Maharsi's build

[Maharsi]

Hi all,

I tho i would share my small mods im going to do. I'm still waiting on my summer mag/tire, mostly in 1-2 weeks.
I attached pictures of the shark fin antenna i just finished to install. If some1 wanted to see on an LTZ hatchback black. I wish to inform that the VG antenna its nice but the paint on it isn't THAT MUCH solid, so be careful when you install it. I scratched a tiny part and now there is a small white spot on it. eh.. You won't see it on pics cause its small and easly fix.
On second pic you can't see the antenna since it isn't that high (i was in angle and the car is doing an angle to tho)

The wheels on those pictures are with my winter mag/tire since here, in Quebec, all season tire are illegal in winter time.

Incoming :
-mag/tire 225/40rz18 on Enkei Ev5bronze - checked
-tint back windows 20 or 15% still undecided (what you think?) since stock tint is max legal-infront(70%thro) - checked 20-50
-plastidip on bowties - checked
-tuning probably the Vermont tune stage 0 since i don't have a laptop.

to be continued

M.

 

[Ferdie]

Like the wheels

dann look verry big 18inch!!

 

[Maharsi]

thx, actually those are 17" 205/50

 

[AndrewGS]

Bienvenue!

Car is lookin' good. Can't wait to see the 18"s.

 

[Maharsi]

Hey,

Just posting 2 pics, did my bowtie with plasti-dip, this product is good.

I'm happy with the result

M.

 

[SooperSonic]

Looking good! I would do 20% tint. I wouldn't want it to be too dark at night

 

[Maharsi]

Hey!

I'm back with my new 18" wheels! I got Nitto invo as tire which are really good.
I found the mags quite nice, but not that big cause of the style of the mag.

Looking at it, maybe going a lil lower pimp would be nice, any suggestion for new coils?

Let me know what you think!

Edit: (+2pics) Sry for blur i didn't wait she smiles to snap... haha
see ya
M.

 

[xtremsonic]

not bad, not bad at all.

 

[AndrewGS]

Damn, those look good!

 

[Cadillac74]

As far as coils i don't know of any out on the market but do know that Pedders and I think Eibach are suppose to come out with some in the next few months and Pedders has Coil over shocks out now if you want to spend big money.

 

[Maharsi]

Thx for comments.

I read a lil and yea pedders seems to works perfectly but are expensive... i was looking in the not expensive, i still want to keep a good ride quality tho.

 

[Maharsi]

hey all,
I wonder how those kits runs? :
Eibach® Pro Kit Lowering Springs 2012 Chevy Sonic 4dr Hatchback
or
http://www.tunersdepot.com/Suspensi...owering-Springs---2012-Chevy-Sonic-95929.html

Anyone knows if thoses kits are good? Or keeping the money and wait for the Pedders coilovers would be wiser?

thx

 

[laborsmith]

Think of it like this, Maharisi: there are more people who make lowering coils (drop springs) for Camaros than a body can keep track of, and many are priced much lower than Pedders (and some others equivalently priced but who do not make coils for the Sonic nor plan to) but Pedders is fully able to sell what they bring to the table.

Now it could be Camaro owners do not compare prices or have no need to be concerned about prices. (Wait, we are not talking about Corvette owners, are we? No. So may be price is a concern!)

Or it could be the Pedders product offers something in value that a less expensive product may not. It could be hype, but many 5th Gen Camaros are wearing Pedders coils. There is a time when a product either stands up to its reputation or falls. I suspect that since Pedders continues to be a product of choice in the Camaro after market world is a fact that speaks for itself. Its method of production and quality control makes it a product of choice.

But remember, I am biased as my Sonic has Pedders lowering coils. I know without a doubt that it would not have the ones you have linked. That does not mean the ones you have linked are bad, it only means that I believe my choice is better, at least for me.

Laborsmith

 

[Maharsi]

hey,

For what i could learn, Pedders is indeed a good way to go. But it seems really expensive to.. so i had to know if those could do the tricks.. i like the idea to replace the plastic part tho.
I also need to know what is max drop i can do if i dont want to switch the height every winter/summer... If i read correctly Pedders coils could be switched from stock to "dropped" easly?

 

[laborsmith]

Lowering coils would need to be physically changed to the OEM coils which would necessitate an alignment. Given the right tools, it can be done in your driveway.

Some who use coil overs record their alignment settings based on say lowered for street use then change to lower for race use that way they do not need to do an alignment every time they change, which process is different from changing the damping rate of the shock absorbers which is the way most do who are changing settings from street to race.

There is a debate on how much drop using just coils is safe. One inch is considered the least harmful, most agree 1.4 inches to be the maximum. Coil overs allow much more of a drop, say around two inches.

The Pedders lowering coils lower the front just over 1.25 inches, say 1.3 inches or one and five sixteenths and the rear just over 1 inch, say one and one sixteenth. JusticePete lowered his Sonic over one and one half inches in the front using Pedders lowering coils and stock 17" rims and tires.

If you are planning to race your Sonic then coil overs are best but lowering coils would work for most forms of racing but probably not for the drag strip. If you are lowering to improve the quality of your ride or perhaps for the look of the car then lowering coils should do the trick.

If I was still working (I am retired now) I would probably take the air dam off for the winter months. I have not looked at taking off the Sonic's air dam but if it is attached like the one on my last Camaro than it is probably six or eight nuts and bolts, much easier than changing springs. I have owned several cars that had trouble with more than a few inches of snow and the air dam would function as a snow plow but by not throwing the snow I would get stuck on the build up so I always carried a small folding shovel to dig myself out. My sport cars generally had summer only tires and that did not help. It was the sudden snow storms that would catch me, otherwise I would be driving a car or truck more suited to snow.

This reply is longer than I intended so I hope it helps.

Laborsmith

 

[Maharsi]

thx for the advises!

I'm thinking of lowering for ride and looks. I don't have plan to race other than "daily" fun. I have a feeling that using aftermarket coil on stock part would temper the life duration of the stock parts...
Getting off the air dam could be an option for winter, but I think i need a good "gap" for snow around the tire... i'll ask this week. I'm getting some minors fix and rear tint windows.

I like what justicepete and stratton have done with the pedders.

later

 

[wingman]

Eibachs are not available quite yet, but real close.

 

[Maharsi]

Hi everyone!

I got my windows tinted! I'm very happy with my result. It cost around 100$ (can) I did 50% front and 20% rear and back. 30% front is the legal limit, tho 50% pass unless you're too much a "look at me" guy/kid.

The pictures arent very good, i'm not a good at it... its ok since its from my cellphone

Tell what you think! I still need to wait for a drop, and i'm not decided yet for the tune.. I want it, but i don't know if i should since the motor is almost new (4700 km).

Thx for your comments!
M.

 

[Markizio]

AWESOME!! I have the exact same car and plan on tinting and blacking out the bowties...Now I can finally picture what it looks like haha. Nice rims btw, give it a nice edge, did you not like the stock rims? Mine came with nice silver 5 spoke 17"s did yours?

 

[Maharsi]

Thx Markizio,

I will take more pictures tomorrow, so you can see from more angles/reflections. I like 50-20, as soopersonic said, 20 is clear enough to still have a good view outside.

For the wheel, i wanted summer tire. Since stock had 4seasons and i wanted to mod a lil, i decide to sell the kit wheel/tire/TPMS (hint...if some1 interested).
I also like 18" so went for it, even if those Enkei doesn't show their big radius, hehe, I took awsome tires that fit only 18+ but worth the money.

M.