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Location:
Edmonton, AB
Registered:
June 2005
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MX13 Springs/Shocks
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Thu, 09 June 2005 05:47
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Hey guys,
There are no rules or regs here that I must satisfy - I just want to be pleased with the result, make it right.
I'm building up my '76 MX13 with 7M-GE, 5 speed, LSD rear... I have all the drivetrain parts I need but then I want to go so far as to do the 5-lug conversion, 225/50-16's, big brakes, rear discs.
The intent isn't to build a racer but to just have something I can be proud of. Build an old, eccentric's kind-of-MX83; it is a 4-door afterall. The question remains, what to do with the suspension...
Spring rates and shock valving are unexplored territory for me. Could we discuss the theory for choosing spring rates - I imagine there is probably race springs a guy can buy as long as he knows what rate to ask for...
But then shocks... the front KYB gas-a-justs were described as no longer available when I bought them new a couple years ago - they have few miles on them since. Not necessarily high performance but they're better than what was on there prior. Any suggestions from those who've explored this before? I can't imagine anybody still lists front shocks for these...
The rear is a bit more 'standard' in that I could probably utilize a performance shock usually intended for another model - there should still be stuff to choose from.
Since new rear shoes/drums are no longer available, since ball-joints are no longer available - I have to assume I'll be forced to do a disc conversion and change the front-end somehow.
Currently the car sits lowered so that the pan-hard rod is level and the front lower arms are level - it handles the stock 4M power just fine... it's healthy enough for me in stock trim... anybody ever removed the rubber bushings that mount the front sub-frame to the car to make it rigid? Did it foul anything up?
I had been contemplating a 5m-ge swap, but now I have a complete wrecked Supra with 7m-ge to use. I haven't ruled out doing a complete custom makeover with IRS and everything not unlike the suspension on a 86-92 Supra (coilovers?). May not sound practical, but the notion of doing something doesn't scare me. I've been involved in fabbing up custom race suspensions before, I just wasn't the owner/decision-maker and of course it was full-race cars... seems to me if I'm doubling my power output though, I'll eventually want to do something more than what's there now...
Please don't flame me - afterall I'm not building a car here to go racing - but I've had the MX13 a long time, I'm attached to it... at my age I just want to keep it going, enjoy better mileage and driveability... I've driven a Supra and it just isn't practical for me when I got kids and family to shuttle... even though the MX13 will never be more than a summer car now, I ought to keep it practical.
Thanks for listening... hope to discuss some ideas.
Kevin
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I supported Toymods
Location:
I renounced punctuation
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: MX13 Springs/Shocks
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Thu, 09 June 2005 08:55
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Depends on what the roads in your area are like. If they are smooth, probably go for 650 lb/in at the front and about 250 at the rear. A 24mm sway bar is recommended. Add in a rear 18mm bar. Get some Koni or Bilstein shock absorbers.
Dial in about 1 - 1.5 degrees negative camber and as much caster as your arms can tolerate.
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Location:
Edmonton, AB
Registered:
June 2005
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Re: MX13 Springs/Shocks
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Thu, 09 June 2005 15:58
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Good advice, thanks. I'll have to check on those shocks, if you figure they're not hard to get then I've just been talking to the wrong people...
With a setup like you've suggested, it does sound like it would do fine - no point going to school doing all kinds of figuring for geometry with a custom setup...
Have you ever thought about removing the bushings between the front subframe and the car? I've been contemplating it for years, but only now have the powertools... I'm hoping it would only prove to have a favourable affect on it, being rigid... If I don't hear anybody convincing me not to, I'll be doing this within the month... my mx13 is now getting torn down, it's all but completely apart...
And ya, can't forget about the rear bar, that will make a world of difference... forget what it does for performance, even just the driveability of it, dealing with less than ideal roads - rutted by big trucks, etc.
Thanks for the added inspiration...
Kevin
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