Harvey-Bailey Shad 2 - Should I?
Discussion
Does anyone have experience of fitting a H-B engineering springs dampers and rollbars conversion to a Shad 2?
Having recently taken the plunge with a 1978 Shadow 2 that needs a "little work" shall we say.....all the dampers are shot and so I am in the happy position of needing to replace them.
The very reputable outfit that is working on her recommends Bilstein dampers....but I wanted to go the full Harvey-Bailey route with springs and rollbars too. They tell me however that for some people, the H-B conversion takes some of the charm out of the drive and therefore I may wish to try just new dampers first...then perhaps the rollbars and take it one step at a time.
Everything I read about the HB conversion is positive but I am inclined to listen to guys who work on Shads day in and day out...they can do whatever I want but I tend to trust the experience of a marque expert.
So...has anyone got views on what I should do? I would be most grateful...
CC
Having recently taken the plunge with a 1978 Shadow 2 that needs a "little work" shall we say.....all the dampers are shot and so I am in the happy position of needing to replace them.
The very reputable outfit that is working on her recommends Bilstein dampers....but I wanted to go the full Harvey-Bailey route with springs and rollbars too. They tell me however that for some people, the H-B conversion takes some of the charm out of the drive and therefore I may wish to try just new dampers first...then perhaps the rollbars and take it one step at a time.
Everything I read about the HB conversion is positive but I am inclined to listen to guys who work on Shads day in and day out...they can do whatever I want but I tend to trust the experience of a marque expert.
So...has anyone got views on what I should do? I would be most grateful...
CC
I have driven a standard Shadow 11 and a HB equipped one. The standard car is, to me at least, far too soft and rolls way too much. The HB equipped version was a delight and was still supremely comfortable just not so 'loose' or imprecise.
But then I drive a Turbo 'R' so what do I know
But then I drive a Turbo 'R' so what do I know
I have it fitted to a '78 Shadow 11. Car has been in the family for 30+ years, which is when I first drove it and I've been driving it ever since. At that time it was standard, and low mileage (15,000) so dampers etc were in good condition. However, despite being a 11, it still felt very soft and rolled more than I was expecting.
The full HB kit was fitted within approx 3 months. It made a marked difference but, especially if not driven for a while, it still obviously takes adjusting to if you've been driving a modern 'sports' vehicle. I also have a later steering wheel, fitted at the same time, which, IIRC, is slightly smaller diameter than standard.
I don't think it makes the ride too firm, in fact I tend to run tyre pressures a few psi above standard and that feels, to me, to have more of an impact on ride firmness, although that's probably just because I simply can't remember what is was like originally.
I'm not in a position to check at the moment, but possibly the HB dampers are Bilstein?
I didn't see this thread earlier when I replied to another thread and I suggested HB on that one.
I know RR introduced their own kit at some stage, which I suspect was very similar.
I think it depends on what you want. I suppose you must lose a bit of 'waftiness' but although I can't recall what it was like originally, I do know that it made a huge difference and I much preferred it.
Just for info it cost approx £3500 fitted back then - still have the invoice somewhere - so you'd be pretty miffed if it didn't work.
I've never had a passenger who has questioned the ride or made any comment about 'lack of waftiness', if that helps.
The full HB kit was fitted within approx 3 months. It made a marked difference but, especially if not driven for a while, it still obviously takes adjusting to if you've been driving a modern 'sports' vehicle. I also have a later steering wheel, fitted at the same time, which, IIRC, is slightly smaller diameter than standard.
I don't think it makes the ride too firm, in fact I tend to run tyre pressures a few psi above standard and that feels, to me, to have more of an impact on ride firmness, although that's probably just because I simply can't remember what is was like originally.
I'm not in a position to check at the moment, but possibly the HB dampers are Bilstein?
I didn't see this thread earlier when I replied to another thread and I suggested HB on that one.
I know RR introduced their own kit at some stage, which I suspect was very similar.
I think it depends on what you want. I suppose you must lose a bit of 'waftiness' but although I can't recall what it was like originally, I do know that it made a huge difference and I much preferred it.
Just for info it cost approx £3500 fitted back then - still have the invoice somewhere - so you'd be pretty miffed if it didn't work.
I've never had a passenger who has questioned the ride or made any comment about 'lack of waftiness', if that helps.
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