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Front Tube Shock Kit

Morris

Yoda
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I thought you guys might like a look at the bolt on front tube shock kit I made for George Zeck before it's boxed and shipped.

FrontShockMount.jpg
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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I will try to take some pics of it installed this weekend. As for $... I am still working on the math, but I figure in the $200 range.
 

George Zeck

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
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Morris -

I can come what little hair I have with those. They're pretty. Looking forward to the project.

Tx-

George Zeck
 

DWeeB

Jedi Trainee
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Wow, that looks cool. I'd be interested! Can't wait to see them installed.
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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I was dealing with car break down nightmares all weekend, and I am still one car down. So no pictures yet. Maybe next weekend.

Sorry.
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Finally got around to doing the math on materials expenses. It looks like the kit will cost $170. The shocks the kit uses run $17-$25 a piece. Shipping is $10.40. So the total price for front tube shocks is $230.00. That's a durn site cheaper than any other front tube shock set up I have seen. :wink:
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Pictures at last!

This is a daily driver car, so please excuse the schmutz.

ShockMaster.jpg


ShockUpperMaster.jpg


ShockUpperBrace.jpg


ShockUpperMount.jpg


ShockCover.jpg


ShockLowerMount.jpg


ShockSpringPan.jpg
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Re: Pictures at last!

Thank you guys. I am a bit overwhelmed right now... wife is having health problems... and so are all 3 of my cars. :frown:

I will let you know when I am ready to start production again.
 
R

RonMacPherson

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Re: Pictures at last!

Query, the shock mounting bolts, I hope, are high strength... Mazda went to a single bolt through on their latest batch on the rear.. Which by itself is an engineering faux pax, referencing Carroll Smith's books... But found out that Mazda is using a special(supposedly super hardened) bolt.. But it needs to be not too brittle or it may snap.

Alternative way would be to fabricate some sort of ushaped bracket that would cover both sides of the shock throughbolt.. That would spread the loads better than through the shock mounting bolt.
 

davester

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Re: Pictures at last!

What exactly is the advantage of using this kit? My understanding is that the most significant weakness of the spridget front suspension is the lack of upper arm triangulation and the bad camber angle. My intention is not to rain on your parade Morris, but this kit doesn't appear to rectify either of those so I wonder why one would want to install it.
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Re: Pictures at last!

The shock mounting bolts are M12x1.75 grade 10.9. I have driven over 10,000 miles on this set up and the bolts show no signs of fatigue or wear.

The advantage of this kit is that the tube shocks improve the handling of the car. It is much stiffer in corners and smoother on the highway. I have tube shocks on all four corners and I love the way my car performs. Previously I had non-rebuilt lever shocks that where in good condition. The difference in handling and ride is night and day. I found the ride and handling with lever shocks to be sloppy at best.

Whether tube shocks are better than a good rebuilt stock damper is a point of extreme contention. I prefer the feel of tube shocks over the lever shocks. Many people feel strongly that the stock levers are superior. But very many people believe that their car will be improved by upgrading to tube shocks. My kit is intended to serve those people without bankrupting them.

As for upper link triangulation and camber, I am working on that problem as well. But it is going to be some time before I crack that nut. It's easy enough to manufacture a new upper link. The challenge is manufacturing it in such a way that it will be affordable to the average Spridgetteer. I think many of us would like to install the Frontline kit, or something like it, but the price tag is too $$$.

As for supposed "engineering faux pas"... if you are bothered by them, I recommend you stay away from Spridgets. :wink:
 
R

RonMacPherson

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Re: Pictures at last!

Stay away from them??
I have a driver 6 and two project 6's...
 
OP
Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Re: Pictures at last!

Ha! You have the illness, my friend! :thumbsup:

My wife told me that *if* we won the lottery, I would just blow all our winnings on British car junk.

She really really gets me.
 

Scott_Hower

Luke Skywalker
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Re: Pictures at last!

RonMacPherson said:
Mazda went to a single bolt through on their latest batch on the rear.. Which by itself is an engineering faux pax, referencing Carroll Smith's books...

Smith would never sanction any suspension component mounted in single shear.
The stuff held in tension looks good to me.
 
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