Autocross Suspension: Lower Aftermarket Springs

[ishtvan47]

I've been reading all the posts on ride height, changing springs and cutting springs, and I was wondering if anyone has found aftermarket springs lower than the IAPs.

My car has IAPs, and it's still too high for my tastes. I come from the school of "don't cut" and would prefer to use a shorter spring rather than snip a coil off. I've always been taught that cutting springs doesn't take into considering the spring rate, and thus can negatively impact handling.

I'm also looking to autocross my Fiat, so handling is more important than ride comfort or looks. But lower would be better regardless, right

So I really have three questions:

Who is autocrossing their Fiat, and what did you do to affect/improve handling?

Are there lower springs out there than the IAPs which everyone seems to be cutting down anyway?

Many of the old pics have expired, so does anyone have pics of lowered un-cut IAPs on 15" wheels?

[SLOSpider]

My old Fiat with lowering springs I think IAP but not sure with 16" Wheels.

[engineerted]

If you are looking for performance springs, any of the 5"x9 front and 5"x13" rear springs from AFCO, hypercoils, eibach will drop into the spider. You can slect from many differnt spring rates. Most of us racers run with 600-650 lb-in front and 175-225 lb-in rear springs. You are running with delrin bushings in the front ? If not get some!

Ted

[ishtvan47]

Thanks engineerted. This is really helpful.

Do you know what the spring rates are for the blue or red IAP springs? I bought the car with the blue springs already installed and can't find it on the paperwork I have. Can't find anything on their website either. I'm about to give them a call. Do you know what the stock spring rate on an '80 was? Maybe that will give me a baseline to work from.

600 sounds pretty stiff. If I wanted to drive this on the weekends as well, would you recommend something less severe? My car will remain street legal, but not a daily driver. I want to be able to make it around an autocross parking lot, but it doesn't need to look like your avatar pic. Cool pic by the way.

[ishtvan47]

Got the info on the reds from another site;

The red IAPs are 214 lbs per inch; Rear rate: 116 lbs per inch; Front coils: 9; Rear coils: 10. Not sure if the blues are any different. Maybe folks just like the color?

Steve

[mdrburchette]

I'm running stock early model springs with Koni shocks and a front 1" sway bar. It handles pretty dang good with some Kuhmo autocross tires. I'm not getting excessive roll and it hooks up nicely.
A friend of mine has his 80 Spider set up specifically for autocrossing with the 550 lb springs. His wife says it rides like a horse and buggy.

[azygoustoyou]

Just thinking about it makes my back hurt.