Hey everyone,
I got one side of the girling volvo calipers upgrade done tonight. I remember reading somewhere (dont remember) that after doing this mod, an E21 owner can no longer use the turbine wheels due to packaging constraints--hence the reason why i was looking for steelies a while back. Lo and behold, my calipers seem to clear the turbine wheels fine. One minor "tick" in a certain area which could be a slight interference with the rim as it rotates, but I still have about 1mm of pad overhang meaning i can always grind down the struts mounting location a little for extra clearance. Just figured i'd let everyone know.

Pictures:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/cornstar43/100_0189.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/cornstar43/100_0191.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/cornstar43/100_0188.jpg

sorry , but you have freakin coilovers!? what the hell? i want some!

Nice job! I might do this upgrade soon.

Are those GC coilovers? Everyone keeps saying that custom fabrication is required to fit those coilovers in a E21... is that true? what's needed? GC's site seems to say that you only need custom fabbing if you need to go really low... in any case, what fabbing exactly would be necessary, and is it always necessary or just if you want to go very very low?

Nice job! I might do this upgrade soon.

Are those GC coilovers? Everyone keeps saying that custom fabrication is required to fit those coilovers in a E21... is that true? what's needed? GC's site seems to say that you only need custom fabbing if you need to go really low... in any case, what fabbing exactly would be necessary, and is it always necessary or just if you want to go very very low?

To answer both replies, those are GC coilovers using E21 bilstein sport shocks. If you want to go really low, some people use the VW shock inserts up front and shorten the strut tubes. Other than that, putting GCs on a stock suspension requires no modifications. I cut the stock spring perches off because i no longer needed them and they were taking up space if i ever wanted to do a wider tire.

Cool, thanks for the reply. This is the same as the E36 GC coilovers then - my spring perches are cut off too, but it's not required.

Cool, thanks for the reply. This is the same as the E36 GC coilovers then - my spring perches are cut off too, but it's not required.

Yeah, though i'm pretty sure your rear suspension will be setup differently on the E36.

Yeah, though i'm pretty sure your rear suspension will be setup differently on the E36.
Yeah, the rears on the E36 are not coil-over-shock. The spring sits between the subframe and the A-arm (if that's what it's called).

Anyway, this is good news. I'll probably be getting the GC kit after I'm done with the M20 engine swap. I'll trust GC to tell me what spring rates to run at that point, since I'll have a gutted interior and no A/C, but a slightly heavier engine.

I got news for you, they have one set of rates that who knows who decided works on an e21 and thats what they will give you unless you specify differently. Need advice? Better call someone else, they don't have any. Want to know what their standard spring rates are? Buy them and see, because they won't tell you. I suggest you start now recording all the e21s with coilovers you can find, what rates they have, how much they weigh, etc. etc. Then you will know exactly what to specify when you order.