74. I was looking at the parts I'll need for my build, and Ireland Engineering (google it) sells sport springs that lower the 2002 ~1.5 ". The only thing is that they recommend using Bilstein sport shocks and strut inserts w/ the springs as they are a little stiffer than stock.
Cheers,

Leland Pate · 05-05-2006, 07:06 AM

God, I love 2002's. I have one sitting at my mother's house.

Rusty 356 · 09-21-2006, 09:25 PM

Have a '72tii, put the Ireland anti sways and bilsteins, Kept the stock springs. Love the little bugger. Nice ride and flies through the corners.
Tempted to try the shorter springs. Also put a CR 5spd, 1:1 5th.

Tirebiter · 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe78sc
i'm sure people have lowered your cars, and how do you do it? lowering blocks? coilovers? i would like to bring the car down a few inches..
joe

Back in the 80's, there were a couple of cost effective methods for lowering a 2002: The first was to remove the DOT required spacers that were installed in some US versions to raise the bumper height!! These aluminium spacers are located on the top of all four shock towers. Removal would lower the car about 3/4". The second was to cut the springs. Removing one coil per spring would lower the car about 1-1.5" as I recall. This method has the added advantage of stiffening the suspention as well....seems counterintuitive, but true.

Be carefull in thinking more is better.....once cut off your only recourse is to replace the spring if you find that you have gone too far. (too much in the rear is evident by wheels with excessive camber) Even with only one coil removed, you will find that you may have an issue with the rear tires rubbing the inner wheel well lip, especially if you run wider wheels/tires. If so, most people would carefully bend the lip to vertical by carefully tapping with at body hammer

Rusty 356 · 09-22-2006, 11:07 AM

Joe, I read the reply regarding the spacers for the front struts. Get rid of those if it has them. Raise the car and remove the three 13mm nuts and the whole works will drop down enough to remove the spacers. That's a start. If it has the original springs just bite the bullet so to speak and get some new ones. Front and rear.
good luck,
rusty
virginia beach