Re: Worth the effort?

[Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@domain.elided>]

Heya Bruce,

I have the IAP spring set fitted in FrankenSpider. It is at stock 
1971/72 ride height and is a touch stiffer than stock. I have Koni 
shocks fitted, fronts set to 3/4 hard and the rears to 1/4 hard. I 
installed the adjustable upper control arms and had the front 
suspension calibrated for a little negative camber and a little 
positive caster for better steering feel. At this point, it seems 
nearly perfect but I think I need to have it adjusted for just a little 
more toe-in based on the tire wear pattern.

I think it's well worth the effort to get the car's handling feel up to 
snuff. I keep thinking I also want one of the forward chassis 
stiffeners for even better steering feel and positive feedback, but I 
haven't gotten to that yet.

The forward exhaust pipe/catcon is the lowest point of the car's 
underbelly (3.25" max) and will scrape over driveway humps and such 
easily. By comparison, the lowest point under engine sump guard is 
4.50-4.75". I intend to help the exhaust clearance issue in the near 
future with a custom exhaust made up of 1973 headers and downpipes 
mated to a custom high-performance catcon and stock tail section. 
Preliminary investigation seems to indicate that I can do this and net 
about another inch of exhaust clearance, which should solve the 
grounding problem.

Of course, this will follow the new sump/sump guard/engine 
mount/radiator repairs required by CalTrans' delightfully proficient 
maintenance of the local interstate freeway... grrr...

Godfrey


On Monday, September 30, 2002, at 10:19 AM, "Giller, Bruce C." wrote:


> 	I recently replaced the Alfa Ricambi Sport springs with the stock ones
> on my '86 Spider since I was tired of scraping the exhaust on every
> little road protuberance taller than a fuzzy caterpillar.  And I came
> into possession of 2 adjustable upper A-arms for the Spider as well
> (sitting in a box in the garage).  The A-arms on the car now are in 
> good shape.
>
> 	The plan is to get new tires all around and get the car aligned at the
> same time.  The question is: Is it worth it to put the adjustable 
> A-arms
> on the car and get a non-spec alignment with stock springs?
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