Post pics of your spider lowered ,

[giuliot60]

Roy and Potts - Any issues bottoming out?

Roy - what kind of lights did you install in your grill. Can you post a shot of the nose?

These are the light I have currently:

[fiat218]

Hmm! So in order to lower the car, the springs have to be cut?

[narfire]

So in order to lower the car, the springs have to be cut?

Nope. I put IAP reds on with KYB shocks and the car did sit high. I cut 1.5 coils off the rear and it came down nicely.
Then I went and bought a set of Koni yellows and installed them. With the chopped rear coils I thought the car now sat low at the rear. I bought another set of uncut reds from a fellow here years ago and installed. In my opinion the car sits just right and with the added 1" front sway bar the cars handling is much improved....love the Koni's

I left the front coils alone as I have read here on several occasions that the lower a-arm should be as parallel to the road as possible for the best handling. I thought if I started mucking about with the front springs I might start screwing up the alignment .
: recommend the reds or another after market spring, Koni yellows and the 1" front bar...

[giuliot60]

I've read the same about the front A-Arm narfire. But some say the later model cars, since they were raised to meet US safety standards, could drop an inch without suffering. Still on the fence about doing it though.

So narfire, I heard if you put a thicker sway in the front you should install a sway bar in the rear. Thoughts?

Also noticed you have a Passat wagon too. I have a 2002 GLX wagon since new with 130K on it now, but started having heating issues. Only blows luke warm air into the cabin. Have you had any similar issues? I have a thread on Passatworld.com: http://www.passatworld.com/forums/42-vo ... ost3249386

GT

[RoyBatty]

Roy and Potts - Any issues bottoming out?

Roy - what kind of lights did you install in your grill. Can you post a shot of the nose?

These are the light I have currently:

No problems here with bottoming out except for the worse dips in the road. I have no regrets with my decision to lower my spider.
The lights are Hellas Angel Eyes. See this post on page 6. http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 75#p121874

[giuliot60]

Thanks Roy.

Yes, I remember that post on lighting. May even have it bookmarked.

[narfire]

So narfire, I heard if you put a thicker sway in the front you should install a sway bar in the rear. Thoughts?

I had asked a member here about the same time I installed the 1" front and he mentioned that with the rear bar and hard/fast cornering, likely racing conditions, the inside rear tire might lift. I can't imagine in day to day driving that happening too much myself. Also there have been several threads about the rear bar and it seams the underlying issue for some was the pita installation. I have not driven a car with a rear bar so don't know first hand any improvements...
I also have 15 inch wheels and 205/50's on... they help

[geno58]

1980 Spider, one coil cut. front and back. 205/60/15 tires, slight rubbing on tight turns.
Sorry, haven't figured out how to post the photo, but here is the flicker link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100794524@N04/9592812697/

[giuliot60]

Thanks narfire.

Pretty color/combo geno. Do you think 195s would have been better? Isn't that what the vendors recommend?

[SoFlaFiat]

I have 195/50/15 on my 77 and they look small. I have 15 x 6 rims for the project and the recommended size is 205/50/15.
The stock diameter (165/80/13) equates to 23.39" outside tire diameter.
205/50/15. D= 23.07"
205/55/15. D= 23.88"
205/60/15. D= 24.6"

I think the profile of the tires on my 77 looks too small and wanting to fill the wheel well a little more I considered using 205/60/15 on the new one. Now, I think I will go with 205/55/15 to split the difference and try to avoid rubbing.

That said, geno, how bad is it and where does it rub?
Thanks!!

[geno58]

I was looking for a slightly larger O.D. to drop a few RPM's on the Hyway.
If my memory serves me, there is one size smaller, that is between the stock O.D. and these but are more difficult to find.
The rubbing is slight, I think a little convincing with a heavy object will take care of the problem.

[geno58]

It rubs on a rib inside rear part of the wheel well. Its Winter time, so I'll be making some adjustments as well as adding a roll bar. If I have to, I will drop the tire size in the front to the 205/55/15's if all else fails. I bought the tires from tire rack and the price was real resonable.

[SoFlaFiat]

I know the rib you are talking about... I have a sawsall!

[geno58]

Me too, LOL.

[giuliot60]

I have 195 60 14s on my '81 car, and they rubbed a little on the driver's side but not the passenger for some reason. And my car has not been lowered. I took out the wheel well liners and all is fine, and don't ever take the car out in the rain so I don't have much splashing into the engine bay.

Do you have the plastic wheel well liners on your car?