1985 GB122 1200 Sunny Ute

[Tony_Whenua]

Gave Francis a clean and put him away until after the grape harvest


Looking forward to nationals!

[classicdat]

Looking good Tony, Great to see this wee Gem getting some loving

[buzzy]

Looking good man!

[tsC20]

Hope we can see him at Taupo.

[Tony_Whenua]

Went to buy a HSD 45mm adjustable sleeve kit from otomoto but want to know what kg kit to buy. 4kg or 5kg?
Also does any one have some coupe struts for sale? Was going to keep current set up as spare incase

[luke]

go for the 4kg springs, too stiff otherwise in a 1200 (unless racecar)

[Tony_Whenua]

go for the 4kg springs, too stiff otherwise in a 1200 (unless racecar)

Purchase made

[luke]

go for the 4kg springs, too stiff otherwise in a 1200 (unless racecar)

Purchase made

i bought mine for uber low but its not required......

i was going to run this setup in my coupe but for want of a cheeky wof instead of cert (at this stage) i decided against that route and put em back on the shelf.
However you can make your ute as low as my coupe/any others that area heightwise for a wof without adjustable suspension that you will probably set and never adjust unless you change rim sizes.

this is what i did.....and what you would probably have to do anyway...?

1. Buy either 1981 n10 pulsar/19?? vw rabbit?or golf? front inserts ..... you would probably do this anyway due to coilovers etc.

2. Shorten the struts to suit the insert heights by cutting them where the spring perch weld is and shortening the section lower than spring perch to suit (this keeps the threaded bit at the top intact)

3. Reweld along spring perch weld area and paint, unless the wof guy REALLY knows his datsuns he will not be able to notice as the weld is all together.

4. Cut either standard springs like i did or use avenger rear springs which are slightly stiffer (you need to slightly massage out the spring perch for these as the o.d. of avenger springs is a few mm extra compared to standard.

5. GET the ends reshaped by a spring company (bellamy and east did mine for a box.) Remember to allow that extra 30mm ish for when it gets curved flat to suit the top hats etc. not required either but........

6. Personally i got mine crack tested but this is definitley not a requirement but any means at all.

7. Fit and have fun

All up i think the setup owed me what otomoto wanted for their sleeve kit delivered. i get you have bought yours already but this is similar to what you would have to do anyway before welding sleeves on.

the advantage to doing this is still getting wofs and all you have to do to go adjustable is cut the spring perchs off and weld sleeves on, at your convenience

[luke]

i should add that while you shorten the struts about 80mm ish you loose almost nothing in travel. i still have about 100+mm at a guess. in the front at least.......

[Tony_Whenua]

Thanks Luke, I ended up doing exactly that with the current set up although I never got it pressure tested I prob should have. I had the shocks cut up to match the then previous shock and spring as I kept them. I still find the travel works mint and have no issues. I don't think the mighty A12 is very heavy!

So did you never use your adjustables? I thought you bought Leppas?

The reason behind wanting to do the new set up is getting everything certed at once. I have s13 break upgrade, RCAs, adjustable strut and camber tops. I'm hoping for more camber to stop my tyres being chewed to shreds. The last South Island rakaia cruise cost me a new set as they were one directional tyres and I never rotated them when I should have.

Was going to look at adjustable bottom arms and torsion rod but that's getting even more pricy.

I don't believe I have any other plans for this ute except a 5 speed Gbox but should be able to avoid putting that on the cert