Strut insert conversion help needed....

[Slack11]

I'm converting the rear struts to take a insert on my Geo storm racecar. I'm gonna use coilovers, so I've already cut and removed the stock dampener, ground off the spring perches and all brackets, and cleaned them out. What I am planning on doing is using racing shocks within the "tubes" that I have left.

I need to find a cap that will fit over the top of the strut tubes. My plan is to thread the outside of the tube, and find a thin, aluminum cap that I can drill a hole in for the shock to come through. Does anyone make a cap like this, or can someone think of something that would work? I already looked at most of the plumbing option, but a pipe cap really doesn't seem like the thing to use. Any suggestions?

[64KID]

Originally Posted by Slack11

I'm converting the rear struts to take a insert on my Geo storm racecar. I'm gonna use coilovers, so I've already cut and removed the stock dampener, ground off the spring perches and all brackets, and cleaned them out. What I am planning on doing is using racing shocks within the "tubes" that I have left.

I need to find a cap that will fit over the top of the strut tubes. My plan is to thread the outside of the tube, and find a thin, aluminum cap that I can drill a hole in for the shock to come through. Does anyone make a cap like this, or can someone think of something that would work? I already looked at most of the plumbing option, but a pipe cap really doesn't seem like the thing to use. Any suggestions?

What if you cut s series of slits down from the top then use a clamp ...when you insert the new insert just tighten the clamp...something loke a muffler clamp.

[Slack11]

I was thinking of that as a backup plan.. I'm afraid a muffler clamp may get in the way of the coilover, or the spring itself... Might stick out too far..... Actually the strut tubes that I took off the car and am replacing were done that way, but were cut too low. they caused the shock itself to bend without enough support.

[steve wakely]

do you have a welder? you could make a cap out of a washer and some thin flat bar so it slid over the tube then weld it to the housing with a few nice big tacks then in 3 years or more when you want to change inserts just cut the tacks with a grinder.
But I think our stock struts are too small for a koni insert but if you find something that fits and is adjustable let us know

[Slack11]

I bought this car fromo someone who has raced it for a few years on asphalt. He had hollowed the strut tubes, and used carrera racing shocks inside the tubes. Carrera is now QA1, but their small body steel shocks will fit inside the tubes. It will lower the ride height a bunch, but for me and racing that is a plus.

The only issue with this is that these shocks don't have the threaded rod at the bottom to bolt through the bottom of the strut house, so I need to cap the top to keep the shock in the tube.

[Zimahype]

Try doing this. But get the longer version of the inserts. http://www.isuzone.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15876

[upgtx]

Robie the robot might be able to make you some, or, sell you some koni inserts that might work.

[91gsi]

Originally Posted by upgtx

Robie the robot might be able to make you some, or, sell you some koni inserts that might work.

how about my other 2 struts?

[impulse777]

Originally Posted by steve wakely

I think our stock struts are too small for a koni insert but if you find something that fits and is adjustable let us know

If you want adj, inserts for the rear I used tokico 5-way adj from a '88 mr2 their front inserts in our rear strut housing... Tokico probaly won't hold up to the demands of racing very long.

For the cap I used a plumbing pipe, Cut the amount of threads I needed then welded the threaded pipe onto the top of the strut then used a regular plumbing cap with a hole drilled in it. The weld's have held for 7 yrs now through heavy abuse...