Advice for newbie - lowering springs & tyres for 4.3L V8

[Jedi4727]

Hi everyone,

I'm new in the aston community, with a 4.3L coupe which I'd like to continue upgrade its exterior looks, before moving to the engine (bamford rose in mind), to give it the looks of a V8S or a V12. Some of you might wonder why I simply didn't form start to this model.....Well, it's a question of budget....

I have so far fitted 19'' inches AM 10 spoke wheel, clear rear lights and the v12 side sills. Coming up is the more inclined tailgate (rsc tuning) as well as the carbon side vent blades. On order with rsc tuning, are the wheel spacers in 15mm front and 20mm back.
This has nicely improved the looks of the car, without deteriorating its profile. But I find the car not enough "muscular" and somewhat of weaker appear than the v8S which is the "target".....So here I am asking for advise to all of you more experienced.

My car currently has wheels fitted with 19"x8.5" 235/40/19 (96Y) potenza front and 19"x9.5" 275/35/19 (92Y) potenza rear....but I find this leaves a too large a gap between the tyre and the body of the car, while not giving the desired muscular look. Changing to 20" alloys is going to be to expensive for me and I was wondering whether :
(i) the wheel spacers will help me achieve visual looks of 250 front and 295 rear ?
(ii) using lowering springs will diminish the gap I mentioned ? But then, which dimensions should I go for in order to have the impression I've fitted 20"" alloys ?
(iii) my tyres are needs changing but I don't know if with my alloys and can go for front 255/35/19 and rear 295/30/19 or if i have to go for something else. Is there a good web site that provides you advise on wheel dimensions to choose ?

Finally, when looking at anAmv8S, I do have the impression the car is more massive / impressive than my 2007 model. Is the body of the V8s made in a different material than old 4.3L or is it the paint (onyx black) which is old giving that impression

All these questions might sound trivial for most of you....but i'd really appreciate your advice. The AM dealers in France (3) are that cooperative and don't seem to know more than just selling you a new car or doing the simple mods / servicing recommended by the factory..... So many thanks in advance for those dropping me a line to advice

[George H]

If you want it to look like a V8VS or a V12V why would you want it to look like it has 20" wheels on it? Neither of those models came with 20" wheels.

[Jedi4727]

Hi George,
You are indeed correct. My point is that I would like to have the car more muscular / aggressive but without spoiling its image. So just asking advice on the direction to go ....

[Lunablack]

As you're new around here Jedi, the best advice I can give, is that the last person on the forum to listen to regarding mods is George heed my advice or be prepared to get stressed out

If you wait around, some of the guys whom have a bit of imagination, and have actually done some of the mods you're talking about, Yeti, & Burnout to name just 2 have done lots of mods and are helpful with advice


Sorry George.... But newbys do need to be warned of your blunt, hate everything style..... So that we can avoid another Goorwichgate

[George H]

Lunablack said:

Sorry George.... But newbys do need to be warned of your blunt, hate everything style..... So that we can avoid another Goorwichgate

I was trying to be helpful! Pointless putting 20" wheels on when they arent on the car you're trying to make yours look like

[Jedi4727]

Hi Lunablack,
Advice much appreciated. Just hope the post will attract their attention
Thanks for all

[yeti]

Hi, sensible mods from you so far to achieve your goal - please stick with 19" on the Vantage as the 20"s, to my eye, are too large for the short wheelbase - just look at the V12V, anything goes on that car but they stuck with 19"....

I have a DB9 Volante manual (which is now something very different from standard) but the principle was the same, make the car look more aggressive than standard and like you budget stopped me buying a DBS. In fact, all the mods I have done up until now, 6-pot brakes, magnetorheological switchable suspension, 522bhp engine, DBS bonnet and wheels... all still much cheaper than a DBS Volante would be so my plan worked

Sounds like you have the 19" Sports Pack wheels which are the best looking of all 19" wheels and also the lightest. The spacers will work very well as they are what I had on my car, they fill the arches perfectly. I also used H&R progressive springs which gave a far better ride than standard (firmer but not jarring) and had the benfit of lowering the car around 15 at the front and 20mm at the rear. This made no difference to ride quality but the car looked far better and drove far better. You'll notice the widened track given by the spacers, the lower CofG given by the lowering and the stiffening given by the springs add up to a far sharper and better handling car. But you will need the geometry reset after all these changes, that's a lot of alterations!

Have you looked at the Vantage Collection stuff? They can provide you with the CF spoilers and splitters plus an amazing bonnet that looks like the GTE racer. It comes in carbon or GRP, much better for the budget as it's being painted anyway. That will make your car look very different to others.

Good luck, anything else, ask away

[yeti]

Jedi4727 said:

Finally, when looking at anAmv8S, I do have the impression the car is more massive / impressive than my 2007 model. Is the body of the V8s made in a different material than old 4.3L or is it the paint (onyx black) which is old giving that impression

Same car, just a few very subtle and stylish mods to bring it up to date - bootlid change and so on. If you get a nice front splitter and bootlid spoiler, you already have the sills so you are most of the way there.

Yes, your paint colour is probably why the car does not look bigger

[Lunablack]

George H said:

I was trying to be helpful! Pointless putting 20" wheels on when they arent on the car you're trying to make yours look like

You failed........even when you try, you just can't help yourself from making a negative remark..... Just because you see it as pointless, and feel the need to say so, doesn't actually help the OP now does it?.

The OP is more concerned with giving his car a more aggressive stance than making it look "exactly" like a V8S or a V12V..

Hopefully one of the above more helpful posters will be along in a minute, before you put him off for life...

[yeti]

Morning Luna, morning George

Get a room you two

I laughed at 'Goorwichgate' as well

[Lunablack]

Ah thank god...... Yeti's on the case

Also OP check out any threads by Burnout this one for starters http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... His car looks proper mean...


And one final thing......you're really supposed to put a few pics up of your car before you can post in this forum

[Lunablack]

yeti said:

Morning Luna, morning George

Get a room you two

I laughed at 'Goorwichgate' as well

I suspect it wouldn't go well..

[George H]

Lunablack said:

You failed........even when you try, you just can't help yourself from making a negative remark..... Just because you see it as pointless, and feel the need to say so, doesn't actually help the OP now does it?.

The OP is more concerned with giving his car a more aggressive stance than making it look "exactly" like a V8S or a V12V..

Hopefully one of the above more helpful posters will be along in a minute, before you put him off for life...

Well I misinterpreted it then - I assumed it was a case of using OEM parts to make it look like a newer model. Like when people fit LP640 kits to a regular Murcielago, etc etc.

If you want to make it look mean, what about fitting GT4 bodywork? Make it an Aston equivalent to a 911 GT3?

[yeti]

George H said:

If you want to make it look mean, what about fitting GT4 bodywork? Make it an Aston equivalent to a 911 GT3?

Not allowed the 'show' without the 'go'

Stance and driveability first for looks. Then Bamford Rose for the go. Then bodykit for the show.

That is the way of things, that is the way of the force.

[George H]

yeti said:

Stance

That just makes me think of knobheads in old Volkswagens thinking they're cool by running stupid amounts of camber and stretched tyres

I'd go for the Bamford Rose thing first too btw, having an early, completely standard looking V8V that could keep up with a V12V is the best of both worlds imo

[Lunablack]

George H said:

That just makes me think of knobheads in old Volkswagens thinking they're cool by running stupid amounts of camber and stretched tyres

You just can't help yourself can you??

[Jedi4727]

Hi Yeti,

Thanks for taking the time to help me out. Indeed much appreciated.

For the wheels, I bought the 10 spoke ones, which I understand are known as the "spider" ones. I don't think there the ones on the sport pack, but rather those on the N420 model.
Anyways, you seem to have done an extraordianry job with your car. Must be quiet a ride !!! And for indeed a budget indeed less than that of the DBS. Dream car, by the way !!!

Regarding your precisions, I have further questions (apologies for that). By the way is it ok with form rules to keep posting on, or should I pm you ?

Questions are as follows :

- Spacers : post fitting and with the original OEM springs, do I need to reset the geometry ?

- H&R progressive springs : what type of budget are we speaking about ? Funnily enough, I would have imagined you'd have lowered front by 20mmm and rear by 15mm for a more aggressive look ....or I am not getting things right ?
What would be your recommended settings....

- Will recheck the vantage collection. Where did you get your DBS bonnet from ?

- Paint : is the Onyx Black at stake....or is it the age of the paint ?

- Tyres : Do you think changing the dimensions of the tyres will make any difference ? Is there any web site which could help me in knowing which size will work ?

Cheers

[krisdelta]

I think the V8 sits a little high, especially at the rear, you could run 20's - although I would be tempted to look at what BR can do with the suspension to drop it a little, it's a fine balance between ride and handling - I find the "standard" set-up firm enough, but visually it's a little high at the rear, or underwheeled.

[George H]

Lunablack said:

You just can't help yourself can you??

What? That had nothing to do with anyone on here

[AdamV12V]

Hi Jedi

Im sure I remember a posting where somebody from the AM factory said (in relation an enquiry with a V12V) that 20" DBS wheels would not fit on the Vantage due to the lack of clearance when turning the front wheels. Im sure it was stated that 19" was the largest wheels that could safely fit without danger of rubbing whilst cornering.

That said it would seem Burnout has put 20" wheels on his vantage so perhaps he is the man to consult with on this point. Im equally sure the BR chaps could advise on any safety issues on this too.