UPDATED: The Droptop from Hell - America's first....

Re: (AZhitman)

irax — 2009-10-28T12:15:57-08:00

this is perfectly acceptable ride height.

AZhitman — 2009-10-28T08:46:40-08:00

ahmed, I LOVE that kit!!!

irax, as soon as I get the camber adjustment sorted, and re-cut my fenderwells the right way, I will be able to drive at ALMOST full-drop.

Not that I would, but it's nice to have the option.

Re: (AZhitman)

irax — 2009-10-26T12:20:57-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

Have a cookie.

Not to impress anyone with non-functional kit-scraping, frame-laying altitude.

I have this ALTITUDE

but I still really like your setup! Air Ride better be an excuse to drive at a lower ride height and not to just park really low and drive only kinda sorta 1 inch lower than stock...

Re: (AZhitman)

Roginooo — 2009-10-20T01:30:21-08:00

where did order that bodykit?

Re: (Ajax)

a_ahmed — 2009-09-18T09:54:06-08:00

I want something like that:

Fully vented going ALL the way back venting wise for maximum lift reduction... and cooling.

I got a BN blister kit a while back (still not fitted just test fitted) and I need a vented hood... the BN blister hood is pretty nice how it fits the original kit though:

Except I'd want more vents for more lift reduction... some of these things have super tiny holes and just have the elevated vent look/'style'.

Re: (Ajax)

thematz — 2009-07-01T20:04:00-08:00

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but I also have a hood question. I have a seibon carbon hood on my car and I'm trying to figure out the placement of my aerotech latches. I like where you put yours. Are your hood pins in a factory hole or did you have to cut some? Some pictures would really help. I searched but all the write ups seem to be for the silvia front end. Thanks in advance.

Re: (mmm240)

Ajax — 2009-05-07T05:49:22-08:00

Sorry for continuing the threadjack, but here's what the back of the hood looks like (from when mine was at the body shop).

Re: (AZhitman)

mmm240 — 2009-05-06T18:29:14-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

Ajax - No pics lifted, but I'll shoot some. It looks like a damn 85 Monte Carlo sitting up high, LOL.

Donk!

AZhitman — 2009-05-06T17:06:29-08:00

Ajax - No pics lifted, but I'll shoot some. It looks like a damn 85 Monte Carlo sitting up high, LOL.

QV - The Origin does have that vent.

Re: (AZhitman)

onosqv — 2009-05-06T16:04:54-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

New one is Origin.

Greg, is there a 2nd "vent" behind the hood allowing air to escape. I notice it's flared up, but for the life of me cannot find any good pictures showing how much venting there is w/ the hood down. Ambient temps are particular ridiculous in my car after some hard laps - been looking for something w/ a rear flare that's not "too" crazy.

does the origin have a similar rear vent like this (or bigger) - very rear vent:

Ajax — 2009-05-06T15:19:14-08:00

Yup, I've got a skidplate on the way with my Xcessive motor mounts. I won't mind cutting into the bracing underneath a bit. Mind you, I'm using the Q45 throttle body; I'm still hopeful I won't need to cut much.
Any pics of 4x4 mode with the airbags?

Re: (Ajax)

AZhitman — 2009-05-05T10:46:04-08:00

Quote, originally posted by Ajax raquo;

Thanks Greg! Hopefully I won't need to cut much to get this monster throttle body to fit.

Well, with a stock hood, my TB was ABOVE the level of the hood. I cut a hole THROUGH the hood to clear it... Miserable process.

The current hood does NOT offer more clearance, even tho it looks like it should - The bracing is in the same location.

Dropping the engine deeper in the cradle presented other problems, namely oil pan clearance. I fabbed a beefy skidplate that should take a direct hit pretty well... Either way, the engine sits LOW.

Re: (AZhitman)

Ajax — 2009-05-04T09:09:04-08:00

Thanks Greg! Hopefully I won't need to cut much to get this monster throttle body to fit.

AZhitman — 2009-05-04T08:57:17-08:00

No cutting, but I dropped the motor pretty low in the cradle with my homemade motor mounts... You can see it all in the Project Vert build article series.

Ajax — 2009-05-03T11:27:34-08:00

Hey Greg, with the Origin hood- Type II isn't it?- did you have to do any cutting underneath to clear the TB with the Xcessive manifold? I went with the Q45 TB and am going to use Xcessive lowering brackets for the engine, but I"m betting I'll still need to cut a bit.
If you did cut, could you shoot some pics in here? Car looks great.

Re: (madcowvert)

streetstarspride — 2009-04-27T10:11:55-08:00

wow

that camber is gorgeous i think

car is gorgeous

what motor do you have in there?

Re: (AZhitman)

madcowvert — 2009-04-26T21:49:06-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

Will do. Might get cracking on it this weekend.

is it because the bag is t big and is giving you back spacing problems?

Re: (BRosa)

AZhitman — 2009-04-26T20:18:18-08:00

Quote, originally posted by BRosa raquo;

Looking Ill Greg! If you need a hand dumping it or cutting the wells hit me up and I'll cruise out.

Will do. Might get cracking on it this weekend.

TIMELSS_vert — 2009-04-23T13:31:07-08:00

I knew you'd man up Greg. Lookin good man!

Re: (AZhitman)

BRosa — 2009-04-23T10:05:38-08:00

Looking Ill Greg! If you need a hand dumping it or cutting the wells hit me up and I'll cruise out.

AZhitman — 2009-04-22T22:08:23-08:00

Yeah, I wasn't too cool with the radical camber.

I still need to fine-tune the spacing... I'm running some 15mm in the rear and 10mm in front (to get the wheel away from the coilover).

Need to cut the fenders more in the rear, and do some hammering in the upper inner fenderwell up front, and she'll drop another 1.5"... Which puts the skidplate and the exhaust on the pavement.

Re: FN-QR (AZ89two4Tsx)

madcowvert — 2009-04-22T21:40:19-08:00

looking good it even fixed the camber a little bit

FN-QR

AZ89two4Tsx — 2009-04-22T15:44:56-08:00

Wow, looks awesome. Especially with the Weds.

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-04-22T14:15:27-08:00

needs moar low!

Re: (AZhitman)

onosqv — 2009-04-22T13:59:03-08:00

that is sexayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

my car looks like a 4x4 now compared to that, haha.

AZhitman — 2009-04-22T13:40:00-08:00

Last week, Brandon from KSport came out and did some tweaking on the system...

There was some unevenness from left to right, and the drop wasn't as much as I'd like.

So, here she is now, at ALMOST full-drop. I need to do some trimming of the wheelwells in the rear to get the complete drop.

Re: (onosqv)

AZhitman — 2009-03-11T11:10:16-08:00

Quote, originally posted by onosqv raquo;

I'm guessing in both cases there were no hood pins installed?

ouch, hood hitting you @ 80mph, sorry to hear that Greg.

I was using the OEM latch, which is sufficient for a good CF hood like the VIS.

However, during a photoshoot (the "famous" one, you've seen it), the photographers popped the hood (I didn't know) and they didn't latch it.

The downforce kept it in place up to 80. Apparently, beyond that, the air pressure underhood from the front bumper ducting is sufficient to overcome that force.

biggie — 2009-03-11T10:25:49-08:00

Not sure why I hadn't heard that story. But does seem kind of 'Bond-ish", instead of ejector seat, hood comes and hits your date on the head, you needed to be sitting lower though.

Have known a few people with CF hoods and no pins to have them fly up, including my coupe (to the previous owner). Definately hood pins for me.

Re: (squonk)

onosqv — 2009-03-11T09:32:35-08:00

Quote, originally posted by squonk raquo;

About a month ago , I went to a 240 meet and the hood came off of this dudes car... Why does this seem to happen to the kids who make it turbo?

I'm glad you survived because the car looks really nice.

I'm guessing in both cases there were no hood pins installed?

ouch, hood hitting you @ 80mph, sorry to hear that Greg.

Re: (AZhitman)

squonk — 2009-03-11T07:45:44-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

Yep.

Drilled me and Amanda at 80mph. Shattered the windshield, bent the windshield header frame, knocked us both out for a sec, and I still managed (miracle) to get us to the side of the road safely.

Drivers behind us said it looked like an explosion (white *poof*). I thought I'd been shot. Very, very surreal.

About a month ago , I went to a 240 meet and the hood came off of this dudes car... Why does this seem to happen to the kids who make it turbo?

I'm glad you survived because the car looks really nice.

Re: (AZhitman)

audtatious — 2009-03-10T12:44:19-08:00

At least you didn't have to hit her with a brick

AZhitman — 2009-03-10T12:38:47-08:00

Yep.

Drilled me and Amanda at 80mph. Shattered the windshield, bent the windshield header frame, knocked us both out for a sec, and I still managed (miracle) to get us to the side of the road safely.

Drivers behind us said it looked like an explosion (white *poof*). I thought I'd been shot. Very, very surreal.

Re: (AZhitman)

audtatious — 2009-03-09T23:08:11-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

That was the old hood (the one that hit my skull at 80mph).

New one is Origin.

Oh yeah. I forgot that you tried to kill our NICO model with your hood that day.

Re: (AZhitman)

mmm240 — 2009-03-09T14:54:37-08:00

Quote, originally posted by AZhitman raquo;

That was the old hood (the one that hit my skull at 80mph).

Wait, what!?! Are you saying it flew off and cracked you in the dome?

Re: (audtatious)

AZhitman — 2009-03-09T14:14:50-08:00

Quote, originally posted by audtatious raquo;

It's a VIS carbon-fiber hood. It's discussed in part VIII of the buildup series
http://www.nicoclub.com/articl...shtml

That was the old hood (the one that hit my skull at 80mph).

New one is Origin.

Re: (sijia10358)

audtatious — 2009-03-09T14:05:57-08:00

He has no top. He has a cover to make it a roadster.

sijia10358 — 2009-03-09T13:35:54-08:00

car looks awesome!!! what cover is that coving the rear seats and the top?!?!

Re: (Stripes)

audtatious — 2009-03-08T21:25:12-08:00

It's a VIS carbon-fiber hood. It's discussed in part VIII of the buildup series

FWIW, the bagged suspension buildup is part X:

http://www.nicoclub.com/articl...shtml

Re: (BRosa)

Stripes — 2009-03-08T21:00:24-08:00

Hey man, what kind of hood do you have? It looks like a pop up style version of an origin type 2.

Re: (GoinTopless240)

BRosa — 2009-03-05T08:50:24-08:00

Preload simply put is loading the spring while the rest of the suspension is 'unloaded'. While there are a few different reasons for doing so, your understanding of it is correct.

The best way for me to put it; look at it like a coilover set up with a spring. Except you can change the spring rate on the fly (PSI inside the bag). The damper has rebound and compression adjustments just like the coilovers do so to answer your question....yes they do have a rebound adjustment.

When we did the RD on this kit I installed them into our GS400. I was very curious to see how they would handle as I've ridden in a bagged car many times before and it was very stiff and unresponsive. We had our coilovers on it before the bags and honestly, the air bags at full PSI (about 165psi) were quite a bit stiffer than the coilovers (with a 13K 8K spring rate). The shocks felt under damped and the car felt like it was on air (go figure). When the pressure dropped in the bags to down around 110 psi, the car felt and responded almost exactly like it did with the coilovers, with minimal body roll and a nice responsive feel. I was pleasantly surprised at how they felt and handled. When it was lower in pressure for freeway cruising (95psi) the car felt like a cadillac on stock suspension (relatively speaking), absorbed the road well and was actually comfortable. I hope this can give you a little insight as to how they ride.

Modified by BRosa at 9:45 AM 3/5/2009

Re: (BRosa)

GoinTopless240 — 2009-03-04T20:08:54-08:00

My understanding of preload is if you have a (example) 2000 lb spring and you preload the spring with a setting of 1000 lb you would in essence make the spring set part way through it's stroke (put it already in it's stiff part of it's absorption), but you lose travel in effect and have a faster/stiffer spring. Rebound would be how quickly the spring/ returns to it's static height/setting with the shock absorber. Too much rebound and the a** end or front end would almost bounce back to static, too little and the car would almost skip across the pavement because the spring would return too slow and provide limited contact. If it has some sort of adjustment for this it would be a more versatile. Having a suspension that can have a somewhat reasonable ride on the road, have the ability to be stiff enough for drifting (more rebound) and medium for autocross. I see a few guys at the autocrosses here with drift set-ups and the cars always to poorly because their suspensions are wayy to stiff. I'm hoping my understanding and use of terms is correct, but this is what I was looking for. Knowing that there is a type of 'memory" set-up is great. I travel through some rough driveways and speed"humps" and being able to get the ride correct for the rest of the drive is great to have. Thanks for the info.

Re: (GoinTopless240)

BRosa — 2009-03-04T10:38:43-08:00

Quote, originally posted by GoinTopless240 raquo;

As far as a "memory" type switch goes...there are quite a few different controllers available online that have target pressure settings and saved settings so you can just push a button to get your desired settings. Something like this.. (http://www.accuairsuspension.com/product_elevel_tpad.html). Any air ride accessory can be integrated into the Ksport system.

When you ask about the rebound type adjustment on the bag...are you referring to what would be preload on a spring?

Re: (GoinTopless240)

EPD — 2009-03-04T04:07:37-08:00

Shocker was sooo 2007 lol

Re: (ViolentRunning13)

GoinTopless240 — 2009-03-03T18:23:01-08:00

Greg,
That set-up is awesome. I'm looking at something similar in the D2's. Interesting on the "cruise" height. I wonder if there is a way to have a preset type switch that you can hit and find that magic height at a touch of a button. How is the ride? How is the performance (ie drift or autocross). Do the bags have the ability to have a rebound type adjustment? I'm looking at the set-up for many of the same reasons as you did. My driveway is a killer (my interior light flashes at me every time i pull out - backing up and at angle) and I don't even have a body kit yet. Sorry about all the questions. Just trying to get the info from a reliable source that knows what I might be asking. On a side note, will the CEO and the famous Vert be gracing us at Roebling this month?

ViolentRunning13 — 2009-03-03T01:28:14-08:00

Yeah that's not that low. Conservative though.

Re: (leesredgt)

S133P3R — 2009-03-02T16:14:16-08:00

lt;
fo' shizzle!

Re: (AZhitman)

leesredgt — 2009-03-02T16:13:13-08:00

Gotcha! Im assumeing you have like a dash mounted gauge right?

AZhitman — 2009-03-02T15:52:59-08:00

Gotta check the gauge.

I'm still learning it, and will prob make more adjustements. I'm not happy with the camber in front or the balance side-to-side.

Re: FN-QR (S133P3R)

leesredgt — 2009-03-02T15:31:54-08:00

Looks good Greg!

Got a question.

Is there like a preset height button you can push that will always take you back to your cruising height?

I mean say if your going over a speed hump and have to lift the car up,and after you get over the hump,you go to let it back down,do you have to just look and gauge how low the car is?Or is there a preset height ,that way it would keep tire wear down to a minimum.

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-02-28T23:47:01-08:00

and some knock off daytons with super negative off set. odelay.

AZhitman — 2009-02-28T23:24:28-08:00

It's hilarious at full-height.

Looks like a damn '85 Monte Carlo.

I need a pachuco hat and some Dickies shorts.

Re: (AZhitman)

wmdavis007 — 2009-02-28T21:55:19-08:00

Baller!! That's just sick Greg! I love it! Post a pic of it pumped up...like it would be when you have to pull it in your drive...just want to see how much of a change it is. Lookin' nice man !

AZ89two4Tsx — 2009-02-28T20:42:28-08:00

She needs a bath too!

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-02-28T17:46:31-08:00

MOAR MOAR MOAR!

AZhitman — 2009-02-28T15:52:19-08:00

Article with build pics is still being formatted.

Here's a few garage pics I snapped yesterday:

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-02-24T13:01:28-08:00

nice, i figured as much from a "CEO"... im just really impatient!

AZhitman — 2009-02-24T12:51:10-08:00

Ok, ok, ok... Gimme a chance to load them.

Full article w/pics on the way, trying to get them all transferred.

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-02-24T12:47:52-08:00

PICS! plz?

AZhitman — 2009-02-24T12:39:35-08:00

B is absolutely correct.

Weight? Not much more than the coilovers that came off it. The tank, lines, and such weagh a little more, but then again, the bags weigh less than coils.

So it may be pretty negligible.

FN-QR

S133P3R — 2009-02-23T13:44:14-08:00

ahhhh, yes. if my car looked any where near as good as AZ's id be all over this... thanks for the info, sorry for the threadjack, Im out.