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The "official" 2011 Fall Dragon Run thread...Oct 6th-9th

I don't even trust people to install stuff on my car. Because every time they do, something is wrong.
 
RandyCSVT said:
I would suggest you study up on installing them yourself. The money you save could pay for the struts. The only specialty tools you need are a spring compressor and you can rent those for free from autozone or any other parts store.
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I'm not mechanically inclined one bit, this is a big job anyways, the front struts are up under the dash basically and besides, buying my buddy and his roomate dinner and drinks is pretty damn cheap I say. I had a bad experience with lowering springs, so maybe this is just some type of karma talking to me. Case in point, let me take you back about 7 years ago when I bought BAT springs/Bilsteins for my CSVT. All the pics I saw of the BAT springs gave the car the look I wanted and the Bilsteins were the best replacement/upgrade strut for the CSVT at the time (never bought into the adjustable Koni's) When I got the car back it wasn't any lower that I could see but the handling was pretty damn tight though. I had the Aussie bar installed at the time as well as had the rear sub-frame boxed in too. The place that did the work was ATI Motorsports out in Wixom Michigan, a place that produced turn-key RWD Focus' and trust me when I tell you this, the place was like a hospital inside, so I had NO worries about them doing the work....or so I thought. When I picked the car up they didn't know how to re-install the front caliper clip and I had to have my buddy John (5spd3.0SE) come over and fix the problem for me, kinda surprised that a shop could take a FWD Focus and make it RWD and look OEM couldn't figure out how to install my caliper clip:shrug:....:rolleyes:.....:o At the time I had a better job and could throw down $1400 for the entire install like that but now, well, I'm in a different place and have to make sure its 100% what I want and I too feel that struts and shocks should be matched to my next set up. Who knows, if things go right for me, I could end up with the Fiat 500 Abarth in 2 years and then.....well, let's just say I'll be back in the game!

104 days to go!
 
All i'm saying is i know from experience is that you need to upgrade your shocks when you get stiffer springs.

Also, don't get a fiat 500. Sat in one at the auto show and i was literally pulling trim pieces off it, bending things that shouldn't bend, and just touching and feeling a crap quality car. It's complete junk IMO. Not well built at all.
 
Erat said:
All i'm saying is i know from experience is that you need to upgrade your shocks when you get stiffer springs.

Also, don't get a fiat 500. Sat in one at the auto show and i was literally pulling trim pieces off it, bending things that shouldn't bend, and just touching and feeling a crap quality car. It's complete junk IMO. Not well built at all.
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Yeah, its the only way to do it for sure, so I'm going to wait it out. As far as the 500, I need to go and drive one....soon, there's a new dealership opening near my g/f's parents house so its not too far. The sport model is the same price as my Fit, figures, huh. The reliability is the sticking point with the car, we don't know how the Fiat is going to be this time around but it sure is a cool looking car!
 
If you can afford to pay someone to put em on, do it. Its dangerous as a cocked pistol if the spring compressor breaks or slips off. You figure a 200lb springs takes 200lbs to compress 1" and you need to compress it more than that to get the hats on. A spring that weighs 10lbs with 300lbs or so of force behind it will hurt. I've done it onece and will never do it again.
 
I couldn't be happier! New rims!!

I couldn't be happier! New rims!!

This is the wheel I wanted last year but thought it was too "funky", well as they say with age comes wisdom:shrug:

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Overall view!
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The Griots Effect:drool:
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I couldn't be happier with the results and spent alot of time looking at the reflection of the car next to black or dark cars or windows of buildings yesterday (yeah, like you guys don't do that:laugh:) I can't wait to wrap the roof because that will be final piece of the puzzle....not to mention the Mugen grill as well.

As far as the springs go, well, spending about $100 with my buddy to do the springs isn't alot of money but my initial response to the driving that car has me re-thinking things, not to mention I don't have the extra money to buy matched struts and rear shocks.....and there's nothing available right now anyways, so it doesn't matter anyways.

What do you guys think?
 
I think you should bring the Fit, some springs, and struts down here ill install them for you in exchange for a full car detail ;) I even have a comfy couch or futon you could sleep on. :laugh:
 
striker2 said:
I think you should bring the Fit, some springs, and struts down here ill install them for you in exchange for a full car detail ;) I even have a comfy couch or futon you could sleep on. :laugh:
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I appreciate the offer and the exchange is something right up my alley but there are no perf struts and rear shocks available for the Fit yet.

Here's a pic from our CEG meet today at Hooters....
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A pic from fellow Dragon Slayer Matt's pristine CSVT!
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One for Josh, love the white under the hood and the original color he chose to paint it, not that I don't like Josh's color choice!
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We had a couple of those for sale when I was working at the Lotus dealership, one had to have custom pads fitted on the pedals so the guy could drive it, its not made for short people for sure. Its kinda of a big, clumsy car IMO but they look bad ass and seem to have that "old car" look still with the stylin'.

Do you guys know what tomorrow is?
 
A buddy of mine does t-shirt screen printing and I wanted to see if there was any interest for a t-shirt for our run. Let me know if you guys would buy a nice t-shirt for $20. Add your name to the list if this is something you would buy. If the interest is there I will start working on draft for what the shirt looks like and what design is on it. Feel free to give me your ideas.

Would Buy A Shirt
1. Randy CSVT (1 shirt XL)
 
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