Fitting EA81 vented rotors and suspension into a gen 1:)

[Caboobaroo]

This mod is GREAT especially when your pocketbook is low and you need some new balljoints. This happened to me:) So when I called around and al of the part stores said it would be roughly 30-36 bucks a piece for balljoints I went YIKES!! So I decided to try and retrofit some newer, cheaper stuff into my wagon. You wonder HOW much cheaper? Well I was getting the lifetime warrenty balljoints from a store for an EA81 with vented rotors for 16 bucks a piece. A far cry from 36. Everything will bolt into a stage 2, gen 1 car EXCEPT for the stabilizer bar coming off of the control arm. Now whats nice is that the stabilizer bar will unbolt from the EA81 control arm but the stabilizer bar on the EA71 control arm is welded on. So how did I overcome this? I went to my former highschool shop teacher and asked him if I could use the metal lathe so I could make these parts. He said sure and the metal was right there. All I did was make new stabilizer bars that were the same dimesions as the old EA71 bars. I used slightly bigger roundstock to make it stronger but the length and the dimension of the end where the threads are, are just the same as stock. Granted I didn't use a metric thread but I used a more common standard thread which works great since the nuts and washers are soooo much cheaper. Now all I need to do is et new polyurathene bushings for them. Now here are some pics:

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3206

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3207

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3208

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3236

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3237

http://usmb.net/gallery/album211/AUT_3238

 

I also have more pics but I wll have to find them and upload them. They show the final prouct on the control arms. This mod was done because the parts weren't just cheaper, but it will also improve braking performace as well:D

[RenaissanceMan]

thats some fine fabricating there. My question is why didnt you just heat up the stock and flatten it out, and then drill holes in it and bolt it to the control arm like on the ea81 setups? I've had to do a TON of subaru suspension fabrication lately, so this really interests me. I just acquired a 78 brat that needs some restoration, so this I definetly will have on my mind.

[Caboobaroo]

nope I just welded it together like the EA71 control arms were. I didn't do anything except line it up by eye with it sitting on the ground and a wheel on it so I could get some measurements to put it as close to stock location as I could.