Giving a 405 Sport Wagon another chance

8 minute(s) of a 111 minute read

I've been looking in to coilovers last two days and there is not much out there available for 405's. GAZ unit are affordable and better then AVO's (I got AVO's on my MI16) however I do love BC coilovers on my Genesis Coupe (track edition)  and I would love to have them on 405.

Yesterday I emailed BC racing and coilovers are not available for 405 but they are available for 306 which made me smiling. I prefer using 306 coilovers over 405 ones as body of the schock is 1" shorter. This is perfect as AVO's and GAZ units at there lowest setting loose some shock travel and BC's don't. To adjust vehicle height on BC units you simply adjust it on shock body it self,that way spring pre load and shock travel stay always the same.

AVO and GAZ units would work out perfect for owners who doesn't like vehicles low as I do.

Front 306 GTI are direct swap but not the rear schocks as mounting holes are different diameter. 306 schocks are using 12mm and 14mm holes and 405 is using 16mm mounting holes. It looks like I got another set of Coilovers to modify and this would be set number three on 405's.

If you look closer you can see that adjustment is done on shock body it self. Second sigle nut gets unsecured and height adjustment is achieved by turning upper gold nut,with that nut being turned it lowers or raises vehicle up.

I designed top spring hat and added helper spring,spacer,bearing and camber plates. These also came with 250 lbs springs and they felt bit too springy,could be because of all the extra weight US MI16's got. I end up getting 300 lbs springs and it worked out great. Front end feels much better and definitely not springy anylonger.

5-23-2016

Thanks to Andrè we now have lockheed decals.

I'm so happy the way this car drives now. I remember first time I drove it and literally it was a death trap. When I rebuilted front suspension and steering I was looking forward to test drive but unfortunately that would be delayed eight months thanks to mister Colin.

Unbelievably on that first test drive it felt like a totally different car,I literally told my self I can't believe this is the same car! However it still never felt like my MI16,something was missing but totally unsure what it was...till I bolted on those Speedline and new tires.

It feels so good to drive this car now,I totally enjoy driving this car now and transformation is just unbelievable!!! I always new and heard that tires made a huge difference but never ever have I experienced it till now. 

5-30-2016

Half off sale at Pick n Pull hauler. 

^^^ love the look of that :-)

#dat4g63tho

6-1-2016

I was surprised that you new as DSM's are not common vehicles in Europe.

This weekend a DSM AWD record got broken three times and once last week.This record was set back in 2006 by John Shepard and it was 7.70 at 191 MPH.

Jeff Bush went 7.6 @ 166MPH then next weekend we went 7.58 @ 166MPH and he's on A/T.

Devin (boostin performance) went 7.55 @ 195MPH followed by 7.4 @ 199MPH's

I met them all at DSM-EVO-GTR shoot out which is hosted by Jeff Busch him self. I'm flying to Ohio again this year and staying with my powder coater and he's crew.

Damn it!!! This is the fourth one that cracked between two of my 405's I only got one good left. On this one I applied thick coat of apoxie on back of it and it still cracked.

I'm thinking about importing phase II dash,I'm done with fixing interior on these cars every two weeks.

6-3-2016

Coolant and oil temps are steady on 105*F weather with A/C on in traffic or freeway. I'm extremely satisfied after all I went trough with this car.

6-5-2016

Replaced engine oil and door central locking motors today. Also engine bay got a fresh coat of wax :-)

It's 200 miles shy of 10.000 miles since the swap was completed (on this XU10J4RS)

6-9-2016

Finally!!! I picked up and installed my rear seat today. Mounting brackets should be here Wednesday and they are powder coated black.

6-14-2016

Finally this weekend I got real world results between these two engines. The 6 has always felt like it has more torque then MI but on another hand my MI felt like it has better top end but do keep in mined that my MI is running on link and E85. Factory claims 17 HP more on the 6 engine so naturally it should be quicker then MI.First test was final gear test,we did WOT 60MPH-75MPH where the Wagon was in 6th and MI in 5th gear. My assumption was correct the 6 engine was pulling like a freight train on MI and it was pretty embarrassing as the 6 gain was substantial. Second test was WOT 3th gear pull 60MPH-90MPH and my assumption was correct again,this time MI was pulling on the 6 like a freight train. By the end of 3th gear MI was full length of a car ahead. I still need to perform 0-60 MPH test between the two.These tests were performed away from public or any vehicles on the road where no one potentially could have needed hurt.

6-15-2016

Seats brackets came in and finally interior is finished.

8-8-2016

As most of you know I was on vacation for 30 days and out of country so no real updates on my cars at the moment. 

Wagon was on the street with out battery tender and it started right up like a champ!!! However today third brake light assembly fell of :-( I'm so tired of CA 405 interior not sure what to do about it any more.... On a positive note I've ordered B.C coilovers for it :-)

These will go to MI16 and AVO's to Wagon.