Performance Plus/Steeroids install

[Last Ride]

Well, the day is rapidly approaching for the "last ride" for a while. By the beginning of September, the car will be up on jack stands waiting for me to figure out how to put all this stuff on. I have heard that the directions for the Vette Brakes system are not the best. Any guidance from those that have been there as to what I should watch out for? If you believe the hype, then these things can be bolted on with hand tools. Is this true? How do you get the springs decompressed up front without shooting them into the floor or through the hood? This is going to be the beginning of a few winter projects that will include: a hydraboost kit, a stereo upgrade, and the Killer Light Brackets. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MaineShark]

How do you get the springs decompressed up front without shooting them into the floor or through the hood?

Two methods:

A spring compressor fits up through the center of the spring (actually, they usually come apart, so you can slip them through the coils and re-assemble them in the center of the spring). The fingers grab the coils (get them as high and low as you can), and the central screw tightens the spring down.

You can also put a jack under the lower control arm, and jack it up. That will compress the spring. Then you simply use a lenght of sturdy chain to hold the spring in that position (get a bolt and nut and washers that are sized properly to allow you to bolt the chain to itself, forming a loop around one side of the spring). After the chain is secure, you lower the jack slowly, and then remove the compressed spring. I'd recommend using either a spring compressor or a strut compressor to tighten the spring down a bit so that you can remove the chain, then slowly unscrew it to relax the spring - you don't want to be storing a "charged" spring.

Personally, I did the chain thing on one spring, and I think I'm just going to go ahead and buy or rent a spring compressor, for re-installing the spring, and doing the other. The chain thing is really annoying, and I still needed to use a borrowed strut compressor to relax the spring.

Joe

 

[matchframe]

Bryan,

Those are some sweet mods! The Steeroid, HydraBoost and Killer Lights will be really cool! The Performance Plus package from VP&B should make a big difference in the handling.

I will be taking the front springs off my frame in the next day or so, I let you know how it goes, and point out all the things I did wrong.....or right? Maybe they will be of help to you. I plan on buying a spring compressor for mine, I tried to borrow or rent one, but could not come up with any.

Bill

 

[groovyjay]

Like I've said many times before you are definately on the right track man! It is also great that you already have most of the pieces needed so you can just bolt them on. I have done both the VBP+ and Steeroids conversions in my project, have both projects fully documented with lotsa pics, so I will be more than happy to help you the best I can when the time comes.

Basickally they are both very much Bolt on mods, I've heard that some guys had problems with their Steeroids alignment of the bracket holes, however I didn't have any. I also installed the Hydroboost, so I can help you with that too. Just gimme a shout when you are ready to Rock n Roll.