Beta Koni color trivia

[Jim Keller]

In the process of having Koni NA rebuild one of my Koni struts, I have aquired the correct paint brand and color code now for the series of struts they made for the Betas. They use Plasti-Kote brand #T31 Bright Orange for those of you wanting to repaint yours to correct color. Now, knowing that, I do not want to hear anymore reference to Koni "REDS" when talking about Konis for Betas, they are not red! they ARE orange! :D they never made a Koni red for a Beta, reds are a diffeent style strut.

And for those who want to know what it costs to rebuild a strut, $140 plus parts, parts to range from $20 to $80 depending on if it needs a new rod. :o

[Rocking-M]

Hey I knew it was orange, so when I repainted mine I went with Chevy orange for the
struts:) I figured a little chevy paint would insure that I would have a faster lancia:)

[Jim Keller]

Ok, I admit it, ;D I went with Chevy orange too! ha ha Duplicolor brand #DE1620 engine paint with ceramic to be exact, that paint holds up well against chips and such. I will see how much difference the oranges are once I get it back and report, it may be the same shade, if not, I'll repaint my other three to correct color :-\

[Tom McGaffigan]

$140 plus parts to rebuild a Koni? What happened to the lifetime warranty?
Tom McGaffigan

[John O]

What happened to the lifetime warranty?

Ya, "lifetime warranty" ...only if you can dig up your original sales receipt. For all the receipts that I've squirrelled away, I couldn't find the receipt I knew I'd saved for the day my X Koni's needed a rebuild. Sucks. I'm just gonna have to hold my breath and do it, but isn't that a gamble Koni and others that sell "lifetime warrantys" bet on winning 'cuz saps like me will never be able to pony up the paperwork?

John O.

[Jim Keller]

Actually,
I bought the struts used and damaged from DJ before he blew out of the country, so not only was I not the original purchaser, I knowingly purchased them damaged so there was no warranty issue. Now the strut that has been rebuilt DOES now have a lifetime warranty, but only to me, I sell them, they no longer have a warranty, and that is what parts manufactures count on, you selling the car BEFORE it needs repaired

On another note, the rod was damaged and had to be replaced, the rods are no longer available so I had to settle for them rebuilding it with a hollow rod and now, when I go to adjust them, I can't take them off, I have to open the damn hood and turn a friggin dial! man what a pain!....LOL!....I am actually sending the other front to be rebuilt exactly the same so I can adjust them anytime I please! and I am going to go ahead and spring to have the rears re-sealed as well so I am less likely to have any future issues. I would have the rears done with the hollow knob, but you can't access the tops without ripping apart the rear interior anyway and once I had them set where I wanted them, (about three half turns), on my last one, I never touched them again either.

[Jim Keller]

And Chevy engine orange is just a tad more orange than the Plasti-Kote, it is indeed more reddish in tint, more like an Allis Chalmers tractor, however, close enough I don't think anyone would really notice unless you had one right next to it to compare :-\.......they also modified the strut so I only turn a knob at the top to adjust it, no more taking it off to change the settings! ;D Now that's service! :D at a price of corse :'(

[Will]

Uh, Jim- if they are using the top -SA hardware then shouldn't the correct color now be YELLOW?

Just a thought- since the thread topic is Koni COLOR trivia and the yellows are the ones with the adjustable top knob?

:) Don't you love comments like that? :)

[Jim Keller]

Hummmm :-\
Good question Will! ;D But I think I'll leave em like they are LOL

[Will]

You know I wrote that JUST to break your chops, Backup! :)

[Jim Keller]

Yup! ;D

[OperaHawk]

Jim:

My 86 GLH had the adjustable Konis that used the knob - I found it very easy to dial in the suspension when I autocrossed or ran a new track. The ones on Due (fronts, the rears are still on Uno - anyone wanna help and explain how to get those mothers off?) require removal to adjust. Crap. Unless I'm missing something - anyone want to fill me in? Anyone? Bueller?

SBJ

[nickguy]

Mine have the same and I do think you have to pull them off to adjust sadly. Confirming the orange color though.

http://www.as-it-happens.com/pics/nowheels.jpg

[Jim Keller]

Take off the strut assemblies, take off the springs and upper mounts, compress the strut until it bottoms out, then turn it until you feel it drop into the slot, turn all the way clock wise for soft rebound, all the way counter clock wise is hard. The adjustment does NOT change anything so far as compression of the strut, just how fast it rebounds. Beta struts, (not sure of others), have 5 "half" turns of adjustment, so each half turn is suppose to make a difference, I set mine on the good Zag at three turns from soft front and two for the back, that was perect for this old and crippled up dude that likse to hear the tires squeeling on the edge in the twisties but doesn't want my teeth pounded out of my head! LOL! ;D Koni NA also has a web site you can get adjustment instructions off of free, I think the web address is www.koni-na.com :-\

[Timo04]

Hi Jim,

This is a great post. Thank you for this information on the correct color code for the KONI "reds". As a side note Paul M. of Koni NA Racing is a super guy and they do an excellent job of making old vintage KONI struts and shocks just like new again I once had a pair of rear struts rebuilt for an HPE and they did a super job, made 'em look and feel just like brand new in that very same bright orange color you mentioned. Paul also educated me on how to store vintage, non-gas, struts on the shelf. He stressed if possible always keep the struts or shocks in the VERTICAL position as it keeps the air out of the cylinders.

From time to time I've seen the Plasti-iKote brand around for years at many different kinds of stores; automotive, hardware stores ect. I now have forgotten but what are some of the major "national" stores that carry Plasti-Kote paints; Kragen, Auto Zone? Thanks again for this post!

[rossocorsa]

interesting comment about vertical storage I got brand new konis for the coupe a couple of years back and the boxes apeared to be designed to stack verticle to me! presumably they weren't expected to sit on a shelf for too long though???

[DJ]

Uh, Jim- if they are using the top -SA hardware then shouldn't the correct color now be YELLOW?

Just a thought- since the thread topic is Koni COLOR trivia and the yellows are the ones with the adjustable top knob?

:) Don't you love comments like that? :)

As much as I hate it :D, I have to agree with Will here.

Your Konis are ow the wrong color, Jim.

I just bought a set of top-adjustable Konis for the Alfa (actually CHEAPER than OEM!) and they are most definitely YELLOW!

Now the question is, which Yellow is the correct one for Koni struts!

[modshot69]

Hi guys, I just bought a '67 Lancia Beta Coupe w all original 'L' detailsthat is black black black....due to exterior rust and interior cracking I am looking to possibly change color scheme on an otherwise perfect machine... where can I get accurate info on factory issued color schemes, etc?
I am new to the forum, and Lancias for that matter, so all advice is much appreciatiated.
Thanks Cioa!
_michelle

[1,6 HF]

Hi guys, I just bought a '67 Lancia Beta Coupe w all original 'L' detailsthat is black black black....due to exterior rust and interior cracking I am looking to possibly change color scheme on an otherwise perfect machine... where can I get accurate info on factory issued color schemes, etc?
I am new to the forum, and Lancias for that matter, so all advice is much appreciatiated.
Thanks Cioa!
_michelle

I may have some of the paint / interior combo information, but that year still isn't right. You can't possibly mean a '67 Beta--'76 maybe?

[modshot69]

Hi, I've had probs replying...you are indeed correct, my bet is a "76 (late night typo) w/ original red color (in trunk, etc) w/ a very cool double moon roof. I think it was painted flat black for racing,,,looking for ideas and inspiration.
Thanks!
miche