Early Beta strut insert seal part numbers?

[sickchilly]

A while back while researching Beta struts, I found a web site that had a tutorial on rebuilding the original early Beta strut inserts. Most importantly, it listed the part numbers for all of the necessary seals. For the life of me, I can't find this site again! Anyone have the numbers or know the web site I'm talking about? Thanks.

[cthargiss]

The article is in the Lancisti files. It is by Bernie Benz.

[sickchilly]

Thanks. I guess that should've been obvious had captain A-hole not hacked the site. The downloads/articles are currently offline :(

[Hamish]

Trent,
You get those rears in the car yet :?:

[wellingtonvx]

Is this any help?
http://www.lanciamontecarlo.net/Scorpion/Technical_Suspension.htm

Colin

[sickchilly]

Thanks guys. Someone else pointed me to that Scorpion page. The run down is pretty much it, but does anyone know if the parts are the same? Scorpion externals are different than the Coupe, but are the internals the same?

Hey Hamish, I've had the rears on for a couple months now. They're wonderful. A few weeks back, I fitted NOS front assemblies as well. Even after sitting on the shelves for nearly 30 years, they're performing flawlessly. I also got some Falken Ziex ZE-512 high performance all season tires in 205/60/14 mounted to some Delta HF wheels. I finally know how the Beta is supposed to handle. The short wheelbase makes things fun for sure.

[cthargiss]

http://lancisti.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=754
Craig

[sickchilly]

n/t

[Hamish]

Trent, good news indeed :mrgreen: "she who must be obeyed" has just re-introduced my Lancia Ban :x so I'm a wee bit jealous of everyone here at the moment :wink:

[AndriyM]

Following the thread, it looks to me that there is no such thing as NEW Beta struts (shock absorbers)? :( Is the rebuild the only option? I am restoring the body of the car now, but start looking to suspension work.

[sickchilly]

No, new assemblies are available but the question is in what country at what cost? Nearly all the new ones are the Sachs/Boge brand. Available in Germany, two vendors in the US, the UK and Australia - that I know of. Koni's can be found if you really look hard and pay out the nose. I lucked out and a kind soul was able to sell me some inserts for the rear... Then I lucked out again and caught a set of NOS early assemblies being offloaded on eBay.

I'm now rebuilding my old inserts to save for the inevitable day they'll be needed.

[andybeta]

koni only took the lancia rebuildable struts and put their own internals in instead of the std Lancia internals. These Konis verisons are not inserts they are wet builds. What you have to do is modify the later sealed variety to take in an insert of your choice. Koni sport are able to do this, but like everything for a cost. Or why not use a totally different strut, as long as it has the same travel and damping properties and doesn't bottom out or make the car unstable, etc. See the pics of the white coupe sister to the Eastern Black Beta very tastfully modified which is on the Beta Boyz site. This owner seems to have used a different strut top mount as there are only three bolts as opposed to the four securing it. Anything is possible with a bit of initiative.

Andy

[sickchilly]

Hey Andy, the reason that black Beta you're referring to has 3 bolt struts is because it has an entire Nissan drivetrain! Yes, SR-20 motor, automatic transaxle, stubs, hubs, subframe, etc. Sorry, it's not a good example for mere strut swapping!

But strut swapping is possible. As Andy was probably trying to get at, the upper mounts aren't really that serious, you can always drill new holes!

But what is important is travel and the lower mounts. The lower ear mounts must have the same geometry and pickup points. This would usually mean that you take some old Lancia struts, cut the ears off and weld them onto some new tubes at the proper angle and place.

I've heard that certain early VW's (Rabbits, Golfs, etc. series 1 and 2?) have struts that are of very similar size and spec. I thought I remembered seeing a web site where a guy actually fitted VW inserts into early Beta tubes. He had to have a new collar nut and spacer made up, but that was about it. I really should bookmark all of these sites as I come across them!

[badboyboogzy]

better yet sickchilly i can send copys of the file on disk to you with the parcel or if you want you can email me about those other struts
bbb :D

[echobravo]

I am busy rebuilding my '76 Beta Coupé which has the unsealed struts. Does anyone know what size shocks they take so i can start looking?