The Hunt For Driveability in a 416

[Cromp85]

Im 99% sure at least the R8 exhaust back box will fit. I fitted the OE backbox off a 1.8 MGZS to my 220GSI as a cheap mot fix. The ZS mid pipe looked the same as mine, but im not shure of the front flange as i did not need to replace that pipe.

[The Origina lNom]

All pipes have arrived. So has Christmas and the lower temperatures, I'll try and get the interior swapped over during the break. Also got an R 25 that needs suspension mods to take it to GTi spec.

[The Origina lNom]

After the Christmas break, I have now obtained a pair of rear Spax springs to suit my car which I hope will not lower the back of the car by too much.
I have a garage full of other parts waiting to be fitted but I am saving my enthusiasm for slightly warmer weather.
I really need to fit some parts to regain garage space but all in good time.

[The Origina lNom]

Spring is here and I now have my Bilstein shock absorbers fitted all round.
I used the ZS120 front springs and rear Spax SO32002 springs for the 400RT.
Initially, I lost sharpness in the steering and the front was far too prone to understeer.This was because the rear of the car was far too low.
So I fitted 1cm spacers between the top cup and the spring which put a lot of tension on the spring and made the rear quite hard at the moment but it was always going to be a compromise using different springs front and back.
The 1cm lift of the rear dramatically improved the sharpness in my steering. The springs were a flowery hanging basket to fit to the shocks and I eventually borrowed a mates three claw spring compressors to enable me to get a turn or two on the top nut.
I live in an area where speed bumps are common and they are planning to introduce a 20mph speed limit so I needed the front to be controlled but fairly gentle which was why I did not buy a full Spax spring kit in the first place as it would have been too low as I run 55 profile rear tyres on 16" Hairpins and too hard for my old back.

[Vinny1979]

Bilstein make shocks for the r8?

[The Origina lNom]

No its a 400 RT bubble.

[The Origina lNom]

Slow progress.After much faffing, I have now fitted an MG TF leather steering wheel and airbag.
I am still struggling with suspension springs and ride height.
Spax S32002 springs are designed for 15 inch wheels and I am running 16 inch hairpins. I have used a spacer on the top of the damper to preload the rear springs and maintain clearance of the 205/50/16 tyres on the rear arches (even under load with rear passengers)
The problem I am having is that I have used ZS120 springs on the front dampers. They are designed for 17 inch wheels so I have a 50mm arch to tyre gap and having the vfront sit so high affects the steering geometry adversely.
the ZS spring rates are perfectly suited to the car apart from the ride height so I either need to have the spring rates measured and a new lower set made up which would cost around £200 or
'adsjust', the ZS120 springs to sit 25mm lower.
I contacted Spax Direct to try and buy a set of front springs but they were most unhelpful explaining that since they were not spring manufacturers the could only sell me a boxed full kit.
Imagine if tyre resellers would only sell you a set of four tyres when you needed one.
I declined, as whilst buying for springs would have been uncomfortable for my wallet, it would also have given me a harsher ride than I wanted.
There are many speed humps near where I live.