Lifting a Terk?

FH Bible · Post by **FH Bible** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:12 pm

How many people would be interested if I had a bunch of spacers built for the front?

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:18 pm

Depends on quality for one thing. But if you could get them in sizes 1/2inch to 3 inches, I'm sure at least a few of us would be interested. How much you think you'd charge?

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:50 pm

I would imagine many people would be interested(including myself)if the cost were reasonable.You have to keep~in~mind how much re~adjustment there is for camber.Mabey you retrofit a 2-1/2" and 3" spacer and see if the camber can be re~adjusted that much.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:15 am

They'd be best if made as a welded unit and at one thickness....like the 2" spacer DirtMagnet has.

Hope we can get the part number for the air shocks he has to see if they are the same number as the response I got on them....MA700....can't raise the front without raising the back.

[Found the MaxAir part number he posted before...48700-P263V]

Need to know what the range of recommended air pressures for those shocks are and at what pressure he runs them at.

Also...not sure if the springs were new on the car he has the 2" spacers on...if they were the old one's...it will be a different story if you use try to use NEW springs and a 2" spacer at the same time....not sure the air shocks could boost that much....or at what angle the axle would be.

MY FINAL ANSWER: Looks like I could save the cost of new front springs if I used the 2" boosters in the front (with new struts) and the right air shocks in the back. I have 2 rubber boosters in each of the front springs...which I would probably keep in there (at least 1 anyway).

I'd be interested in premade boosters...if they were at a decent price...otherwise I can either make them or have them made for not too much. Doubt if anyone's going to make a lot of money on them....have to be something you like to do.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:25 am

If you go much above 2 inches, you will probably kill the suspension bushings because the swaybar end is moving further away from the control arm as the car is lifted. It's a bad design to begin with, and lifting the suspension will only make it worse.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 2:08 pm

Good point....

Front ride height:

OEM tires + new springs = 9 16/64" = 9 1/4"

DirtMagnet = (11.312") with +1.36" gained from tires/wheels = 9.95" on OEM tires

So DM has gained maybe 3/4" over stock height with 2" spacers over old springs...which shouldn't cause much trouble with alignment and axles?

I'm going with tires that are around 4 to 6 % oversized (175-75-14 or 185-75-14 eventually)....with a gain from these of 1/2" to 3/4".

Ending with an overall gain of 1/1/4" to 1 1/2" over stock height...including tires.

If you tried a 2" spacer with NEW springs....bad news?

I think this ought to work out OK....not too much boost over original height and with some gained from the tires...air shocks in back to keep it level. Maybe $75 plus the cost of the boosters????

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:43 pm

It'd still be nice to have a few size options. It's not very fun when everybody has the same thing, ya know? Is there no way to make spacers for the swaybar mounting to the chassis? Move it down with the axle to prevent overstressing? Does that make any sense? Or is that fully illogical? I mean, if it is simple bolted system, then ya, you can easily make a spacer, but if its a welding system, it would be far more difficult to "space" it out. (shrugs) guess its an idea.

Thereminator · Post by **Thereminator** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:35 pm

Takza,why couldnt you drop the sway-bar with a spacer <_< `? l'll bet thats what Downey did.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:27 pm

3/4" above original isn't very much and probably wouldn't affect the suspension angles much.

Since the swaybar does double duty as both a swaybar and as locating links for the front wheels..it would not be a good idea to mess with the front bushings?

The spacers could be made by using (2) 5/16" steel plates top and bottom...separated by tubes (bolts thru these) that could be varied in length....maybe.

warbstrd · Post by **warbstrd** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:04 pm

has anyone contacted Downey to see if they would make it again for a group buy?????

Or could we buy the plans from them to see exactly what they did, since they arent going to use them anymore???

Or talk to someone that remebers the lift and tells us how to do it????

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 7:12 am

warbstrd wrote: has anyone contacted Downey to see if they would make it again for a group buy?????

Or could we buy the plans from them to see exactly what they did, since they arent going to use them anymore???

Or talk to someone that remebers the lift and tells us how to do it????

Good points.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:20 am

<dances for joy at his new deck> spacers would help, though too much and it would become innefficient. Then again, not like we're talking about a 10 inch lift here.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:48 am

Since the springs sag with age...all we're really trying to do is to get back to OEM height...plus a little more. IMO...anyone who tries MORE than a little more is asking for problems though.

Since new rear springs aren't available as far as I can find them....the rear air shocks should ALLOW the front to be boosted slightly above OEM.

IMO...boosting the car isn't worth it unless you NEED to do new front struts....then a boost with or without new front springs and rear air shocks makes sense while you have it apart...but for the road...I wouldn't try to boost more than 1" over original height.

As important as struts and/or boosting the car....is getting the front swaybar up to par...mostly the end bushings.

Remember...I just post what I intend to do...not trying to tell anyone else what to do.......

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:30 pm

Max-Air shock search:

* from an email I got a number....MA700...which is a Monroe shock SERIES...not a part number. MA800 is another SERIES

* the number Dirt Magnet gave....48700-P263V....doesn't show up anywhere in a search

* can find no direct listing for an air shock for a Tercel wagon

Hey DM...are you sure about this part number.....? :blink:

Dirtmagnet · Post by **Dirtmagnet** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:01 pm

Hey Guys, Been tied up and havn't had a chance to respond to any of these questions.

Takza, That is the number that is stamped on the air shock. It is a Monroe Max-Air. I talked to the guy who added these today. He said he requested an air shock for the Tercel and that is what they sent him. They are not modified to get any extra lift. I too have searched for that part number and had no luck.

I found some paperwork when this car was serviced and there is a line item of "MH700 Shocks and Struts". Do not know if this is the series for the air shocks. Seems like there would be a cross reference somewhere out there for the Monroe shocks.

I forgot to ask him if the front springs were new. From the looks of them, I would say yes they are, especially compared to the looks of the rear ones.

I am still planning on getting some dimensions for the spacers and making a set. May have time over the holidays.