VE SSV Lowering + Exhaust advice

[HeathLS2]

Hey all,

I have recently just picked up a VE series 2 SSV Sedan. I want to lower it onto 20" VE GTS Wheels but im not sure how much I need to lower it and what brand of springs I should purchase so I thought who better to ask. I dont want the thing to be lower the a pregnant ants belly but I want it to sit nicely.

Can people please post some images of their VE's that have been lowered using what springs?

Do I need to install shorter shock absorbers?

Can anyone suggest a good supplier/installer?

Are you still getting good ride quality?

Secondly... I want to fit a full exhaust and get it tuned. There also seems to be a bit of variance in price/quality of exhausts... X Force I think are the cheapest going up to Walkinshaw. Pacemaker seems to be fairly reasonably priced at $3000 for the full system (plus fitting)

Has anyone got or know much about Pacemaker systems for a VE?

Any help would be of interest

[cashie]

Hey all,

I have recently just picked up a VE series 2 SSV Sedan. I want to lower it onto 20" VE GTS Wheels but im not sure how much I need to lower it and what brand of springs I should purchase so I thought who better to ask. I dont want the thing to be lower the a pregnant ants belly but I want it to sit nicely.

Can people please post some images of their VE's that have been lowered using what springs?

Do I need to install shorter shock absorbers?

Can anyone suggest a good supplier/installer?

Are you still getting good ride quality?

Secondly... I want to fit a full exhaust and get it tuned. There also seems to be a bit of variance in price/quality of exhausts... X Force I think are the cheapest going up to Walkinshaw. Pacemaker seems to be fairly reasonably priced at $3000 for the full system (plus fitting)

Has anyone got or know much about Pacemaker systems for a VE?

Any help would be of interest

There's about 20 pages of info on VE lowering here (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=68171)

[Wonky]

Can people please post some images of their VE's that have been lowered using what springs?

Do I need to install shorter shock absorbers?

Can anyone suggest a good supplier/installer?

Are you still getting good ride quality?

Secondly... I want to fit a full exhaust and get it tuned. There also seems to be a bit of variance in price/quality of exhausts... X Force I think are the cheapest going up to Walkinshaw. Pacemaker seems to be fairly reasonably priced at $3000 for the full system (plus fitting)

Has anyone got or know much about Pacemaker systems for a VE?

Any help would be of interest

At the risk of being berated again :doh: for pointing someone to what I consider a very relevant thread see http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=68171 and the continuation thread.

As with all modifications there are all sorts of opinions on what is good and what isn't and they all differ. I used King SSLs and Monroe GT shocks all round on my SSV sedan and King SSSLs and Monroe GTs on my ute and in each case was very happy with them. Others swear by Pedders or Lovells or Dobinsons or ..............

Depends how low you go as to whether you need to do shocks but basically anything but SSL equivalent on an SSV most people would consider a waste of time and money as for example SLs will be SFA lower than stock. For SSL you definitely should go short shocks!! :yup: Before Monroe released their Monroe GT short body shocks for VE I drove around with the SSLs for close to a year and there were certain roads, one in particular which you may know - Ballarto Rd between Clyde and Pakky Sth, that I started avoiding because even at legal speed without the short shocks it was potentially dangerous. With the Monroes in the handling on those roads was transformed!! Some people find the Monroes a bit soft and bouncy when pushed hard and find the King HD springs take that out again.

Given you're in Berwick I'd definitely go see John (Black Diamond on here) at Protek in Oakleigh for installation. He can also possibly go close to matching the sort of prices you can get Kings & Monroes for from eBay and save you a lot of hassles in getting them delivered etc..

For ride quality, no real difference to me between stock and Kings/Monroes. :goodjob:

As for exhausts, that's potentially opening up a whole can of worms!! The best and most expensive systems for VE are generally considered to be KPM and Di Filippo (close to $4,500 supply only for 3", though I suspect you may be after a 2.5") down to XForce etc at the cheaper end. Many people are happy with their XForce, others hate them. Some drone like a bitch, others are good. There are a million threads on here on exhausts - hours of reading and again no correct answer because different people have different tastes. I've heard a 2.5" Pacemaker system on a VE (Chev sells them) and it was OK - nothing special, nothing bad. Relatively quiet from memory.