body kit or no body kit?

[Robs89LXi]

I'm using Tokico springs on KYB struts/shocks, but as you can see from this thread, there are several setups available. I will be using mine as a daily driver over normal city/highway roads, and this setup is stiffer than stock, but not rough at all. I'm real happy with the handling, and I think it will be okay for the added mods I plan to do. You can't hardly go wrong with any of these combinations mentioned in this thread, but just be aware of your clearances (several points on the car to ground, wheel to fender - straight + turned and under load, etc.). You will be fine if you don't go real radical. Be sure to get the camber taken care of, and alignment too. Good luck.

[sxy86accord1]

can you tell me where you purchased your struts/shocks from? What lowering kit did you use? Mine will be an everyday user to.. can you explain what you mean about my clearance? Do you mean like not taking corners to fast and all of the common sense stuff? Or something more complicated?

[Robs89LXi]

Can't remember where I got the hardware. Sorry, it's been awhile. Car is naturally lowered with the shorter "lowering springs". As far as clearance goes, like I said earlier, you have to watch how much you leave under the car (front bumper when approaching an incline like a driveway, exhaust system for speedbumps, etc.). You also have to watch your wheel clearance from the fenders. You have bigger wheels on your car, which will already decrease your space between tire and fender. They also seem to stick out a bit more than stock, so rubbing on the outer fender lip may occur with a hard bump. When you turn, your wheel will of course stick out and will be closer already than stock because of your increased wheel size. Add to that lowering, and all these things come into play. If you hit a bump, while cornering, hard, then you can see that these all add up. Not to scare you away now, because stiffer springs will not allow it to hit so easily, but just stuff to keep in mind when you change from stock.

[sxy86accord1]

aight.. thanks for your help.. i will post pics when i get this done

[bullard123]

You should be fine man. Rob is right about the clearance factor though. With my 2.25 in drop and 14in rims my car sits extremely low. I have to avoid certain driveways and ramps etc. Just stay away from Prichard though, last I remembered it was pothole heaven.

[sxy86accord1]

prichard? I usually stay away from there anyways.. dont wanna get shot or anything.. ha.. I do have chrome rims.. but i was thinking.. my rims are 17".. so wouldnt that give me another 4 inches of clearance? Since i went from 13" to 17"? would the 2.25" drop really be that low?

[DeathRat]

aight... thx deathrat.. let me know what erebuni says..

Well I got my answer today from Erebuni!
Here's my response by them, followed by my original email to them.

Please check our Clearance Item pages, if we have anything left it would be listed there.

Good day. As a present owner of a Erebuni ground fx kit myself, I would like to enquire on the possibility of your company have any front fascias for the 86 - 89 Honda Accord still left. I am presently the owner of a small online performance parts store & a member of the 3Geez.com car club for 86 - 89 Accords. I've modified your basic kit into a different design (see attached pic) & have some interest from some fellow club members to build/modify your basic front fascia for them as well. I've basically added a mesh grill to the centre portion of the fascia, as well as added 5th Gen Accord clear lights in the fascia & fiberglassed over the original OEM front bumper lights. I have heard that your company no longer produces the 86 - 89 Accord kit though. If your company does have some of these front fascias left, how much would you be willing to sell them for? Also if you could give a S&H quote to: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6C 0M9 as well please. I thank you for your time & consideration regarding this matter.

Sincerely, Alan Ralston
--
Owner of Pure Performance Fever (Your FWD Performance Parts Store)
http://www.pureperformancefever.com/store/

[88accordalltheway]

if i were you id get a paint job before a body kit. Then id lower it and maybe do somthing under the hood. I dunno guys, the body kits for our cars are looking more and more ricy to me every day.

[bullard123]

prichard? I usually stay away from there anyways.. dont wanna get shot or anything.. ha.. I do have chrome rims.. but i was thinking.. my rims are 17".. so wouldnt that give me another 4 inches of clearance? Since i went from 13" to 17"? would the 2.25" drop really be that low?

I don't know man if I bottom out with my 14in rims, I'm pretty sure you'll bottom out if not scrub with your 17's. I think it will work if you had some kind of offset with it. As for Prichard that's where I was raised most of my life. And believe me I don't miss that place one bit!!

[sxy86accord1]

i thought about doing that to... i want to shave off the side moldings and my door handles.. do you know how the front bumber would look painted? since its kinda plastic? I am thinking of going black.. with a crap load of clearcoat.. Tell me what yall think..

[DeathRat]

Looks like Erebuni still have some Ground FX kits & Spoilers left though.......
Erebuni Clearance!

[sxy86accord1]

thx deathrat.. I really appreciat you looking into that for me.. hopefully i will be able to do something here soon.. do you think a 1.5" drop will be low enough and look good? If so will i need the camber kits still? and what about using tokico shocks instead of bilstein?

[DeathRat]

thx deathrat.. I really appreciat you looking into that for me.. hopefully i will be able to do something here soon.. do you think a 1.5" drop will be low enough and look good? If so will i need the camber kits still? and what about using tokico shocks instead of bilstein?

Any lower than 1.5" & you'll NEVER clear a speed bump let alone a curb!
Some shops can make adjustments w/o the use of camber kits.
As for shocks/struts......it basically comes down to how much $$$$ you want to spend.

[Robs89LXi]

..but i was thinking.. my rims are 17".. so wouldnt that give me another 4 inches of clearance? Since i went from 13" to 17"? would the 2.25" drop really be that low?

Not quite. When you went to 17"s, didn't you also go to a lower profile tire? If so, then you did not gain 4" as your math assumes. Simply enough, get down low, look under your car, and measure from the lowest point to the ground. If you think you can lose 2.25" and still safely clear normal road conditions, then maybe so. Keep in mind though, that is with no load on the car. When braking, cornering, hitting a hole etc., the car is going to be under load and will drop even more, thus lowering your margin of error.

Consider too the clearance of your wheels with your fenders. It is not just from the top of the wheel to the underside of your fender, but from the top of the wheel to the outer lip. Remember, when your turn the wheel, it will be sticking outside of the fender, and if you are again cornering, braking, hitting a bump, etc., the car will be under load and will rub/hit the wheel. You have already reduced that space with your larger wheels. Look at the second picture in this recent post by another member, and you will get a visual of what I'm talking about.

https://www.3geez.com/showthread.php?t=37714

[sxy86accord1]

ohh..ok.. i gotcha.. so if went with a 1.5" drop.. i would definitly spend the extra money on some bilstein shocks then.. well i will try and get this done soon.. i will post some pics when i am finished.. thanks to everyone for all the help you have given me..

[DeathRat]

Looks like Erebuni still have some Ground FX kits & Spoilers left though.......
Erebuni Clearance!

Well I re-sent an email to them AGAIN!
This is the "new" response.

To check prices on separate kit components, availability of products, shipping costs, for further discounts off of our web prices or to place an order or to find the dealer nearest you please note our part numbers and call our sales department Toll Free at 888.EREBUNI or 800.624.0040 or 718.387.0800 ext. 203. Please note that Clearance Items are sold as listed therefore kits can not be broken up and there are no further discounts off of those products.

:thumbdown

[sxy86accord1]

aight.. thx deathrat.. i appreciate your help.. i will post pics when i get something accomplished..