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XT coupe air struts.


Giles
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Evening guys here’s the latest  in my XT restoration.
All welding and repairs on rear are complete.
New wheel arches made from scratch. 
All rust cut out and fresh thicker metal welded in.
Epoxy primer, base and clear on underside
Epoxy primer and Upol raptor on wheel arches.
Entire subframe and suspension acid cleaned and either epoxy painted or galvanised or zinc coated ( where applicable)
All nuts and bolts zinc plated or renewed in stainless steel.
Suspension all rebuild and rebushed ( only 2 original square bushes I had to reuse)
Fuel pipe acid dipped
Fuel flap and inside repainted.
fuel filler bracket plated in correct yellow plating.

Tomorrow I hope to attach the Achilles Heal..
The rear air struts.
I’ve only painted them as my global search for new ones continues....

Can anyone help with new ( or excellent used) rear struts.... I can arrange shipping worldwide!

Soon I’ll start the front end, but it much less work involved than the rear.

Thanks for looking guys!

Comments welcome please....

i can’t upload any more recent pics atm.

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What else is there to say except that you're absolutely killing it.  Well done.  

How did remaking the rear arches go?  Do you cut and use the originals as templates?  Does it take hours or days per arch? 

I guess you cut out a sizable chunk to get all of the rust that you can't visibly see that gets down into all the folds and inaccessible areas where two or more sheets come together?

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Evening guys.

I need some advice please...

I’m about to start and move my 1800 Xt turbo.
Only to take it out of the garage and turn it round so I can work on the front.

I’m worried about the air suspension.

What should happen?

Will the compressor start when the key is turned or when the engine starts?

I think it comes on ( the compressor) for a second or two, when I turn the key, or push the ‘height’ button on the pod.

Also, with all 4 wheels off the ground will the air struts fill with air, isn’t there a ‘high’ switch inside each strut?

Does the car need all 4 wheels on the ground for the air suspension to work?

Can anyone explain the intricacies of the air suspension system. Or guide me to a thread here....

Btw the suspension worked fine I think! before I started  stripping it down. 

Thanks!
G.

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1 hour ago, Karmasrenegade97 said:

Good day,

fellas I am having a hard time locating the rear passenger side cv joint for my xt6 can anyone tell me where i can find 1 or is there another car that i can source it from?

start a NEW thread and title it something relevant to what you need.  

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1 hour ago, D Giles Baeton said:

Evening guys.

I need some advice please...

I’m about to start and move my 1800 Xt turbo.
Only to take it out of the garage and turn it round so I can work on the front.

I’m worried about the air suspension.

What should happen?

Will the compressor start when the key is turned or when the engine starts?

I think it comes on ( the compressor) for a second or two, when I turn the key, or push the ‘height’ button on the pod.

Also, with all 4 wheels off the ground will the air struts fill with air, isn’t there a ‘high’ switch inside each strut?

Does the car need all 4 wheels on the ground for the air suspension to work?

Can anyone explain the intricacies of the air suspension system. Or guide me to a thread here....

 

It comes on when you turn the key to "on" automatically, no need to do anything else.   Just do that and see if it comes on.  

If it's in the air and they're below the height sensors then they should air up. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

She moved under her own power!
Yes.. she moved..
Only to turn around in the garage, so I can start the front.
No leaks in the rear struts or solenoids. 100% airtight.
I imported a good front wing ( fender) and I have a brand new door, locally.
All other panels are very good.
The front suspension strip down starts tomorrow.
And my grinder at the ready for the badly welded box section repairs.
Any tips or advice guys?
Please chime in.
G.

1B45427E-CC38-4CDE-90B5-87E6CB210613.jpeg

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  • 6 months later...
On 2/18/2019 at 2:03 PM, sparkyboy said:

Hey man, sorry to hear of your troubles, by the time I got my xt, the air shocks were gone. The plastic air lines are still in place though...where is the compressor located? If mine is still there someone can have it, or was it hooked to the a/c or something? 

Can't imagine these things are more complicated than the nonsense on bmw x5. The xt is on or off right? Not self adjusting I'm sure...and yes my friend I have the digi dash so feeling the car lift as the little Atari car rides high must be one of sube lifes rare little pleasures haha! The ride itself must be pillowy plush huh?

Who has the nos parts is the question...someone recently found a huge stash of the blue backed (not brown for brat) 80s hubcaps you can buy from West coast dealers lol! There is a new set of air shocks in a dusty box somewhere in Japan probably haha.

Cheers man

sparkyboy, the xt had the compressor and tank located in the drivers side fender in front of the wheel under the battery tray.

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On 3/4/2019 at 1:13 PM, Giles said:


Good afternoon guys and gals.
Thanks for all the help, but I need your help again.

I’m not sure if I need to start a new thread...

Anyway...
My car a non runner. I had it brought home  on a trailer.
So I’ve never driven it.... yet!
I’m restoring it...
Anyway. 
It’s 1986 xt turbo.. with an auto box. 
I’ve read online that the auto box is only a 3 speed ( 3EAT) with a final drive of 1:1 very high for a top gear, high revs for ( motorway) highway use?
I’m shocked and genuinely disappointed ( I really am!) that such a modern car in its day, only has a 3 speed box.
Am I wrong about the ratio, does it have some kind of overdrive?
Plus. I see from 1988 ish  a 4 speed auto box was used ( 4EAT)If I can get one can I replace and bolt this on? 
What other cars used this same 4 speed auto?
What about going manual, 5 speed, what will I need?
Any advice or recommendations 
Thanks 
Giles.

In a stormy Wales. Uk 

From all i know and have learned about these cars none of the Xts had a 3 speed auto, that was the auto equipped BRATs and wagons. Even the early 85 and 86 XTs had 4 speed autos.

Edited by SiriusBlack
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Hi guys.

I’m back.

Sorry lve not been giving updates.

But I’m having problems with this website..

And none of the admin answer my login problems.. and I’m still paying $5 per month..

 

Anyway..

 

My XT is coming along well.

The front end is now all done.

I had extensive rust on the rockers (sills)

And the box section under the floor.

Lots of upside welding and plate fabrication 

Now it’s rock solid.

It’s all been sprayed, underneath, inner fenders and engine bay.

Epoxy primer ( raptor Seal where appropriate to) basecoat and clearcote.

Correct 572 metallic space blue.

 

Part of the original 518 dual paint code.

 

The engine as only 63k miles is going back in basically untouched. Apart from filters, belts etc.

All the suspension is galvanised or plated.

All bushes replaced..

NEW pair of air struts too!!

So now I’m rebuilding the front end.

I’m very happy with the work I’ve put in.

Unfortunately I can’t upload any pics under this login, ( I’ll message admin again)

 

Also, I’ve dumped the 3EAT auto ( I was never happy about 3 speed ) for a 5 speed push button 4wd Manual

I’ve also got a proper new XT AC setup, which I’m installing too.

And to top it all, I have a digital dash too.

I’ll fit that another time.

Hope you are all good.

I’m part of the XT groups on Facebook.

I know some of you guys are to, I find them very helpful and recommend them.

G.

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