Fe3 suspension in a vy?

[smi5575]

I was just wondering is it possible? I don't believe anyone has asked this question before on these forums and there is limited info about it.

Any info would be great thanks

[danja]

I was just wondering is it possible? I don't believe anyone has asked this question before on these forums and there is limited info about it.

Any info would be great thanks

What's FE3? FE1 is the standard suspension, FE2 is the sports suspension, and FR1 is the country pack suspension. Don't think I've heard of FE3.

[smi5575]

Well its in the new cadilaic and gxp pontiac, which got axed. the pontiac is basically a ve commodore with a slightly bigger engine so im and the suspension and all was all designed and built in Australia. google it

[Jesterarts]

Isn't FE3 the suspension you can get as an option on the VE's?

If that is the case, then no, you can't put it on a VY.

[dah_man_ben]

What's FE3? FE1 is the standard suspension, FE2 is the sports suspension, and FR1 is the country pack suspension. Don't think I've heard of FE3.

Don't forget FE1.5 on the Calais....

Never heard of FE3 though mate.

[smi5575]

Isn't FE3 the suspension you can get as an option on the VE's?

If that is the case, then no, you can't put it on a VY.

oh ok fair enough. do you mind me asking why?

[TVR-190]

oh ok fair enough. do you mind me asking why?

because the VE and VY are TOTALLY different.

[smi5575]

because the VE and VY are TOTALLY different.

yer no shit but how?

[smi5575]

Sorry I want to make myself a bit clearer here. I know that FE3 is different and better. But what makes it better than its predecessors?

FE3 is all the rave at the moment especially in America, the 09 cadaliac was clocked at under 8 mins in the nurburg ring, which truly demonstrates the true performance and handaling capacity of an FE3 and and Ls3 combination in a large car. In short FE3 is a great on the track and smooth on the streets.

So what makes is so good? And is there any improvements you could do to the vy set up to get the great track handling and smooth street feel you get with the current FE3?

I know this topic has not been covered much. So if you don't know what FE3 is please don't post until you do.

[danja]

yer no shit but how?

Well the VE is a completely different platform/chassis. You may as well ask if FG Falcon suspension will fit your VY.

[Calaber]

The suspension design of the VY dates back to the VR, which was in itself adopted from earlier models of Opel. The VE was a completely new design, which, although sharing the same basic layout, shares no components with the earlier models.

You also shouldn't confuse the chassis from the Cadillac with the VE or G8. Those two use GM's Zeta platform, whereas the platform used in the Cadillac is called the Sigma. It is a much more expensive and involved suspension and floorfpan design than the Zeta. FE3 would be a variant of that platform. In the GXP, it would have been a custom version of the standard Commie set-up, possibly something like an HSV set-up.

Zeta was designed for lower priced GM models such as Commodore, Camaro, etc (remembering that the G8 was the result of Bob Lutz, erstwhile GM head honcho, visiting Aus and liking the VE so much, he felt it had a place in the States as a Pontiac - it wasn't originally designed to be marketed that way). The Sigma was a premium platform, designed for Cadillac, SAAB (I think) and other upper market GM products - I think it might also be used in the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia, which replaced the Vectra.

[smi5575]

Oh ok thanks calaber that's very interesting. It's good that someone on here actually knows what there talking about lol.

What suspension set up would you recommend for the occasional circuit but mainly street driven vy? The G8 is know for its European styled handling, in your opinion would it be possible to achieve such handling traits such on a VY?

[undar8ed1]

try researching aftermarket spring strut and shocks and make a decision on a combination.

[Calaber]

Oh ok thanks calaber that's very interesting. It's good that someone on here actually knows what there talking about lol.

What suspension set up would you recommend for the occasional circuit but mainly street driven vy? The G8 is know for its European styled handling, in your opinion would it be possible to achieve such handling traits such on a VY?

ONe of the biggest improvements in the VE chassis over the VY-VZ was its stiffness - the VE body is much stronger and more rigid than the earlier body. That stiffness and strength is a major reason why the VE handles so much better than previous Commodores. You won't be able to get that degree of body integrity in your VY, but you can still get plenty of improvement by talking to suspension specialists as suggested, to work out the best combination of springs, dampers (shocks), sway bars, bushes and steering geometry. Remember that good handling requires much more than just stiffer, lowered suspension and hard shocks. The whole suspension needs to be set up according to your needs. If you want to include some track work, that would be factored in by the specialists when setting up your suspension specs.

[Jesterarts]

In a nutshell, to acheive the same results in a VY as you do putting FE3 in a VE, you would need to do ALOT or work to the VY chassis.

Just to give you an idea of what you are up against, I have 21yo BMW which has suspension which is basically IDENTICAL to the VT - VZ setup.

Holden was lagging a long way in terms of suspension technology until they built the new VE ground up.

In order to get decent handling from a VY you've looking at new stiffer/lower springs with shocks to match, performance swaybars, replacing all bushes, adjustable camber kits, etc.

And even once you have the suspension perfect, you've still got to deal with the fact the VT - VZ doesn't have 50/50 weight distribution unlike the VE which is alot better in this aspect.

And that's alot of money to spend on a car that's only going to see a track 'occasionally'.

[danja]

I seem to recall the VT having something like a 52/48 distribution, which isn't far off. As far as handling balance goes, with the right sway bars they aren't too bad, but the chassis is not particularly rigid as Calaber points out, which contributes a lot to the infamous "boat" handling.

[smi5575]

In order to get decent handling from a VY you've looking at new stiffer/lower springs with shocks to match, performance swaybars, replacing all bushes, adjustable camber kits, etc.

And even once you have the suspension perfect, you've still got to deal with the fact the VT - VZ doesn't have 50/50 weight distribution unlike the VE which is alot better in this aspect.

And that's alot of money to spend on a car that's only going to see a track 'occasionally'.

Fair enough thanks for the input. That's an interesting read. I don't necessarily want want FE3 just a set up that has similar characteristics as it.

Any recommendations?

[smi5575]

The suspension design of the VY dates back to the VR, which was in itself adopted from earlier models of Opel. The VE was a completely new design, which, although sharing the same basic layout, shares no components with the earlier models.

You also shouldn't confuse the chassis from the Cadillac with the VE or G8. Those two use GM's Zeta platform, whereas the platform used in the Cadillac is called the Sigma. It is a much more expensive and involved suspension and floorfpan design than the Zeta. FE3 would be a variant of that platform. In the GXP, it would have been a custom version of the standard Commie set-up, possibly something like an HSV set-up.

Zeta was designed for lower priced GM models such as Commodore, Camaro, etc (remembering that the G8 was the result of Bob Lutz, erstwhile GM head honcho, visiting Aus and liking the VE so much, he felt it had a place in the States as a Pontiac - it wasn't originally designed to be marketed that way). The Sigma was a premium platform, designed for Cadillac, SAAB (I think) and other upper market GM products - I think it might also be used in the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia, which replaced the Vectra.

Thanks for the info that has helped me a lot, and very interesting. Where did you get all this info?

Once I finish my training in the army I will have more than enough funds to pay the pros to get me a good set up, I'm looking foreword it it

thanks again

[Calaber]

Thanks for the info that has helped me a lot, and very interesting. Where did you get all this info?

Once I finish my training in the army I will have more than enough funds to pay the pros to get me a good set up, I'm looking foreword it it

thanks again

Just reading a lot about the VE when it was released, and being a mad Holden man for over forty years, plus owning about 15 different models over that time, I guess.

[Calaber]

Double post. Deleted.

[smi5575]

Lol Fair enough. i guess I'm only 19 and i could learn a lot from people like you, thanks for the advice