Rear coilovers, finding the right length?

[Josef]

My project has come to the point that is time for choosing  coilovers for the rear suspension.
The roll cage are fixed together and 32” ladder bars are mounted.
How do I measure the  length  of the coilovers?
How do I choose the spring rate when I don’t know the weight of the car.
Ron Lummus says on his home page that the only choice is 550# for rear suspension, any other opinions?
 
/Josef

[SteveW]

The way I did it was find your desired ride height then allow 2" above that for extended length and 2" below the ride height for compressed height. E.G 12" ride height, look for a shock anywhere around 10" compressed and 14" extended.

How heavy is your car and what power will you have? On ours we have 230+ horsepower weighing 1700Lbs with driver and we run 500lb springs.. 

[Josef]

The way I did it was find your desired ride height then allow 2" above that for extended length and 2" below the ride height for compressed height. E.G 12" ride height, look for a shock anywhere around 10" compressed and 14" extended.

How heavy is your car and what power will you have? On ours we have 230+ horsepower weighing 1700Lbs with driver and we run 500lb springs.. 

Thank you Stewe
First i have to say that yours and Adeles car is one of best looking race cars i ever seen. I've been reading your thread many times.
It's hard to know how much my car will weight when it's ready. Now it's only a body on a pan with a full cage in it. But i think the weight should be nearly the same as your car. The plan for the engine is a 2332 round 200hp.
Next time i'm in the workshop i will mount the gearbox and try to find out the ride height.
The way the cage looks i think i can go for longer shocks but i will order them with 500lb springs.

/Josef

[SteveW]

  Thankyou, that's very kind 

Yeah 500lb would be a good start then, the beauty of coilovers is springs are cheap to replace and easy enough to sell on so if you find 500's are too soft then sell them and order some heavier ones!

The easiest place to buy the shocks is direct from the manufactures..

Avo - 00 44 1604 708101 Speak to Nigel

Gaz - 00 44 1268 724585

Steve