introduction and a few questions

[cbaileyevo13]

hi my name is chris and i am an allignment tech in MA. i recently purchased a 1999 grand maquis gs w/ 65,000 miles for $1200 dollars. I do have a basic a car knowledge, but it doesnt really go past routine service. ive posted these questions in other forms but didnt get answers probally becasue there on stickys allready.


question #1

i recently put a set of rims on the car, tire dimensions are, front 245/35R20 and the rears are 285/30R20, i dont have a rubbing problem i just dont like the way the car stands. here is a picture

i would like to lower it 1.5 inches front and rear but cannot find parts to do so i would like anyones advice on this because i know the car would look much better that way.


question #2

im interested in in a 3.73:1 ring and pinion swap, i have percission trac on my car and need it to be active because i hydroplane like crazy from the width of my rear wheels, if i swap the gears and change to a stronger police interceptor drive shaft will i need further parts for this system to work correctly?

[Lincolnmania]

welcome to gmn chris!

you might want to use speedway motors circle track springs to lower the car..........i mainly work on the boxes, so i'm not 100% sure how much they will lower the car

you can install 3.73 gears and the pi driveshaft, but you will need a sct tuner to correct the speedo or you wont be able to go over 90 mph with the 3.73's

[79lincolnlover]

Nice Whale!! Welcome to GMN

[cbaileyevo13]

thanx lincolnmania, and lincolnlover79

Suspension Question Update

i found a sticky that gave alot of info but it says for 91 and back, but is that for the calculated 1 inch drop or the parts wont fit? What changes to the suspenision were made after 91?

Here are links to the parts im looking at

front = http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Street...rings,166.html
rear = http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tru-Co...rings,168.html

if these do fit i will be satisfied for around an inch because even tho the od on my old and new tire/rim is very close it looks like its sittin a little to high.
if someone knows if theses will work on my 99 gm please let me know, or if they dont and you could point me a little closer in the right direction that would be great.

[Smokestacklightnin]

you could go old school and cut the springs, but I like to keep the geometry stock to avoid problems.

[p71towny]

Nice ride!

[gadget73]

Nice.

And yay, someone who can actually align one of these damn cars.

[1987cp]

Too bad you're nowhere near Michigan, if your alignment skillz are any good.

[cbaileyevo13]

ive alligned many panthers because my shop takes in local police department allignments, and all sorts of undercover cars "its quite surprisng when you goto hit a horn and all the sirens start going off. " actually off topic but one of the most interesting vechicles that came into my shop was a sting van, it was set up like a plumbing truck, had like 5 hd camcorders with a periscope, i had to test the battery, and when i opened the hood the guy who brought it was like no the other batterys and i looked at him like ???? he opened the back and i swear it was just like out of a movie i wish i took a picture but i dont think he would have appreciated it.

Also i was trying to avoid cutting springs because from what i heard u have to cut one full coil off and im looking for such a small drop and i know that will just lead to problems

[1987cp]

That sounds awfully nifty about that van!

On my '87 wagon, I cut a half coil. Made for a nice handling improvement without dropping too much, and I was ultimately able to get it aligned OK afterwards.

[grandpaslincoln]

Welcome!