fly_lice
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Lowering front

Post by fly_lice »

Hi all,

First of all, apologies if this has already been covered. I did do a search but didnt really find what I was after.

Am in the process of fitting a stiffer suspension set up and was hoping to lower the front slightly on my GTV.

In reference to say stock frnt and rear ride heights, how much lower would you recommend the front be lowered (on an Aussie delivered car)?

Hoping to get into it tomorrow so any answers would be helpful.

Thanks again guys.
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Post by Mats »

What result do you want?
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fly_lice
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Post by fly_lice »

Final objective, improved handling foremost. Looks, a not too distant second.

Purpose is to have a nicely balanced road car with asperations of doing some club racing on weekends. Yes, I know that finding such a holy grail is almost impossible- but I don't have garage space or $$ for a dedicated race car.

Reason I ask is that I remember reading somewhere on an alfa forum -(this one maybe?) that most owners lower the front in order to do so. But by how much...?
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Post by MD »

Hey fly lice. You been sleeping too long next to your own sneakers. The smell has clouded your logic. Keep dreamin'. You're chasing eutopia but most likely to find a very bent sump and crunched secondaries within about 3o minutes of driving on OZ roads. It's impossible to be a little bit pregnant. It's one or the other.:P

I know none of this will deter you but at least you have been warned. :wink:
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Post by Greg Gordon »

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Post by Mats »

For that result you need to stiffen the front a lot, just lowering it will not be good.
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GTV 2000 -77 - Died in the fire.
155 V6 Sport -96 - Sold!
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Post by fly_lice »

MD, lol, thanks- I think.. Unfortunately I was already 90% in the process of re-assembly when I read your post. Now sits around 40mm closer to the road... :? Wanted more, but too scared.

I am aware of the hazards of the not so marble smooth roads- Lowering my other car and a spirited evening drive around back roads of Maleny rewarded me with a pyrotechnics show similar to that of riverfire. Fortunately the exhaust took any scrapes dealt out and the 75 now sits at regular ride height once again.

Greg, thankyou for the link. Had already been using that page, but it didn't give me any recommended height information. Very helpful however.

Mats, does around 28mm dia bars cut it?
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Post by Zamani »

I have 27mm bars and they're fine on a lowered car.
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Post by Mats »

For a road car I'd say it works.
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Post by MD »

flylice

Last attempt to save your can.
Fit full length sump guard as part of the deal.
Alfas run better with oil in the sump as opposed to fresh air. :shock:
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Post by Greg Gordon »

I find the stock bars combined with good bushings on a lowered car work pretty well on real roads. The 25.4s are a lot better for handling as the 27.3s even more so, but they sacrifice ride quality and to an extent bumpy road holding.
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Re: Lowering front

Post by j.k.QV »

Hardcore alfa mechanics probably know this by heart.
But for those of us who haven't done this before, this could be the best guide for lowering the front end of Alfetta/GTV/75 in the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5UHyMb_fw

P.S. I am not the author of the video, just noticed it was uploaded today.
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Re: Lowering front

Post by GregoryV »

After talking to two different long time Alfa mechs in my area that claim the only way to lower the front is by one notch on the bars (and that is too low for my taste) I am going to set mine just where I want this Winter. That's a great vid! GV
j.k.QV wrote:Hardcore alfa mechanics probably know this by heart.
But for those of us who haven't done this before, this could be the best guide for lowering the front end of Alfetta/GTV/75 in the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5UHyMb_fw

P.S. I am not the author of the video, just noticed it was uploaded today.
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Re: Lowering front

Post by Mats »

GregoryV wrote:After talking to two different long time Alfa mechs in my area that claim the only way to lower the front is by one notch on the bars (and that is too low for my taste) I am going to set mine just where I want this Winter. That's a great vid! GV
j.k.QV wrote:Hardcore alfa mechanics probably know this by heart.
But for those of us who haven't done this before, this could be the best guide for lowering the front end of Alfetta/GTV/75 in the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5UHyMb_fw

P.S. I am not the author of the video, just noticed it was uploaded today.
You need to talk to the good ones, not the ones that has been working long. 8)

"One notch" AKA "one spline" in my book is about 1.5mm. There are unequal number of splines front and rear and by moving the front and the body splines one spline EACH in the same direction you will raise or lower the front ~1.5mm.

There are comprehensive instructions on this very site that will go through this in steps. Search and you shall recieve.
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GTV 2000 -77 - Died in the fire.
155 V6 Sport -96 - Sold!
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Re: Lowering front

Post by GregoryV »

Thanks Mats - I've seen all the info. from before + Greg G., I'm just surprised that these two different shops don't know about the infinitely adjustable thing... and of course if you try to explain it they don't get it :roll:

fly-lice do you have a final outcome?? GV
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