Hello my old Redline friends!
Apologies as I have not posted in here in FOREVER but I have been very busy over the past few *years* but have logged in and read up every once in a while. Nice to see that a lot of the forum members I recall are still here - very nice!
So quickly on myself, I've got my MBA and actually now work for the company I've always wanted to work for and will make a lot of you happy - General Motors of Canada! I've been with them just over a year (started May 2014) and work in the field covering a territory as a Connected Customer Specialist. Basically that means I educate dealership staff on in-vehicle technologies focusing primarily on OnStar and the infotainment systems. Very cool stuff, basically makes me the equivalent of a GM Geek Squad rep (a la Best Buy). Get a new company vehicle every 4 months or 7400 miles, whichever comes first. To date I have had: '14 Chevy Trax LTZ, '15 Chevy Impala LTZ, '15 GMC Terrain Denali, and am currently in a '15 GMC Canyon SLT. Just wait til the next one by August!
Anyway, enough about me and back to my awesome 2007 Saturn ION3 QC who is still running like a champ now at 46000 miles (yeah, I've finally taken her on some long trips and she's stretched her legs a bit. I've even done some mods/upgrades to her since my last update (beyond the hidden antenna mod lol) that I hope to make some of you proud. I'll post pics when I have a chance but here's a quick recap:
-Changed high center brake lamp lights to LED
-Stock air filter changed to K&N (still in regular airbox, not cold air)
-Replaced stock front rotors and pads with slotted StopTech discs and Hawk HPS pads
-Upgraded wheels to 17"x7" multi-spoke OZ Italia 150 that were black but I painted white with black accents to match my car
-Wrapped above wheels in Michelin PilotSport A/S3 Asymmetric 225/45/R17s
-Finally got brave enough to bake open my headlights and install the Morimoto Mini H1 HID kit with 5000K bulbs
-Along with the HID kit also installed LED "DRLs" (but not really, just tapped into the side marker light) but did NOT do it Audi R8 style as I originally longed to do. It's different but you'll have to wait for the pic! Also, need to bake them open again to change the LEDs as natural 5K white looks yellow compared to the 5K HIDs so I'l going to change them to cool white.
So as you can see, I may have been away but my passion for these great IONs has never left and I've been busy upgrading as well. Still have not gotten around to getting the ZZP bolt on supercharger kit but if I don't do it this year I will next year for sure. And true to my word in respect to you TRUE Redline owners, I have not yet placed my Redline emblem on my trunk lid and will not do so until I am supercharged. Such a small thing that others wouldn't think twice about but I totally respect.
Alright, so FINALLY to my question. My shocks/struts are not quite shot but the bounce test is taking about 2.5 rebounds to settle so I figure it's time to replace them for the first time. Using my sources I have learned that my ION3 comes with the FE2 suspension which according to the parts managers at dealerships is compatible/interchangeable with the sport FE3 suspension (which I assume is the Redline suspension). So given I am changing the struts/shocks, the rear shocks I realized could be removed without touching the spring but the struts entail spring removal. As that is a given, I am now figuring if I'm going to need the spring removed I might as well consider lowering the car and changing the read springs as well.
So here's what I'm asking - does FE2 and FE3 refer only to the shocks/struts or the suspension as a whole? Specifically, I want to know if the springs front/rear from a Redline would not just fit but SEAT properly in the housings in the rear and on the struts up front. I am not planning to use stock Redline springs but lowering springs FOR a Redline on my ION3 and just want to make sure they will seat properly in the housings. Anyone know?
Further, the springs I am considering are Tein S, but am of course open to feedback. I don't want a slammed drop, just a reasonable on (about 1.5") and still have a nice ride but good handling when pushed. So let me know.
I have other upgrades/mods I'm planning on this summer so I'll keep you posted and get pics soon, but I just wanted to say it's great to see all of you and that your passion for these awesome cars is still here after all these years!
:cowsmile:
Apologies as I have not posted in here in FOREVER but I have been very busy over the past few *years* but have logged in and read up every once in a while. Nice to see that a lot of the forum members I recall are still here - very nice!
So quickly on myself, I've got my MBA and actually now work for the company I've always wanted to work for and will make a lot of you happy - General Motors of Canada! I've been with them just over a year (started May 2014) and work in the field covering a territory as a Connected Customer Specialist. Basically that means I educate dealership staff on in-vehicle technologies focusing primarily on OnStar and the infotainment systems. Very cool stuff, basically makes me the equivalent of a GM Geek Squad rep (a la Best Buy). Get a new company vehicle every 4 months or 7400 miles, whichever comes first. To date I have had: '14 Chevy Trax LTZ, '15 Chevy Impala LTZ, '15 GMC Terrain Denali, and am currently in a '15 GMC Canyon SLT. Just wait til the next one by August!
Anyway, enough about me and back to my awesome 2007 Saturn ION3 QC who is still running like a champ now at 46000 miles (yeah, I've finally taken her on some long trips and she's stretched her legs a bit. I've even done some mods/upgrades to her since my last update (beyond the hidden antenna mod lol) that I hope to make some of you proud. I'll post pics when I have a chance but here's a quick recap:
-Changed high center brake lamp lights to LED
-Stock air filter changed to K&N (still in regular airbox, not cold air)
-Replaced stock front rotors and pads with slotted StopTech discs and Hawk HPS pads
-Upgraded wheels to 17"x7" multi-spoke OZ Italia 150 that were black but I painted white with black accents to match my car
-Wrapped above wheels in Michelin PilotSport A/S3 Asymmetric 225/45/R17s
-Finally got brave enough to bake open my headlights and install the Morimoto Mini H1 HID kit with 5000K bulbs
-Along with the HID kit also installed LED "DRLs" (but not really, just tapped into the side marker light) but did NOT do it Audi R8 style as I originally longed to do. It's different but you'll have to wait for the pic! Also, need to bake them open again to change the LEDs as natural 5K white looks yellow compared to the 5K HIDs so I'l going to change them to cool white.
So as you can see, I may have been away but my passion for these great IONs has never left and I've been busy upgrading as well. Still have not gotten around to getting the ZZP bolt on supercharger kit but if I don't do it this year I will next year for sure. And true to my word in respect to you TRUE Redline owners, I have not yet placed my Redline emblem on my trunk lid and will not do so until I am supercharged. Such a small thing that others wouldn't think twice about but I totally respect.
Alright, so FINALLY to my question. My shocks/struts are not quite shot but the bounce test is taking about 2.5 rebounds to settle so I figure it's time to replace them for the first time. Using my sources I have learned that my ION3 comes with the FE2 suspension which according to the parts managers at dealerships is compatible/interchangeable with the sport FE3 suspension (which I assume is the Redline suspension). So given I am changing the struts/shocks, the rear shocks I realized could be removed without touching the spring but the struts entail spring removal. As that is a given, I am now figuring if I'm going to need the spring removed I might as well consider lowering the car and changing the read springs as well.
So here's what I'm asking - does FE2 and FE3 refer only to the shocks/struts or the suspension as a whole? Specifically, I want to know if the springs front/rear from a Redline would not just fit but SEAT properly in the housings in the rear and on the struts up front. I am not planning to use stock Redline springs but lowering springs FOR a Redline on my ION3 and just want to make sure they will seat properly in the housings. Anyone know?
Further, the springs I am considering are Tein S, but am of course open to feedback. I don't want a slammed drop, just a reasonable on (about 1.5") and still have a nice ride but good handling when pushed. So let me know.
I have other upgrades/mods I'm planning on this summer so I'll keep you posted and get pics soon, but I just wanted to say it's great to see all of you and that your passion for these awesome cars is still here after all these years!
:cowsmile: