There was a thread going on a few months back where I think HCF was looking at buying a new truck and a lot of topics were discussed, including how much you should try for an initial bid and how the salesmen use some kind of 4 square thing to sucker you.
I've searched and searched and I can't find the thread. Can any of you help me? [Reply]
There was a thread going on a few months back where I think HCF was looking at buying a new truck and a lot of topics were discussed, including how much you should try for an initial bid and how the salesmen use some kind of 4 square thing to sucker you.
I've searched and searched and I can't find the thread. Can any of you help me?
Id be all over one of these. Like an old land cruiser kewl truck an more practical than a Gator.
This post is old as shit, but somehow I'm just now noticing it. Anyhow, if this truck was available in the USA I'd definitely buy one. It would be perfect for hauling from the lawn supply store, home depot, etc and would be great for me to take on fishing trips. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ModSocks:
If i had an order to do it in i'd go:
1. Steering Box (assuming your front shocks/springs aren't shot)
2. Front Coil Over
Address the rear when you feel like it or if it fits into your budget right now. It should take lower priority assuming you have serviceable suspension back there.
But if you have a vacuum issue i'd address that. If you decide that swapping the cam isn't in the cards right now then maybe consider a booster that doesn't require vacuum, like a Hydroboost or an Electric Brake Master Cylinder.
When we build cars in the shop, suspension and brakes take priority over everything. Those are the two things that will allow you to drive the car confidently. What good is HP if you don't like driving the car because you're worried it won't stop or if it feels wonky on the freeway? If you have confident brakes and suspension you'll probably find yourself driving the car a lot more. It'll feel more like a car instead of a weekend novelty. And in terms of suspension, front is more important than rear by a mile. Rear suspension becomes more of a concern in higher torque builds, or cars with Coyote 5.0 swaps.
If it's a full build, we equip all of our cars with an Electric Brake Master cylinder. It's the best pedal feel of the 3 popular options and delivers about 500 PSI more than a vacuum booster. A customer may have dreams of 13", 6-piston brakes, but we'll force a smaller rotor/piston count in favor of a superior master cylinder if his budget doesn't allow for both.
Hydrboosts are nice, though they require some extra plumbing and the pedal still doesn't feel as rock hard as an Electric Brake Master.
Just my 2cents and how WE go about handling it. Everyone has their own opinion of course.
Just now getting to getting the front worked over.
Looking at some Viking Dual Adjustable coil-overs or QA1s in the front.
Here's my worry - I took it to a guy that specializes in wheels and says he's a full service shop (I want the wheels replaced still; never have done it) but I want the suspension re-done before I re-do the wheels as they'll change how all that fits.
I mean god almighty, the questions and answers this guy has had for me are TERRIFYING. I mean "remind me again what a coilover is?"
So I walk him through it. "I'll get with my supplier".
Calls me a week later and says "Yeah, i got 'em..."
So naturally my question is "Well WHAT did you get?"
Guy doesn't know the brand, the spring weight. I ask him if they're dual adjustable or single -- "Okay, so you want them adjustable?"
Dafuq? Dude, i've spent an hour with you going over concerns with wheel well clearance and wheel width and why I want these adjustables for the purposes of stagger and all this shit. And you ask me THAT?!?!
I ask him how heavy the springs are and I could've been asking him to explain particle physics. I'm just like "uh...450 lbs? Does that sound familiar? 350? 550?"
"Yeah, I'll ask my guy..."
I think I need to get my car back from this dude. I don't think he knows his ass from a hole in the ground. I think all he really knows is how to put 20 inch rims on slammed caddies and turn them into hooptie low-riders. Because from what I can tell, he doesn't know at all how to deal with a muscle car, despite the fact that he has a 67 camaro actually sitting in the front of his showroom.
I'm just dumbfounded by this. God dammit, why can't I just find someone who can order me some 15 inch old-school GM rallye wheels through his own wholesaler so that IF they don't fit, he can return them for wheels that do? That's it! That's all I want! I know what wheel I want, I just don't know how to figure a necessary offset with the disc brake conversions and the drop spindles that may/may not create issues with the tie-rod ends.
I'm not some fucking numb-nut that went in there not knowing where the gas cap is. I didn't just lead you to water, my guy. I led you to lake fucking Michigan. How can you not know ANY of this?
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this is aggravating. Why can't my good ol' boy shadetree mechanic just start doing wheel work so I can give it to him?!?!
I'm giving this guy a week tops before I take it to Mitch. He can do the suspension work and can probably measure the clearances, etc... I'll order the damn wheels online and if they don't fit, i'll figure it out. At least he won't end up putting shocks in upside down or something. I'm absolutely terrified this guys gonna go in there and try to cut something to fit and I'll end up with frame damage or something insane. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Just now getting to getting the front worked over.
Looking at some Viking Dual Adjustable coil-overs or QA1s in the front.
Here's my worry - I took it to a guy that specializes in wheels and says he's a full service shop (I want the wheels replaced still; never have done it) but I want the suspension re-done before I re-do the wheels as they'll change how all that fits.
I mean god almighty, the questions and answers this guy has had for me are TERRIFYING. I mean "remind me again what a coilover is?"
So I walk him through it. "I'll get with my supplier".
Calls me a week later and says "Yeah, i got 'em..."
So naturally my question is "Well WHAT did you get?"
Guy doesn't know the brand, the spring weight. I ask him if they're dual adjustable or single -- "Okay, so you want them adjustable?"
Dafuq? Dude, i've spent an hour with you going over concerns with wheel well clearance and wheel width and why I want these adjustables for the purposes of stagger and all this shit. And you ask me THAT?!?!
I ask him how heavy the springs are and I could've been asking him to explain particle physics. I'm just like "uh...450 lbs? Does that sound familiar? 350? 550?"
"Yeah, I'll ask my guy..."
I think I need to get my car back from this dude. I don't think he knows his ass from a hole in the ground. I think all he really knows is how to put 20 inch rims on slammed caddies and turn them into hooptie low-riders. Because from what I can tell, he doesn't know at all how to deal with a muscle car, despite the fact that he has a 67 camaro actually sitting in the front of his showroom.
I'm just dumbfounded by this. God dammit, why can't I just find someone who can order me some 15 inch old-school GM rallye wheels through his own wholesaler so that IF they don't fit, he can return them for wheels that do? That's it! That's all I want! I know what wheel I want, I just don't know how to figure a necessary offset with the disc brake conversions and the drop spindles that may/may not create issues with the tie-rod ends.
I'm not some fucking numb-nut that went in there not knowing where the gas cap is. I didn't just lead you to water, my guy. I led you to lake fucking Michigan. How can you not know ANY of this?
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this is aggravating. Why can't my good ol' boy shadetree mechanic just start doing wheel work so I can give it to him?!?!
I'm giving this guy a week tops before I take it to Mitch. He can do the suspension work and can probably measure the clearances, etc... I'll order the damn wheels online and if they don't fit, i'll figure it out. At least he won't end up putting shocks in upside down or something. I'm absolutely terrified this guys gonna go in there and try to cut something to fit and I'll end up with frame damage or something insane.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Just now getting to getting the front worked over.
Looking at some Viking Dual Adjustable coil-overs or QA1s in the front.
Here's my worry - I took it to a guy that specializes in wheels and says he's a full service shop (I want the wheels replaced still; never have done it) but I want the suspension re-done before I re-do the wheels as they'll change how all that fits.
I mean god almighty, the questions and answers this guy has had for me are TERRIFYING. I mean "remind me again what a coilover is?"
So I walk him through it. "I'll get with my supplier".
Calls me a week later and says "Yeah, i got 'em..."
So naturally my question is "Well WHAT did you get?"
Guy doesn't know the brand, the spring weight. I ask him if they're dual adjustable or single -- "Okay, so you want them adjustable?"
Dafuq? Dude, i've spent an hour with you going over concerns with wheel well clearance and wheel width and why I want these adjustables for the purposes of stagger and all this shit. And you ask me THAT?!?!
I ask him how heavy the springs are and I could've been asking him to explain particle physics. I'm just like "uh...450 lbs? Does that sound familiar? 350? 550?"
"Yeah, I'll ask my guy..."
I think I need to get my car back from this dude. I don't think he knows his ass from a hole in the ground. I think all he really knows is how to put 20 inch rims on slammed caddies and turn them into hooptie low-riders. Because from what I can tell, he doesn't know at all how to deal with a muscle car, despite the fact that he has a 67 camaro actually sitting in the front of his showroom.
I'm just dumbfounded by this. God dammit, why can't I just find someone who can order me some 15 inch old-school GM rallye wheels through his own wholesaler so that IF they don't fit, he can return them for wheels that do? That's it! That's all I want! I know what wheel I want, I just don't know how to figure a necessary offset with the disc brake conversions and the drop spindles that may/may not create issues with the tie-rod ends.
I'm not some fucking numb-nut that went in there not knowing where the gas cap is. I didn't just lead you to water, my guy. I led you to lake fucking Michigan. How can you not know ANY of this?
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this is aggravating. Why can't my good ol' boy shadetree mechanic just start doing wheel work so I can give it to him?!?!
I'm giving this guy a week tops before I take it to Mitch. He can do the suspension work and can probably measure the clearances, etc... I'll order the damn wheels online and if they don't fit, i'll figure it out. At least he won't end up putting shocks in upside down or something. I'm absolutely terrified this guys gonna go in there and try to cut something to fit and I'll end up with frame damage or something insane.
Yikes, dude. Yeah, get the car out of their ASAP. This is simple shit you're asking that any competent fab shop should be able to handle. If you don't, you're gonna end up paying double. Paying him to fuck up your car, and then paying someone else to fix his fuck ups and get it right.
We deal with this shit at our shop all the time. Matter of fact, we DENY cars at times based on WHO did the previous work, because we know what we're in for. We're gonna end up being the assholes who have to tell dude that everything he paid for, we have to junk, on top of the added time and aggravation of undoing the fuck ups.
WTF do you mean, "Do you want the coil over adjustable?" :-) bro....if it's not adjustable, it likely aint a coil over. Does he not know what that term means?
And for wheels, i have diagrams for my customers to help them measure their own backspace. If there's nothing uniuqe about the suspension, i can get on the phone right now and have an answer in MINUTES as to the suggested back spacing for your Camaro. That's just....no....
As far as suspension goes, i am a wholesaler for:
Rod & Custom
Ride Tech
Control Freaks
Global West
Total Control
....and i have access to several more through my 3rd party warehouses....
Im an American Racing/Wheel Pros dealer as well, among others.
If you got questions, HMU and im happy to help. As you know, i deal in classic Fords/Mustang, not Chevy's. But a lot of these wholesalers are the same. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ModSocks:
Yikes, dude. Yeah, get the car out of their ASAP. This is simple shit you're asking that any competent fab shop should be able to handle. If you don't, you're gonna end up paying double. Paying him to fuck up your car, and then paying someone else to fix his fuck ups and get it right.
We deal with this shit at our shop all the time. Matter of fact, we DENY cars at times based on WHO did the previous work, because we know what we're in for. We're gonna end up being the assholes who have to tell dude that everything he paid for, we have to junk, on top of the added time and aggravation of undoing the fuck ups.
WTF do you mean, "Do you want the coil over adjustable?" :-) bro....if it's not adjustable, it likely aint a coil over. Does he not know what that term means?
And for wheels, i have diagrams for my customers to help them measure their own backspace. If there's nothing uniuqe about the suspension, i can get on the phone right now and have an answer in MINUTES as to the suggested back spacing for your Camaro. That's just....no....
As far as suspension goes, i am a wholesaler for:
Rod & Custom
Ride Tech
Control Freaks
Global West
Total Control
....and i have access to several more through my 3rd party warehouses....
Im an American Racing/Wheel Pros dealer as well, among others.
If you got questions, HMU and im happy to help. As you know, i deal in classic Fords/Mustang, not Chevy's. But a lot of these wholesalers are the same.
'bout to drive this motherfucker to your shop...
Yeah - "You want adjustables?" was about the damndest thing I've ever heard. He coulda just asked if I want my water wet and it wouldn't have puzzled me any more than that.
Playing phonetag with my guy Mitch and if he's willing to take it, I'm getting it out of there. I just can't wrap my head around that answer.
Do you know of anyone that sells the standard old school 5-slot rallye GM wheels but made of aluminum? Looks like BG Rod Works does, but the widest I can get in 15s is a 7 inch and that won't hold 265s on the back. I think I'd have to go up to 17s in back and that's too much offset, IMO. Will look a little strange.
It looks like American Racing Vintage might do something like that but i think they only go down to 17s. And I just am not dealing with fender rub up front anymore. And I'd like to get to 15s so I can put more sidewall in there (ride and cosmetic purposes).
Essentially this. 15" or 16" and in aluminum if possible. If I have to go steel, I will - they're just not as good.
I'd almost rather nut up and spend the money on the damn 2-pieces than go steel, but we're talking another $2K to do so for wheels that don't really require a 2-piece setup to look how I want them to.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
'bout to drive this motherfucker to your shop...
Yeah - "You want adjustables?" was about the damndest thing I've ever heard. He coulda just asked if I want my water wet and it wouldn't have puzzled me any more than that.
Playing phonetag with my guy Mitch and if he's willing to take it, I'm getting it out of there. I just can't wrap my head around that answer.
Do you know of anyone that sells the standard old school 5-slot rallye GM wheels but made of aluminum? Looks like BG Rod Works does, but the widest I can get in 15s is a 7 inch and that won't hold 265s on the back. I think I'd have to go up to 17s in back and that's too much offset, IMO. Will look a little strange.
It looks like American Racing Vintage might do something like that but i think they only go down to 17s. And I just am not dealing with fender rub up front anymore. And I'd like to get to 15s so I can put more sidewall in there (ride and cosmetic purposes).
Essentially this. 15" or 16" and in aluminum if possible. If I have to go steel, I will - they're just not as good.
I'd almost rather nut up and spend the money on the damn 2-pieces than go steel, but we're talking another $2K to do so for wheels that don't really require a 2-piece setup to look how I want them to.
Ugh...So irritating.
I can take a look. Quick note though:
Stay far, far away from 16's. That's a big nope. Tire manufacturers just aren't making them. They make tires for mainstream, modern cars. Most of which are 17" plus. Most of your options for a decent tire is going to start in the 17" range. Most of the 16" options out there are truck tires.
I know Classic's like the 15's, but even with 15's your tire options are pretty limited. You'll have several decent tire options in 15". You're gonna create yourself a NIGHTMARE if you put 16's on it. Once you move up to a 17", everyone and their mama makes a tire for that. [Reply]
