Hydrolastic to dry.....

[tim-d]

Hi all the 850 Mk2 I gave the heads up on a short while ago amazingly found no takers (tax exempt, rust free / dry stored and running all for a moderate donation - £50 would have done it!) so its now a communal project to get it back to its former glory - avoiding most modern mods and trends - just going to be what it says on the tin... wondering how many 850's remain out there with 850 engines... not many I'd guess - personally never driven one so it should be fun - the interior is already sorted thanks to full pristine Mk2 interior found in local free ads and sourced for £25.. - now to the crux of post - it's a hydrolastic car - one displacer is knackered the others are perfect (2 rears almost "NOS" this resto is being done on the tightest budget possible, lots of manpower but no ££££'s - so a dry conversion on the cards with the good displacers being ebayed - my rusting spares tree equinox is donating required components question is what parts are needed????

[guru_1071]

you can mod both the hydro frames, just bend the little locking tags out the way until the rubber cones fit snug into the holders, the top arms will need drilling for shocker bolts (or use your dry ones) you will also need.

4 cones
4 trumpets
2 shocker mounts (threaded holes should be there)
2 radius arms (can press the stubs out and swop them, but its not worth the effort)
4 shocks
2 new handbrake cables (equinox wont fit unless you swop the lever and drill the floor

you can do it in a day if you crack on, but the mental torment is really not worth it, trust me!

[kjw]

tim-d

If you won't to sell the Hydro top front suspension arms I am interested.

[love machine]

Right, good choice, IMO hydro is crap and I had fancy displacers on my 66. You need a dry subframes either pre 64 or the 69-71/whatever it was. I'd fit hilos and half decentish cones as you do this. Don't about with swapping arms and things, get built subframes from another car. I did it by buggering around with bits and it took ages, was a hassle and I ended up having a nightmare.

Hydro is worse though.

EDIT:- IF YOU DO FIT FRONT LOWERED SHOCK MOUNTS, FIT THEM THE RIGHT WAY UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(My expensive damaging mistake)

Edited by love machine on Wednesday 20th September 12:15

[Wildfire]

Plus if you want to find original displacers (especially Cooper S one) they are fetching quite a high price.

P.S I need some.

[tim-d]

Cheers folks - will let all know when job done - looks like displacers won't be headed to fleabay....