Suspension - $1000 budget

[Movin]

I am so laughing!!! I love the ride of the coil overs, I love the adjustability, I
love the sporty ride of the german struts, I love the long travel easy ride of
the 14" springs....Afco was awesome, the garage sale netted me chrome springs
of my specs discounted to 30 bucks a spring. The civic coil over kit was under
50 bucks and I have a full set of lowering springs to sell, the struts are buy 3
get one free every so often..small parts were cheap...but there is always more,
I am building a heim joint camber control and a track rod for performance use
and that will probably morph on..thats what a hobby is about!!

[Bert]

I would suggest that far and away 'biggest bang for the buck' is an Aspire swap including front sway bar. Procuring the donor car or parts plus new bearings/pads etc and work involved will easily eat into the $1000 investment.
Once you get used to superior tires, brakes and handling you can then start tinkering with springs and shocks.

[jeanpierreleb]

(well maybe tied with the mark 4 spitfire rear suspension) with that kind of money i would look into custom fab work to install real lower control arms (like a 323 or maybe even tubular for that kind of cash)

What is that?

I would suggest that far and away 'biggest bang for the buck' is an Aspire swap including front sway bar. Procuring the donor car or parts plus new bearings/pads etc and work involved will easily eat into the $1000 investment.
Once you get used to superior tires, brakes and handling you can then start tinkering with springs and shocks.

What year Aspire could I swap the rear end into my '91 Festi from if I went that route?

[jeanpierreleb]

:eeeeeek: seriously? i guess im just sticker shocked cause i have the time, patience, and mechanical ability to achieve my desired ride quality without spending enough money to buy another car...

Lol. I don't have the time unless I make it and don't make the time unless I can't afford it. It's a catch 22 but, I would much rather be in your realm and learn to build it myself.

What would you do to get the suspension lower and sporty, the handling and steering improved and better, bigger braking?

[jeanpierreleb]

I would suggest that far and away 'biggest bang for the buck' is an Aspire swap including front sway bar. Procuring the donor car or parts plus new bearings/pads etc and work involved will easily eat into the $1000 investment.
Once you get used to superior tires, brakes and handling you can then start tinkering with springs and shocks.

What is the difference between the rear end of the Aspire vs. Festiva besides the disk brakes?

[Chobobulous]

What is the difference between the rear end of the Aspire vs. Festiva besides the disk brakes?

i didnt think the aspire had disk brakes

[TominMO]

What is the difference between the rear end of the Aspire vs. Festiva besides the disk brakes?

Aspires do not have rear disk brakes. They have larger drum brakes than the Festiva, and a stiffer rear beam. Different struts and slightly stiffer springs too.