1972 Tii Suspension Restoration

[eurotrash]

Well, I have been nose down working on this project for the last two months. I completed the job this past weekend, April 10, 2011 to be exact.

After much consultation on the scope of the project, the owner Scott Aaron and I settled on a plan and I went to work.

The car is a european 1972 Tii with a June 1972 build date. The body had been given a light resto and respray some years ago.. beyond that, it's been basic maintenance.

I tried to collect as many original type fasteners and lock nuts as I could scrape up from my own stash to bring it back to as an original status as possible. Service over the years had given it a variety of hardware.

The trailing arms were replaced due to one being completely perforated at the spring perch. The other had been replaced some years ago and was shelved.

Here is a photo run through of the project. The transformation is astonishing. Its primarily a stock rebuild, with only the shocks and end links being upgraded.

The Rear:

Replacements via the man Le Tran:

The Front:

Reassembly:

Special thanks to JohnnySquare for assisting with lifting the subframes back into place and the legwork mixing the green paint for the chasis.

And Blunttech for the OE parts and Billies. I.E. for the end links.

[bluedevils]

Man, that is a huge job, I admire your dedication..

[Mike_B]

Awesome job! I'm about to start this process with my 1800Ti and your results have provided some motivation.

Stock rubber bushings, correct?

[eurotrash]

Yes Mike, Stock rubber, less the end links.

[jgerock]

Congratulations on a fine job. Where did you get the hardware re-finished?

Will this car and owner join us next month in NC??

[eurotrash]

A place in Dayton did the cad. Hohman Plating. B2B only, so I needed a tax ID number and used my wife's theatre company.. Super fast turn around.

[Frenchee]

So you dont actually buy new hardware. All those shiny ones are renewed?

[Jim_75Sahara]

WOW. Freeeekin' impressive! Congrats to Jason, John B., Scott, BLUNT, IE, Hohman Plating.... & my apologies if I have left anyone out....

[Deutschman]

very nice work! oh so clean!

[bjbarbieri]

Great job Jason...top notch dude...

[PAULTJENE]

Nice.

you can do mine next.

Paul

[jgerock]

I'm curious about the rear diff. What is the ratio? I can see the pinion gear teeth count (11), but cannot make out the ring gear teeth stamped into the housing.

Wonder what that large "A" stamped into the housing stands for??

[saaron]

Hi

Just wanted to give Jason a big thanks. The work and the results really speak for themselves, I think. And I want to thank John Blake, as he had figured out the subframe paint color, got the paint mixed, media blasted some parts, and took the parts to the painter.

Jason, I think your "credits" might have omitted Le Tran (I'm spelling his name from memory - hope I spelled it correctly)? He was the source of the trailing arms. Which kind of saved our bacon.

Great thing about this board is it's ability to bring people together. It's really cool in that respect.

I'm not hitting Vintage this year, but I'm making it in 2012.

The diff should be a 3.45, being euro tii. I bought the car in '87, so my memory of discussions with the previous owners are a little foggy (they were the second owners). I seem to remember the woman I bought the car from said the diff had some work done on it (the car lived in Paris at the time of the diff work). So it might not be original. I think it does have the 3.45 ratio, comparing it to other 02s I've driven in.

The car drives MUCH better now - it is just more fun and much tighter than it was. Jason undid years of deferred maintenance on my part, in about 6 weeks. We were even smart enough to do the project when the weather was so crappy I would have never driven the car anyway!

Scott

[eurotrash]

So you dont actually buy new hardware. All those shiny ones are renewed?

After talking with Blunt, we chose this route, as he did, because many of the fasteners have to be purchased in bulk. So if you need one, you still have to buy 25, etc.

Nice.

you can do mine next.

Paul

Paul, contact me. -And anyone else for that matter. RGB Tuning is "open for business".

I'm curious about the rear diff. What is the ratio? I can see the pinion gear teeth count (11), but cannot make out the ring gear teeth stamped into the housing.

Wonder what that large "A" stamped into the housing stands for??

I was trying to do the math on that too. Interestingly, the two numbers were punched into the housing in two places. The usual side location, and just above it on the top. Neither were terribly legible.

The best I can figure is that it looks like a 11- 78 or 79. Which makes no sense, unless you do the math on the second number like you would to convert the 'W' rating on a euro speedo.. Then it makes a little more sense.

Not sure about the big 'A' either. I saw that and had to highlight it.

---

Thanks to all for appreciating the effort. I love this work. This was a thrill for me, getting the nod from Scott. He's been a good owner so he, and the car, deserved it.

NOW LETS PRAY FOR THE WEATHER TO SHAPE UP FOR SATURDAY!!!!!

[tiitouring02]

Great job! I did the rear suspension on my car two years ago, and i've been dragging my feet on the front, but you're inspiring me!