72 Ultra Orange - Bucket List Restomod

[72ultraorange]

Futofab Front Sway Bar Installed - will continue to check clearance as I fit the tires, adjust stance, and put the engine in. Will mock up oil pan once engine is in to check clearance. Right now … clearance looks good.

Great Thread on Ratsun about this sway bar - thanks for those of you here that shared info: https://ratsun.net/topic/73317-510-fron ... -sway-bar/

First I cut down the original brackets included with the kit with an angle grinder. The new Addco plated ones needed too much modification including opening the bolt holes. Anybody needs them — will get you a deal

Cut off the corners to fit with JBC crossmember. Was much easier using the LCA links as guides for the sway bar, adjusting alignment of front bushings and then installing the front frame brackets. Needed to adjust the TC rods to push LCA further backwards to allow clearance of front brackets/bushings.

Some Pictures — happy with this for now

Modified Brackets:

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Sway bar installed — on jack stands:

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Back on Ground with Tires on - coil overs will need further adjustment once engine weight is on front end. Tested sway bar movement - pivot is good.

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Once this is lowered further we’ll check for clearance again…

[cartel]

so I didnt think the futofab bar fit a sr20 swap
. it does? or haven't tried motor at all yet?

[72ultraorange]

so I didnt think the futofab bar fit a sr20 swap
. it does? or haven't tried motor at all yet?

Mike, that is the question I am trying to validate. I want a definitive answer…but I have not seen a picture of this *not* working. I’m experimenting with this setup and really want this to work. I will certainly post pictures of my success or my epic fail . If it doesn’t work - I’ll be looking for another sway bar. For now am going forward with this setup as a test. Stay Tuned…

The plan is to put the GReddy high capacity oil pan on the long block with the turbo manifold and turbo, and test fit the engine. Plan to do this over the next few weeks.

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I have to adjust the length of the steering rack rods, install the 2 tie rod ends, and install the steering linkage before we move on to the test fit.

[eastbaysolo_73]

Good job!

[72ultraorange]

Good job!

Thanks Eastbay Solo! Ready to get this thing to paint…few more weeks

[72ultraorange]

Ok. We are going to make this work! I got the R&P rod cut down. Took 3/4” from each end with a die grinder and installed the tie rod ends connecting the R&P to the steering arms. Looking pretty straight without a laser alignment for now.

I adjusted the coilovers to have 3” space to adjustment collar from bottom of strut tower. It is pretty slammed right now. Not sure going any lower with 15s will be productive … engine weight still not on front end.

In either case, the clearance work we did on the JBC crossmember was a great start. Still work to do here but this looks promising.

Anything I’m missing?

Here are some pics:

Crossmember clearance — will fix this!! Soooo close

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Sway bar drivers side:

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Tie rod on passenger side:

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Tire clearance- more to do here:

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Moving on to Steering linkage and Engine fitment!

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The GReddy oil pan made it for this weekend’s fun . Thanks Mark!

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[72ultraorange]

Got the clearance in the JBC crossmember adjusted.

With the coil overs at 3” any more pivot on the sway bar causes tires to touch fenders. Have to work on alignment… much later!! Sway bar does not touch crossmember.

The mounting bolts on the sway bar brackets to the frame are challenging even with hex head screws…

Again will need to check and adjust this on road / track conditions. Am happy with this setup for now and it’s staying in my build.

Moving on to steering linkage and engine fitment. Will check oil pan clearance at that time…

More pictures:

Got this done with the help of my ~3lb hammer

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Final height for now:

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Full droop on jacks.

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Clearance is good - back on the ground

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[icehouse]

What about when the suspension is compressed? Won't the sway bar hit then?

[72ultraorange]

What about when the suspension is compressed? Won't the sway bar hit then?

Icehouse, Thanks for the advice

Here’s another check…

Granted the 15s would not work in this stance due to tire clearance…

I took the wheels off, adjusted the coilovers all the way down. Put jackstands under the LCAs and lowered the car onto the the jackstands.

Here are my results - your mileage may vary…

Pre setup:

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After lowering jacks:

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And yes it is close but a few sheets of paper will fit

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When I take it apart for media blasting and paint, I will do some more work on clearance of the “gutter” on the crossmember.

For now …

[72ultraorange]

Hats off to the JBC Coachwerks crew. Great installation documents on the R&P kit transformation. Finally finished the R&P and the steering linkage install…

Install docs:
https://www.jbcoachwerks.com/v3-installation-guide

Steering column took some heavy powered wire brushing to get the rust and paint off. It has some serious pitting but got most of it cleaned off- put a coat of primer on it along with 1 coat of paint. Will get this media blasted and powder coated later.

Steering column requires some grinder cutting but angle grinder and die grinder made it easy.

Following instructions:
Cut 20mm off end of tube:

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Cut 20mm relief cuts opposite each other for compression clamp:

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Steering column install:

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Steering spline shaft install:

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Steering linkage installed:

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Engine test fit next. Mounting bracket bolts and motor isolators bolted on. GReddy Oil pan to be installed prior to test fit… Stay tuned…

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[Dave Patten]

Marty,
Thank you for documenting the fit of the FutoFab front sump sway bar with the JBC crossmember. We had gotten conflicting feedback that it worked with their V3 version, but not with the earlier versions. Thank you for your detail.

On another note (not sure the JBC instructions cover this), but the phasing of the u-joints in the steering shaft effects the motion of the wheels when the steering wheel is turned. Here is a decent article explaining u-joint phasing importance.

https://www.beldenuniversal.com/install ... nt-phasing

I made the mistake of not paying attention to u-joint phasing on my racecar's steering linkage. The front wheels had a jerky motion when turning into a corner. The incorrect phasing caused the front tires to turn more at certain times in the steering wheel rotation, and less turning angle at other times. It was so obvious to a corner worker that he asked me about the condition of the car's steering system.

[icehouse]

On another note (not sure the JBC instructions cover this), but the phasing of the u-joints in the steering shaft effects the motion of the wheels when the steering wheel is turned. Here is a decent article explaining u-joint phasing importance.

https://www.beldenuniversal.com/install ... nt-phasing

I made the mistake of not paying attention to u-joint phasing on my racecar's steering linkage. The front wheels had a jerky motion when turning into a corner. The incorrect phasing caused the front tires to turn more at certain times in the steering wheel rotation, and less turning angle at other times. It was so obvious to a corner worker that he asked me about the condition of the car's steering system.

Dave because you pointed me to this issue years ago we made a 3D printed rack clamp that was 100% adjustable then put degree wheels on the steering column shaft and the rack and adjusted the angle and phasing of the joints until it's approximately zero difference through the joints. The way the shaft looks in pictures is odd because of the compound angles. Our custom shafts only allow it to be put together correctly.

[icehouse]

Engine test fit next.

Don't forget to mod the turbo drain pipe. I just cut the barb portion off and tig it back on at an angle to clear the steering shaft.

[eastbaysolo_73]

I second what Icehouse said about the drain. I used a 90* an swivel fitting to fix that if you dont have access to a welder.

[72ultraorange]

On another note (not sure the JBC instructions cover this), but the phasing of the u-joints in the steering shaft effects the motion of the wheels when the steering wheel is turned. Here is a decent article explaining u-joint phasing importance.

https://www.beldenuniversal.com/install ... nt-phasing

I made the mistake of not paying attention to u-joint phasing on my racecar's steering linkage. The front wheels had a jerky motion when turning into a corner. The incorrect phasing caused the front tires to turn more at certain times in the steering wheel rotation, and less turning angle at other times. It was so obvious to a corner worker that he asked me about the condition of the car's steering system.

Dave because you pointed me to this issue years ago we made a 3D printed rack clamp that was 100% adjustable then put degree wheels on the steering column shaft and the rack and adjusted the angle and phasing of the joints until it's approximately zero difference through the joints. The way the shaft looks in pictures is odd because of the compound angles. Our custom shafts only allow it to be put together correctly.

Dave and Icehouse,
Thank you both for this critical input on the steering linkage. I turned the wheel lock to lock while on a jack and it seemed smooth and didn’t notice any specific anomalies. It’s not tightened down yet; will do some more verification on this later. Looks good for now . Appreciate the help!