4g61t.org

What is everyone using to take up the space between the rear strut tower and the top of the strut when doing the AWD conversion?
All this is on a 89 Dodge Colt that I purchased mid way through the swap. Right now I am trying to fix all the incorrect things the guy that started this swap did ( I will not go into details trust me you dont wanna know.) Thanks for the help!

_________________
89 Colt AWD Swap In Progress
08 3500 Ram CTD Deleted
06 300c Hemi With Some Spray

There are three ways to do it:

Hardest: Lower the rear strut towers to the correct height.

Medium: Weld a secong strut bolt eylet on the bottom of the exsisting one

Easiest: Use a 10" spring on the strut to get the right height.

At least, this is what I gleaned form AWD guys at the SO.

_________________
Thom
1991 GVR4 1025/2000 (PTE 1200's, 16g, DSMLink v3, gm-maf, eagle/ross, .020 over, 272's, EVO VIII Wheels)
1992 GVR4 866/1000 (getting everything from above)

Search for Jafromobile on Youtube. He goes into detail on this.

_________________
93 Mitsubishi Expo LRV 1.8/manual
95 Eagle Summit DL Coupe 1.5/manual
01 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Sedan 1.8/manual

Thomcasey
So use the stock Dodge Colt strut with a 10" spring? What spring rate are you guys typically running in the back of these swaps?
I measured from the top of the strut tower to the center of the mounting point on the knuckle its roughly 25" at ride height.
I have a stock DSM AWD strut assy it measured roughly 22" over all length.
Anyone fabricate & sell those spring spacers? I have access to a welder but not to a press to bend the plate.

I did watch some of Jafromobile's videos on you tube. The only one I found was where he put in the DSM shock towers. I called afco earlier today they said the had a coil over that was 26" fully extended with a rod end on one end & a stud on the other. Over winter I might pick those up and possibly do a write up if they work out.

_________________
89 Colt AWD Swap In Progress
08 3500 Ram CTD Deleted
06 300c Hemi With Some Spray

I've been doing some research myself and checking out a few friend's setups since i'm considering going awd.I'm a fan of doing a spacer between the upper mount and the tower the most. They would be relatively easy to make and you retain correct suspension travel with the struts and don't have to modify the towers (not as easy to work around on a sedan either).

Pretty much a leveling lift like that is popular on modern trucks and suvs. Here's a good example of a homemade one.

_________________
92 GS sedan, 100mph burnouts = sold

I extended the top hats. If you go awd the strut is also at the wrong angle. I compensated for this too with the top hat.

_________________
05 wrx wagon
99 Benz ML 320
91 eagle summit swapped - 6/4 bolt combo
94 Audi s4 - sold
88 Eagle Vista Turbo LX sedan, RIP

So use the stock colt top hats, & struts than & build spacers. Sounds like a plan. Thank for the help guys!
I will let everyone know how those AFCO coil overs work once I order them they should be almost a direct bolt in with no top hat extenders needed.

_________________
89 Colt AWD Swap In Progress
08 3500 Ram CTD Deleted
06 300c Hemi With Some Spray

Just wanted to emphasize that an AWD strut that is givena taller than stock AWD spring, when the vehicle encounters bumps, if the shock is dual stage based upon height/intensity of movement, raising a sitting point will change where this occurs.

So, a spacer means nothin changes about how high the rod is extended at rest.

I knew that by putting on a longer coil spring it would not change the extended length of the strut.
I just wanted to get an idea of what people were doing with the rear struts while performing the swap.
The car I bought was part way through the swap but the previous owner(s) lost interest. I should post pics of what one of the previous owners cobbled together for the rear struts. One word SCARY!

So the question is which strut cartridge is everyone using?
The stock DSM one with the top hat extenders?
OR the stock colt struts with a 10" spring and extenders?
Which one has the longer strut? I don't have a stock colt strut to measure the difference in length or see if it would work.
Thanks for everyone's input/ help

_________________
89 Colt AWD Swap In Progress
08 3500 Ram CTD Deleted
06 300c Hemi With Some Spray

+1, specifically awd dsm agx's with awd galant springs and an extended tophat. A spacer like the one posted above is the same type of setup. Although my extended tophat a are not as tall and give the strut a better/different fitment angle.

_________________
05 wrx wagon
99 Benz ML 320
91 eagle summit swapped - 6/4 bolt combo
94 Audi s4 - sold
88 Eagle Vista Turbo LX sedan, RIP

Thank you thats what I wanted to know!

_________________
89 Colt AWD Swap In Progress
08 3500 Ram CTD Deleted
06 300c Hemi With Some Spray

I am looking at changing my setup. I did the 8-10" 250lb spring on a awd kyb agx because that's what we had that worked but it's not right. I'll take some pics today and keep my progress updated.

_________________
89 mirage #666/1200
89 colt E $2006 GRM

This is what I did with mine.

_________________
92 Colt GL 4g63t + AWD swap
00 Mirage LS

Aaron. Do you have a tutorial on your spacers? Looks easy but what is the length and angle in degrees?

_________________
87 Starion, PROJECT. With the CATAPLT COLT engine, Thanks Craig, (GSX)
92 Eclipse GSX (Dead)
89 Colt GT (AWD Swap) H1C
88 Cummins Suburban
69 Cutlass convertible
78 Arrow G54B Swap, Celeste makeover. (MOD 2016 Veteran)

It's 2" on the low side I do believe. I can't remember the angle, I used my buddies chop saw until the strut lined up with the mounting point.

_________________
92 Colt GL 4g63t + AWD swap
00 Mirage LS