Hi Ben, I have messed around with different spring/shock combinations, so I'll say what I know about each: > DMC Original Springs You just got through saying that you want to make changes AND not do a cut & hack, so the original springs for you are not an option. > DMCH Performance Springs I bought a set of these and have not had time (or compressor tool) to put these on. They look nice, are most expensive option out there, and were designed by a British company custom for DMCH. > PJ Grady Performance Front Springs I have these on my car right now. I think they cost me $190 + shipping. A good inexpensive way to go if you are happy with your rear springs and just want to put the nose where it belongs. (Does that sound Freudian?) > DMC Original Shock Absorbers These are probably the last thing you want. Someone bought a NOS set of shocks for damn near what they could have bought DMCH's new custom shocks. These shocks were made with '80s technology, and there have been lots of improvements since then. These get stiffer as they get older. How this happens is that sediment precipitates out of the oil and sticks to the cylinder wall. This makes the cylinder effectively smaller and makes more friction. Or at least this is what Byrne Henninger told me at the last SEDOC. > DMCH Performance Shock Absorbers This is what I have on my car now. These were designed by the same British outfit that makes the DMCH springs. The springs & shocks are made to be used together for optimum results (so they say). These shocks don't have any cover/shield for the rod. It is just exposed. The shock bodies are thicker than OEM. These shocks are noticeably softer than OEM & PJ Grady. The fronts are too soft when matched to the PJ Grady front springs. Fit is excellent and so is the engineering. They also are blessedly silent when in operation. The ride is definitely a sports feel and not a touring car. But I have yet to test them with the matched springs. Height is not adjustable, but if paired with their springs then it puts the rear height where it should be. With OEM springs it puts the ride height at OEM, and this is about 1/2" higher than optimum. > PJ Grady Performance Shock Absorbers I had these on my car and took them off because I didn't like them. The first thing I noticed was much improved ride comfort. They seemed to take the edge off of the bumps. They are height adjustable, so you can lower the rear by 1/2". This is nice. What I didn't figure out until later was that they are extremely noisy. They squeak at every bump in the road. A quick demonstration of this is to just grab the rear wheel well and shake the car. I did this to Rob's green car, and it squeaked as bad as mine. There were a few engineering mistakes made with these shocks. The shanks are too long which prevent the bushings from being properly compressed to 20 ft-lbs. The lower bushings are too soft. This is a problem on the rears because most of the car's rear weight is resting on these bushings. With a little use they wear out and become sloppy. Probably the most remarkable thing to say about these shocks at this time is that Rob is sold out. So don't worry about the above unless you already own a set. I am sure that Rob will resolve all these issues with his next batch. > Mid-State DMC Touring Shock Absorbers Another option I saw Marty offering with these is a set of four springs for cheap. I'm curious to know who make these and how they differ from DMCH's set of four. He has done a lot of experimenting with shock absorbers. I think that what he is currently selling is Monroe. There are minor fit issues that he compensates for on the front. For the rear he custom machines an aluminum collar that clamps around the lower shock body. The spring & cup ride on this collar. This also makes the rear height very adjustable. To many people (including myself) it appears that this collar is rather thin and the lower shock body wasn't designed for the weight that Marty's setup puts on it. But he's a smart guy, and I know he wouldn't sell anything that he thought could be unsafe. > The combination I am most interested in is 2C (DMCH Performance Springs with PJ Grady Performance Shock Absorbers).' I say that this is not an advisable combination. DMCH springs & shocks were made to work together as a package. If you are going to spend the big price for that kind of quality then go all the way and get the complete package. Here are the combinations that I have driven on: OEM springs & shocks -- Very stiff and harsh ride. Steering requires more effort because tie-rods now have to push down at an angle. OEM springs & PJ Grady shocks -- nice improvement in butt comfort but gives the harshest ride next to OEM shocks and a big fan fare of squeaks as you go down even a smooth road. PJ Grady front springs & PJ Grady shocks -- Nice combination. The front shocks are rather stiff, and I like this. My butt isn't up there to feel the bumps, and being stiff helps stop the nose from bottoming out. (ah, many suggestive words piled into that sentence. Did anyone else notice that?) PJ Grady springs & DMCH's shocks -- I don't recommend this. The nose now is far more apt to bottom out. I talked with Steve Wynne about this at the last SEDOC, and he said that his new springs are proportionately matched to his shocks so that the car won't bottom out as easily. I'll find out when I get the springs on. What is stopping me is finding a spring compressor that I feel safe using. Another combination that I have test driven is KYB shocks front & rear with OEM springs. This is the smoothest ride yet -- probably equivelant to what Marty is selling. I'm not sure if a touring car feel is the safest for the DeLorean. When I drive it over a hard bump, it cushions the first jolt and then the resulting bounces hardly happen. The front shocks required no modifications to fit, and the rears had a custom platform made of stainless steel. Basically the shock fits inside a piece of SS pipe, and the spring & cup rest on that. This was all done by a local friend to his car. Byrne Henninger makes a similar setup out of steel. It allows you to put on any shock you can fit in the given space. My personal recommendation is to buy the DMCH shock & spring package. While you have the front apart, consider boxing in the upper & lower control arms. Or consider PDC stainless steel front lower control arms. I have a set but haven't put them on the car yet. I intend to do that when I swap out frames. Unlike the frame, the welds on his SS control arms are like jewelry. Report back what you use. Maybe take some photos that we can post online. Walt Yahoo! 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