Suspension or Safety Can Only Afford One

[Jcon]

I'm getting ready for the next round of track improvements, but an unexpected repair put a dent in the budget.

The car is an 81 SC. 80% street - 5 DE's planned for '03.

I can afford Any 2 _ Assuming costs of about $1000 Each

1) 2 Seats - Cobra Imola II

2) Roll Bar - DAS Bolt In

3) 22 & 28mm Torsion Bars & Bump Steer Kit

Background
5 point Harnesses and Brey Krause Harness Truss
Car has new - Sway Bar Bushings - Stock Sway Bars
New Bilstien Sport-front...HD Rear
Turbo Tie Rods
New Toyo's on 7&9" Rims
New Axels and CVs
Rebuilt 915
Lowered to Euro Height

So those who have been there done that How would you spend 2K???

Thanks

Jeff C

[Mike Kast]

80% street? Roll bar would be the last thing I would do. Torsions, shocks, ball joints, sway bars, A-arm bushings and bump steer would be first.
But I haven't been there.

[Mike Kast]

I don't think I would do a roll cage unless the car was 20% street use.

[Jcon]

That was my thinking, but with harnesses if you do roll and the roof comes in your neck takes it.

Jeff

[Mike Kast]

LOL! if your really interested in safty don't race cars! .... Sorry, I just had to do it.
Really though, your not racing it that much are you? Are the odds of flipping a 911 that good in the type of racing your doing? Is it any more likely than it getting flipped on the highway? The car is pretty damn stout. How fast are you going?

[Vipergrün]

IMHO, you should easily be able to do ALL of it for 2K..unless you are having pay labor on the suspension stuff. There are also other options besides the DAS rollbar. Look for deals on used stuff. Conders the group buy option for Corbeau seats. There are a lot of ways to cut cost and leverage your dollar...

-b

[jyl]

I would DIY the following:
1) NEX or FK seats, $400 for two (incl sliders and misc bits for mounting) - install for DE, remove if you want reclinable for street (see "FK Seats" thread for pros and cons)
2) DAS removable roll bar, $800 w/ tax and shipping (appx, haven't priced them lately)
3) F and R Sway-A-Way torsion bars, $480 at PP
4) Bump steer kit, $360 at PP (but why not try the $13 rack spacers first?)

Comes it just a hair above $2,000 - comfortably below if you do the $13 rack spacers.

If you don't carry rear seat passengers, so can either leave the roll bar in place or don't mind a bit more work to install/remove, you could get a less expensive rollbar.

Also, I'd think you could get something ($200?) for the BK harness truss.

Originally posted by Jcon
I'm getting ready for the next round of track improvements, but an unexpected repair put a dent in the budget.

The car is an 81 SC. 80% street - 5 DE's planned for '03.

I can afford Any 2 _ Assuming costs of about $1000 Each

1) 2 Seats - Cobra Imola II

2) Roll Bar - DAS Bolt In

3) 22 & 28mm Torsion Bars & Bump Steer Kit

Background
5 point Harnesses and Brey Krause Harness Truss
Car has new - Sway Bar Bushings - Stock Sway Bars
New Bilstien Sport-front...HD Rear
Turbo Tie Rods
New Toyo's on 7&9" Rims
New Axels and CVs
Rebuilt 915
Lowered to Euro Height

So those who have been there done that How would you spend 2K???

Thanks

Jeff C

[Jcon]

Mike

While your chances are low, I thinks it's more likely at the track. Especially if you get into the dirt siderways. I had my first off track excursion during my last DE. I got the car straightened out before I hit the grass, but it made me think.

My speeds are not much over 120, plenty enough to leave a nasty mark. I am curious though what the more track experienced of the group actually does.

Jeff C

[Mike Kast]

[i]
4) Bump steer kit, $360 at PP (but why not try the $13 rack spacers first?)

[/B]

What is a $360.00 bump steer kit consist of? I never saw it on pelican and I just bought the spacers. OMG I hope I didn't pay that for a pair of washers and bolts! The washers are red though... SWEET!

Yea, thats quick enough to get you flipped. How many miles do you have on the suspention?

[Lothar]

If you do suspension, you will need new shocks and struts to match the new spring rates. If you have Bilstiens, you could have them revalved by someone like Smartracing.

You will also want to consider adjustable sway bars so you have some way to tune the suspension.

[Jcon]

I'll look into other seats, but when prices get that low I really wonder what I'm getting. I followed the FK thread for the first few days, and safety of the seats in an impact sounded questionable. I'll revisit the thread and see if there's any resolution.

Karl - $360 Bump steer - For the most part you get tie Rod Ends
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/suspension_parts/bs1000.jpg

This link shows the $500 option that also includes the tie rods.

Lothar - Revalving runs about $100 a corner?

Jeff

[dotorg]

I would do the bar if you're running harnesses. I've got harnesses to go in my car, and I've been running just lap belts because I won't ride in a car with 5/6 pt harnesses and no bar.

I like my neck with a minimum of compression.

[masraum]

I'd go for seats. It's much easier to drive fast if you aren't having to hang on to the wheel as well as steer with it. I sat in poorb0yw's car with his Recaro SPG's installed. Man, what a feeling, your shoulders and butt are planted.