Dropped it off today for the full swap-a-roo - The guys at K-Sport will have it most of the week, and I'll keep ya posted on how she goes.
I'll be able to actually get in my driveway without 2x4's, get it up on a jack without ramps and boards, and still be able to practice my slideways action (and those of you who've seen me drive know I need all the practice I can get!)
Full article, review, and pics to come - Stay tuned!!!
Post Title: Re: The Droptop from Hell is about to be America's first.... (AZhitman)
Posted by: GoinTopless240 at 5:33 PM 1/12/2009
http://forums.nicoclub.com/zer...age=1
Are you going with a similar setup or something different? (Ksport??)
Details?
Post Title:
Posted by: Logan76 at 7:29 PM 1/12/2009
But K-Sports... eeeehhhhhh. I love the color of their coilovers, but that's about it. Maybe their products are better than when they first came out a few years back.
Post Title: Re: The Droptop from Hell is about to be America's first.... (onosqv)
Posted by: AZhitman at 7:45 PM 1/12/2009
| Quote, originally posted by onosqv » |
| Congrats! But K-Sports... eeeehhhhhh. I love the color of their coilovers, but that's about it. Maybe their products are better than when they first came out a few years back. |
Find me another air setup available in the US and I'll review it.
Their stuff is solid, no issues from any of the drift guys I've seen running 'em.
Post Title:
Posted by: Logan76 at 8:20 PM 1/12/2009
| Quote, originally posted by Logan76 » |
| Greg got any recent pics of your vert? mind posting up a few by chance? |
Yeah, I was also looking for some pictures of his car just because (I wanted to see what headlights he was running, etc...), but he has so many threads he has started here (it is his forum you know...
) that I couldn't find his 'vert thread.
Post up some pics or a link man!!
change my mind before I get some Stance GR + Pros, hehe... Prob. won't happen, but you never know...
Post Title: Re: (Logan76)
Posted by: AZhitman at 7:40 AM 1/13/2009
| Quote, originally posted by Logan76 » |
| Greg got any recent pics of your vert? mind posting up a few by chance? |
Those are about a year old... I'll shoot some more when she gets home. Looking forward to being able to get her in and out of the driveway without a spotter and an armload of planks.
Post Title:
Posted by: biggie at 8:05 AM 1/13/2009
Either way, I am super jealous, I want air so friggin bad. Can't wait to see an official write up.
Post Title: Re: (TIMELSS_vert)
Posted by: mmm240 at 12:10 PM 1/13/2009
| Quote, originally posted by DeXteR » |
| HOw much you want for your old endura techs? |
Sorry homey... 
They already be claimed.
Post Title: Re: (AZ89two4Tsx)
Posted by: AZhitman at 9:37 AM 1/14/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZ89two4Tsx » |
| I <3 the vert. Is TBF doing that mini NICOfest this year again? I loved going to it last year. |
Hope so - I got some new tires that need to be abused.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: GoinTopless240 at 5:09 PM 1/15/2009
well.. well... any word yet.. Now I know you got a deal on the setup I'm sure, but what is the price for us common (read - poor) folk?| Quote, originally posted by GoinTopless240 » |
| well.. well... any word yet.. Now I know you got a deal on the setup I'm sure, but what is the price for us common (read - poor) folk? and still curious about how they address the alignment concern. |
http://www.ksportusa.com/asp/a...=as01
Direct link to K-Sports "Basic" application. 3900 for an s13 kit. Yeah, as mentioned in my last post in here. Also something I mentioned in my last post was the fact that airbagit.com's kit is half the price and does the same job, although im not sure if their dampers are adjustable, but is that worth 2 grand?
As far as the alignment is concerned, it is normally set at your desired ride height as that is where almost of the tire wear will occur. Any reputable alignment shop should be able to do it with a smile and do just as good of job as they would on non-air ride suspension.
Modified by TIMELSS_vert at 7:56 PM 1/15/2009
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: S13_love at 7:39 PM 1/15/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
|
I'm jealous.
Definently looks awesome!
Post Title: Re: (S13_love)
Posted by: Eikon at 10:17 AM 1/16/2009
Post Title: Re: (Eikon)
Posted by: AZhitman at 11:21 AM 1/20/2009
| Quote, originally posted by Eikon » |
| I can't wait to hear how they handle and see how they look at different adjustable heights. You're going to be soooo popular everytime you pull up to the vato zone.. haha |
LOL - I already get a much different response to the car than I used to... I'm getting a kick out of the people who don't expect it to be stupid-fast when they see the big gaudy wheels.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: AZhitman at 8:39 AM 1/21/2009
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: Harman850T5 at 10:27 AM 1/21/2009
that s*** looks low... but how looowwww, can you go?
MOAR PICS!
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 4:44 PM 2/20/2009
Tires are sitting on fenderwell liners (no, I'm not ripping them out, that's gay.)
More to come, working on the article and pics.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: onosqv at 4:48 PM 2/20/2009
You are one of the few ppl who still have fenderwell linings after lowering.
I was expecting some framerail on the ground loweredness, hee hee.
I guess that's pretty pimp if it goes up to stockish height.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: mmm240 at 7:56 PM 2/20/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| no, I'm not ripping my fender liners out, that's gay.) |
You're gay...
Just pop them off for a day and see how low you can go. Then go back to a reasonable height and put your liners back in.
Come on, we want to see you lay frame (or as close as you can without smashing your aero...).
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 12:00 PM 2/21/2009
Keep in mind, my engine is dropped1.5" lower in the cradle, and my skid plate is about 1" from the ground at the lowest height.
That pic is almost full-drop. Front settles down a little more if I let all the pressure off. Car won't roll at this height, tires are on fenders. Theft-proof.
Post Title:
Posted by: TIMELSS_vert at 12:35 PM 2/21/2009
I think I mentioned my skid plate is 1" off the ground.
400hp + no ground clearance = fail.
Post Title:
Posted by: AZ89two4Tsx at 8:28 PM 2/21/2009
Anyways, looks great as always! 
Post Title: Re: (AZ89two4Tsx)
Posted by: Nategreat923 at 11:31 PM 2/21/2009
Put some 18's on it. Push 400+ whp. And drop panties in the big city.
Then you can worry about my ride height.
For those who care to know WHY this was done, 2 reasons:
1) So I can get in my driveway and navigate speedbumps.
2) So I can get a jack under the car.
Not to impress anyone with non-functional kit-scraping, frame-laying altitude.
Post Title:
Posted by: Logan76 at 6:41 AM 2/22/2009
What people don't realize is this isn't a traditional "bagged" suspension.
It's coilovers with rigid bags in PLACE of the coils.
So, yeah, I could drop the collars until it grinds the oil pan off, but I don't see a purpose for that. It was set up professionally, and the option of hitting a remote and raising it to 4x4 height is what I was looking for (driveway / speedbumps / jacking).
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: mmm240 at 6:49 PM 2/22/2009
| Quote, originally posted by amolao » |
| that height is perfect, and you get the advantage of adjustability with it. I cut my fender liners and still regret it. Gotta get new ones now after raising the car a bit. |
Do it like Broadfield. Use a heat gun to modify fender liner.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 8:17 AM 2/23/2009
Personally.. I wouldn't even want it any lower than that. I don't even have coilovers and I'm already close to losing an expensive front bumper everytime I drive around town.
I'm a huge fan of this setup... boy would it be nice to have instant adjustability!
So how much weight does it add?
Do they have a ballpark on cost to the public yet?
Looks like a winner to me!
Post Title:
Posted by: TIMELSS_vert at 9:52 AM 2/23/2009
ksport list price - 3,900
D2 list price - 3,700 (off of raceonusa.com)
airbagit.com list price - 1,999
you can also make your own custom setup using Universal Air Suspension components which are bag over dampener design and coils that you already have. Last time I calculated the cost on that, using all new, very nice equipment it was about - 1600. but everything would be out in the open instead of in a neat little box.
Modified by TIMELSS_vert at 10:02 AM 2/23/2009
Post Title: Re: (TIMELSS_vert)
Posted by: Eikon at 9:59 AM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by TIMELSS_vert » |
| this is like the 3rdtime ive posted this in this thread. Theres even a direct link to Ksport's site on the first page in one of my posts. ksport list price - 3,900 |
haha.. you got me. I failed to read the rest of the post. What a newb! 
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 10:12 AM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by S133P3R » |
| pardon me for my laziness, but are there pics of this system (the coilover part) anywhere on here? i cant find them thru search (maybe im dumb). |
A member from Finland posted those pics on his vert. You have to find that thread. I was trying to find it, but no luck.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 11:42 AM 2/23/2009
this car 'vert looks amazing, stiil cant wait to see more pics!
Post Title: Re: FN-QR (94_240sx)
Posted by: biggie at 11:56 AM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by 94_240sx » |
A member from Finland posted those pics on his vert. You have to find that thread. I was trying to find it, but no luck. |
The Finland D2 setup:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=369178
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 12:24 PM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by S133P3R » |
| thanks for the pics biggie... hows the ride feel AZ? im really curious if its as bumpy as coilovers or like riding on, well, air bags... |
The ride is going to be dependent on 3 things...1. the damper 2. the settings for the dampening and 3. the air pressure inside the bag.
The dampening is going to play more of a role when it comes to comfort. Overall stiffness is going to be the determined by air pressure, with the 240 at say 120psi it's going to be rock hard, down around 80psi is going to be toward the stiff end of the coilover spectrum (would compare to running say a 12K/10K spring rate, also not much lower than factory height), 40-50psi is on the soft side (and relatively low).
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 1:09 PM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by S133P3R » |
| so softer means lower also? hmmmm... i understand the dampening effect, thanks. |
Correct
Post Title: Re: FN-QR (BRosa)
Posted by: S133P3R at 1:28 PM 2/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by S133P3R » |
| but cannot go lowwer with out softening? im mexican, you think i would know how damn airbags worked... |
Hahaha nice....
You're correct, with air bags (any system) you lower the car to soften the ride. It's a double edged sword when you want the car to look nice as well as perform.
The Ksport set up still retains the adjustability of height through the lower mount. If your ideal ride is at 75psi (which would be stiff as well as high) you can bring the lower mount up on the shock body and lower the car so that 75psi is at a lower height with the same stiffness.
Modified by BRosa at 2:06 PM 2/23/2009
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 1:44 PM 2/23/2009
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.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 12:47 PM 2/24/2009
Full article w/pics on the way, trying to get them all transferred.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 1:01 PM 2/24/2009
Here's a few garage pics I snapped yesterday:
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 5:46 PM 2/28/2009
She needs a bath too! 
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: wmdavis007 at 9:55 PM 2/28/2009
!
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 11:24 PM 2/28/2009
Looks like a damn '85 Monte Carlo.
I need a pachuco hat and some Dickies shorts.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 11:47 PM 2/28/2009
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.
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 3:52 PM 3/2/2009
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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: leesredgt at 4:13 PM 3/2/2009
< 
| Quote, originally posted by GoinTopless240 » |
| 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? |
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?
Post Title: Re: (BRosa)
Posted by: GoinTopless240 at 8:08 PM 3/4/2009
Post Title: Re: (GoinTopless240)
Posted by: BRosa at 8:50 AM 3/5/2009
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 R&D 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
Post Title: Re: (BRosa)
Posted by: Stripes at 9:00 PM 3/8/2009
FWIW, the bagged suspension buildup is part X:
http://www.nicoclub.com/articl...shtml
Post Title:
Posted by: sijia10358 at 1:35 PM 3/9/2009
| Quote, originally posted by audtatious » |
| 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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: mmm240 at 2:54 PM 3/9/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
That was the old hood (the one that hit my skull at 80mph). |
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
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.
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 12:38 PM 3/10/2009
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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: audtatious at 12:44 PM 3/10/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| 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.
Post Title: Re: (squonk)
Posted by: onosqv at 9:32 AM 3/11/2009
| Quote, originally posted by squonk » |
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.
Post Title:
Posted by: biggie at 10:25 AM 3/11/2009
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.
Post Title: Re: (onosqv)
Posted by: AZhitman at 11:10 AM 3/11/2009
| Quote, originally posted by onosqv » |
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.
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 1:40 PM 4/22/2009
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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: onosqv at 1:59 PM 4/22/2009
my car looks like a 4x4 now compared to that, haha.
Post Title: FN-QR
Posted by: S133P3R at 2:15 PM 4/22/2009
Post Title: Re: FN-QR (AZ89two4Tsx)
Posted by: madcowvert at 9:40 PM 4/22/2009
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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: BRosa at 10:05 AM 4/23/2009
| Quote, originally posted by BRosa » |
| 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.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: madcowvert at 9:49 PM 4/26/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
Will do. Might get cracking on it this weekend. |
is it because the bag is t big and is giving you back spacing problems?
Post Title: Re: (madcowvert)
Posted by: streetstarspride at 10:11 AM 4/27/2009
that camber is gorgeous i think
car is gorgeous
what motor do you have in there?
Post Title:
Posted by: Ajax at 11:27 AM 5/3/2009
| Quote, originally posted by Ajax » |
| 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.
Post Title:
Posted by: Ajax at 3:19 PM 5/6/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| 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:
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 5:06 PM 5/6/2009
QV - The Origin does have that vent.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: mmm240 at 6:29 PM 5/6/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| Ajax - No pics lifted, but I'll shoot some. It looks like a damn 85 Monte Carlo sitting up high, LOL. |
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'.
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: Roginooo at 1:30 AM 10/20/2009
| Quote, originally posted by AZhitman » |
| 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...
Post Title:
Posted by: AZhitman at 8:46 AM 10/28/2009
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. 
Post Title: Re: (AZhitman)
Posted by: irax at 12:15 PM 10/28/2009
this is perfectly acceptable ride height.
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