Gt-12

[gwaii]

Turn them sideways?

Richard

no room...even if it could work.

The lamp is so you my friend!

it is,isn't it.might just have to keep it.

 

[gwaii]

i didn't know if these were pressurised,and didn't want to take a chance opening it up,so i drilled a small hole in the bottom.there was no pressure,so i was happy.less to deal with on reassembly.

i used a cold chisel and hammer to cut the top crimp off.

all the bits laid out.now i get to form a plan on how to shorten it.note that the top of the tube has already been cut off.this was to get the old spring perch out of the way.

 

[martin]

I don't see how you're going to have room to fit a coil in the upper regions due to the motor being there. Perhaps you could use the strut for the shock and upper suspension member and then use a transverse quarter elliptical leaf on the lower A-arm or whatever lower you plan on using. I was going to suggest t-bars, but I hate them and I doubt you would have room, then again. I'll shut up now.

 

[MountainMike]

That's a mind bender there gwaii, good luck buddy!

 

[gwaii]

I don't see how you're going to have room to fit a coil in the upper regions due to the motor being there. Perhaps you could use the strut for the shock and upper suspension member and then use a transverse quarter elliptical leaf on the lower A-arm or whatever lower you plan on using. I was going to suggest t-bars, but I hate them and I doubt you would have room, then again. I'll shut up now.

the quarter eliptical was my first idea,actually.i was thinking back to a '67 holman-moody 427sohc mustang the guy across the parking lot from my shop in mission had,it was set up that way.unfortunately,there isn't room along the frame as the wheel needs all that space for turning,and i also thought about transverse but that would require going under the frame.that's against the rules on this build(nothing lower than the frame bottom.)i think theres room to use the original gt6 springs,but i still need to confirm this.

That's a mind bender there gwaii, good luck buddy!

this whole frickin thing is a mind bender.i can't even begin to sort the mess out till i got a couple of vodkas in me.that slows the brain down just enough to focus on one problem at a time.

 

[gwaii]

ok,preliminary measurements look promising.

with the strut clamped in place and the wheel bolted on,i found there is room to use the gt6 spring,but i need to cut out a section of tube to build the hanger.there is 4" clearance above the tube to the hood,so i have some space for travel.i only need a few inches,so theres enough room.the gt6 spring is 3 3/4'' diameter,the bmw ones are 7'',so that's a big space saving.

this is one of the reasons i liked the bmw front suspension...it has the same 120mm pattern as the jag rear,so the wheels bolt up.
i wish i had saved the jag front i got with the rear,i would have used that.it was just too much stuff to drag up to the islands with no idea what i would do with it.

more good news.
i thought i would need to cut up the bmw lower arms,or make some from scratch.turns out the lower ball joint is high enough that the arm can go above the frame rail.

it is designed to run back to a pivot below the firewall.i have room for this on the passenger side,but not the drivers side(the oil filter is in the way).if i use the left arm on the right side,and vice-versa,that pivot can go forward.this allows me to use the arms intact,and still have nothing below the frame..

 

[gwaii]

<<<<<<post 1300


more things figured.i need to shorten the struts by 4 1/4''.i think i have a plan for this.i was thinking about calculating spring compression,then realised i didn't need to.if i weld a ring on the strut tube just above the upper knucle mount,then use spacer tubes to set lower spring pad height,i can get 5 1/2'' adjustment on the height.so no need for figuring,just build it and adjust as needed.

i really thought this was going to be a whole lot harder.

 

[TheTopher]

i really thought this was going to be a whole lot harder.

No worries, mate. Any tougher and I wouldn't be able to keep track of what you were talking about


Love the work you did on the hood!

 

[martin]

What are you planning on using for an upper strut bearing?

 

[JoshT]

How about something like this:

I was reading a Probe Forum for fixing my $500 car, and found out about these. They are used to convert stock struts to coil over. I know to install them you do just what you did by removing the springs and the Stock spring perch then center those sleeves and affix them to your stock strut body at the desired ride height. I'm sure you could some up with something just as good for less, but just an idea that occurred to me when I saw what you are doing with the struts.

 

[gwaii]

What are you planning on using for an upper strut bearing?

using the stock bmw piece-it's in good shape,and will fit.

How about something like this:

I'm sure you could some up with something just as good for less, but just an idea that occurred to me when I saw what you are doing with the struts.

those look really good,but the way i'm going to do it won't cost me any money.i have to keep the costs down on this thing-while making it look like i didn't cheap out.

i love the input i'm getting on this project

 

[Boggin]

i have to keep the costs down on this thing-while making it look like i didn't cheap out.

tell me about it lol

 

[Bennybooster]

Looks sweet

 

[kris97ranger]

i just read this whole thing and its awsome! i wanna see it with the body on.. or tires lol

 

[MountainMike]

tell me about it lol

gwaii's saying is like the TRS slogan