DIY COIL OVERS

Get adjustable ride height for a fraction of the cost

Difficulty:

Time to do: 4 hours Adjustable platform struts (aka coil-overs) are the best way to control front-end ride height on any Ford.To make your old Ford handle to the best of its abilities then it’s important to be able to alter things like the ride height and spring rate. With the standard front Macpherson strut used on many classic Fords, this is limited to one or two aftermarket springs, which means that you are once again stuck to certain set parameters which may not be suitable for your particular application.

This is why people often use fully adjustable coil-over-type front struts which offer complete control to the end user. They can be quite expensive however and not necessarily available for all cars. Alternatively, you can take the DIY approach and convert your own struts using readily available kits from the likes of Rally Design.

For around £70 per strut you can convert the standard leg to accept 2.25-inch ID diameter springs which can then be purchased in a variety of lengths and ratings. Fitting is a relatively simple job and just requires a grinder, tape measure and a decent MIG welder to complete the job. While you are at it you can also add some wedge supports to the base of the strut if you like, which is a trick favoured by the rally boys. If your welding skills aren’t up to the job entrust this part to a professional as the safety of your car will rely on it

How much: £138.96 (new, pair abutment kit, Rally Design)

“ADJUSTABLE COIL OVER STRUTS OFFER COMPLETE CONTROL”

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CYou will need to remove the insert if you haven’t already done so.There should be a locking nut on the base of the strut so undo this completely first.

EIf you have cleaned all the weld off the body of the strut then the new threaded tube should slide down easily.You need to position it 50 mm from the end of the tube.

DUndo the insert from the base using a large flat-bladed screwdriver. Slide it out of the strut body and then store in a safe place away from grinding sparks.

B Use a sanding pad fitted to your grinder to clean the tube up, removing all traces of weld. Don’t remove too much metal from the tube as this will weaken the assembly.

ARemove the bottom spring support.You need to cut through the tube just above the weld then grind off the remaining tube and weld using a thin cutting disc in a grinder.

G You can see the difference between a standard strut and the converted adjustable coil-over. Using this set-up allows you to fine-tune the ride height.

H All it needs now is a lick of paint then reassembling with your new spring. Spring rates will depend on the engine set-up and use the car will get.

F With the tube correctly positioned, tack it in place, recheck the measurement, then fully weld around the bottom of the tube only.