Here is my little dilema: Sometime this year I am going to be installing a new Kobel Predator GFX & the Knight Rider nose on my '86 Firebird. I currently have 15" rims & know that my car would not look good w/ them on w/ a GFX kit on as well. So I am going to step up to a 17" rim. Well the car is now going to sit higher so what should I do to make it look right? Cut the springs, lowering springs, or dropped spindles? Should I also rake the rear end by making it look a little higher or no? At the same time I will install new shocks & struts & hopefully a SFC & a PST front end rebuild kit. What kind of problems will I encounter if any at all. If any one of you guys have any better suggestions please shoot them over to me. Thanx

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

 

I probably should of also stated this as well: my springs are uneven, one side sits higher than another so new springs will be in the future. So which ones would be the question, either lowering springs or stock springs & who makes the best ones?
Here is a picture of a Firebird w/ the GFX kit that I want but it has 15" rims though. Thanx guys


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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

 

Well any suggestions guys???????

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

 

17" rims won't make the car sit any higher with the right sized tires on them. For example, my GTA has 16" rims with 245/50 tires on them. Total height is approximately 25.6". 275/40R17 tires are approximately the same height (calculated out it's 25.64" vs 25.66") 315/35R17 tires are 25.68" tall. Just get a tire with a shorter sidewall height and you won't HAVE to adjust your suspension. Just be careful of clearance problems if you go with anything wider then a 255 tire. The rims will need the right offsets too. I recommend getting 4th gen 17" tires and the appropriate spacers from Askulte. That's what I'll be doing this summer.

 

You should be able to go into any reputable tire shop and tell them you want a "plus 2 conversion" That will tell them you want to add 2 inches to your rim diameter and keep your overall height. You will also notice that when you switch to the larger rim with a shorter aspect ratio it will tighten your handling due to less sidewall flex and tread roll.

On the springs, I would get the GFX and tires on then decide on lowering or stock height springs. Eibach makes excellent sport springs and have always done well by me.

 

Thanx guys, that's exactly what I needed to know. Now all I have to do is save up now for it.

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E