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ghoffman My new Penskes are in!
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258 Posts
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My new Penskes (coil over shocks)came in yesterday, in kit form (we are a dealer, so that is what we requested). What we will do tomorrow is partially assemble a front and a back with all of the new "T" bar (tested to over 4000 pounds!):
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Tbarwithbearing.jpg[/IMG]

new clicker lower rear clevis with quick change pin:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/IMG_0384.jpg[/IMG]

and new upper clevis mounts
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/IMG_0394.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/IMG_0390.jpg[/IMG]

and go through the full range of suspension travel. One of the big advantages here of the Penskes is that we can change the body and shaft lengths in 1/2 inch increments to get the optimum travel both at full bump and full droop with maximum possible travel.

After that is correct, them we will assemble them, dyno them. These have a piston that is a linear on the rebound side and a VDP (Velocity Dependant Piston) on the compression side. The VDP has some very unique characteristics in that it is soft at very low shaft speeds, and has a rising rate at the high speed (shaft speed, not vehicle) so that the big slammer bumps/transitions don't hit so hard. If you are interested, see page 25 of the manual:
[url]http://hardbarusa.com/PenskeManual.pdf[/url]

So, I am going to be very busy this weekend, I can't wait to try them for real!
Posted on: 2008/4/18 12:34
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runner140 Re: My new Penskes are in!
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They look great. Bet they cost as much as my ride. Thanks for showing a beautiful product.
Posted on: 2008/4/18 12:45
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BillH Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Beautiful, Gary. Why the PIP pin on the lower clevis? Is that to make spring changes easy? Assuming the shocks are upsidedown.
Posted on: 2008/4/18 14:19
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BrianCunningham Re: My new Penskes are in!
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His adapters fit more than just Penskes.

Get if you want to go to coilovers like I'm doing.
Posted on: 2008/4/18 17:28
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383 LT1/Vortech Supercharger/AFR heads/Rod end suspension/Penske-Hardbar dual rate coilovers/Wilwood 6pot brakes
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ghoffman Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Quote:

BillH wrote:
Beautiful, Gary. Why the PIP pin on the lower clevis? Is that to make spring changes easy? Assuming the shocks are upsidedown.

The push pin (with the new upper clevis) allows one to remove the coil-over shock assembly in about a minute. This is especially nice when I want to try many setups on one day. If it is easy to try new things, more information will be gathered because it is not as big a PITA to do it!
The OE fastener is an M16, that is huge! Our aluminum pin is very stout in shear, more than the car generate, but I was not planning on selling it. It is a easy test aid mostly, although it saves about 1/4 pound of unsprung weight on each corner...
Posted on: 2008/4/19 2:20
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ghoffman Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Quote:

runner140 wrote:
They look great. Bet they cost as much as my ride. Thanks for showing a beautiful product.


Thanks for the kudo's, but the upper mounts and lower front "T" bar are common for C4, C5 and C6. They will retail for $75 a corner, so you can, as Brian said, run a Bilstein, Koni, etc, with clean, professional mounts that don't rattle. We have a new lower rear due out very soon specifically for C4's (only)that eliminates the crappy single shear stud that everybody bends, even without coilovers. It is being made as we speak, so stay tuned!
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/assem5a.jpg[/IMG]
Posted on: 2008/4/19 13:40
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LD85 Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Indianapolis, Indiana
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Quote:

ghoffman wrote:
Quote:

runner140 wrote:
They look great. Bet they cost as much as my ride. Thanks for showing a beautiful product.


Thanks for the kudo's, but the upper mounts and lower front "T" bar are common for C4, C5 and C6. They will retail for $75 a corner, so you can, as Brian said, run a Bilstein, Koni, etc, with clean, professional mounts that don't rattle. We have a new lower rear due out very soon specifically for C4's (only)that eliminates the crappy single shear stud that everybody bends, even without coilovers. It is being made as we speak, so stay tuned!
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/assem5a.jpg[/IMG]


Anxious to hear what the price will be for these
Posted on: 2008/5/1 10:56
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ghoffman Re: My new Penskes are in!
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quote]Anxious to hear what the price will be for these[/quote]
Soon, perhaps this week. In the mean time, we have them all up and running now.This is our shot at "the best", using a Penske 8700 3 way with VDP's (velocity dependant pistons). If you can find a better setup, anywhere, please let me know. We have studied most of the Euro and other brands, and some do some things well, others do other things well. We incorporate the best from the others and incorporate them in this package. These incorporate all of the improvements that we have been showing for a couple of months. They are the product of many, many hours optimizing the mechanical configuration by using specific length bodies, shafts and end attachments so that the tires do not hit the bodywork, and we maximize droop while maintaining spring and CV joint boot clearance.

Front:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0407.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0408.jpg[/IMG]

Note the rebound adjuster (the set screw near the lower bearing and new super alloy "T" bar. Just insert a ball driver and you have 40 clicks of adjustment. The new T bar is 2x the yield strength of the Penske part and is easily removable for spring changes.

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0406.jpg[/IMG]

Rear:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0419.jpg[/IMG]
Note the setscrew rebound adjuster similar to the front but incorporated into the rear clevis. The quick pin is for ease of spring changes since we will be offering this package to a variety of customers (some lighter and with downforce) and is not planned for production, but is an aid for us to be able to do rapid spring changes.

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0420.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0416.jpg[/IMG]

The new upper mounts eliminate the upper pin top mount with a very solid Hardbar unique mount that has zero slop (US made CNC billet aluminum and SS shoulder bolts) and no threads in shear. It is very quiet with no rattles and very low friction US made Aurora bearings, and is adjustable in 2 axes for spring clearance. These are available separately for other brand shocks. You can also see our stud kit made of the same allow as the T bar.

Front:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0403.jpg[/IMG]

Rear:
[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/IMG_0415.jpg[/IMG]

Even the small stuff was not overlooked, plastic covered SS hoses, new high and low speed adjusters, synthetic oil, new easy to adjust spring perches on Acme threads, and every one is dyno tested and the data is included in the purchase.
This setup is available in non-adjustable, single adjustable (with your choice of having the adjuster be bump or rebound), the superb 8300 series doubles, or the top of the line 8700 triple shown here;

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/DSC_0001.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks!,
Gary
Posted on: 2008/5/12 16:35
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BillH Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Very nice setup, Gary.
Posted on: 2008/5/13 14:17
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ghoffman Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Thanks Bill! They work better than they look. I am frankly amazed how much better they are than even my older Penske 8100's. I think one thing that is overlooked in the shock discussion is that the better shocks like these have a wider operating range than a simple shock. It is analogous to a speaker system having a bass, mid, and tweeter to cover the full range of notes in music. It is the same thing here where the suspension has to control low speed (shock shaft speed, not vehicle) like body roll, and high speed like potholes, ripple bumps while braking, etc. It is also very convenient to be able to access any adjustment (except ride height) while on the car and not have to remove the wheels.
Posted on: 2008/5/17 12:43
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BillH Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Yea, Penske's. The top 3 guys in club Formula Ford out here are running 8700's. The Koni's I run are excellent shocks but running side by side with these guys, their cars are just more stable in the corners, good for almost 1 second per lap. However, $875 times 4.
Posted on: 2008/5/17 14:25
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ghoffman Re: My new Penskes are in!
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The control is fantastic I can report, Penske 8700's are absolutely first class. I am amazed how well these work on really bad roads. If anyone is going to be at the May 27 NHMS event, I will be giving test rides.
Posted on: 2008/5/22 2:11
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LD85 Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Any progress on the rear lower mounts?
Posted on: 2008/6/3 19:41
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BrianCunningham Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Here they are!

I'm looking forward to seeing Gary's new mounts later this week

[QUOTE=ghoffman;1566170340]Thanks Mark, here are some pics of the first prototype C4 lower rear mount. The production versions will be anodized and the shock mount area (with the shoulder bolt) enlarged for the Bilstiens, QA-1 etc.

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/DSC_0002-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/DSC_0003-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/gshoffman/Corvette%20shocks/DSC_0004-1.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Posted on: 2008/7/9 18:03
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Polo Green 95 LT1 6-spd http://mysite.verizon.net/vzevcp74/
383 LT1/Vortech Supercharger/AFR heads/Rod end suspension/Penske-Hardbar dual rate coilovers/Wilwood 6pot brakes
NCCC Governor: http://BayStateCorvetteClub.com
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BrianCunningham Re: My new Penskes are in!
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Well it really sounds like I need double adjustables in order to do what I need
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=2127427
http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/311295.aspx

That's going to run me $900 per corner.

With it being so late in the season, I'm putting it off until spring, when I'll do a complete suspension rebuild.
Posted on: 2008/9/9 20:12
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Polo Green 95 LT1 6-spd http://mysite.verizon.net/vzevcp74/
383 LT1/Vortech Supercharger/AFR heads/Rod end suspension/Penske-Hardbar dual rate coilovers/Wilwood 6pot brakes
NCCC Governor: http://BayStateCorvetteClub.com
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