[Ken Moshier]

Has anyone gotten rid of these things? They certainly detract from the appearance of that lovely, long Spider nose. I was told never to use them, anyway (not that my '86 Spider would ever need them!). And, they can bottom out once in a while. One is already bent from whatever.

 

[Lee Hjelsand]

The hooks you refer to are not tow hooks. They are hold down points for shipping on a car carrier or flat bed

 

[Zunige]

I wouldn't get rid of them... and they are in fact, as Lee pointed out, supposed to be used to secure the car when it is being transported and not for towing.

If your car has the OEM springs, it will bottom out. You may want to consider doing what many of us have to cure the nose dive under heavy braking and horrible hits when going over potholes: upgrade to sport springs. They actually make the ride much more comfortable...

Best regards,

 

[Ken Moshier]

Thanks Lee and Enrique for pointing that out. I haven't actually been bottoming out (I've been warned, speed bumps, etc.) but one hook is bent from a previous owner mishap. Guess I'll leave them alone.

 

[Elio Comello]

Before going to the cost and complexity of replacing the springs, invest in a set of gas shocks. It did the trick for me...... The bottoming out is likely due to OEM shocks that have aged...
After the shocks upgrade, if you are still not satisfied, then and only then do the springs. Chances are the shock upgrade alone will make you smile!
BTW, shocks are easy to do!...

Best regards, Elio

 

[lgbalfa]

I wouldn't get rid of them... and they are in fact, as Lee pointed out, supposed to be used to secure the car when it is being transported and not for towing.

If your car has the OEM springs, it will bottom out. You may want to consider doing what many of us have to cure the nose dive under heavy braking and horrible hits when going over potholes: upgrade to sport springs. They actually make the ride much more comfortable...

Best regards,

i just recently got sport springs and am much happier.

 

[Gubi]

Before going to the cost and complexity of replacing the springs, invest in a set of gas shocks. It did the trick for me...... The bottoming out is likely due to OEM shocks that have aged...

Yeah, I went to Koni reds with stock springs and the bottoming out pretty much stopped (I don't think those are gas shocks but it's the same idea)

I like the tow hooks because they tend to hit before the sump guard. It's an extra level of protection as I see it.

 

[Tifosi]

Hmmm.

Mine must be special as my tiedowns are just an inch or so below the bumper. (The licence plate even hides the drivers side one)

By the time mine could touch the asphalt, the engine would have to have been ground away to a level about halfway up to the crank main journals.

 

[Zunige]

Hmmm.

Mine must be special as my tiedowns are just an inch or so below the bumper. (The licence plate even hides the drivers side one)

By the time mine could touch the asphalt, the engine would have to have been ground away to a level about halfway up to the crank main journals.

The series 3a Spiders ('82 - '85) have "U" style hooks right below the bumpers, while the series 3b cars ('86 - '90) of the same body style (Graduate and Veloce) have the tie downs at the bottom of the front spoiler. They look like an extension protruding from the bottom of the spoiler.

Best regards,

 

[lgbalfa]

Yeah, I went to Koni reds with stock springs and the bottoming out pretty much stopped (I don't think those are gas shocks but it's the same idea)

I like the tow hooks because they tend to hit before the sump guard. It's an extra level of protection as I see it.

what is a sump guard?

 

[lgbalfa]

didnt realize a sump guard is another phrase for oil pan guard.

 

[Gubi]

Oil pan, oil sump. It's all good.

 

[carsdlt]

Those tie-down loops were FIRST used to secure these little beasts onto the deck on their long boat trip to the US of A.

 

[Evans986]

My front tie down loops are sorta flattened a bit on the ends from where I bottomed out turning into the piggly wiggly parking lot. Oops!

I find them sort of necessary as my car isn't the most reliable of all spiders... prior to the engine coming out anyway.

EDIT
Whoa! Sorry for the dig up. The mobile version of the BB is doing something crazy on my phone and showing posts from 2007. Lol