"Sword" owners introduction!
08-08-2010, 02:38 AM
#11
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lol, at the rate you're going with it, it will take you about 50 years to get that million miles in!
Mine, I have big plans for, but no cash. I'm a dreamer, but a poor one that that.
In the past few cars I've owned, all have had money dumped into them just to keep them running and getting me to work, so I can make money, so I can dump it back into the cars that keep breaking down.
Honestly, besides the HIDs, I think the FE5 suspension was the first "mod" I've done in a long time. Something that didn't "need" to be fixed to keep it going down the road.
But I swear right now, every paycheck is going to replace parts on this car, trying to chase down this nasty vibration I keep getting that no shop can seem to diagnose. All they want to do is swap parts out, and heck, I can do that myself, and the labor rate is a lot cheaper if I do it!! lol
Mine, I have big plans for, but no cash. I'm a dreamer, but a poor one that that.
In the past few cars I've owned, all have had money dumped into them just to keep them running and getting me to work, so I can make money, so I can dump it back into the cars that keep breaking down.
Honestly, besides the HIDs, I think the FE5 suspension was the first "mod" I've done in a long time. Something that didn't "need" to be fixed to keep it going down the road.
But I swear right now, every paycheck is going to replace parts on this car, trying to chase down this nasty vibration I keep getting that no shop can seem to diagnose. All they want to do is swap parts out, and heck, I can do that myself, and the labor rate is a lot cheaper if I do it!! lol
08-08-2010, 05:14 PM
#12
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Well, the FE5 is fairly simple. Although, its from a 2005 GXP, which fits the 8th gen LeSabres 2000-2005. Not sure about yours, although I think comparable year SSEi parts would work. I know they got bigger anti-roll bars, which is a huge help. It depends on what you're starting with. Does it have Gran Touring suspension already? And what size wheels? Going from a 15" wheel/tire to a 16" with shorter sidewall helps, plus you can get tires with a stiffer performance oriented sidewall that helps cornering and steering stability.
Same generation Bonnevilles have interchangeable parts. If you have FE1 (soft ride), you can find a car with FE2 and swap in the parts. You might have better luck going into the 1999 and older Bonneville section here and start asking, since I'm not sure what the differences are myself. Thats what I did when I first came here. I found someone that modified a Bonneville with FE2 to accept the FE5, and just followed their road map. As far as I know, no one else has done it with a LeSabre, but quite a few have done it to Bonnevilles. No one really modifies LeSabres, Bonneville owners tend to think more along these lines, so most of what works for them works for us.
The GXP is very unique, in that it wasnt a 3800 powered car. It has a Northstar V8. So the spring rates in the front are much higher to support the weight. So, in a 3800 car, it actually handles a bit stiffer due to less weight. The springs I got from Morad Parts (you can find them on Ebay, extremely great seller. Specializes in FWD GM cars.) from a 53k mile GXP. So they had settled a bit, and didn't raise ride height like new springs would. The struts were new off Rock Auto. The rear air shocks, springs, and both stabilizer bars were from Morad Parts. But I did have to get new mounts for the bars, as they are much larger. (I had FE1 to start with.) Other than the links for the stabilizer bars, it was a complete bolt in and go setup. You can't find anything good aftermarket for the LeSabres, which is how I ended up here, looking for opinions from other H body car owners. Monroe struts, and KYB struts are meant as stock replacements, and don't really change anything. So if the stock ones aren't worn out, those aren't going to make things better.
Yeah, I didn't like the floaty feeling either. I did the same for my 87 Regal. Those cars cant corner at all stock. So it got dropped 2" via springs, had custom valved Bilstein shocks, and I did a bunch of the suspension in poly bushings to replace the rubber ones. It also has custom frame braces up front and in the trunk in the rear. Also has 16" Centerline wheels with 255 series tires, and it doesn't even feel floaty at 130mph!
Same generation Bonnevilles have interchangeable parts. If you have FE1 (soft ride), you can find a car with FE2 and swap in the parts. You might have better luck going into the 1999 and older Bonneville section here and start asking, since I'm not sure what the differences are myself. Thats what I did when I first came here. I found someone that modified a Bonneville with FE2 to accept the FE5, and just followed their road map. As far as I know, no one else has done it with a LeSabre, but quite a few have done it to Bonnevilles. No one really modifies LeSabres, Bonneville owners tend to think more along these lines, so most of what works for them works for us.
The GXP is very unique, in that it wasnt a 3800 powered car. It has a Northstar V8. So the spring rates in the front are much higher to support the weight. So, in a 3800 car, it actually handles a bit stiffer due to less weight. The springs I got from Morad Parts (you can find them on Ebay, extremely great seller. Specializes in FWD GM cars.) from a 53k mile GXP. So they had settled a bit, and didn't raise ride height like new springs would. The struts were new off Rock Auto. The rear air shocks, springs, and both stabilizer bars were from Morad Parts. But I did have to get new mounts for the bars, as they are much larger. (I had FE1 to start with.) Other than the links for the stabilizer bars, it was a complete bolt in and go setup. You can't find anything good aftermarket for the LeSabres, which is how I ended up here, looking for opinions from other H body car owners. Monroe struts, and KYB struts are meant as stock replacements, and don't really change anything. So if the stock ones aren't worn out, those aren't going to make things better.
Yeah, I didn't like the floaty feeling either. I did the same for my 87 Regal. Those cars cant corner at all stock. So it got dropped 2" via springs, had custom valved Bilstein shocks, and I did a bunch of the suspension in poly bushings to replace the rubber ones. It also has custom frame braces up front and in the trunk in the rear. Also has 16" Centerline wheels with 255 series tires, and it doesn't even feel floaty at 130mph!
08-08-2010, 05:36 PM
#13
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Well, the FE5 is fairly simple. Although, its from a 2005 GXP, which fits the 8th gen LeSabres 2000-2005. Not sure about yours, although I think comparable year SSEi parts would work. I know they got bigger anti-roll bars, which is a huge help. It depends on what you're starting with. Does it have Gran Touring suspension already? And what size wheels? Going from a 15" wheel/tire to a 16" with shorter sidewall helps, plus you can get tires with a stiffer performance oriented sidewall that helps cornering and steering stability.
Same generation Bonnevilles have interchangeable parts. If you have FE1 (soft ride), you can find a car with FE2 and swap in the parts. You might have better luck going into the 1999 and older Bonneville section here and start asking, since I'm not sure what the differences are myself. Thats what I did when I first came here. I found someone that modified a Bonneville with FE2 to accept the FE5, and just followed their road map. As far as I know, no one else has done it with a LeSabre, but quite a few have done it to Bonnevilles. No one really modifies LeSabres, Bonneville owners tend to think more along these lines, so most of what works for them works for us.
The GXP is very unique, in that it wasnt a 3800 powered car. It has a Northstar V8. So the spring rates in the front are much higher to support the weight. So, in a 3800 car, it actually handles a bit stiffer due to less weight. The springs I got from Morad Parts (you can find them on Ebay, extremely great seller. Specializes in FWD GM cars.) from a 53k mile GXP. So they had settled a bit, and didn't raise ride height like new springs would. The struts were new off Rock Auto. The rear air shocks, springs, and both stabilizer bars were from Morad Parts. But I did have to get new mounts for the bars, as they are much larger. (I had FE1 to start with.) Other than the links for the stabilizer bars, it was a complete bolt in and go setup. You can't find anything good aftermarket for the LeSabres, which is how I ended up here, looking for opinions from other H body car owners. Monroe struts, and KYB struts are meant as stock replacements, and don't really change anything. So if the stock ones aren't worn out, those aren't going to make things better.
Yeah, I didn't like the floaty feeling either. I did the same for my 87 Regal. Those cars cant corner at all stock. So it got dropped 2" via springs, had custom valved Bilstein shocks, and I did a bunch of the suspension in poly bushings to replace the rubber ones. It also has custom frame braces up front and in the trunk in the rear. Also has 16" Centerline wheels with 255 series tires, and it doesn't even feel floaty at 130mph!
Same generation Bonnevilles have interchangeable parts. If you have FE1 (soft ride), you can find a car with FE2 and swap in the parts. You might have better luck going into the 1999 and older Bonneville section here and start asking, since I'm not sure what the differences are myself. Thats what I did when I first came here. I found someone that modified a Bonneville with FE2 to accept the FE5, and just followed their road map. As far as I know, no one else has done it with a LeSabre, but quite a few have done it to Bonnevilles. No one really modifies LeSabres, Bonneville owners tend to think more along these lines, so most of what works for them works for us.
The GXP is very unique, in that it wasnt a 3800 powered car. It has a Northstar V8. So the spring rates in the front are much higher to support the weight. So, in a 3800 car, it actually handles a bit stiffer due to less weight. The springs I got from Morad Parts (you can find them on Ebay, extremely great seller. Specializes in FWD GM cars.) from a 53k mile GXP. So they had settled a bit, and didn't raise ride height like new springs would. The struts were new off Rock Auto. The rear air shocks, springs, and both stabilizer bars were from Morad Parts. But I did have to get new mounts for the bars, as they are much larger. (I had FE1 to start with.) Other than the links for the stabilizer bars, it was a complete bolt in and go setup. You can't find anything good aftermarket for the LeSabres, which is how I ended up here, looking for opinions from other H body car owners. Monroe struts, and KYB struts are meant as stock replacements, and don't really change anything. So if the stock ones aren't worn out, those aren't going to make things better.
Yeah, I didn't like the floaty feeling either. I did the same for my 87 Regal. Those cars cant corner at all stock. So it got dropped 2" via springs, had custom valved Bilstein shocks, and I did a bunch of the suspension in poly bushings to replace the rubber ones. It also has custom frame braces up front and in the trunk in the rear. Also has 16" Centerline wheels with 255 series tires, and it doesn't even feel floaty at 130mph!
03-14-2011, 04:43 PM
#14
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I know it'* late sinced the last post....however
my two cents to this thread w/my 'sword' is a 1989 Silver 4-door sedan...only custom...3.8 L...
Plain 'jane' daily driver by the wife...@ 229,505 yesterday....gifted to her from her father when he retired from daily driving (age)....
So nothing fancy...but a fairly nice ride...fairly reliable & consistant 'UP-TIME"...about 23 in city & 31 on the road...slow & steady...
More later
Plain 'jane' daily driver by the wife...@ 229,505 yesterday....gifted to her from her father when he retired from daily driving (age)....
So nothing fancy...but a fairly nice ride...fairly reliable & consistant 'UP-TIME"...about 23 in city & 31 on the road...slow & steady...
More later
03-14-2011, 04:56 PM
#15
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my two cents to this thread w/my 'sword' is a 1989 Silver 4-door sedan...only custom...3.8 L...
Plain 'jane' daily driver by the wife...@ 229,505 yesterday....gifted to her from her father when he retired from daily driving (age)....
So nothing fancy...but a fairly nice ride...fairly reliable & consistant 'UP-TIME"...about 23 in city & 31 on the road...slow & steady...
More later
Plain 'jane' daily driver by the wife...@ 229,505 yesterday....gifted to her from her father when he retired from daily driving (age)....
So nothing fancy...but a fairly nice ride...fairly reliable & consistant 'UP-TIME"...about 23 in city & 31 on the road...slow & steady...
More later
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