lowering a 1986 340 1.4

Post by **special** » 12 Nov 2004 01:07 am

why would he want a 360 extra insurance extra tax incresed fuel economy and hes only 18 and a student he might have other comitments
stick with the 1.4 build some no claims

Post by **5lab** » 12 Nov 2004 01:13 am

cos a glt is soooo much more fun. the economy is not much difference tbh

Post by **special** » 12 Nov 2004 01:19 am

well yea im goin to look at one this weekend 360 gle 1986 12 mounths mot 6 months tax air con and best of all full leather interior all for £200

Post by **SteveP** » 12 Nov 2004 01:57 am

air con?! you're joking right...

and that car doesnt happen to be in the west midlands?

Post by **foggyjames** » 12 Nov 2004 03:21 am

Wanna sell the A/C Special? I'll give you damn good money for it...seriously. If A/C isn't a priority for you, let me know...we can do a deal...anyhoo...

Guys....guys....guys....

We're being a bit tough on the newbie here. Lowering is a legitimate and useful thing to do to improve your handling...but it does little by itself. If you want to improve your handling significantly you need *stiffer shocks*, as well as uprated anti-roll bars, to go with your *stiffer* lowering springs.

Anyone who thinks this isn't a worthwhile exercise should have gone for a ride in Griz's 940 estate at the meet, which now easily outcorners a 300. Having said that, just buying a pair of lowering springs for £70 is a waste of space apart from for the look.

As for alloys....you can fit 17" rims and maintain the overall stock wheel size, but I wouldn't recommend it. I run 15" rims from a 400 series car, but these are fairly expensive. If you're on a budget, try getting hold of a set of these...They're 14", called 'Pollux', they're from a 440/460/480, and they're available everywhere - scrappers, ebay, garages.

Best thing is, the original tyres from the 400 ought to be the right size for the 300. You'll need a set of alloy wheel nuts though, as your steel nuts will damage the wheel otherwise...and they don't fit properly anyway.

I'd avoid aftermarket rims like the plague. If you only have a 340, the chances are you can't justify buying a set of *decent* aftermarket alloys. BK Racing rims in particular have an appaling reputation for being made of a weak alloy, and for bending/cracking.

###########

This isn't a chav forum, so I'd prefer it if we left the txt speak at the door. I like to think we have intelligent debates here, and I hope I've given you some food for thought there with the detailed suspension and alloy info. It's not what you'll hear from Max Power 'SLAM IT!!!! 120mm DROPPED SAXO CHAV-MOBILE!', but its actually correct! 'Professional presentation' goes hand in hand with informed discussion - sure we like to have a little cuss now and again, but the 'intelligence' of the people who own 300s is one of the glorious things that sets us apart from other (semi) 'hot hatch' clubs.

Having said that...lighten up guys...why the hell do you think 300s have such a bad reputation!!

cheers

James

Post by **foggyjames** » 12 Nov 2004 03:41 am

Oh yeah...Stuart...that sounds like a tight car. If the underside is clean, buy it! It's more or less the only major thing to worry about...

cheers

James

Post by **redline** » 12 Nov 2004 08:46 am

sorry m8, those spring adjusters go the other way (no I dont mean they are gay ) they are inserted between the coils of rear springs ( do I sound like a gyneacologist or what , its hard typing while wearing surgical gloves ))to stiffen the springs and are mainly used by caravanners to keep there rear ends from sagging under load ( no more rear end jokes !!!) so if anything they would raise the front

Post by **special** » 15 Nov 2004 05:53 pm

rung the bloke with the car on saturday morning to go and see it and he told me it was no longer for sale and that he has decieded to keep it

however he says that when he does decide to sell it he will give me a ring

so not all bad

Post by **redline** » 15 Nov 2004 09:47 pm

dont tell me, you told him about the forum , he took a look and then decided to keep the car.

Post by **V6 Man** » 16 Nov 2004 09:47 am

To quote the late, great Juan Miguel Fangio - ' the secret of going fast is to go fast on the slow bits, not just the fast bits' (OK, he said it in Spanish and this is a loose translation, but you get the point!)

Given our new young friend has a 1.4, lowering is one of the easiest and best ways of allowing him to go faster short of an engine transplant as he will be able to go faster on the slow bits.

P.S. I thought I was the only one to remember 'Carlos Fandango'...........

Post by **foggyjames** » 16 Nov 2004 01:22 pm

The Carlos Fandango reference has gone right over my head....although there was a guy called that on the VOC forums about 2 years ago...

cheers

James

Post by **Janitor** » 16 Nov 2004 05:26 pm

carlos fandango-LOL
most rwd rims will fit...BMW,OPEL,VAUXHALL etc all have same pcd !!
as people have said , theres no point in doing things in 1/2 measures,if you drop the back end and stiffen up shocks you will more than likely get massive understeer from the poor front end handling!! you got to spend about £200 at least to get something worth while,unless you lower back just for looks(which i would do as i think it looks mint).

Post by **redline** » 16 Nov 2004 05:32 pm

The carlos Fandango reference was to another old advert (maybe this one was hamlet ) where a bloke drove a car (think it was a ford anglia) with wheels that stuck out past the body work by about a foot . I think he crashed the car into a barn or something (my memory is going with old age ) If I have got this wrong, I am sure mastermind (Pete Farrell ) will be able to put me right LOL

Post by **petefarrell360** » 16 Nov 2004 07:22 pm

Sorry Mick, not so sure about this one, maybe it was before I was born, don't forget I'm only young! Pete

Post by **redline** » 16 Nov 2004 10:10 pm

meeeeow, you young whipper snappers no respect for your elders LOL