Tricky Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Well thanks to you guys I bought the Club spring compressor, and thank goodness. New front struts assembled no bother and didn’t even feel threatened with decapitation during the process ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Hello Tricky. Nice work and thanks for posting the series of photos - hopefully that will encourage others to follow the same route; be it buying a set or borrowing some. It will certainly be my choice of spring compressing when that job occurs. Good luck and also a decent a set of photos on the acid dip. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 I feel the ne d to replace the front shocks and springs on my Spitfire. Almost bought a pair of springs at the show last weekend but decided not to but to get all the parts neeed from one supplier if possible. Just don’t know the best source - I was planning on standard setup - based on the fact that it’s worked ok for the last 40 years and it’s not a racing car! But on my list will be a spring compressor from the Club shop - unless someone local has one to borrow. But if I do get one, then it would be available for anyone local (midlands) to borrow in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Mark. Ditto with regard to the borrowing aspect as and when I get a set. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Mark, Richard, I think a lot of Areas have tools for hire, I got a "sensible" spring compressor from Thames. Worth an enquiry, particularly if the AO lets you off paying! Good bloke Mickey! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Hello Doug. As you know and have flagged, Local Areas are an absolute treasure trove of knowledge and help - I can certainly say that for the East Sussex squad. I needed a spring lifter and one was forthcoming quicker than you could say the word. I've not rushed with my CV conversion so have been in possession of it for months - albeit I will be returning it at the next meeting. If I had to hire such, it would be an expensive hire by now........................................mind you, I've not received the invoice yet !! Getting a "sensible" spring compressor will suit both of my classics, so will be ££ well invested if I need to purchase. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Anglefire said: I feel the ne d to replace the front shocks and springs on my Spitfire. Almost bought a pair of springs at the show last weekend but decided not to but to get all the parts neeed from one supplier if possible. Just don’t know the best source - I was planning on standard setup - based on the fact that it’s worked ok for the last 40 years and it’s not a racing car! But on my list will be a spring compressor from the Club shop - unless someone local has one to borrow. But if I do get one, then it would be available for anyone local (midlands) to borrow in the future. I strongly recommend Koni's if you can stretch to them. On another forum and engineer mentioned he had tested many cars on suspension. he said virtually all the Gaz shocks failed the testing. Koni's were pretty good, and after that you do get expensive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Thanks Clive I run to Koni’s - I’d rather spend a bit more once than spend twice ? What about springs? Just standard ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 2 hours ago, clive said: On another forum and engineer mentioned he had tested many cars on suspension. he said virtually all the Gaz shocks failed the testing. Got to say I have never had an issue with Gaz shocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Ditto to that Richard. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 5 hours ago, Anglefire said: Thanks Clive I run to Koni’s - I’d rather spend a bit more once than spend twice ? What about springs? Just standard ones? I've just looked at the price of them What makes the Koni's so much better Clive? Gaz from the club shop are £170 ish a pair - Koni £360 (from Moss) Or £149 each from Larkspeed (Though the picture looks wrong!) Then there is the spring! About £40 a pair from the club shop - then standard or uprated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 I am only repeating the info. Be intersting if dyno info is available for the various shocks. I have also heard that the reason Konis arebetter is to do with the way they are valved. Gaz, Spax and Avo all work in the same way as each other. And indeed, many people do not realise how well their suspension works, it usually seems OK. Not sure I would notice on the road, but I do know the Konis on the back of my spit are 21 years old, and are performing faultlessly and have covered about 60K. On track they are fine and performance does not deteriorate after hard usage, which is where I reckon they are better than the others.. Mine cost £60 a pair, show special at Stafford.....seemed a lot at the time. As to front springs, I really like teh moss 330lb springs on the front of a spit, sitting about an inch lower than std from memory. The club uprated springs used to be an issue, they were stronger but the same free length so sat the car higher, a backward step. Not sure if this is still the case, but well worth checking. I would expect the supplier to tell you the fitted length for the actual model car you are putting them on. (ie early and late spits are different) Anyway, off for a kip now, got a lovely run across the South Downs at 7.30! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 Having slept on it, I think a decent pair of non -adjustable shocks are absolutely fine for most circumstances. I use a set of Girlings on my Toledo, and they are working well. The trouble is finding decent shocks. The new ones are hopeless, with the seat pans at the wrong height (too high) so really it needs to be a set of NOS girling, gabriel, monroe, KYB etc. They do turn up. But watch out, as the new ones are marked as Armstrong (I think) who were a good manufacturer, but now the only link is the name. Bit like Borg and Beck. Old stuff good, new stuff questionable. It seems KYB are available new on fleabay. Worth a thought. They are OEM on loads of new cars... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 I went for standard set up, as AngleFire favours. I got Gaz shockers and new springs from the club shop. The Gaz are adjustable and the front pair also have a fixed or adjustable spring pan, I went for fixed. I only got the springs because I'd had a previous MOT advisory that my road springs were rusty! So I thought might as well. Glad I did it all though, my teeth no longer rattle at 40mph. I hear Monroe are no longer Monroe and not what they were. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 My last mot advised the springs are rusty as well as the shock casing. They didn’t comment on the rear though and they are as bad. I do have standard shocks to go on the rear - but will have to cut the bolts off as they totally seized at the top. Doug, I assume with the Club shocks and springs the car ride height is “correct” ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 Yes ride height the same, if the springs are OK. When I bought my car in 1978 (!) I thought it had been lowered, until I discovered the rear spring had broken leaves and the front springs bounced around so much they were 2" short. New springs brought the ride height back to where it should be. The front springs I put on then where the rusty ones recently replaced and there was no height difference with the new ones so they were probably OK other than rusty. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 I think when the time comes, I'll go for a set of standard springs (Possibly uprated) from the club shop along with the Gaz shocks. I have no objection to buying Koni's - but for my use probably overkill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 1 hour ago, Anglefire said: I think when the time comes, I'll go for a set of standard springs (Possibly uprated) from the club shop along with the Gaz shocks. I have no objection to buying Koni's - but for my use probably overkill! Ditto. The last time I "put out" for Koni`s, we where preparing a (Mk1) Escort for rallying!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 1 hour ago, PeteH said: Ditto. The last time I "put out" for Koni`s, we where preparing a (Mk1) Escort for rallying!. Friend of mine used to run a Mk1 Mexico (Real one! What's that worth these days!) - originally a 1.6BDA and when the head went, he changed to a 2ltr Pinto - which ran 5 events on average until the shells went - though the first time he was trying to keep his lead and removed the rev limiter - and missed a gear - put a piston through the side of the block - Only when he put Vanderalls in did the engine last (With limiter!) - Averaged 17mpg until it was in the forests, when it was nearer 5! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 The second one we did, we stripped everything out of it, threw it upside down on an old mattress and Stitched the seams with BRAZING to stop the Spot welds "popping".. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 This came up earlier on Facebook which looks interesting. And given that it will disappear on there in about 5minutes, thought I would add the link here too. http://auskellian.com/paul/links_files/springs.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Useful info. The last front springs mentioned are the ones that work really well on spitfires. If you want a better price on Konis, I think Bastuk are cheaper that any UK supplier. But in all honesty, the KYB's are well worth a thought (on the basis that for most people the std shock settings work about best. On adjustables people set them hard, and the car becomes dreadful to drive, especially if the rears are set anything harder than the softest couple of settings) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 These I assume you mean Clive? aftermarket Spitfire 1500 [x,1] TT4302 n/a 9.2 6.9 330 0.56 186 324 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Um, thats not gone well! I was also going to say, that seems a heck of alot "harder" than standard or uprated from standard at 180 and 200lbs respectfully? And I guess would need a different ARB to match? Which seems a lot of work - especially as it also looks to lower the front by an inch or so - which I can ill afford around here with all the speed bumpers and pot holes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Yes, I have had them on a spitfie, found them firm but very comfortable. No change to ARB, just a tweek to the tracking (advisable after any suspension work). If you need the clearance, there may be some std height uprated springs available, but you certainly do not want anything with a fitted length greater than std. I tried some GT6 springs on a spitfire, terrible idea (I was young and daft once. Still one of those) For comparison, I have the TT 480lb springs on both our spitfire. On the ST170 powered car (engine exact same weight as a Triumph 4 pot) they seem to work well. On our fast road mk3, they just seem harsh. Maybe the shocks need softening up, quite possible the PO had set them too hard. Most seem to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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