vin 814

[andyd]

So this happened to my LCA:

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So I bought 2 of these:

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Entirely beautiful, but less so once greased up and fitted!

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Though it has to be said, having built this front end now 4 times, I was not looking foward to the usual palaver of compressing spring, mashing frame, splitting ball joints carefully to reuse them. getting the shock shimmed in the LCA correctly etc.

However, this weekend the gods smiled on me. Or rather, if you don't actually have to remove the spring and uncompress it, it's much less of a pain in the ass. And my horrible spring compressors, in fucking the top lip on the upper spring cup, actually helped me by holding the spring in place.

Slid the old LCA out, new one in (much easier with oem rubber than poly), the fit of the shock was perfect with the supplied washers, and rebuild as they say was reversal of the removal procedure.

This is pretty scary tho

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I think the crack started at the weld of the strengthening plate for the ball joint, then pop gated both ways. I had to drive the car about 1/4 a mile- very carefully! Fully expected to need the AA when it broke. I think it proposed about 2mm in t u is short distance. Lucky escape, if not for the wallet!!

Will get it all torqued etc thru the week then aligned (again!!).

Then finish the fuel system, maybe new lines?

Then new screw in otterstat and pipe.

And fuse box?

VOD? Not before Belfast!!

Thanks all who have helped out with this,

Andy

[MikeWard]

Nice work Andy, those new arms look great! Looks like you had a lucky escape with that old arm.

[jerzybondov]

Sheeesssshh! That's a lot of work you've done Andy! Are you going to clean up those LCAs once everything is installed so they look all pretty again?

[Domi]

Those new LCA are really beautiful, and a lot stronger!
Do you plan to install the support from Ed or do you think you don't need them with those?
http://www.delorean.eu/catalog/product_ ... s_id=95065

[andyd]

Hi Domi,

Dave Swingle did not recommend using them with the ally arms. I think the risk is that the hard steel polybush inserts bear on the softer arm, and cause wear. Then maybe with the slightly worn arm, clearance is greater, and the bolt is no longer tight. Dave said that these arms really want the shock mount bolt to be tight... makes sense, given the material?

So for now, no, I will not use eds support arms.

Cheers,

Andy

[Admin-bloke]

Keep up the good work Andy, you'll be glad once it's all sorted.

[Domi]

Hi Domi,

Dave Swingle did not recommend using them with the ally arms. I think the risk is that the hard steel polybush inserts bear on the softer arm, and cause wear. Then maybe with the slightly worn arm, clearance is greater, and the bolt is no longer tight. Dave said that these arms really want the shock mount bolt to be tight... makes sense, given the material?

So for now, no, I will not use eds support arms.

Cheers,

Andy

All right, thank you for the information

[andyd]

Are you going to clean up those LCAs once everything is installed so they look all pretty again?

Nope! That would be tempting fate! No action tonight, bar looking out split pins, sorting my grease gun and carefully removing the (newish dpnw) polys from the old lca's. I just couldn't be assed going out in the cold. Tomorrow!

A

[andyd]

Huzzah!

Suspension all torqued, and a few other little bits sorted. Just been out for a drive, and it seems well.

Parnham pipe and club otterstat next. Weekend hopefully, then off to Wheels In Motion for alignment over the next few weeks.

But for now...

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Cheers!

Andy

[Admin-bloke]

If you go to Wheels in Motion in Hemel, say hi to Tony Bones from NickT (if he's there on the day).

You've definitely earnt that beer