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Group 3 - Suspension and Steering Front Suspension, Steering Linkage, Rear Suspension, Wheels and Tires

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Old 08-06-2006   #1 (permalink)
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Unanswered: fiberglass front race spring

anyone need a spring for a opel gt.I had 2 made for my race car,didnt know if anyone else was racing a gt.Spring works well and the company will make more
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Old 08-06-2006   #2 (permalink)
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Just an FYI and an endorsement....this is the same company and design I used to sell through C & R Small Cars. 1.875" drop, 500 lb spring rate. Jim contacted them and was able to strike up a new deal to be able to purchase them directly.

For racing use only, not for street use!

Bob
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Old 08-06-2006   #3 (permalink)
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Why not for street use?
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Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."

Remember: Advice and Opinions are free, take it for what it's worth.

Caution: Driver carries less then $20 of remorse.
Old 08-06-2006   #4 (permalink)
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Not DOT approved (extreme liability), and the ride height is pretty extreme. You would need to remove/relocate the bump stops, and use extremely stiff shock absorber damping (race shocks) that are much shorter than stock. A proper set of rear racing springs would be needed to balance the car front-to-rear. Hard bushings, big sway bars, etc. In other words, it's all or nothing!

Bob
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Old 08-06-2006   #5 (permalink)
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What does it weigh? And of course, how much?

Bob, do you know what the spring rate is for a stock spring and the sport spring as a comparison?

Jim, I'm interested, please PM me.
ThanX,
James

Last edited by N61WP; 08-06-2006 at 11:57 PM..
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Old 08-07-2006   #6 (permalink)
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I can vouch from 1st hand experience how great these springs work!! I ran one on my F Prod/GTlites Opel GT with the package Bob describes above and had excellent results. Now Ken Alderson is doing the same with the car out in Ohio- he just finished 3rd of 6 in his first ever SCCA National in the car in F Prod at Nelson's Ledges. Ask Ken what he thinks of the handling!!! Am real happy Jim is going to continue getting them made cause they are the best, most cost effective way to build a race winning Opel GT in my opinion.

Stan C
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Old 08-07-2006   #7 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by N61WP View Post
What does it weigh?
About 6.5 lbs.
And of course, how much?
You'll have to ask Jim, he set up the deal. I just supplied him with the info about the manufacturer.
Bob, do you know what the spring rate is for a stock spring and the sport spring as a comparison?
I could never get an accurate spring rate for the stock spring because of the extreme arch. The arch creates a binding that is far above and beyond the actual rate of the spring.

I cannot speak for the OGTS sport springs (different manufacturer than my old sport springs), but the springs I used to have made (1.5" drop, 2-leaf, made by Benz spring in Seattle) was 370 lbs. Even still, the 500 lb fiberglass spring is more compliant than the 'sport' steel spring due to lack of binding.

Bob
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Old 08-25-2006   #8 (permalink)
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George w/Flex-A-Form finally got back with me. He said they are changing their filling system and he can't find the specs on the front spring. He wants me to send him all the specs, which of course, I don't have.
Help,
James
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Old 08-25-2006   #9 (permalink)
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They told me a couple of weeks ago that it was no big deal. I ordered two. If they don't show up in a couple of weeks I will give them a follow up call. I told them that I was in no great hurry not racing till next spring....get it spring
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Old 08-25-2006   #10 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by N61WP View Post
George w/Flex-A-Form finally got back with me. He said they are changing their filling system and he can't find the specs on the front spring. He wants me to send him all the specs, which of course, I don't have.
Help,
James
Just need the spring rate you want, the width of the spring, and the center-to-center lengths at the eyelets. The most critical IMO is the center-to-center distance. Width needs to fit the eyelet bushings (IIRC it's 2.375" or so).
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Old 10-18-2006   #11 (permalink)
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Well the springs are made up and ready for shipping, they made some changes that Jim pointed out to me to make the install a little less painfull and a little more friendly changed some things that I wanted on for my app., nice to find a company that will work with us to make a beter product.

He does need one more thing that I was hoping I could get from someone as I am at work and can't get this info.

He needs the diamater of the bolt that goes through the eye at the end of the spring, the bolt that holds the spring to the arm.
Thanks.
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Old 10-18-2006   #12 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by cherokee View Post
He needs the diamater of the bolt that goes through the eye at the end of the spring, the bolt that holds the spring to the arm.
Thanks.
8mm is the stock bolt diameter, in the past I've just used the OGTS bushings, sleeves, and bolts.

Their aluminum spring eyelets (billet extrusions) had the same sized hole as a stock Opel spring, so the OGTS urethane bushings were a direct fit.
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Old 10-18-2006   #13 (permalink)
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Thanks
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Old 10-27-2006   #14 (permalink)
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Well the springs showed up yesterday, it looks like a very nice part, Came with the bushings in the ends, that is why he needed the bolt size, 20/20 hind sight tells me I should have done spherical bearings, but oh well doing that on the new a-arms that are being done up no biggie.

The springs look like fantastic quality, they did make some changes that Jim suggested for an little more painless install. I can't comment on how they go in as the front of my car is in about 100 little bits all over the floor at the moment.

I would say if you are racing a GT you should check them out. Pretty great guys to work with.
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Old 10-27-2006   #15 (permalink)
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Got mine yesterday also. Looks great. I did e-mail George to ask what the actual spring rate is. I'll post it when he gets back to me.

James
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"If you have complete control of the car, you're not going fast enough". PARNELLI JONES 1966
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