Anyone know if turbo struts from any year of regular (non S) cars will fit on a NA car?
I know they will fit 86 turbos on up, but will they fit a 1986 NA?
Of major concern is the difference in brakes.
Anyone ever try this swap out there?
<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

 

My understanding is that the 1986-88 turbo NON-M030 units will fit 1987-89 NA cars. This means that you can't use them for your 1986.

 

Measure the spindle thickness where the strut clamps. If it's 18mm, then you can use the '86 951 strut. If it's 20mm like pre-'87 944NA cars, then you can't. The '85.5-86 944NA cars are confusing...

 

Danno,

I can't put an N/A strut housing on my 87 then.... ??? I was going to make the swap soom too. I need new shocks/struts!!!!

-andrew

 

Sure you can use the 944NA struts on the 951. Just can't do it the other way around on pre-'87 944NA cars. That's because the 944NA has a 20mm spindle-clamp on the strut, while the 951 has a 18mm one.

I've got a procedure on my website on how to adapt the 944NA rebuildable struts for use on the 951: <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx" target="_blank">951 RacerX website</a>. The 2.5" coilovers section is almost finished. I just have to add the photos and procedure on how to make the 2mm shim for where the strut clamps onto the spindle. You also have to elongate the upper hole upwards about 5mm since the bolt-spacings are different between the 944NA and 951.

If someone could measure the thickness of the spindle where the struts bolt onto the spindle on an '85.5-86 944NA, I'd appreciate it. Thanks - danno

 

Danno,

can i just put the inserts into the strut housings with the factory springs? I just want to stick some KYB strut inserts in if i can.

Also just to verify... the 87 turbo uses a 18mm strut too? i have some early NA struts to do the conversion if i have the time...


thanks

-Andrew

 

Yup, you can just throw the KYB inserts into the NA strut and use the 951 springs. Then modify the strut to fit the 951. One additional step is required for the '87+ 951s though, and that's boring out the balljoint clamp to 19mm (944NA has 17mm balljoint pin).

 

You *can* go the other way... 18mm strut to 20mm spindle, but this requires machining of the strut to reduce it (to 18mm). Certainly, going the early cartidge type with spacer and boring is much easier. Now that there are cartridges available for both sealed and rebuildable struts, it's not much of an issue.

Good Luck!

 

[quote]boring out the balljoint clamp to 19mm (944NA has 17mm balljoint pin).<hr></blockquote>What the h*ll am I saying? That's on the spindle, forget about that part.