Adjustable Coilovers

[Madscanner]

Hiya Folks

Have been working on this one for a while...

Started modding the replacement struts back in September, picked up some sleeves and then some strut tops, and have finally got around to buying both the springs.

As I had to strip the paint from the strut barrels in order to get the sleeves on, I now need to re-paint them. Once that is done, all I have to do is find the time to swap them in, when it isn't dark and when it isn't raining...   

The (nearly finished) struts.

[lsixtyseven]

I like the way they look. Can you provide details on how you did them and where the parts came from, I plan on doing coilovers this winter.

I just saw all the info you posted on pennock's, good job.

Thanks

Tibs

[dguy]

Very nice.  We're probably switching to adjustable coilovers as part of the swap in our 85 this winter.

[Madscanner]

Thanks

The thread in Pennock's was the inspiration for this - that and the fact that I had picked up a pair of struts here on eBay quite a while back.

Whilst this will, in the end, cost more than I had hoped, I will at least have the satisfaction of having met the challenge of doing it myself.

Much of the delay in finishing this has been around cost, as just about everything here is substantially more expensive, so have had to time things to coincide with pay days.

The main departure from the Pennock thread was the use of purpose-made strut tops (from Fiero Addiction) - I went for these, even though they bumped the cost up, for two reasons; firstly, that they would make the job easier and, secondly, that they would look better...

I've gone for 375 lb springs, as per the Pennock thread, and am hoping that that is not too stiff (but I suppose I can get softer springs, if I have to).  Once the struts go on, I can then get the alignment done properly.

A big issue for me is that I live in an apartment - my workspace is basically wherever I am parked on the street - with darker days and rain on the way, it won't be fun 

Ah well...

I 'll get some more photos when they are in place, and maybe write it up a bit better.

Ciao!

[Madscanner]

Hiya

Finally finished my conversion over the weekend.


How it looked when I started


Old and new side by side


New strut in place

After I finished the job,I went out looking for potholes, sleeping policemen, and cats eyes, and was really pleased with the results. Although the suspension still needs to be properly set up front and rear, I was surprised by how smooth the ride was - I had been worried that the 375lb springs would be too stiff, but that isn't the case at all. Interestingly, there was a minor, but obvious difference in the angle of the struts at the knuckles when I started (they are much closer to the same angle now).

I initially set the height by eye before installing the struts and am about 1cm too high (compared to standard) so need to drop them a bit, next time I'm at home and it isn't dark and it isn't raining...

Not sure I saved much money - If I had been able to get the parts in the US (while on holiday perhaps) it would have been cheaper, but all parts were bought in the UK (with UK prices!  ).

I was the first job I have done, start-to-finish, with not much more than an idea, a few forum threads for help, and a lot of enthusiasm - in many ways, although it took a lot longer, it was a lot more satisfying than just buying something and bolting it in!

Ciao!

[FieroBUZZ]

GEEZ!!!!!  It took from November to now for the rain to stop and get a bit more light? I'm staying here where it's warm and cozy.   

Nice job.

I believe cutting 1/2 a turn on the front will lower about 1". Rodney's 1" lowering ball joints are nice, but need to be tack welded to the control arm (if that's a problem).

The available lower spindles are problematic from what I've read.  Also some fool in their wisdom made the darn things from scratch and kept the stupid rotor/ bearing style assembly.  It would have been a snap to include a different spindle with a Grand Am style bearing and separate rotor.
Gary

[Madscanner]

GEEZ!!!!!  It took from November to now for the rain to stop and get a bit more light? I'm staying here where it's warm and cozy.   

I have a 3-hr commute every day so, at this time of year, I'm never home except when it's dark!  I was going to be doing a bit of work today on my '84 but, surprise, surprise, it's snowing, and (for some strange reason) I don't feel like working outside in the snow... 

At least I got one of the headlights working yesterday...


(modified to add - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/4431043/Britain-comes-to-standstill-after-1ft-of-snow.html )

[Madscanner]

In the end, I got the front springs cut down by one coil.

Everything seems fine, so far...