George J. Malaska, VIN#768.
Membership Director, Bricklin International
Elkhart, IN. 219-875-1270
bricklingeorge@msn.com.
----- Original Message -----
From: "bricklingeorge" <bricklingeorge@email.msn.com>
To: <WUZNTME2@aol.com>; <bricklin@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: Gas Struts
> 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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