Post by Neil on Jan 29, 2012 1:42:12 GMT 2
We got the front coilovers fitted today using my new strut tubes and damn, i'm good ;D
The fit was perfect, and they are tbh bloody amazing, a complete night and day difference to how the car drives now. I've done a write up on this, and the photo's will b used for the instructions sheet available with the Driftoy strut tubes, but your best bet if your not confident with welding is to send them to us and we'll convert them in under a week if i haven't sourced enough sets to do an exchange
Anyway, onto the write up...
After you have stripped the struts of the springs and dampers you will have your S13 coilovers and Driftoy strut tubes.
Next thing is to remove the brake brackets, hub/ discs and disc shield, A vice is a must, air tools and penetrating fluid are also reccomended!
After stripping you should be left with this.
With everything off.
While it's in the vice its a good time to Mark with a scribe 1" from the bottom all the way round.
This is plenty material, and you'll NEVER run a ma61 that low to require any shorter.
Struts all stripped and marked up for cutting.
I have a Mark, which is about the best fabrication asset you can have, If you don't have a mark to hand Send me your struts for conversion.
Mark thrives on Tea and banter, so i keep him topped up regularly with both to ensure he performs to full operational capability.
Once their chopped they look like this.
Next job is to clean them up with a wire wheel.
How clean
This clean.Also, put a radius around the edge you just removed.
Driftoy sleeves are a press fit, so Bottle jack/ fly press is needed.
On to welding.
Mark first tack welded the sleeves in 4 spots.
Then fusion welded the first run. ( Fusion welding is without rods)
He did 3 runs in total. 2 with rods were done on a turn table.
First one done, and Brake pipe brackets slotted and welded on.
When cleaned up they looked like this, That's proper welding!
So, Now they need paint,
A zinc based primer is prob the best one to use as the base coat, then choose whatever colour you like, Personally satin black is the only can i need!
Refit everything how it came off the car. (sorry about blurry pics)
Front sleeves are £90 + p&p Rear conversion sleeves are £20 or £100 for the Set (+ p&p)
Welding service is £30 + couriers fee's.
