I can't believe I haven't posted to this since September 28th of 2009 time has slipped away so quickly but then again it seems like it has been way longer since I have had the ability to do anything to my cars other than keep them running or watch them continue to rust along with my hope of ever turning them into anything close to my dreams. 

Lots of things have happened since I posted last. I've spent 23 months unemployed, gotten engaged, became a full time college student, and was given a 1983 242 tic as an engagement present from Monkey. More on the 242 and the sad fate of the 740 later.

Today's update is all about what I did to the R. I will start with the boring and work my way up to the less boring. Several months ago Kevin let D and I take his 1997 850R home to cannibalize it of any usable parts before it went to Fólkvangr. This gave us quite a stockpile of goodies for when D's 95 GLT, Kevin's 95 T-5, or my R needed something. Well as life tends to do, D needs to part with his GLT and get a more fuel efficient vehicle for his 100+ mile round trip to work each day.  Before doing so he offered to swap parts from his car to mine. 

We started with the wiper arms and blades from Kevin's R, then the brakes and trunk lift supports. It is not like any of these components are upgrades, they are just in much better shape than what was on my R. 

The less than broing parts are what I got from D's GLT. I acquired his lowering springs and Bilstein HD shocks and struts.

This gives a general idea of size difference between the stock R springs and the lowering springs for the rear of the car.

Stock

Bilstein HD

The GLT with the stock R springs and struts 

The R with the lowering springs and Bilsteins sits 3/4 of an inch lower in the front or from by best guess 1 1/2  inches lower than a stock 850.

Rear before.

Rear after is about 1/2 an inch lower.

I haven't had the time to give the R a solid test yet but it feels lower when stepping out of the caR and the ride is a little more hash at low speed but that harshness is not as noticeable at high speed. The body roll has been greatly reduced and if feels much tighter in turns. There isn't as much of window between turning and pushing as there was with the stock R suspension and tire pressure my also be more critical but I have yet to test that theory. I hope that with Anti-Sway Bars from ipd will get my R handling as well or better than my 96 850 estate.