Art,
No, not the Colt Vista. The Vista was this hokey looking station wagon
thing. Some even had 4wd! What you want is something like the 2dr
hatchback or whatever. That's the right one.
Andy
Art Pfenninger wrote:
> =
> I called the auto parts store and asked for the price of COLT shocks. T=
hey
> asked VISTA and I said no. THey gave me a price and I asked them if the=
y
> were Monroe 5877st. They said no and gave me another part #. I then ask=
ed
> if they had Monroe 5877st they said yes but they weren't sure if they
> would fit. I guess I should just ask for the 5877st's. Is this a correc=
t
> assumption?
> ...Art
> =
> On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Andy Ramm wrote:
> =
> > Ahem....
> >
> > Greetings all. I hope I've copied everyone who requested this.
> > Nevertheless, it's on the MGs list too.
> >
> > This is the grand post on converting the rear shocks of an MGB to the=
> > rear shocks of an '84-88 Dodge Colt. This was originally sent to me =
by
> > Dave Tietz, who used to be on this list, but I haven't seen him here =
for
> > a while.
> >
> > So, credit goes to Dave in his absence for laboriously researching th=
is
> > and being the lab rat. (I'd call him the guinnea pig, but I don't kno=
w
> > how to spell it.) I can say that I have performed this conversion an=
d
> > it's one of the best things I have ever done to my MG. Thanks Dave!
> >
> > <disclaimer>One caveat applies: WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR CAR IS WHAT Y*O*=
U
> > DO TO YOUR CAR. I take no responsibility for the outcome of this
> > procedure. It worked marvelously for me, you may have different
> > results. Attempt this conversion at your own risk.</disclaimer>
> >
> > For the record, I used Sears Road Handler Performance Gas shocks whic=
h
> > are really Gabriel VST shocks. These are on the stiff side and would=
be
> > great for performance applications. They are still nowhere near as st=
iff
> > as the Moss conversions! Those seeking a smoother ride may consider t=
he
> > Monroe SensaTrac or other shock. The car is a 1967 MGB-GT with new
> > springs and all new mounting hardware and bushings. YMMV
> >
> > I also recommend using grade 8 bolts throughout and loctite thread
> > locker. throughout. That said, what follows is Dave's original post.=
> >
> > Best of luck,
> >
> > Andy
> >
> >
> > Rear Tube Shock Conversion 02/28/97
> >
> > Background: I wanted to "modernize" my MGB-GT's suspension with gas
> > filled tube shocks, and after doing some shopping, decided on the
> > Moss-Monroe front & rear kits. After installing both sets, I discover=
ed
> > that the rear shocks were way too hard (the shocks are from GM 1/2 to=
> > 3/4 ton vans, front suspension). The front shocks seem OK.
> >
> > After a frustrating 6 weeks talking to Moss Technical, I was able to
> > return the shocks to the dealer. Moss was nice enough, but I don't th=
ink
> > they really understood the severity of the resulting ride, or they
> > didn't get enough complaints on the product (although I know of sever=
al
> > besides me). I kept hearing "Its a competition product", or "The
> > stiffness makes for better handling", neither of which I can accept. =
I
> > have ridden in several Porsches & Corvettes, none of which was as tee=
th
> > jarring as my shocks.
> >
> > I did some research on my own (shock absorber books are a closely
> > guarded secret with most dealers & parts houses for some reason). One=
> > friendly dealer, a local Tire Kingdom, let me spend about 3 hours wit=
h
> > their book, and I was able to find shocks that have an acceptable
> > compressed dimension, a longer extended dimension, suitable mounting
> > bushings and are designed for a similar weight vehicle. The conversio=
n
> > does not require modification to the car (other than relocating two
> > parts) and uses existing mounting holes.
> >
> > The Conversion:
> > Disclaimer: This worked for me, on my MGB-GT, and appears to be worki=
ng
> > well after 6 weeks. This is for your information only, and you are
> > warned that if you attempt this conversion, you do so entirely at you=
r
> > own risk. Sorry, but in this litigious age, I want it understood, I
> > ain't responsible for nothing =F7 Dave Tietz.
> >
> > Parts needed (about $40.00):
> > 2 2 1/2 inch long, 7/16 fine thread Grade 5 or better bol=
ts.
> > 2 5 1/2 inch (6 inch will work) 7/16 fine thread Grade 5 =
or better
> > bolts.
> > 4 7/16 fender washers.
> > 10 7/16 flat washers
> > 4 7/16 lock washers or use locking nuts below.
> > 4 7/16 nuts (or locking nuts).
> > 2 Monroe Sensi-Trac 5877ST Shock Absorbers or equivalent.=
These are
> > from a 1984-1988 Dodge Colt (and may be used on other cars).
> >
> > Procedure:
> > 1) The old lever-action rear shocks are removed.
> >
> > 2) The Shock Brackets (bottom-most plates, clamping the rear-end tube=
to
> > the springs) are removed, flipped over (so the hole points down) and
> > replaced on the other side (left one on right side, right one on left=
> > side) so the hole is still on the inside, but the bend is down, inste=
ad
> > of up. Re-torque the four U-bolt nuts securely.
> >
> > 3) With the 5 1/2 inch bolts, bolt the top of each shock in the
> > forward-most old shock mounting hole. Use the fender washers on eithe=
r
> > side of the "frame", bolt head in the wheel well. The shock bushing, =
a
> > flat washer, lock washer & nut on the inside of the frame.
> >
> > 4) To be safe, I measured the distance of the Bump Plate (on top of t=
he
> > axle, and the Bump Rubber, and found it to be 4.1 inches (I have new
> > rear springs). I then measured the distance from where the bottom of =
the
> > shock mounts (the hole that was moved from up to down, in step 2 abov=
e),
> > to full compression of the shock, and found that to be 4 inches. As t=
he
> > shock is mounted at an angle (and will not compress inch for inch to =
the
> > vertical distance between the Bump Rubber and the Bump Plate) the sho=
cks
> > cannot bottom out. It would be good to double check your vehicle.
> >
> > 5) With the 2 1/2 inch bolts, bolt the bottom shock mount through the=
> > hole (if it is "wallowed out", from years of movement by the old shoc=
k,
> > you can drill a new mounting hole to the rear of the original hole =F7=
> > which gives even more clearance to bottoming-out). The new hole shoul=
d
> > be a clearance hole for the 7/16 bolt, like 15/32 dia.. Use washers o=
n
> > either side of the shock bushing, and lock washers/nuts or locking
> > nuts.
> >
> > Torque the bolts securely, I am a fan of Lock-Tite, and used it
> > lavishly, both in re-bolting the U-Bolts and shock mounting bolts.
> >
> > Make sure no other components are near the shocks, like a previous
> > owner, re-routing the fuel line, or wires or anything that might caus=
e
> > wear or failure of a part. On my car, they were clear all the way
> > around.
> >
> > As noted above, this is about a $40.00 conversion, and I believe the
> > Sensi-Trac to be superior to the 1920's technology Lever Action shock=
s
> > (and more closely matched to the MGB than the Moss kit).
> >
> > For Your Information...
> >
> > Dave Tietz
> >
> > Afterword:
> > The conversion has now been on the car for 8 months, and seems to be
> > working beautiful. This car is my daily driver, and we are at about
> > 7,000 miles.
> >
> > Good luck,
> >
> > Dave Tietz
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Andy Ramm
> > A silver face in a tweed world.
> > Remove obvious spam filter from email address when replying.
> > "What we play is the blues, straight from the delta, and I believe we=
'll
> > make it on that," B.B. King
> >
> >
> > By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), Sec.227(b)(1)(C) and
> > Sec.227(b)(3)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited advertisemen=
t
> > to this equipment. A violation of the aforementioned Section is
> > punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500, whiche=
ver
> > is greater, for each violation.
> >
-- =
Andy Ramm
A silver face in a tweed world.
Remove obvious spam filter from email address when replying.
"What we play is the blues, straight from the delta, and I believe we'll
make it on that," B.B. King
By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), Sec.227(b)(1)(C) and
Sec.227(b)(3)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited advertisement
to this equipment. A violation of the aforementioned Section is
punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500, whichever
is greater, for each violation.
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