INFO: Adjustable strut rod - the holy grail |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Thanks for the update. Just got and paid my final invoice. Looking forward to having these installed before the car hits the road in the spring. |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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UPDATE...
"Well everything is done except the lasered washer rings. Hoping it will be this week. Then I'll need about a day to machine the small relief in them, then drop off to get the powdercoat. Looking like another couple weeks by the time all that happens, unfortunately. Really wish I could ship right now but I'm at the mercy of my suppliers on this one." Can't wait to see the final product. |
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-John
1973 GTS |
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Eliteman76
Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5044 |
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Good to know.
While I'm thinking about it does anyone know the material of the original strut rids? Safe to weld on them? |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems |
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madmaxtorino
Moderator Group Zombie Killing Training Instructor Joined: 04-August-2010 Location: Lawrenceburg Tn Status: Offline Points: 971 |
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First set test installed on the frame I'm going to restore.
Edited by madmaxtorino - 15-January-2016 at 11:22AM |
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Allan
Revelation 6:8 When there is no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth. |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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wow, those look awesome!
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Regul8r
Admin Group Moderator Joined: 26-December-2007 Location: Sarasota FL Status: Offline Points: 6624 |
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NICE!!!
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Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME!
1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Looks AWESOME! Can't wait to get mine and install them! How is the articulation of the strut rod compared to stock rubber? Any install issues?
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Mine just arrived in the mail today! The parts look like they are excellent quality and very well made. Can't wait for the spring to see how they feel on the car.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Eliteman76
Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5044 |
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I'm disappointed to say they elected to not fulfill my order.
Eric sent me an email explaining things but I'm not happy about this situation. |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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Would be interesting to see video of the suspension before and after the bushing change to see how much improvement we would see. I wonder how much those wireless video camera are...to capture this.
Andy, Any chance they would start a "wait list" to get on the next build batch? |
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-John
1973 GTS |
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Eliteman76
Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5044 |
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John, what they told me is on the next batch request I'll be first in line. My issue is without being a drama queen I simply expected if I put a deposit down and agreed to pay nearly $100 more I'd get my order.
I can't blame them as they are a small shop and I don't want them stuck with material special ordered in. |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems |
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Rockatansky
Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6059 |
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I'm surprised they didn't run an extra 5 or at least a couple sets, especially for those extra $100 kinda times if not a 'just in case' situation
same with the upper arms, 0 available?
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72 GT Ute
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Why didn't they fulfill your order Andy? I think they are still available for new orders. They are listed on the site, but the price is slightly higher than the group buy:They also still list the UCAs |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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Anyone else mounted their parts yet that can share some pics?
How did the kit installation go; feedback on how they perform? |
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-John
1973 GTS |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Hey John,
I got mine installed on Easter weekend. I don't have my car on the road yet, as I still have to reinstall my steering box which I just had recalibrated with the newer style spool valve and bigger T-bar for more road feel. I also have to get my interior back together. The install is pretty straight forward. There is two layers of steel to drill through, each about 1/8" thick, so make sure you use a good quality drill bit. I ruined a couple of my cheaper bits trying them first. After consulting with Eric from the Little shop, this is the install method I used. Take the larger half, the bearing cup that sits on the front of the frame, and I pressed it into the hole using a c-clamp. I had to ream the frame holes on each side to get it to sit squarely. Once this is pressed in, make sure it's sitting square with the frame. Then I used a 5/16" drill bit and with the cup still clamped drill the holes, using the cup as a template. The angle is very critical and the thick steel on the frame doesn't allow the bolts to have much movement. Once the holes are drilled, the rest is pretty straight forward. Install the bearing in the cup, install the bearing cup on the frame and then install the back side and the three bolts. Then just reinstall the strut rods with the supplied machined spacers. Clearance is tight with the front valance installed to drill the holes (on a 1972) so an angle drill or one with a small head may be useful. My only disappointment with the parts was the quality of the powder wasn't that good. I had to touch up on of mine as the paint chipped of during the install. Once I get the car back on the road, I will post on here how they perform.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Just an update. I finally had the time to get my car back together and get it on the road. So far I am very impressed with the strut rod bushings. There seems to be no added suspension harshness, and it feels like the front suspension articulates better over rough roads. It made the front end feel tighter overall. Our spring roads here are really rutted, broken up and and bad, so I drove it pretty aggressively through the rough stuff and it seems to work really well at keeping the front suspension moving properly without and hopping or skipping.
So far very impressed and it was a worthwhile upgrade.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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Thanks for the update. Any pics? I still havent been able to do mine yet. I've been fixing so many other things. Latest was fixing the wipers, they wouldn't park when turned off.
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-John
1973 GTS |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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I have some pics after they were installed, but not pics of the installation (there's not much too it). If you want to see the installed pics, give me a day or two to get them on my computer.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Here are some pics (mind the old undercoating and red overspray, I haven't detailed the frame):
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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Looks great...can't wait to start on my front suspension.
Is there a way to grease the bearing? I'm wondering if it should get greased up before assembly. I haven't even started laying the parts out to check. Heim joints are good for track duty but for street they don't keep the dust/dirt out which shortens their lifetime a lot. |
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-John
1973 GTS |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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I used no grease. This is what Eric from the Little Shop said: "
The bearings are PTFE lined (Teflon) and need no
greasing during their lifetime. That material also works as a wiper to keep
grit from getting inside the bearing. This exact part is regularly used on
offroad trucks in various places without any additional sealing. It's safe to
say they'll last for many, many thousands of miles on a street car. "
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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BackInBlack
Senior Member Joined: 11-January-2011 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 1013 |
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Thanks....I wasn't sure regarding the reliability of the bearing with regards to dirt (street use). The grease with a dust cover keeps those OEM ball joints safe and last longer than the typical heim joint. I was wondering if that applied to these bearings in the kit. I know I asked littleshop...but its good to double sanity check.
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-John
1973 GTS |
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Eliteman76
Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5044 |
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Just chiming in here. Asking for a long term update from everyone that has installed these.
Also, because the Little Rod Shop made the effort, it's worthy for an update so stuff like this can be recommended to others with actual feedback of driving. Side note: I will FINALLY be installing all my front end parts, after the last 3+ years of waiting for a chance to do it. Jut waiting for spring weather to break and warm up enough to be out in an unheated garage.
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems |
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Eliteman76
Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5044 |
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After all this time, how has your setup held up? |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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I have had mine on the car for numerous years now. No issues whatsoever. They are as tight as the day I installed them and a big improvement over the stock rubber bushings.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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