best suspension set up for 1400 rally car

[rallydak]

hi im currently building a 1400 nova rally car. im doing all the shell work at the minute but im curre3ntly just playing about with ideas of what suspension, engine brakes etc. to use. im thinking oif using coilovers and possibly use adjustable top mounts with them. but i was woundering what us thought would be the best coilover set up to use. it will be more than likely used on tarmac ie sprints and things like that. and could you also tell me where to get them and what modifications if any i would have to do. i was searching forums but mostly people seemed to be using them for lowering cars etc. where as i need them for optium handling. any help you can give me on this lads would be much appreciated.

[George g]

i would recommend here (http://www.hh-ms.com/database/index.php?SelCategoryID=5&SelModelID=14&SelSubCategoryID=15) as a good starting point. they know a hell of alot when i comes to nova's and rallying.

possibly not the cheapest, but very good quality. the fixed platform billies can be gotten cheaper elsewhere, but not seen those coilovers anywhere...

[Will F]

If you are wanting a proper set up, then HHMS or Proflex are the only way to go.
On a budget, top-spec Bilstein are pretty handy...

[rallydak]

yea i know what you mean lads but im not looking to spend as much as over 1000 for proflex or something. just want to spend a couple of hundred and a good suspension set up. im currently using solid strut bilsteins in my 1200 rally car atm because you are not allowed to use coilovers although in the 1400 class there are no restrictions on this and you are allowed to use coilovers.

[rallydak]

btttt

[George g]

if you dont have the money for HHMS or proflex, then billies are the way forwawrd! anything else (like AVO, Reiger or Ohlins) are far more expensive for the proper stuff. you might be able to get some AVO motorpsort coilovers for about £800, but you would be pushing it.

new coilovers for a nova -
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/category_results.mhtml?category=bilsteinpsscoilove rkits;car=vauxhallnova;manufacturer=bilst;sub_cate gory=1

[greg1.4]

hi mate, i would reccomend a set of bilstein 2 1/4 coilovers for the front and a set of group a rear bilstein struts. use spax/g-max/jamex 20/30/40mm lowering springs on the back.

you can get these parts from eurorallye second hand..

coilovers usually about £350, rear's £200..

that would be the best setup unless spending big bucks.

i run proflex and it is amazing. i swear by it!! cant get the back end setup to 100% the way i want it, but the front end just never moves! it goes anywhere i want it to. you are talking £2000 plus for that though.

[rallydak]

you sound like you have used this set up in the past??? could you send me links on were i could get these coilovers and struts??? i saw i could get Bilstein B14 PSS coilovers for £550 and that for the four. which do you think i would be best going for???

[steg1970]

Hello mate

I run a 1400 8V Nova rally car. I do lots of single venues and events like the North West Stages, Pendragon and events on Otterbur so only tarmac.

I asked when I first started what people recomend and as time has gone on have refined the set up. Its not massivly expencive buts its a faulse ecconomy to buy cheaper brands I would always go for parts with a known pedigree. Also you might think getting adjustable suspension is a great idea but unless you have loads of experience of car suspension set up and geometry you'll be wasting your time.

I currently run:

Front: Run without a front anti roll bar. Bilstein 270/120 inserts in coilover casings with 200lb 12" springs ( for really smooth events like christmas stages/Jack Frost use 220lb 12" springs) You will probably need helper springs for when the car is airbourne. Eccentric alloy top mounts set to give as much -camber and +castor as possible. (i.e. diagonally back to the center of the car) Strut brace only because I don't have cage triangulation to the strut tops. Front ride height is generally standard.

Rear: Blistein group A dampers (can't remember the rate), with Protec -1" tarmac rally springs. GTE/GSi 18mm anti roll bar.

For angles I run 30mins toe out and 1.5 degrees neg camber on the front and 1 degree neg camber on the back.

This isn't exhaustive but will give you an idea.

My car is quite sucessful winning the class on the last two outings on the North West Stages and at Ingliston.

[greg1.4]

that setup also sounds good..

Protec sent me all the settings for proflex and the toe in/out etc..

lets see some pics of your car steg1970!!

[steg1970]

A couple of pics for you Greg.

Keith Knox Stages 2007

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/stevo1970/cheviot_rally_2007_2389.jpg

Turnbull Trophy 2007

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/stevo1970/turnbull_trophy_2007_03790.jpg

A poor quality pic from Ingliston this April.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/stevo1970/photo_39.jpg

From one of the Weeton stages on this years North West Stages.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/stevo1970/car81-4.jpg

[rallydak]

your car does look to sit very nicely steg1970, and results speak for themselves. could you give me some links to pages were i could get the suspension, as il admit suspension isn't 1 of my strong points and it is critical in rallying as i noticed when i changed my 1200 rally car from running spax to bilstein struts on the front and it made a world of diff. any help you could give me lad would be much appreciated, thanks

[greg1.4]

does look like a good wee car..

been checking your results aswell, look good!

look forward to competing against you..i start in august!

rallydak, for suspension. check out

www.eurorallye.co.uk (http://www.eurorallye.co.uk)

www.hh-ms.com

www.pro-tecmotorsport.com (http://www.pro-tecmotorsport.com)

[greg1.4]

i reccomend these..

http://www.hh-ms.com/database/index.php?SelCategoryID=5&SelModelID=14&SelSubCategoryID=15

they are the 3rd from the bottom of the page

and these for the rear -

http://www.hh-ms.com/database/index.php?SelCategoryID=5&SelModelID=14&SelSubCategoryID=12

also 3rd from bottom of page

[steg1970]

does look like a good wee car..

been checking your results aswell, look good!

look forward to competing against you..i start in august!

rallydak, for suspension. check out

www.eurorallye.co.uk (http://www.eurorallye.co.uk)

www.hh-ms.com (http://www.hh-ms.com)

www.pro-tecmotorsport.com (http://www.pro-tecmotorsport.com)

What event you planning on in August, Pendragon?

[rallydak]

i looked at the suspension harry hockley had but it was gong to work out about £800 which is a bit to much for me. i looked at these and they seem more my price range what do yous think of them???

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/category_results.mhtml?category=bilsteinpsscoilove rkits;car=vauxhallnova;manufacturer=bilst;sub_cate gory=1

or steg could you give me some links to were you got yours from and how much it cost you ruffly. really sorry for annoying yous about this lads but just want to make sure i get it right.

[steg1970]

i looked at the suspension harry hockley had but it was gong to work out about £800 which is a bit to much for me. i looked at these and they seem more my price range what do yous think of them???

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/category_results.mhtml?category=bilsteinpsscoilove rkits;car=vauxhallnova;manufacturer=bilst;sub_cate gory=1

or steg could you give me some links to were you got yours from and how much it cost you ruffly. really sorry for annoying yous about this lads but just want to make sure i get it right.

Mine is a combination of new and used. Also I have upgraded to this set up over about 5 years of rallying, I started with Nova Cup supsension and progressed when I could afford it.

My rear springs and Grp A dampers were from Protec in Preston.

http://www.pro-tecmotorsport.com/

My coilovers came from a fellow competitor who was upgrading to proflex and cost £400. I got the whole set up including springs and top mounts, all I did was replace the bearings. There are sometime some bits on e-bay or 1400 rallyclub (membership necessary).

Other sites I use are:

http://www.rallyusedparts.co.uk/
http://www.eurorallye.co.uk/
http://www.peterlloydrallying.co.uk/
http://www.chrisastleymotorsport.co.uk/
http://www.mayesmotorsport.co.uk/
http://britishrally.co.uk/classifieds.php (free to join)

There are more but these should be able to get you set up.

Don't worry about being a pain, its fine. You might as well learn from other peoples mistakes, its expencive enough without the extra expence of trial and error. You will of course fine tune the set up to your liking.

[George g]

dont worry about buying second hand or re-furb'd suspension, as all proflex, bilstein, and HHMS can be re-built for not alot! bilstein charge about £40 a corner to refurb the damping units & seals. or you can buy the inserts themselves for not alot!