Progress Coil-over suspension group deal !!!

Jason Garrett Young jasongyoung@jacomanufacturing.com
Fri, 18 Oct 2002 12:50:57 -0500


(I am fowarding this for a buddy.  I am NOT to be contacted about this.)

Guys,

The word from some sources from up high in the "SE-R ranks" have advised me
to strongly consider Progress Group's (http://www.progressauto.com/)
coil-over suspension. This increases wheel travel by one inch and a half, is
ride height adjustable 1-3 inches, polished aluminum strut, detents in the
threaded sleeves for precise height adjustment, and can be taken apart and
rebuilt and even re-valved. So you don't have to throw away the strut when
it wears out. It comes in street, drag and autocross valving. They make
their own springs. Apparently Progress has an excellent reputation. They are
even a SATURN authorized manufacturer. They already have an **adjustable**
rear sway bar (~$200) for the classic SERs (not sure if for 200s etc as
well) and I think they get points for NOT selling a front sway bar which
they said is unnecessary because our front ends are already quite stiff and
apparently most guys racing classics have found that front sway bars make
the car plow.

Mike Kojima uses this same PROGRESS coil-over kit in the new B15 body
featured in http://www.sentra.net/tech/garage/suspension.php? And I quote
"The strut uses a 375 lb spring and is two inches shorter than stock so the
car can be lowered 2" without losing any travel. The ride is quite nice,
firm but not harsh, most of the body roll is eliminated. Ride height is
adjustable." And, "The Progress setup uses a large piston shortened body
shock so the car can be considerably lowered without loosing wheel travel.
The Progress shocks are 2" shorter so the car can be lowered 2" without
compromising the ride much. The Progress shocks are available with
conventional spring perches or with a threaded body and stiffer valving for
higher rate coil over springs. We just got finished testing some of the
prototype Progress coilovers and we are ecstatic over them. The ride is very
decent and refined and the cornering is phenomenal with very little body
roll. The Progress setup allows 2" of lowering while still maintaining a
good ride even with stiff 350 in/lb springs."

So, as of right now, Progress, who I have called (and with whom I have NO
relationship whatsoever, BTW) has told me that if we can get 8-10 confirmed
orders, they will produce a kit for our car within a month. In fact they
have been meaning to do as much but are stalling until they get a few
confirmed orders. In one of the articles written about them and linked on
their web site, they made a Honda Del Sol do OVER 1G on the skid pad with
their set up. According to them "The Progress Group has over 40 years of
combined experience in the design, manufacture, and tuning of ultra high
performance suspension systems for use in applications like CART/Indy Cars,
IMSA, SCCA, NASA and SCORE competition vehicles"

I called www.Ptuning.com (one of their dealers in VA, near where I live) and
they said they could make us a nice deal if we got 8-10 orders. MSRP is
$1450. Ptuning's regular price is $1250 plus shipping, no tax if your not in
VA. If we can get a group deal they said they would go down substantially.
$1000-1100? (my guess) plus a good price on the rear adjustable sway bar if
you are interested as well.

Lets do this guys! There aren't really many decent coil-over kits out there
for us that give you extra wheel travel unless you start spending big money.
Ground control is only half decent for $800-900. TRUE CHOICE kicks butt but
costs well over $2000. If it wasn't because our SE-R buddy from up on high
recommended I look into Progress, I wouldn't be wasting your time or mine.

Who is interested? I will set up the deal if we get enough guys. I figure
$1100 or so (I'm guessing!!!) would be our cost, plus shipping for the
complete coil over kit. Write me if you're interested. apboado@yahoo.com

If other body styles are interested, let me know, and maybe we can have them
make something for the 200s etc as well.

Thanks,
Alexi (apboado@yahoo.com)