Rear Lowering Bolts

[RussMcB]

Is there anything special about these? Can I simply order the correct size and strength from a fastener vendor?

Does anyone know the length of the bolts offered in the aftermarket kits?

They say they'll lower the car .5" - 1". Does that mean they are 1" longer than the stock bolts?

Thanks in advance.

[Gunny]

Russ,

I lowered a '94 LT1 that I owned several years ago ... lowered the front by shaving the spacers off the spring then replacing with shims and the back using the bolts. Front is several degrees more difficult than the front but seemed worthwhile to me at the time.

Get grade 8 bolts/nuts from a reliable source ... this is from memory but I think I got 2" longer bolts and it seems like the nut was either a nyloc or all metal locking nut. I decided to add one more safety feature ... I cross drilled the end of the bolt and added a cotter pin. Sometime afterward I discovered the nuts had worked a little loose and the cotter pin kept them from going all the way off, so I recommend you consider using the cotter pins (or similar). I think some C4 owners used double nuts, but I believe the cotter pins to be a better solution.

If you lower the rear very much you may want to lower the front ... pm or email me if you're interested in pursuing this as I think I have a spare set of shims that I was planning to use on my 90Z (have since decided that I don't want to lower her).

I've not done it, much less owned or even driven one, but have you considered coil overs? that seems like a good way to go (didn't say cheap, just a possibility, tho).

On a different note ... the track you frequent ... is it west of Dawsonville? name? link? thanks.

[32valvesftw]

As the owner of a lowered 91Z I would advise you to think about the roads where you live. Mine is a little tricky to drive around town as I have to plan the route to avoid speed bumps, pot holes, manhole covers, etc....

[Karl]

Originally Posted by RussMcB

Is there anything special about these? Can I simply order the correct size and strength from a fastener vendor?

Does anyone know the length of the bolts offered in the aftermarket kits?

They say they'll lower the car .5" - 1". Does that mean they are 1" longer than the stock bolts?

Thanks in advance.

10" for the mad kit.

[Karl]

I had 11" bolts from fastenall or some other bolt mfg before going to coil overs.

[RussMcB]

Thanks, guys. Great responses.

My car looks too high in the back. That's my main reason for lowering. Maybe it will improve handling, but I'm at-the-limit so infrequently I doubt I'd notice.

I think I'll leave the front as is. It looks fine, and I'm running 11" wheel widths in front so don't have a lot of clearance.

I'm buying a new (to me) race car soon, so I'll only be taking the ZR-1 to the track occasionally. Otherwise the coil overs would be worth considering.

Gunny, next month (March 13) I'll be at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville, GA (home of Awesome Bill Elliot :-). It is a really fun track. Check it out: http://atlantamotorsportspark.com/about/circuits

[RussMcB]

Follow up:

Well, looking for a pair of generic bolts instead of buying the kit from a Corvette vendor was a waste of time. Not an easy size to find. After a bit of internet searching I found the bolt available from Fastenal for $35 each! :-)

I suppose they're out there, but I'll just buy the kit and forget it.

[randy ransome]

I bought 2, 12 inch, from my local Fastenal about a month ago for $16.39 tax and all.

[RussMcB]

Originally Posted by randy ransome

I bought 2, 12 inch, from my local Fastenal about a month ago for $16.39 tax and all.

Interesting. Do you still have the PN maybe?

Here's the only 9/16" 10" bolt I found on their site:
https://www.fastenal.com/products/de...283?term=14283

[randy ransome]

The top Part No. is the Bolt. The bottom No. is the nut.