How To: Frankenshock/spring Setup (kyb Agx/canuck Springs)

[sam31183]

Before I begin, I feel I need to address a couple of things. I went this route because S13 Coilovers are expensive, and S13s rarely come up in the junkyard near me, so converting to s13 front end/s13 coilovers was something I was kind of unable to do. Also, I am writing this how to for others who might want to do this instead of converting to s13 for the same reason. There hasnt really been a good how to for this, so I had to dig through a couple of threads to find any info...and even then I still had to do a bit more work to get the fronts to work then I thought I had to do.

Ok, so, here is the components to the setup:
Canuck Lowering Springs for the S12
92 MR2 Front Shocks (Part Number: 765015)
96 Mustang FoxBody Shocks (Part Number: 743021)
Washers....read below for application

Tools Needed Besides a basic set of sockets:
Pipe Wrench
Table Vice
Possibly a saw

Someone on here said that older foxbody mustang shocks have been used in the past. These are the same year set that the ae86 guys run, and it works fine on the back of my car. The only issue we had was that we couldnt use the top rubber bushing that came with the shock. The ae86 guys also use the mr2 front shocks. The reason we have to use these though is because 1) kyb does not make AGX shocks for the S12 2) the gr2 shocks that kyb make have been known to blow out in 2 weeks or so with the canuck springs. (the springs are lower than stock so a shock with a shorter stroke is needed.)

Ok, so now that that is taken care of and I told you the only problem I had with the back already, that means I need to address the issues with the front shocks.

After you get the strut assembly off of the car you need to take the retainer at the top of the shock tube off...you will need to throw the assembly in a vice and take a pipe wrench to the retainer. From here you can pull the old shock out, but now you run into the first problem. If you put the mr2 shock into the shock tube it will be short about an inch and a half from the top of the strut tube. At this point we cut up some round steel scrap that my buddy had to make a spacer, but washers could be used here...so it would be a good idea to go buy like 20 bucks worth of washers before you tear your car apart...or find some metal to make spacers from that you can cut down. Basically you want the shock to stick up about 1/4 inch or so though when you are done above the strut tube. Now that you have done that you need to drill out the hole in the top hat. The mr2 shock top is bigger around than the stock s12 one. Your going to want to drill out the top hat hole out enough to fit down to the top of the shock so that the threads and the un threaded part stick out through the hole. From here you have two options again, either use a spacer/washer, or just use a bunch of washers to make up the space on the shock top that doesnt have any threads on it. Now all you have to do is bolt it back up. My brother was telling me that T3 used to make a shock tube spacer for the ae86 guys like we made for the s12...but he stopped making it and instead just sells a big crown nut...but i am not sure how that would work. Anyways, here are some before and after pics of my car so you can see the difference.

Tires are 195/60, Wheels are 15x7, I think the fronts are something like +35, and I am not sure what the back offset is...but they are slightly staggered. And no spacers, and no rubbing.

before with one coil cut in the front


After


Front drivers side wheel gap...car is kind of sitting on uneven ground...but you get the idea.


Rear Drivers Side


Rear Camber



front drivers side diff angle


front passenger side


rear passenger side



Special Note:
S13 Caster Camber Plates will not work in the front without modifications to the top hats on the caster camber plates....and even then I am not sure if they will work or not yet...but it is on my project list.

[EightySix200SX]

sexy notch. im running cut ssc's in the rear on z31 tokicos im sure u know that ssc's out the box dont lower the rear as much as we'd like it mainly because they are for hatch and notch. but with some trimming they look great as you've shown here. nice notch btw! notches ftw!
-cool writeup

[sam31183]

Yah, I didnt trim the canuck springs at all...my brother was saying i could prolly get away cutting 1 coil off the springs on all 4 corners...thing is though when we where putting the front together he was like...this shock matches up with this spring perfectly...its the right height for the stroke. If I can get the caster camber plates to work then maybe I will take a coil off the fronts...so i can tuck the tires in some. We finished up the install last night at like 1 130 in the morning. I took it for a quick jaunt around the loop after I got off work and its handling well...I have the front shocks set at 2 out of 4 and the back shocks set to 4 out of 8 right now...so it will go stiffer still. I keep forgetting that the car is lower though until i get in or out of it and put one foot on the ground and my body in the car...i was used to 4x4 s12...

[sam31183]

Thanks for the sticky, I hope the club can get a lot of use out of this! I would have taken pictures while we where working on this...but we where all covered in grease/dirt. I am working on figuring out a caster camber plate solution, so I will prolly be taking some pics of the modified top hats then.

[Maxpow]

Do you have faith that this setup would work well with 16's? I'm thinking this might be a good way to set up my new canucks.

[sam31183]

i think if you run a lower profile then 60s it will do fine...prolly run a 50 series. BTW, I was on T3's website earlier yesterday and they still make the strut spacers for the ae86...only they wont work on the s12 because toyota threads are diffrent from toyotat to nissan....but with this spacer the 86 guys have the strut lower and the tube instead of higher in the tube...so i am kind of curious what it would do with the stroke of the shock....

http://technotoytuning.com/productdetail.php?p=110

I need to email or call them because i have like a bunch of questions now!

[sam31183]

wheel gap with 195/50/15s...i got new tires today....the gap is kind of a bit much...i wish i could lower now...but now everyone knows these are perfect for 195/60/15s....or maybe 50 series with 17s

[EternalSwap]

sam, ive thought about doing the same thing with the washers for the front, but ive thought of putting them on top, so the shock sits lower, and preventing them being blown out faster. would that be bad for any reason?

[sam31183]

not that i can think of...i mean, thats how t3 does it for the ae86...

[EternalSwap]

okay cool, thats probably what i'm going to do because im going to run cheap sw20 replacements lol

nice to have a thread with definitive years!

[sam31183]

that was the idea, to get it all clear and narrowed down...well, that, and to lower the notch/make it ride better.

[200sxkitcar]

the point of running the sw20 front struts is to shorten the tube, giving you more downward travel when the car is lowered.

T3 makes the spacers, I have a set.  They have other stuff not on their website, or isn't listed for S12.  S13 camber plates=s12, 280zx spacers=S12, etc.  They even have adjustable 4link figured out for the solid axle cars, you just have to ask.  Make sure when you get camber plates they include the correct adapter for SW20 struts as the strut's piston rod (the large shiny part that comes out, idk what the term is) on sw20s is larger than a S12/S13.

If you buy sw20 rear struts you won't need any spacers or washers whatsoever and the insert should just go right into the s12 tube.

[sam31183]

yah, thats why i had to drill out my top hats...i still havent called him...been busy doing other stuff..

[ericclopein]

When you bought these from summit, did you put "2" in the quantity box? i don't wanna order double, or just a front and rear shock lol. thanks

[sam31183]

I think so...its been almost a year. I am pretty sure 1 = 1 individual shock and 2 = 2 shocks.

[ericclopein]

A year huh? This setup still working for you?

[sam31183]

yah, works awesome still. Going to autox the car again this year with this setup. Not that the car is competitive in its class because of the ka though....but, i did pick up some steelies with some slicks on them for this year...should make things a bit more even...I am going to be ditching the sunnys soon also for new tires....i have really outgrown them. The tires that is.

[EightySix200SX]

my setup w/ sw20 agx and 40mm shortend s12 tubes


this is how low i am now it can go lower but why? lol



even at this ride height i dont rub at all. fenders are rolled so... performs well in competitive driving at this ride height so imma leave it easy to daily and grips well

[s12beast87]

ahh this eightysix your notch is exceptional! its super steezy bro!
Post Merge: 09:43:34 PM / 04-Feb-11
Looove the enkie 92 mesh's btw

[ericclopein]

MMMM That is some sexy stance. I WANT RIKEN MESHIES,,, i'm gonna find some i've decided and im painting them gold