My '75 2002 Sleeper

[lambo]

I don't know if you can make this car much cooler...

[tinkwithanr]

Aw yeah, 504s! These are the ones that were for sale in the bay, right? I got lucky and found a set in 4x100. Legends say centercaps and emblems for these are impossible to find.

What are you doing about the nose sheet metal? I see you've cut it a bit...

Yup, got a great deal on them so I went for it. Emblems are still around, the center caps aren't. I'll probably just make a billet version instead, they just thread right into the lug nut covers.

The turbo airdamn covers up everything I've cut out. I just need to add bracing to make it stronger so it doesn't start deflecting at high speeds.

loving this project!

keep up the good work.

Thanks!

I don't know if you can make this car much cooler...

Challenge Accepted.

[I*Do*Werke]

What do you plan on doing for the 5 lug conversion? What suspension setup would you like to use?

[dahows]

Your consistent progress is amazing, keep up the great work.

[tinkwithanr]

What do you plan on doing for the 5 lug conversion? What suspension setup would you like to use?

For the front's I'm using the E12 struts I posted earlier. I'll machine a Bump Steer spacer that will adapt the 2002 pitman arms to the bottom of the E12 strut housings. To round out the front I have GC coilover sleeves, and I'm going to pick up some Koni Single Adjustable Racing Strut inserts and either buy or make a set of camber/caster plates.

For the rear I'm going to use Z3(I6) hubs, calipers and carriers. They just bolt up to the e30 rear subframe, so that's pretty straight forward. Then I will be picking up a set of single adjustable true coilovers from Ireland Engineering as well as the camber and caster adjusting tabs for the rta mounts.

[knuklehead92]

if you do go with real true coilover from Ireland engineering will it work with the e30 subframe? is the distance on the end of the e30 shock different from the 02, you think it would effect travel? just curious.

[kronus]

Can you post some more info on the Koni strut? I've installed some new old stock Koni reds in my E12-based six, but they are super blown and I'm looking for replacements that haven't been rotting in a warehouse for 20 years.

[TrentW]

Nice choice on the HRE's. What's the offset?

The cooler looks right at home behind the kidneys.

[tinkwithanr]

if you do go with real true coilover from Ireland engineering will it work with the e30 subframe? is the distance on the end of the e30 shock different from the 02, you think it would effect travel? just curious.

The shocks are slightly different in length. However, I'm not expecting to just bolt them in place and go either. I will already be fabricating a new upper mount area to better support the increased load that a true coilover causes, and so I will just adjust the mounting position as necessary.

Can you post some more info on the Koni strut? I've installed some new old stock Koni reds in my E12-based six, but they are super blown and I'm looking for replacements that haven't been rotting in a warehouse for 20 years.

Here's the page from Koni:

http://www.koniracing.com/8611.cfm

They aren't exactly a direct bolt in solution, they are slightly thinner than a std e12 insert, so I will probably make a 'sleeve' to take up the extra space. They will also require a spacer to be placed in the bottom of the strut to bring the collar on the insert up to the proper height.

Hope that helps.

[kronus]

Swell, thanks. Any idea how much they run for a pair?

Have you considered chopping the strut rather than spacing it up? Would get more travel out of it..

[knuklehead92]

hurry and finish!!! lol i love what your doing man! i just got my 2002 and thinking about doing e30 subframe and e30 front struts and also m20 or m50 hard to decide

[tinkwithanr]

It all depends on the ride height your going for. Considering the race inserts only have 6" of travel to begin with, your probably not going to limit them by spacing them to the top of the strut housing. How I'm planning to do it is figure out the ride height I want, and if necessary cut the strut so that the desired height has the shock in the middle of it's travel. Then make a spacer to fill the rest of the space. I'm going for a lowered car, but not slammed (my oil pan wouldn't last long), so I will probably be shortening the strut less (if at all) than other's might.


The single adjustable are $200 per side, while the double adjustable are $330 per side. However the damping adjusting on those is done from the bottom which isn't really possible with the design of the E12 strut housing. I'm looking into other options because i would love to have adjustable damping and compression, but we'll see how it goes.

[dball4]

Spot on with the wheel choice. Can't wait to see finished, your work is inspiring.

[csermonet47]

Sooo jealous of your skills. The HREs are the perfect choice too!

[e30_neverstock]

wheels are dead on. this 02 is just getting better and better by the post. cant wait to see what kind of surprises u got under your sleeves.