I would be CAREFULL of putting stronger gas struts on your doors. You
could end up pushing the top of your doors out,away from the top and create
a whole new set of problems (leaks, bends, etc.) The late '75 and '76 models
had the attatching balls on the outside of the birdcage and instead of the
inner ones in the corner of the cage, they were on the door (just the
opposite of the way they are now). As TT explained to me,they found out
that the struts were actually pushing the front of the door out when it was
closed. By mounting them the other way, you still get assist when opening
the door and when closed they are actually pushing the top of the door in
towards the roof and creating a better seal. I had them that way on #2623
and they worked fine.
About the reason for the switch from AMC to Ford. Terry tells the story
that Malcolm was at a dinner with the president of AMC and told him that he
couldn't build cars right. The president of AMC told Malcolm "Let's see you
build them with engines", and that was that! Then the Canadian govt. asked
Ford to supply powertrains and help make it an all Canadian car. Ford agreed
as long as Malcolm paid cash, as they knew the financial straits he was in.
That's the way it has been related to me.
Hope this helps.
George.
George J. Malaska, VIN#768.
Membership Director, Bricklin International
Elkhart, IN. 219-875-1270
bricklingeorge@msn.com.
----- Original Message -----
From: <WUZNTME2@aol.com>
To: <bricklin@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 2:16 PM
Subject: Gas Struts
> I have been working on this problem for a little while now. I really did
not
> want to have to spend $90.00 for each gas strut and $6.00 for each pivot
> ball, so I looked around and found a alternate solution. I went to the
> "JUNK" yard, although its more like a gold mine, and I found some PIVOT
BALLS
> with the same thread size from a CHEVY BLAZER / FORD ESCORT . The only
> problem with them is that the BALL is a lot smaller than the ones on the
> BRICKLIN. My local PEP BOYS had some gas struts that were very close in
> length, the ones I wound up buying were made by PROLIFT model 92700 @
$22.50
> each. There is a slight modification that I needed to do to make them
work.
> I needed to file/grind a little off of the top of the gas strut ( filed
some
> of the "plastic" down )so when the door closes, there would be enough room
> for the strut to turn and NOT touch the steel/chrome plate that is
attached
> to the roof portion of the car. The only other "problem you WILL run into
is
> because the gas strut is longer, it is a REAL BITCH compressing it enough
to
> get it to fit into the pivot balls. I recommend that you connect the top
one
> first then work the bottom one into place. With a little work, you can
> replace both gas struts at a fraction of the cost of the "original" struts
> and pivot balls. for about $55.00 I have new pivot balls and new gas
struts
> on both my doors and they work just fine. Good Luck.
>
> Michael C.
> #2525
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