Lowered suspension and larger wheels for track days?

[whitewizard]

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>I have just got hold of a 1500HL with O/D and intend to make it into a sort of 'Fast Rd/Track Day warrior' using the 1500 engine (Once modded)<br>
My main question is where do I get -2" lowering springs from with matching shocks as i can only fine -1" which just isn't enough for what I want? Any help would be appriciated but rest assured, I am a complete novice on Triumphs so the questions will come thick n fast over the coming months.... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... omiteuk</A> at: 26/10/06 3:46 pm<br></i>

[davepoth]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.<br>
<br>
I'm not sure if 2" lowered springs are generally available, but they are definitely not recommended for road use. The 1" lowered springs are about the lowest you can go running the standard profile tyres on sprint alloys. At that height you need to take care as the gearbox and exhaust do protrude quite a lot underneath the car. I have the front of my car lowered 1" and with 4 people in the car I ripped the exhaust off while crawling over a platform speed bump at 1mph.

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[iandollysprint]

Look at <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.jigsawracingservices.co.uk/" ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> They have AVO packages which give adjustable height seats. This is what you want so that you can adjust things for track/road. A full set will be going on my sprint this winter when I plan to turn it from a 60k miles original motor into a track day/ fast road weapon!

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... ysprint</A> at: 21/8/06 7:24 pm<br></i>

[MaddMart]

Great, more track day Dollys. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p>Martin<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[alun n]

Well, when a standard Sprint stays ahead of you Mart you might be able to compete with a 1500...even an uprated one<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[MaddMart]

1500...pah!, eat those fer breakfast, especially modded ones. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p>Martin<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[whitewizard]

It will be running 15" Compomotive MO alloys all round and 2" is me coming to a compromise! I will try Jigsaw as suggested. Its gotta be low - sod the consequences!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[davepoth]

15"? that's a big old alloy. You may well get fouling issues in the front wheel well with a wheel that big if you go low. I had 3" lowered springs at the front and couldn't manage full lock with the stanadard wheels.

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[dollyboy]

Mr wizard - welcome to dolo-world.<br>
<br>
When I was 17 I lowered my SE the council estate way, i.e. chopped about 2 n hf coils off the springs with a grinder, flatted them off n tied them to the seats with hose clips. lovely job. was on sprint wheels, the rims were level with the arches, bit more than 2" lower than standard I'd say.<br>
<br>
that was over 15 yrs ago. these days it'll be harder to get away with because:<br>
<br>
Problem 1 - chances are you'll take out the sump regularly on speed bumps, I did it twice just by driving it normally, before speed bumps appeared everywhere<br>
<br>
Problem 2 - resulting camber due to suspension geometry will trash the inside of your front tyres in a couple of thousand miles.<br>
<br>
solution to 1 - have the back slightly lower than the front, 2" lower is actually a good height to make the thing look pretty evil, but make sure front springs are over 200-250lb on the front and at least 175lb on the back so it doesnt wallow and dip everywhere, and dont load the boot heavily. use 1" lower springs and shockers with height adjustable seats so you can tweak it to suit.<br>
<br>
solution to 2 - put an extra shim between top mount and subframe which will level out the wheel a bit, but also get the tracking redone as castor angle will be slightly affected.<br>
<br>
15" wheels on a standard dolly will look HUGE and bordering on silly unless you have group 2 arches, which will also give you the means to cut away some of the outer wheel arch to allow them to fit, but watch the offset, they can foul on inner arches too, spacers may be required.<br>
<br>
all trial and error really, but enjoy...<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p>project orange - gradual progress<br>
project STEALTH - PASS!!! <br>
project white - AAARGGGHHH!!! too many cars!!!</p><i></i>

[dollyboy]

PS - came to me in a flash of inspiration recently, but with whopping great wheels and lots of extra traction you'll be able to chuck the thing around like you're escaping heavy artillary.<br>
<br>
I had 175/70s for a while and changed to the popular 185/60s after I trashed them. subsequently broke a half shaft and the 4 back plate bolts and the wheel parted company with a car, and I looked like a right charlie.<br>
<br>
the extra traction causes a lot of extra strain on suspension and drive train, not so bad on a sprint as the back end is beefed up a bit, i.e. designed to handle more umph. the front suspension is the same. im convinced thats why my lowly pov spec 1500 albeit with funky burr wood n grey seats spent as much time on stands as it did on the road, but I did drive it like a twat.<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p>project orange - gradual progress<br>
project STEALTH - PASS!!! <br>
project white - AAARGGGHHH!!! too many cars!!!</p><i></i>

[Jod Clark]

Yup, if you're going to modify the 1500 engine properly and keep the standard gearbox and axle, you had better make sure you've got plenty of diffs and boxes available as you'll be way beyond their limits. Putting a Sprint axle in is possible but will make your overdrive redundant..<br>
<br>
I should know.<br>
<br>
Jod

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[Jon Tilson]

WHat you are suggesting is absoluteley a waste of time.<br>
Just take the wisdon of those in the know...how many dolly 1500s do you see on track? Diddly...<br>
Hmm wonder why?<br>
<br>
For a start 2 inch lowered will reduce your navigable roads to those that resemble ice rinks...If you try driving on normal roads you will wipe several crucial bits off the underneath. I inch max for road use and even then you need stiffer than the std 140 all round. About 200 is okay.<br>
<br>
Then the 1500 engine is just not strong enough bottom end wise for track use. Even the Spit boys know that which is why most racing spits are 1300.<br>
<br>
To get any sensible competetive figures out of the ohv lump when it isnt moving a cardboard Spit around that weighs 10lb you need 130 bhp at least. Hmm Spints do that out of the box.<br>
<br>
Go figure...<br>
<br>
And dollyboy exactly what bits of a Sprint are beefed up over a std dolly bar the diff and rear brakes? I see NO suspension differences...except bigger wheel studs on the later ones. Big deal..<br>
<br>
Jonners<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>


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[alun n]

Ah, but Jon, as an introduction to motorsport some have to use what is at hand. I agree no more than an inch, and I forsee problems with 15" wheels in the arches, even if they do only wear rubber bands, but the principle of cutting your teeth on the car you have is fine.<br>
<br>
As for potential problems, some you take as advice, some you learn. Some have to be learned in order to effect meaningful progress...

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[davepoth]

And of course later on down the line there's an easy upgrade path...<br>
<br>
1500>1850>sprint>TVR v8>800hp Cosworth...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Jon Tilson]

before advertising the fact that I cpuld be persuaded to part with my rough old yellow sprint that's already lowered....but I'm not allowed to advertise ethat fact on here so I'll shut up..<br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
<br>
Jonners

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