Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Yeah I've definitely thought about doing the Holden stuff. The only reason I haven't swapped the badges is because the front Pontiac emblem leaves 2 small holes in the front bumper that I would want filled in nicely.

The exterior body modifications look great, but they are quite expensive imo. Here is one of the most common website that sells the Holden body kits:
http://www.jhpss.com/Pontiac-G8/Bodykit.htm

The only other exterior modifications that interest me is the GXP diffuser.
http://mystudios.com/g8/gxp-diffuser2.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

The base VE kit seems somewhat reasonable, but both HSV kits are absurd.
I prefer the look of the base VE over the HSV front anyway. HSV's look so extra chunky it looks misplaced.

Was a manual transmission available with the V8? I don't ever recall seeing one.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

The GXP model is the only G8 that comes with a manual. But it was also like 42K starting price. They weren't even out when I purchased my GT at the time.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Its cool that you put that fram oil filter in there just for a gag, I laughed :)

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

No I think he uses them ;)

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I was bored.

2nd gear pull from earlier this year before the shitty weather came in:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0HhYNYuO-s&hd=1

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

80 mph at the top of 2nd?!
You have gear for days!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I'm still waiting on Pedders to get their act together and send me the remaining parts for the XA Street Package. It doesn't sound like the remaining parts will be shipped until the 25th-26th so my plans of having this all installed before the drag strip is shot. Kinda blows considering I placed my order 2+ months ago.

Anyways, that didn't deter me from installing some parts on the car. I was able to wrench on the car last night with @Murlo to get the strut tower brace installed.

Here are some pictures of the process and results:
http://i.imgur.com/7dG1geg.jpg

Test Fitting
http://i.imgur.com/7omvIS6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hkbDOYi.jpg

Bolts trimmed and tightened
http://i.imgur.com/eOrNFHa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qkkcZD0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eCfZP4j.jpg

Finished Product
http://i.imgur.com/PF09tmD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bSwbJJ4.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I'm putting together a wrenchy wrenchy session. All are welcome to stop by to help or just hang out.

I have a comfortable heated garage environment with a garage fridge typically full of beer. Let me know if you're interested in hanging out this week.

I am planning on installing the remaining suspension / bushing parts now that the cruise is completed. I have the following items to install still:

• Front / Rear XA Coilovers
• Front Radius Rod Bushing
• Sub Frame Bushings
• Diff Bushings
• Alignment Kit

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Do you still want one of the mini batteries I have?

I need to get the keg-of-awesome cooler sometime too.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Yeah I'm still interested in the battery and lets meet up sometime soon to swap the keg-of-awesomesss

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

You would be a fool for swapping that cooler for a battery!!! :lol:

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

With the nice weather we are having in Minnesota, I decided to work on the car tonight.

http://i.imgur.com/UOPyrYs.jpg

Removing scrape pad to get at front lower control arm bolts
http://i.imgur.com/dIMcTF2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fT5A3SV.jpg

Control arm removed, will be replacing these bushings with Pedders
http://i.imgur.com/QT4eLlW.jpg

Removing Strut to install coilover
http://i.imgur.com/FtF2KYV.jpg

Out with the old, in with the new
http://i.imgur.com/bSzN7ZP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eB5rl6t.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/r0zAiPN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hSE6RFF.jpg

Engine bay view
http://i.imgur.com/g8ur0qR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/erWZ1Dh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QJ0GdD6.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Looks good!

Maybe I missed it but how low are you going to go with it?

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

If I setup the front coilovers properly I estimate a drop in the front of 28.5mm and I will probably drop the rears around 38.5mm. So overall the car should sit a little over 1 inch lower on all 4s when it's finished up.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I'm going to be dropping off the front control arms with DB Performance today to have the bushings pushed out, and the new Pedders front radius bushings pushed in.

I bet I could rig up some contraption to get the job done, but I'd rather just pay someone to have this piece done and over with.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Nice, should look good and handle like it's on rails when youre all done

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I just picked up the front control arms from DB with the newly pushed bushings!

I'm excited to bolt these back onto the car because that will complete all of the suspension work on the front half.

The old OEM rubber bushings were absolutely destroyed when they were pushed from the control arms. I should have taken a picture of the metal sleeves because they looked like a pop can sent through a garbage disposal.

These polyurethane bushings are so much firmer than the stock rubber bushings and gets me excited to see how the car will handle soon.

Pictures of the new Pedders front radios rod bushings:
http://i.imgur.com/ivcmpnw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/sebICnY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lmXnlY8.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Looks good! I'm glad we could get it done for you!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Damn I'd like one of these cars, looking good man!!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I just got the front control arms with the new Pedders bushings installed on the car. Now with the arms back on the car I was able to bolt everything back together and put the front wheels on for a test fit.

Installed front control arm:
http://i.imgur.com/osSRlqm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tjrNn2Q.jpg

This is a picture with the front coilovers installed. I just pulled the car out of the garage to turn it around so I could start working on the rears. These obviously have not settled and will drop more. The rears have not been installed in these pictures.

http://i.imgur.com/Or1dp97.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GkmJIyG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fCid1Im.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VT5BcWn.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/06dHZKD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/91uDUzT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FwQxBFV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QmerjsY.jpg

Now I should be all set to start working on the rear half the vehicle to install the subframe bushings, diff bushings, rear coilovers, and toe rods.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Looks good! I saw a white one like yours today in arden hills. They sure are a nice looking car!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I think your car could use some bigger wheels. Like a nice BBS LM!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I got some time to work on the car last night with @Murlo. Thanks a ton for all of the help.

We managed to install the rear coilovers on the car after a few hours of wrenchy wrenchy. The car hasn't been driven yet so I'm sure these will settle some more to make it lower.

I'm thinking if the back end doesn't settle a bunch more that I'll be dropping it a bit more. Anyways, all 4 Pedders XA Coilovers on the car without an alignment at this time.

Rear coilovers:
http://i.imgur.com/GnjDDte.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9Yd7wYg.jpg

New stance:
http://i.imgur.com/Jqcffa0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LTWdqfe.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/B2nzuZR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PYzo1tq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uLj2Lmb.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

That looks so good!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Mmmm mmmm good!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Drop the rear another 3-5mm I think.

Long night last night, tired as shit now on like 4 hours of sleep but I was determined to see it buttoned up before i left. Good job

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I got a chance today to lower the rear end some more. I think I've finally got the car to the desired height. Here are some pictures of the car as it sits now. Let me know what you think!

http://i.imgur.com/XLgIi05.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GTP8ZgG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EkgZKrD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gMDmFmE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ac5dUye.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/E5NzmKY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OPvc0ms.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7dZVG8H.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Looks awesome, no major gap but not slammed. Perfect imho, nice work!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I'm told the remaining Pedders parts will arrive at my house on Thursday (tomorrow). I've made an appointment for Friday to have the 4-wheel alignment done (let's hope its not snowing).

I prepared the Pfadt toe rods by installing the Polyurethane bushings. I love the look of these toe rods, and can't wait to have them on the car.

No Bushings installed:
http://i.imgur.com/Z38HueK.jpg
No Metal Sleeve installed:
http://i.imgur.com/Ssp4Oju.jpg
Bushings Installed:
http://i.imgur.com/9v2RsxW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1tG2OTT.jpg

Car is getting close to completed. Can't wait to drive this thing with the new handling upgrades.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I now have all the parts from Pedders so there is no more hold up with missing parts. However, I have been out of town for the last 2 weeks in California so I haven't been able to work on the vehicle.

I have a wedding up in Lutsen this weekend so I wont have a chance to work on the vehicle. Would love to get this thing finished sometime soon. I'm going nuts since I haven't driven it since the cruise!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Finally got a chance to work on the car again after being out of town for the last couple weeks.

Right before I left for my trip the remaining Pedders parts arrived. So I now have all of the parts to finish my suspension upgrades.

Subframe Bushings
http://i.imgur.com/guX4NVc.jpg

Full Alignment Kit
http://i.imgur.com/9xFFxD9.jpg

We got most of the subframe bushings installed tonight. Here you can see the front upper subframe bushing installed. I also removed the subframe weights that really serve no critical purpose.
http://i.imgur.com/3BajboK.jpg
Here you can see the rear upper subframe bushing installed and mounted in place.
http://i.imgur.com/Huhyyzn.jpg

This is the driver side all finished up with the Pfadt trailing arm, Pfadt toe rod, pedders toe bolt, and the subframe bushings installed
http://i.imgur.com/7CdBUbN.jpg
Good image showing the removed subframe weights and the new bushings installed:
http://i.imgur.com/BAUf6qD.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Can you drive it now?

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

No, car is still on jack stands and needs a couple more subframe bushings along with all the diff bushings

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

So I was curious to how much the actual subframe weights that I removed from the car weighed. I had heard upward of 10lbs but found that hard to believe.

Here is a picture of the weights on my home scale. This scale is nothing precise but I'm guessing its within a couple pounds of this 11.4 lbs.
http://i.imgur.com/ooUbRlo.jpg

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I got some time to work on the car again yesterday. The task was to finish up with swapping all of the differential bushings. I recently ordered a few more tools to help assist with the wrenchy wrenchy, and boy was I glad to have the impact wrench for the bushing removal.

New air compressor freshly wired up with the new 240:
http://i.imgur.com/tgIgJur.jpg
Some new air tools for wrenchy wrenchy:
http://i.imgur.com/t49CjNy.jpg
Here you can see the diff dropped with the driveshaft disconnected. This is the factory diff bushing ready for removal.
http://i.imgur.com/MkL3gaI.jpg
You need to be careful when dropping the diff. There isn't a ton of room for the axle boot and the subframe. I put some towels on the subframe to help mitigate the rubber boot from getting torn up.
http://i.imgur.com/gue9lKl.jpg
Here is the rear diff bushing removed with the assistance of the impact wrench (I love air!):
http://i.imgur.com/sRbdLOyh.jpg
Out with the old, in with the new:
http://i.imgur.com/wgd0iUOh.jpg
I was able to installed 2 of the 3 diff bushings yesterday. Only 1 last diff bushing to be replaced before this car can get aligned and back on the road. I know I've said this before, but the car is so close! Haven't driven the car since April 20th, so I'm really starting to get the itch now that weather is finally coming around here in MN. I'll be in Charlotte, NC all of this week so there wont be any updates until the weekend.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I worked on the car today The task was to finish this bad boy up by replacing the last remaining factory differential bushing, thanks @murlo26 for all the help!

This last driver side bushing became quite the task to remove. There's not a ton of room to use a full ball joint press like the other 2 diff bushings. I ended up rigging up a homemade press out of a 7/16 threaded rod and some nuts and washers. The impact wrench was key to start pressing the bushings out. Then I used an impact hammer to finish the bushing removal.

Here's the differential dropped with the new Pedder's bushings installed:
http://i.imgur.com/YbU3cw2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ebvxiqj.jpg

At this point, all suspension and handling parts have been installed onto the car. The only thing I am waiting on at this point is an alignment. The car is getting very close to streetable again, getting stoked to take this out and test!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Nice! This thing is so close to being done, I can practically taste the Coops Pizza.

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

I have an alignment scheduled for Thursday AM, hopefully car is streetable by end of the week!

Re: G8 Suspension and Handling Upgrades (Pedders, Pfadt, Nitto)
 

Well it's been almost 2 months since I started wrenching on the car for this suspension project and it's been about 5 months since I started if you include placing the order.

The car just got aligned this morning and it's finally finished!

Took the car out for a short cruise this afternoon and all I can say is Wow! I love the suspension upgrades very much and traction feels new and improved. Body roll is virtual eliminated. Car seems to manage my power much better and feels proper.

http://i.imgur.com/BMjQlhb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Zg73aTL.jpg