wagnerf15

Good luck drawing the line. I tried that and ended up with a total rehab...expensive, but I love it and can't wait to drive her!

All right, I can't get a picture to load for some reason. But it worked well anyway!!!!

well, i tried to add pictures, let me try again. BTW, I did top and bottom for the exact reason you questioned...

Here are the pictures of my strut, based on the recommendations of BillWilliams. Some light drilling and safety wire work and it seems to hold just fine. I suppose all it does when unloaded is keep the shock slightly compressed since it's obviously not working against the spring. Fairly easy, elegant solution.

Tell your son thanks from the F-15 drivers of the world. We love the army....can't win the war without boots on the ground. In fact, unless you sit in their bar and drink their booze, the war goes on forever.

Think I'll follow the safety wire advice. Can that wire keep the strut compressed enough to keep the perch seated on the spring? If so, that seems like a good fix. Thanks

I have read hundreds of old posts, and they all seem to indicate that the combo of IE Stage 1 springs and Bilstein Sport Struts will cause the spring to be unseated with strut out of car. Mine seems to be 3/4 - 1" off the perch when fully assembled and I'm way too anal to put this in the car without some kind of further reassurance as to it's future road-worthiness. Anyone want to help out a fighter pilot transitioning to the world of 2002s? Thanking you in advance.......

I just installed these and if you position the trailing arm in the subframe member, it becomes obvious which side goes where. I found the outboard (or flared) ends of the trailing arm got the wider pieces, and then the trailing arm fit into the subframe like a glove. Oh yeah, and the pieces tapped in nicely after the silicone lube. Good luck

Thanks for all the help. Talked to the folks at New Old Stock and ordered based on several recommendations. I'll post my results in a month or so!!!!!

Yeah, NOS is my only hot lead, but they advertise a 9 piece set and I count 11 pieces I need (the ones on my trailing arms are roached). I'm gonna call them today and work this out.......more to follow. BTW, the stainless ones from NOS look a lot better than I expected, judging from your pics.

Jim

Any good ideas about where to find the pre-bent brake lines for a '74? Am I gonna be stuck bending and flaring these myself?