For Mondial owners contemplating suspension upgrades: The widely available 308 coil overs will not fit on the Mondial because the top mount is totally different; the Mondial's top mount is better designed to isolate road roughness. This requires the top mount to be modified in addition to a sized lower bushing. Here is a set of Konis done at Carobu (www.carobu.com) Engineering with adjustable height, rebound and compression for a Mondial. Will be lowering and setting up the springing to less understeer, more rapid response. Also, the new spring/shock weighs less than the stock. Went with Eibach springs, and other brand shocks can used but stayed with OEM Koni. As an aside, will be adding s/s brake lines and have already installed a set of drilled Brembo calipers. hth russ
Great pictures! Please post some of the car once it is lowered. I think that a lowered Mondial would be a totally different car visually and performance wise. Look forward to it. David
My Mondial t Cab is currently in maintenance and I asked the workshop to increase the ground clearance again. Otherwise some multi-story car parks are virtually inaccessable. It´s practicability vs. performance again. But then, Mondials aren´t supposed to be high performers ...
Photo of a lowered Mondial in Japan. Not sure I will bring it down that far or not, at least in the front.
Russ, Did you get the exhaust tips yet? I was wondering how they sound and if it accomplished what you thought they would. I like the way your car is evolving; but pretty soon it won't be a mondial anymore. Maybe a "Turndial"?
Through some miracle I spoke to Dan at Stebro who says the tips will be here Thursday. Turndial* - you're killin' me. It's all OEM stuff (mostly - Webers, Koni, Brembo, Speedline, Tubi....), and I haven't taken off one thing that was made in Maranello - same chassis, same engine. Certainly no more modified than many early Ferraris. I'm kind of a Carlo Abarth wannabe... bill308: These Konis are the aluminum bodied adjustable height, rebound and compression shocks Koni makes for racing applications. Don't have the # handy - got them from Carobu (Tate Casey) who is setting up my suspension to be less understeer and more eager to change direction (fun). Will post some pics in a couple of weeks, dyno charts a couple of weeks later. best to all rt *For those keeping track: Engine: Weber (reliable) 40 DCNFs with 36mm chokes, hotter intake cams, single (reliable) distributor adjustable ignition, Tubi/Stebro exhaust; expect 300+ hp Suspension: Euro option Speedline 17" wheels, 7.5 and 8.5 with 225/245 Michelin Pilots, drilled Brembo rotors, s/s brake lines, Koni aluminum adjustable ride height racing shocks Interior: Momo Cavallino vintage Dino steering wheel, Chrome shift knob (good for 35 hp) What fun.
I caught part of "Scent of a Woman" on TV last night. The Mondial would have brought a grin to your face Russ. Philip
Russ, I thought those shock assemblies looked familiar. I have the steel versions (they had to weld on an upper eye to hold the bushing) on my GTS. I really like them. External and independant bounce and rebound adjustable. Very nice.
David - thanks! Have a UPS tracking # for Friday delivery - pics soon. best rt OBTW Give my love to your Abarths (Carlo is a hero of mine: big cams, big valves, big carbs, big exhausts, big etc...)
Looks great Russ! What spring rates did you chose? Also am i correct in assuming from the pics that us Mondial owners might have more choices in shocks since i dont see that "perch" that 308 owners have to deal with?
Howdy! The springs are Eibach 118517: 1400/250/0225 I am still learning about these shocks, as the instructions say there are over 140 combinations of compression and rebound. Pictures soon. best rt
The deal with the Mondial shocks is the top mount which requires a little fettling. Another amazing thing is how much lighter this assembly is than the stock.
Mounted the adjustable Konis and s/s brake lines today. Overall lowered ride height 1" lower, with ground clearence reduced at rear jack point from 5.75 to 4.75 unladen and 4.5 laden (yes, that would be me). The new units are much lighter than the original shocks/springs (also shown). You can see in the photo the round adjusting knob at the base of the shock and s/s brake line (the other line is the ABS sensing line). The rotors are drilled Brembos to fit the stock caliper. Will install distributor tomorrow, hopefully. best rt
Maybe I'm dumb but I only understand springs as in lbs/in. What rates did you use front and rear? I'll be curious to hear about how you like the set up. Also the perches as pictured are exactly like the 348 ones. I have an older 85 QV mondial which I need to work on some day. Good job RT.
FBB Thanks! Rexrcr is of course correct on the spring specs. The plan for the front spring rate is 150 to 160 lbs./in (The stock rate is 125 lbs./in). Haven't driven it yet, as still putting on the single Mallory distributor and the 267@020 (stock 244@020) duration intake cams. What fun. best rt
