GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Hey Everyone I have been working with Doug Rippie Motorsports (DRM) for a group purchase on the coilover suspension. The DRM coilover set up gives the C4 Race car-level handling, adjustable ride height, and a more controlled ride. The coilover suspension allows each corner of the Corvette’s suspension to react independently by eliminating the leaf springs completely. The DRM coilover suspension can be installed using existing stock shock absorbers or new Bilstein shocks. The group purchase will be for the FX3 or non-FX3 kit without shocks. Other shops sell similar set ups ranging from 2300 as high as 5000. The DRM price for this purchase is 800 shipping included. Here is what you will get:
Four (4) Hyperco coil springs, four (4) billet aluminum top hats, four (4) adjustable sleeves, spanner wrench and polyurethane shock mount bushings. (Shocks not included)
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7...edthumbneq.jpg

Also DRM has offered the trailing arm and camber brackets at a significant discount. The trailing Brackets 70.00 shipped and the camber brackets at 80.00 shipped.

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/3530/camber.jpg


http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3505/trailing.jpg

Please let me know if you are interested this is a onetime only deal and we must have all orders placed by July 27th. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Also our very own Carter (Carter200) makes a very trick set up for the coilover that will allow you to install the coilovers in much less time and best of all keep from all the cutting that was required before. He sells the front sway bar relocation brackets and the rear shock mounting brackets. Very minimum modification to the car is required if using these brackets. Please contact Carter directly if you are interested in the brackets (I would strongly recommend them).

Cheers,
Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel

Wow this is a super deal!!

I want trailing arm and camber brackets.

How much are Carter's pieces? (front / rear)

Show a picture Carter so people can see your work!


:cheers:

David

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

The trailing arm brackets do work- takes some front end dive out of the car and helps keep the rear brakes from locking up around corners if you find yourself applying brakes in one.

slightly firmer road feel on the rear is the side effect. I will probably never change back to stock- most people would like these brackets IMO.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Good for straight line traction too. The brackets can be used with the stock suspension component's also.

Nice Group Purchase price :thumbsup:

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Great Deal!
Do you know what the spring rates are?
And how are they different FX3 vrs. Non-FX3?

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

do the stock FX3 shocks require modification / machining to install the coilover kit?

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

That's exactly what I PM'd Daniel about. I vaguely remember having
to send your shocks to Bilstein in San Diego for modification.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Local shop can groove shocks for ring. Or can send to Bilstein for rebuild and groove.

Only have to notch rear frame opening and use aftermarket front sway bar bushing mount with Carter's excellent stuff.

Ted

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

I would also be curious as to who is doing the shock mod. If it is Bilstein, I am curious how long they would have the shocks before they would be returned. I have this set up on my race car nad it has worked very well. I have always wanted to install these on my ZR-1. Trying to get these cars to sit right with the longer rear bolts and the wedges up front can be maddening. I seem to remember the brackets Carter manufactured to mount the front sway bar so you can eliminate the grinding and cutting. It has been so long since I installed these I cannot remember what I had to do. I would appreciate if anyone knows how long Bilstein would have the shocks for before they are returned, or if hter is an alternative.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

David,
You can do just brackets you'll have to get with Carter on the price I do not know what he sells them for.

Mike,
You are right the car feels much more planted in the corner and transfers the power with less drama. They are very well worth the money even if you are not doing coilovers.

I have never been down a drag strip so I can't comment on that but it does make a difference on the street or road course.

Yes, standard rates for the ZR-1 are 425 fronts and 275 rears but DRM will do whatever rate you want. The FX3/non-FX3 does not make a different on the spring rate.

Yes, They require a small grove to be machined about an inch from the bottom of the shock so that a snap ring can be installed for the sleeve to rest on. You can send to DRM or have a local machine shop install.

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

I've got them on my car. Love the firm feel.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

IDK if Bilstein could do this I sent them to DRM when i had it done but any machine shop could handle.

If you rebuild I would suggest a revalve to Marocco specs it is a much better feel, firm but good.

And yes Carters stuff saves you a major PITA on install I wish he was around when I did the ones on our car.

The ones on the 89 were shot I had them revalved and rebuilt and back in my hand within 2 weeks.

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Paging Carter - while I can't go coilover due to class restrictions I could sure use something adjustable for my front sway bar. Current bar doesn't fit real well so I get some preload and the links are not real happy.

Whaddya got?

Not to mess up the thread but I'm looking forward to new springs and Penskes soon. Using a threaded insert on the front spring allows height adjustment (ie corner weighting).

Cheers,
- Jeff

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Batchman,
I'm the "bling" and custom items machinist for the site and currently only machine the kit for relocating the sway bar for a better angle with coil overs.
I'd ask the "experts" that do auto crossing for their input. We have an excellant bunch of guys on the site who will help you out for sure. If you ned custom items or any of the many items I make feel free to PM me. You can look in the "solutions" section of the forum for a smatering of items I make. Thanks for asking, Carter :cheers:

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Price for front kit is $110 shipped in the lower 48.

Price for rear kit is $125 shipped in the lower 48.

Order both at once and the total is reduced to $220 shipped in the lower 48.

Overseas shipping will be a fraction more....

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Sweet. Thanks carter!

Could you post pictures? I have 2 that don't visit the forum and are interested

Thanks!

David

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Don't have any handy but if you do a search you'll find the coilover thread that Ted did and it has pics and a great write up on the kit. Thanks and tell them I'll be doing a run of the brackets ( front and rear) in about 2 weeks then it'll be a while as I'm super busy making other struff right now. Thanks again, Carter :cheers:

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Man Daniel, that is a great deal! :worship:

Too bad I live in a place where coil overs are just not ideally suited to the roads.....okay so now I'm wondering if I select the right spring rates for my road conditions will I have a 'liveable car'????? I have no idea how to go about determining what spring rate would be suitable for mostly broken, and abused road surfaces. Anyone care to point me in the correct direction?:confused:
TIA:thumbsup:


In any event, put me in for the two sets of brackets for the rear suspension. How and whom do I send the cash to??? My cash is up right now!

:cheers:
Tom

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Here is a link to demps coil over install and Carter's brackets!


http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....highlight=Coil



:cheers:


David

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

David thanks for the link!

Tom,

I have your name down just call DRM directly and ask for Randy Rippie and let him know you are part of the group buy. You pay DRM directly I will take care of the rest. DRM 763-658-6109

Ok, I have 3 complete set ups confirmed and 3 just brackets. Have I missed anyone?

Who else :thumbsup:

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Carter, I've admired your work for some time, but thanks to David's link I see that the relocation is at the frame. My issues are at the end links. What I need should be easy, two "U" shapes with threaded rod between (like a turnbuckle), but I have not yet been able to find the right types of hardware in sizes/specs that my noggin can decode.

Thanks, guys - and enjoy your CO kits - pretty cool you can do that and keep the FX3 too. I'd keep an eye on the rear lower pin though, single shear and potholes could be a concern with the shock mount now the load path (where before it was just damping). It is pretty stout though and this is an old argument without much evidence of failures that I've seen.

Best,
- Jeff

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Batchman,
You are welcome and thanks for the kind words. If you need anything machined or custom made keep me in mind. :cheers:

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel, Daniel, Daniel...........why are you doing this to me? Let me think about this great deal. I have been wanting to do this.

Craig

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

A DRM prepped LT-1 car ran the slalom at 72.1MPH....when you consider a ZR-1 has bigger rears.......I am guessing a properly set up DRM set puts you pack in Supercar handling territory

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Just thought I'd add a link to a recent conversation about coilovers.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-general-discussion/3081360-pics-from-my-front-poly-bushings-and-bilstein-coil-over-conversion-project.html

:)

I'd love to get in on the GB it sounds like a great deal, but I've already well spent this years budget!

Dave

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Dave

Saw that link too and would have loved to post it but couldn't.

Now WE can!!!!!

:saluting:

David

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

I did the poly front end this year. Replaced upper and lower ball joints also. I don't think about the steering now. It's something I just assume. Tracks great.
Some suggested the poly would cause harshness. I think it makes everything tight.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

I agree with Dom. My car has the DRM Coil-overs and poly bushings. I bought it that way and got lucky. The ride is firm but not harsh. There is not a rebound feel or any bounce when hitting a dip in the road. Just a firm feel. I'm really surprised at how nice it rides, for my taste.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Craig, I have already made a call I am going to see if we can do something for you. I'll be in touch.

IDK about LT1 but our L98 car gave them hell at track days with this set up. We would get dusted in the strait but the corners were a different story. Add some Hoosier slicks and 315's and the car is phenomenal.

I would have to agree the poly doesn't make it harsh at all and really makes the car feel tight. The Z has 78K on it and as far as I know has had poly since day one it’s held up great.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Tom,

In thinking about this when you say "not ideally suited to the roads" are you worried about harshness with bumps or the lower ride hight? The roads were I live suck (for the lack of a better word). The ride hight is all that I worry about going down the road. I have them cranked pretty low so that is my problem but it is fully adjustible so if you wanted you could crank them up and have a stock ride height or almost stock. Maybe talk with DRM about a different spring combo? I use Michael Eddy at HRP World for the springs on the track car and have played with different rates. I ended up back with the ones that came with the original set up :censored:

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel,

I went w 425/275 Hypercoils. What did you end up with?

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

For the 89 Track car it is 400 front 275 rear I went as high as 500 front and 400 rear it "felt" fast but my lap times showed differently also it wore the tires much quicker. The ZR-1 is running the same as you 425/275. All were hyperco springs.

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel,

Thanks. I think you meant about the shipping? I have a California zip code so same like shipping in the US to my military address, but it will have to be USPS.

It is FPO, AP 96347

Depending how big and the weight of the box, parcel post would be lowest cost as I don't imagine it fits even in several priority mail flat rate boxes.

Craig

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel, thanks for your time on this.:thumbsup: It's both! Even stock you have to very wary of where you intend to drive to escape to somewhere that you'd like to drive! And that's with a stock ride height!

I am grateful for the advice. I'm just going to go with the brackets. The volume never goes down, so the wear never gets less, so the repairs never cease. You should see how deep the truck ruts get before they get repaired! Never mind all the other stuff.:sign10::cry::sign10:

:cheers:
Tom

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Craig you have a PM about the shipping.

Tom,
You are very welcome! You are going to notice a difference with the brackets :thumbsup:

Daniel

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Daniel, after reading some of the installation info, I am concerned about one issue. Did I read correctly that you could not adjust the ride height on the rear without removing the FX3 connector. I have non fx3 on my race car and height adjust is not a problem with just using the spanner wrench. I am concerned about this issue. It would seem to me to be a big problem weith setting the ride height then. Am I confused or am I not reading this correctly. Please give me you feedback as I am looking to jump on this coilover group prchase as well. Thanks!

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Not true. I adjusted my ride height w a spanner after having installed the coilovers. The one issue I had in the rear units was positioning the springs so that they cleared the half shafts. The springs sit asymmetrically and can be rotated so as to provide enough clearance.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

A complete falsehood. Im running the FX-3 and the DRM coilovers on all four corners on my ride. It took a few adjustments on the rear as well before I was satisfied and the FX-3 system was connected the entire time. GC

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Dom is correct space is problem also with the original Dogbone trailing arms which is also why most of us have upgraded the trailing arms to the Banski Heim-Joint trailing arms.

Re: GB: DRM Coilovers
 

Yep I did Poly eveything and replaced the uppers and lowers. Its not harsh its mega tight as Dom Suggests.

Here is my thread on the project. I just reloaded ALL the photos on that project.

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....ight=coilovers