Wider, Lower and 'Slightly' Louder....
Discussion
I picked up my car this afternoon after having the following done and thought I would share the outcome as I had a 120 mile drive home:
RSC 15mm Front Wheel Spacers
RSC 22mm Rear Wheel Spacers
RSC Extended Hub Studs
H&R Lowering Springs (1 ¼” Lower)
Geometry Set-up
RS Fabrications 200 Cell Cats
Black Ceramic Tailpipes
For the past few months I have been buying up the parts I wanted to have fitted to my V8 Vantage, did not get home until after dark so no photos yet, so...
Wheel Spacers: (Why? Aesthetics...)
I did quite a bit of research and decided to go with "Hub Centric" Wheel Spacers with extended hub studs from RSC, I had a few issues with delivery timings but all was ok in the end.
The downside of using the extended hub studs meant I needed to find a company who would remove the hubs, press out the original studs and press in the extended studs and replace the hubs, I took a wheel and disc off to take a look and no small job...
Lowering Springs: (Why? Mainly Aesthetics but the ride has never seemed quite right...)
I have made a few mistakes on this front in the past, mainly on my TVR so this was a bit of a gamble, but my thinking was that I could always change the springs back.
Only 120 miles home but I think the gamble has paid off as I am happy, the sales stuff on their website is fair:
Get the best of both worlds - comfort and handling in one package. Lowers approximately 1.25"
200 Cell Cats: (Why? Sound...)
Yeap, definitely sound, lots of sound as I already had a QuickSilver Backbox fitted, below 3k louder, over 3k much, much louder!
I had the car dyno'ed before the Cats were fitted and plan to re-run just to see the difference, not that fused as sound was the main objective...
If I had my time again I would have replaced the Cats and added a remote valve switch before the QuickSilver Backbox as they cost is about the same and I would have had the benefit of automatic/switch-able exhaust valves, I have the original backbox if I ever want to swap back.
Black Ceramic Tailpipes: (Why? Aesthetics...)
I could not find any in Carbon Fibre ;-)
Which Independent (and I am really not looking to start a 'Who is Better than Who' thread here, just my own experience/opinion...)
I spoke to a few independents and for my own reasons I decided to use David Appleby Engineering.
James gave me great advice before I decided to let them do the work, really good communications whilst they had the car, everything was done within the time-scale (as I stayed in Banbury overnight this was quite important) and refreshingly no surprises or shocks when it came to pay the bill!
RSC 15mm Front Wheel Spacers
RSC 22mm Rear Wheel Spacers
RSC Extended Hub Studs
H&R Lowering Springs (1 ¼” Lower)
Geometry Set-up
RS Fabrications 200 Cell Cats
Black Ceramic Tailpipes
For the past few months I have been buying up the parts I wanted to have fitted to my V8 Vantage, did not get home until after dark so no photos yet, so...
Wheel Spacers: (Why? Aesthetics...)
I did quite a bit of research and decided to go with "Hub Centric" Wheel Spacers with extended hub studs from RSC, I had a few issues with delivery timings but all was ok in the end.
The downside of using the extended hub studs meant I needed to find a company who would remove the hubs, press out the original studs and press in the extended studs and replace the hubs, I took a wheel and disc off to take a look and no small job...
Lowering Springs: (Why? Mainly Aesthetics but the ride has never seemed quite right...)
I have made a few mistakes on this front in the past, mainly on my TVR so this was a bit of a gamble, but my thinking was that I could always change the springs back.
Only 120 miles home but I think the gamble has paid off as I am happy, the sales stuff on their website is fair:
Get the best of both worlds - comfort and handling in one package. Lowers approximately 1.25"
200 Cell Cats: (Why? Sound...)
Yeap, definitely sound, lots of sound as I already had a QuickSilver Backbox fitted, below 3k louder, over 3k much, much louder!
I had the car dyno'ed before the Cats were fitted and plan to re-run just to see the difference, not that fused as sound was the main objective...
If I had my time again I would have replaced the Cats and added a remote valve switch before the QuickSilver Backbox as they cost is about the same and I would have had the benefit of automatic/switch-able exhaust valves, I have the original backbox if I ever want to swap back.
Black Ceramic Tailpipes: (Why? Aesthetics...)
I could not find any in Carbon Fibre ;-)
Which Independent (and I am really not looking to start a 'Who is Better than Who' thread here, just my own experience/opinion...)
I spoke to a few independents and for my own reasons I decided to use David Appleby Engineering.
James gave me great advice before I decided to let them do the work, really good communications whilst they had the car, everything was done within the time-scale (as I stayed in Banbury overnight this was quite important) and refreshingly no surprises or shocks when it came to pay the bill!
Aston has carbon fiber exhaust tips available for the Vantage through their Q division but they don't even have a price listed for them and I'm not sure I want to know how much they cost. They were on the GT sales brochure when I ordered my car (along with a cool Carbon Fiber and Kevlar parcel shelf replacement). The tips were originally developed for the One-77
Sounds great but where are the pictures!? 
I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
That looks great!
Mine looks very much like that, but a Roadster and in White ;-)
I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can give the car a wash and I will get a very photos posted.
I need to give my car a good clean for the weekend as it has been included in the Timeline at the SOPARA14 - Support our Paras - The Parachute Regiment Charity event on Sunday and it will be flanked by a DB9 Volante & Vanquish Volante...
The AMOC have done a great job of getting 45 cars to fill the Timeline from a 1951 DB2 saloon through to a 2014 Vanquish Volante.
Not sure what will be made of a Pearl White car covered in Carbon!
Also it seemed like a good idea at the time to participate in the parachuting 'for charity', I have always wanted to have a go and kind of figured who better to do it with than the Parachute Regiment/Red Devils at a 70th and 50th anniversary event!
What can possibly go wrong...!?
Mine looks very much like that, but a Roadster and in White ;-)
I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can give the car a wash and I will get a very photos posted.
I need to give my car a good clean for the weekend as it has been included in the Timeline at the SOPARA14 - Support our Paras - The Parachute Regiment Charity event on Sunday and it will be flanked by a DB9 Volante & Vanquish Volante...
The AMOC have done a great job of getting 45 cars to fill the Timeline from a 1951 DB2 saloon through to a 2014 Vanquish Volante.
Not sure what will be made of a Pearl White car covered in Carbon!
Also it seemed like a good idea at the time to participate in the parachuting 'for charity', I have always wanted to have a go and kind of figured who better to do it with than the Parachute Regiment/Red Devils at a 70th and 50th anniversary event!
What can possibly go wrong...!?
northernmedia said:
Sounds great but where are the pictures!?
I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
It can be done. I have removed/installed the finishers about 5 times, but it is a bit like a puzzle and you have to be careful not to scratch them or your hands. It helps to have a large variety of flexible tools to reach into small or awkward spaces. I have also had a few set of tailpipe finishers powder coated. The cost over by where I live was $25US for a pair. I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
northernmedia said:
Sounds great but where are the pictures!?
I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
I bought them from http://www.vcollection.com/products/V8_Vantage_Par... - had a choice of Gloss or Matt Black.I've been thinking of doing the same.
The ceramic tailpipes aren't cheap though are they!
Can I ask where you bought them?
I spoke with a powder coat specialist who's apparently painted a number of Harley Davidson exhausts in a satin black, thought it might a cheaper alternative?
Can the tailpipe finishers be removed without taking off the bumper?
From what I understand the simplest way is to remove the backbox to swap out, I spoke to a local exhaust centre who had no issue with doing this for me before I decided to let the guys at DAE do it whilst they were working on the car.
Easy if you have the new parts to swap over, a little more complicated if you need to have the original parts refinished!
Before I decided to buy a pair I did managed to find a local powder coating company who do a lot of custom work for bikes and cars even though their main work if gates and other large metal stuff, Google did not help this time more local knowledge from a motorcycle workshop!
Omaruk said:
Awwww man.. thats nice! what wheels are they?? and love the black window surrounds!KarlFranz said:
It can be done. I have removed/installed the finishers about 5 times, but it is a bit like a puzzle and you have to be careful not to scratch them or your hands. It helps to have a large variety of flexible tools to reach into small or awkward spaces. I have also had a few set of tailpipe finishers powder coated. The cost over by where I live was $25US for a pair.
Thanks, might try and give it a go myself!MrBGR said:
I bought them from http://www.vcollection.com/products/V8_Vantage_Par... - had a choice of Gloss or Matt Black.
From what I understand the simplest way is to remove the backbox to swap out, I spoke to a local exhaust centre who had no issue with doing this for me before I decided to let the guys at DAE do it whilst they were working on the car.
Easy if you have the new parts to swap over, a little more complicated if you need to have the original parts refinished!
Before I decided to buy a pair I did managed to find a local powder coating company who do a lot of custom work for bikes and cars even though their main work if gates and other large metal stuff, Google did not help this time more local knowledge from a motorcycle workshop!
thanks they look pretty good - approx £175 sterling. Shipping's steep at $75! From what I understand the simplest way is to remove the backbox to swap out, I spoke to a local exhaust centre who had no issue with doing this for me before I decided to let the guys at DAE do it whilst they were working on the car.
Easy if you have the new parts to swap over, a little more complicated if you need to have the original parts refinished!
Before I decided to buy a pair I did managed to find a local powder coating company who do a lot of custom work for bikes and cars even though their main work if gates and other large metal stuff, Google did not help this time more local knowledge from a motorcycle workshop!
Did you get stung for import duty?Omaruk said:
OMG...... That looks just like mine..... LOLshropshireAston said:
Omaruk said:
Awwww man.. thats nice! what wheels are they?? and love the black window surrounds!Fianlly got time to get some pictures taken:
Front Before:
Rear Before:
and after:
As hard as it is to believe the ride has been improved and feels much more planted without any back jarring harshness.
Still not sure about the noise, maybe a little 'tinny' so I may swap back to the standard backbox and remote switch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCyMSzdjFfM&fe...
Front Before:
Rear Before:
and after:
As hard as it is to believe the ride has been improved and feels much more planted without any back jarring harshness.
Still not sure about the noise, maybe a little 'tinny' so I may swap back to the standard backbox and remote switch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCyMSzdjFfM&fe...
Personally, I don't think that the car looks quite right on those springs. To me, it looks like the springs have been cut or they have collapsed some how.
The reason I say that is because the gap between the wheel and the arch is no longer equal around the circumference of the wheel: it is much closer at the top than at the sides. The wheels are now slightly 'lost' in the arch. Maybe a set of 20" wheels would help (which is what, I think, burntout has).
(Just IMHO, of course).
The reason I say that is because the gap between the wheel and the arch is no longer equal around the circumference of the wheel: it is much closer at the top than at the sides. The wheels are now slightly 'lost' in the arch. Maybe a set of 20" wheels would help (which is what, I think, burntout has).
(Just IMHO, of course).
BravoV8V said:
Personally, I don't think that the car looks quite right on those springs. To me, it looks like the springs have been cut or they have collapsed some how.
The reason I say that is because the gap between the wheel and the arch is no longer equal around the circumference of the wheel: it is much closer at the top than at the sides. The wheels are now slightly 'lost' in the arch. Maybe a set of 20" wheels would help (which is what, I think, burntout has).
(Just IMHO, of course).
Lowering always results in an uneven gap at the top, presuming that the gap was equal all round to begin with. The only way to make the gap equal around the tire is to install larger diameter tires; a 20" wheel diameter, in and of itself, won't help unless you maintain the same profile tire as was used in the 19" wheel. The reason I say that is because the gap between the wheel and the arch is no longer equal around the circumference of the wheel: it is much closer at the top than at the sides. The wheels are now slightly 'lost' in the arch. Maybe a set of 20" wheels would help (which is what, I think, burntout has).
(Just IMHO, of course).
If you do increase the profile by 5 on the 19s or keep the profile the same with 20s, you will fill the gap nicely (and evenly) and gain some ground clearance as well.
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