Official Start date & Rear suspension.

[Matt No VAT]

Well, today is the official start date of the second Stratos kit.

I think this one will be easier than before as the only converting I have to do is to cut out the Beta twin-cam engine mounts and weld in the Alfa V6 mounts.

As the car was practically unstarted it's going to practically be a clean HF3000 buildfrom scratch. After cutting out the engine mounts I moved on to stripping the suspension and hubs out of the chassis. I'm just checking all the wishbone components and re-painting them but I'm now thinking I'll get some adjustable rear suspension. Probably a coil-over setup.

Can anyone recommend a make/supplier that provide a direct fit that wont bust the bank?

I've had to stop prematurely as I now need a press to get the old wheel bearings out and the new ones in! :(

[Shaun II]

Good news, should be ready for abingdon.

Can you reuse the beta mountings or are the alfa mounts completely different?

Your rear brakes are off the donor, I'll pm the details.

[Matt No VAT]

Alfa mounts are completely different, I already have the new ones from Gerry.

[chris.richard]

Can anyone recommend a make/supplier that provide a direct fit that wont bust the bank?


Leda will do the first, but not sure about the latter!

[Sptwoman]

Gerry's moved to Gaz both ends so maybe worth having a word with the guys from Gaz?? The coil overs are neat and looking at Gerry's green machine at Stoneleigh the struts look similar to my Ledas..

[Bernard]

GAZ

David Ainsworth
01709 703992

[Chris J]

Gerry's moved to Gaz both ends so maybe worth having a word with the guys from Gaz?? The coil overs are neat and looking at Gerry's green machine at Stoneleigh the struts look similar to my Ledas..

As Allen says, they look similar to the Ledas. See photo:

[Steve Poole]

Just curious, but not wanting to sound thick - whats the vertical rose jointed link? Is the bar its connected to dampened?

Steve

[Chris J]

Just curious, but not wanting to sound thick - whats the vertical rose jointed link? Is the bar its connected to dampened?

Steve

Steve, it's the rear anti roll bar link.

[Steve Poole]

Ah, thought it was but i hadn't noticed it on others before. Thanks

Steve

[Matt No VAT]

Spoke to Leda today, TBH not much help.

£320 each side + VAT + shipping

But they have no details of any units made pre 2005, so you'd have to send them an example so they can build new ones from scratch. Or you supply all the technical drawings for them to go make them up.

I'll go talk to Gaz I think.

Do Gaz supply direct the dampers only or do they do a complete Hawk fitment kit, springs & plates etc - Or will I have to get dampers from them and then talk to Gerry for the rest of the parts required to make them fit the Hawk chassis?

I'd rather do a one stop shop - coz I'm lazy like that ;)

[Sptwoman]

As Phil states..."David Ainsworth 01709 703992"

[Matt No VAT]

Have spoken with David and he's calling me back tomorrow am.

Thanks all

[rutthenut]

I notice that Gaz advertise that they will also rebuild Leda units.
Think he has one or more ex-Leda people there now too. Might be wrong about that though.

J.R.

[Matt No VAT]

All sorted - 3-4 week wait is the only downside.

Still - plenty to be getting on with ;) :D ;)

[Sptwoman]

Matt, That's a good find for the future. I hope the price is right!! What spring ratings are you going for?

[Chris J]

I could do with some large diameter spring seats, and springs.

[Matt No VAT]

Yes, price was right... saved me a few quid on the Hawk direct price.

Spring rates, I've gone for fast road springs for the Alfa V6 engine, Dave couldn't recall the exact rates but he's getting that info and will let me know.

When I have the info I'll post it on here. IIRC I think my other Stradale had 325's but thats from 5/6 years ago so I could be mistaken.

[Sptwoman]

After reading several threads I went for 325lb front @ 9" and 230lb rears, not sure of length.

[CorseChris]

So, roughly how much for a pair of struts complete with pans & springs?

[Matt No VAT]

All in..... £728

Although that number may be recalculated using the "Reverse ENRON" formula for the benefit of my wife ;)

[Swamprat33]

Matt, Lets hope your wife does not read this forum :D

Tim

[CorseChris]

Thanks Matt.

[Bernard]

I also had a set of Gaz off David a couple of years ago (good service from him).... similar price
I went for 400lb rear and 500lb front if thats of any use to anyone,
probably too stiff for the road but handled really well at Chatsworth last year
It just goes to show that if you want to use the car on the road AND on the track it's best to have 2 cars !!.................... in my dreams !!
Phil

[CorseChris]

Apropo spring rates, I have 325lb fronts and 225lb rears on my Corse S at the moment. I've also got some 300lb rears to try when the 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" adapters turn up. I'm swapping to 2 1/2" rear springs to stop them rubbing on the strut body and making an infuriating 'boing/twang' noise when I hit bumps in the road.

....which was what prompted the question about a price for a set of new struts with the larger springs really. They do look nice, but a bit out of my price range at the moment.

[Chris J]

Yes, price was right... saved me a few quid on the Hawk direct price.

Spring rates, I've gone for fast road springs for the Alfa V6 engine, Dave couldn't recall the exact rates but he's getting that info and will let me know.

When I have the info I'll post it on here. IIRC I think my other Stradale had 325's but thats from 5/6 years ago so I could be mistaken.

Matt

Do the GAZ struts have camber adjusting bolts?

[Matt No VAT]

Chris,

Not sure at this moment in time, as they have not arrived yet.

Soon as they do I'll let you know. I don't think they do but may be proved wrong.

Cheers

[Matt No VAT]

Right-o the GazGold have arrived :D

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Shiney :) :D :)

They come with 320 lb springs (this is the "fast road" setup for Stradales)

The wife did ask why they are in the living room - answer - for admiration purposes!

The do not come with camber adjustment, nor the spanner for adjustment of the bottom spring plate, but TBH I'm not worried about that.

I scrapped the old Beta front struts just before the bank holiday and forgot that I should have retained the Beta top mounts. Still, just as well I have another brand new set that I can cannibalise!

The chassis has now been returned to its original colour, (or close enough anyway) and looks a million times better.

So marking up and welding the new V6 engine mounts will probably be this done this week/end, time/wife permitting. ;)

[Matt No VAT]

Update: :D

Speaking to Steve today at Compbrake, a very nice gent, who is sorting me the Beta ally top mounts for the rear suspension has agreed to send me the enhanced version thathas camber adjustment.

When they arrive I'll take some pictures and post up on here, he made the top mounts for Gerry, but these are the fixed camber version, someone from Europe had Steve develop an adjustable camber version and he made 3 sets, I'm getting the last set.

He's said that if there was enough interest in the adjustable camber version then he'd make more.