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Coilovers - Converting your strut tubes

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    Coilovers - Converting your strut tubes

    As some of you may know I decided to go 5-lug on my build. That being said I had everything I needed to do a full coilover setup with my 4-lug. My buddy Kingston out of KC is going to be taking my 4-lug, but not before I hooked him up with a little fabrication.

    Parts used:

    Stock strut tubes
    Koni adjustable shock insert (these were stock length so the strut was not shortened)
    Billet aluminum coil sleeves with adjustable locking perches
    Steel to make sleeve stops

    Tools:

    Welder
    Grinder
    My Brain!

    This is the sleeve I used for these bad boys. They are a perfect fit with an exact inside bore of 51mm......snug fit!



    Take your strut with the huge spring perch and mark it up. you should cut right above the weld. careful now!!! Don't go to deep, take your time!



    If you cut deep enough a nice tap with a hammer and it'll pop the rest of the metal.



    Like a Boss!



    Here is a little action shot of me cleaning the welds.



    I prefer flapper wheels as they don't dig real bad. Don't press to hard, let it do the work, take it to the surface of the strut tube then feather it out.

    If you clean it up just right the sleeve should slide right on!!



    You can see in the picture below the grinding marks, just enough to remove a little paint, no more!



    I put tape at the bottom so that I could do a little tacking on the stops and not mark up the aluminum. To make sure you have a tight fit on the sleeve, slide it on, slide in the shock with the locking cap and tighten everything down.



    Once you do that slide the sleeve up tight against the shock locking cap. I used some larger pieces of pipe I cut to make my stops.



    Press it up tight against the bottom of the sleeve and clamp it down with some vise grips, easy muscles, just enough to hold it in place, don't distort the strut tube.

    I used two of the stops on each strut. once you have them tacked on pull out the shock and remove the sleeve. Set your welder up and go to town. Only do the bottoms of the stops!!!

    Once you're done you'll have something like this!!



    Here is what it looks like when it's ALL put together, minus paint as the new owner may be having it powder coated.



    Anyways there you have it! I'm going to throw this out there as well. I have been a steel fabricator for a long time, I know my build is in the beginning stages but it'll start to show as it continues. If you guys ever need stuff like this done and don't have the means contact me! I will give the community a really good deal, I like being apart of peoples builds! I won't have a set rate, just let me know what you need and I can get you a quote. As long as you cover shipping I'll make it happen!

    Stay tuned as I do the same thing but to a 5-lug setup in my build thread.

    Thanks for looking guys and gals!
    Last edited by IronFreak; 03-19-2013, 05:53 AM.
    sigpic

    Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

    1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

    Instagram @rebellionforge

    #2
    Ross the Boss!! Dude, THANK YOU!!!!!!! This is awesome! :)

    I'm going to pu5 a link to that thread on my build thread tomorrow. Cheers!
    Originally posted by LJ851
    kingston is the play by play announcer for this thread.
    ‘Tis by the grace of God that my cars run!

    Originally posted by unloadedak
    #teamross
    Siobhan's Build Thread - UPDATED!

    Comment


      #3
      Nice!

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks! Need fabrication let me know!!!
        sigpic

        Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

        1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

        Instagram @rebellionforge

        Comment


          #5
          Updated with a few more pictures.
          sigpic

          Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

          1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

          Instagram @rebellionforge

          Comment


            #6
            Badass. Clean work man !

            1991 325iS turbo

            Comment


              #7
              Thanks man, spread the word. Me and a few buddies are getting a shop in the next month. I'd gladly do some of these at a discounted rate for the community to help pay rent!!
              sigpic

              Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

              1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

              Instagram @rebellionforge

              Comment


                #8
                Makes me wish I lived in Omaha. Nice work, thanks.
                sigpic
                Originally posted by JinormusJ
                Don't buy an e30

                They're stupid
                1989 325is Raged on then sold.
                1988 325 SETA 2DR Beaten to death, then parted.
                1988 325 SETA 4DR Parted.
                1990 325i Cabrio Daily'd, then stored 2 yrs ago.

                Comment


                  #9
                  There is always UPS, USPS AND FEDEX....Send me your parts and I'll send them back assembled! ;)
                  sigpic

                  Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

                  1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

                  Instagram @rebellionforge

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Man, this is awesome!!
                    1991 318i Slicktop - Sold
                    1991 325ix - Sold
                    1997 Estoril M3 Coupe - Sold
                    1986 325es - RIP
                    1997 328is - Sold
                    1995 Avus M3

                    instagram @MattLarzz

                    //M42 GOON-SQUAD
                    http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=281596

                    Comment


                      #11
                      No bumpstop?

                      Must be wicked stiff springs.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        550 eibachs. And that last picture is just a mock up. the New owner is getting everything but the camber plates.
                        sigpic

                        Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

                        1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

                        Instagram @rebellionforge

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Very nice work! I will shoot you a PM here later today.


                          Project log -- DIRTY 30

                          2.7i * Megasquirt tuned * E85 powered

                          Comment


                            #14
                            How low can you get with this setup? Any pictures of it installed?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              The setup I did above is now on this car, I can find out exactly how much more adjustment he has, but I know its not all the way down in the front. The back has IE adjusters with Eibach 5" springs.

                              sigpic

                              Rebellion Forge Custom Fabrication

                              1988 325is - TrackRat in progress

                              Instagram @rebellionforge

                              Comment

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