Lancia Beta Forum

Hi all,
Newbie here! I've just aquired a HPE I.E. and I would like to upgrade it a little. I see the Betaboyz do lowering springs for it- anyone got 'em? I've been warned that some kits available in the past used to lower the rear of an HPE too much- anyone know if that's the case with the BB springs? I've emailed them a few days ago on this subject but had no reply... doesn't fill me with the confidence to send 'em a wad of money... ???

Andrew.

i suspect that because they list two different specs they should be OK the reason they sit low at the back is that most commercially available kits were optimised for the coupé

Excuse the ignorance, but what are the benefits of lowering springs?

Hi Andrew, and welcome to the forum

sorry you have not had a reply from Mark, I spoke to him the other day and after a short holiday
he came back to over 50 emails, I think he's playing catch up at the moment

I've got the springs on my Coupe, but can't comment on the HPE
I'm happy with them, some people say it sits a little low on the back

this is a photo of Mark's HPE with the lowered springs:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3838573307_3151d8b620.jpg)

I have an IE HPE also with the betaboyz springs fitted. They are also slightly uprated (stiffer) and don't lower the rear too much, see pic of mine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanciamad/3570041193/in/set-72157618324699407/ This is with front and rear betaboyz springs fitted. Something to watch out for is if you have the rears fitted, and your shocks arn't upto much they can become lose when jacking the rear off the ground.
Hopefully next week i will be fitting spax shocks for the coupe (shorterned HPE strut body), mated with HPE springs, will post the outcome when done, this will also mean the spring remains seated when suspension is not under load.
As far as i know, apart from generally making a vehicle look that tiny bit better, lowering springs tend to give the car a lower centre of gravity which improves the handling and steering response of the car generally, but excessive lowering can make it worse.

Thanks for the replies guys! Lancimad, your car looks good mate- are you refitting the bumpers or not? My only suggestion if you aren't is to straighten out the line where black paint meets silver on the front valance/wing join. Apart from that it looks the MuttsNutts! I used to have an early HPE many years ago with no front bumper fitted. Loved the look of it. It doesn't look that much lower either- probably just right, and not too low at the rear either which is a good sign. Can't really tell much from the angle of Mark's car. Rossocorsa, I suspected that- people using Coupe kits for the HPE. Lanciamad I'll be interested in the outcome of the shocks experiment; what shocks do you have fitted now?

Andrew.

Thanks for the comments Andrew :) No i'm not refitting the bumpers. Those of you thats removed the 2nd series facelift bumpers will know how heavy they are! The holes for them in the rear have been filled in so its smooth all the way across. I havn't had many comments about the car with the bumpers off, apart from its different and one of my favourite comments of it looks rather fulvia like, and we know what a pretty car that is.
I will probably straighten out the line on the front valance/wing, it will look better, agreed. I'm also going to be sorting out the tailpipe very soon, as its still original length with the bumpers removed, its been like that for nearly 2 years now ::) It will now just be a shorter straight piece out of the silencer.
At the time of that photo, that was still the original monroe's. It currently has the coupe/hpe adjustable spax units in the front and hpe koni's in the rear. I will be fitting the adjustable coupe spax units in the rear and see what it looks and drives like, if its a success i'll most probably sell the koni's (front and rear).
If i don't update my findings by next friday shout at me  :o

Me first?! :P

Bit of an update on my car... few pics of what i've been doing over the last couple of days.
I started work on replacing all the rear rubber bushes with the polyurethane betaboyz one's.
Old...........................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0175.jpg)
Out..........................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0176.jpg)
New.........................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0177.jpg)
Transverse arms..........................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0178.jpg)
The tailpipe was still the original length and looked like this.............................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0174.jpg)
Now it looks like this............................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0180.jpg)
And finally a pic. of the car being worked on during the glorious rain i had for most of today..............................
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q152/lanciamad_album/Photo0182.jpg)

My plan of modifying some spare hpe strut bodies didn't work out in the end, so i'm looking for some rear coupe strut bodies if anyone can help, the sooner i get them the sooner i'll be able to test the combination of coupe dampers with hpe spring.

Well i'm quite happy with the spax units i've got fitted front and rear, so the Koni's front (Will fit coupe as well i believe don't know about saloon?) and rears (Will fit saloon as well i believe) are up for sale, i believe they hadn't been used until I bought them as they came in the original box and showed no wear, the fronts still havn't been used (I havn't even opened the box up yet) and the rears have done a maximum of 300 miles, open to offers .... PM  or email me, lancia15@hotmail.com

a wise man would hang onto those Konis you never know when you might need them in the future and they are like rocking horse poo

PM sent Marcus.