[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Dr K

Help! We're almost done with the suspension upgrade, but can't get the adjustable Koni's out from the front struts to put in the custom-valved Bilsteins. I assume the ring in the photo is supposed to turn to get this off, but tried a large crescent wrench and a large plumber's wrench, and it's not budging. It has an internal 34 mm hex opening so there's probably a special tool. Anybody happen to have that special tool, or have a suggestion how to do this?

Grab the base in a vice and the nut/collar in the pipe wrench. Spray some PB Blaster into the underside of the nut. You might need to heat it with a torch and/or apply more muscle. It's probably crudded up with years of crud.

[smdubovsky]

Do you have another nut to hold the bilsteins in once you get the konis out? Or do you have to reuse that one? I could prob make you a tool, but it'll be Sun eve/Mon before I can get to it.

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by smdubovsky

Do you have another nut to hold the bilsteins in once you get the konis out? Or do you have to reuse that one? I could prob make you a tool, but it'll be Sun eve/Mon before I can get to it.

The Bilsteins have their own nut (and it takes a spanner or can be hit with a hammer and chisel), but I hope to sell the Konis so don't want to just cut that nut off if that's what you were thinking about.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by Dr K

The Bilsteins have their own nut (and it takes a spanner or can be hit with a hammer and chisel), but I hope to sell the Konis so don't want to just cut that nut off if that's what you were thinking about.

You can order parts for the kioi's on line, search is your freind. BTW I don't think koni uses inserts so internal will likely have little resale value... get on with your project!

[VaSteve]

but I hope to sell the Konis so don't want to just cut that nut off if that's what you were thinking about......


Now we're at the root of the issue.

[Lucky]

a big pipe wrench will take that "nut" off easily. I had those apart back when it was my car.

go to HF and by the biggest freakin' pipe wrench they have and you'll be good to go.

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by Lucky

a big pipe wrench will take that "nut" off easily. I had those apart back when it was my car.

go to HF and by the biggest freakin' pipe wrench they have and you'll be good to go.

I have a very big pipe wrench, but holding the strut while still in the car was the issue. It's basically attached by a ball joint and another ball joint (on the tie rod) (and the brake line ). I think I'll take the struts off and try it in a vice.

Peter

[Trak Ratt]

ther's going to be a lot of oil in there so keep that in mind. Lucky, was there a "cartridge" in there or just oil, seals and the like?

[Dr K]

Last night, Andrew and I put in the seat, completed mounting of the DME and relay (tried turning DME over but no room for harness below it, so I'll fab a cover to keep it dry).

Taking advice of others here, this morning I used Kroil, heat (lots of heat), a very large pipe wrench, and a dead-blow hammer and got both Koni inserts out, Bilsteins in, and suspension done (with Ben).

Drove to TR's to get the CV joint backing plates, then Andrew, Ben, and I put them on. Adjusted height of car to just below Euro (25" F, 24.5" R). That suspension is STIFF! Try to shake the car to settle the height, and it doesn't move at all.

We adjusted the clutch and clutch cable, attached the gas pedel, and torqued everything up.




And here we go (this is from tonight):

Darth - moving along... on Vimeo

Darth - moving along... on Vimeo

Not all the fuses are in, which explains the single headlight, but there is a fail in here. I'll post the fail tomorrow, after Ben and I fix it...

[Dr K]

Current to-do list:

Electrical:

• see what that one loose gray wire is
• short in left tail lights

To get car road- and track-worthy:

• Install horn
• Have sway bar mounts welded in place
• Install rear sway bar
• Have car aligned and corner balanced
• Install rear tow hook
• Install Momo steering wheel
• Install roll bar padding
• Install harnesses
• Have rear wind installation "adjusted" (lower edge needs to be pushed out a little and trim inserted better)

Elective (but probably will do before alignment)

• Swap front monoballs (I believe coupe has Elephant Racing monoballs) with WeVo Camberking (currently on Targa). Alternative is putting on Elephant Racing triangulated strut bracing.