Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

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Hot_Protein
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Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Hot_Protein »

Hi there

I took of the very rusty plates on top of my strut tops which revealed more rust and holes. I assumed these were strut top repairs done when people didn't care about fixing them properly. However I have seen a few restorations now where they are still there. Which leads me to think that they are strengthening plates or something. I don't want to put them back on so the question is; Do I have to?
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Hot_Protein wrote:I took of the very rusty plates on top of my strut tops
Hi,
All the V6 cars had the strut top reinforcements due to the increased weight of the engine over the 4 cyl engines. I don't know how much difference they make, but I would imagine that they were added for a reason.

Replacements can be bought from CCI, and I imagine Martin can supply them, also.
http://capriclub.co.uk/capri-panel-work ... nforcement

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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Caprigear »

Yes, I have them.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by stevemarl »

Didn`t the V6s also have a triangular reinforcement plate under the wing? I guess if that`s not present that would suggest it`s a 4cyl. shell which has had a plate welded over the rot. Just to differentiate...
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

stevemarl wrote:Didn`t the V6s also have a triangular reinforcement plate under the wing?
Steve,
Yes, you are quite right about that. I assumed that because it's a 2.8 that is being restored, the shell would be a genuine 6cyl shell. You know what they say about assuming.....

If they are not present, the triangular plates can be bought from Ex-pressed. ( Parts ME2E 32 & 33)
http://www.steelpanels.co.uk/ford-body- ... capri23-ec

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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Hot_Protein »

Yes I knew about the triangular plates but not the strut tops. Thanks for your replies guys.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Caprigear »

peers.dupp wrote:
stevemarl wrote:Didn`t the V6s also have a triangular reinforcement plate under the wing?
Steve,
Yes, you are quite right about that. I assumed that because it's a 2.8 that is being restored, the shell would be a genuine 6cyl shell. You know what they say about assuming.....

If they are not present, the triangular plates can be bought from Ex-pressed. ( Parts ME2E 32 & 33)
http://www.steelpanels.co.uk/ford-body- ... capri23-ec

Andrew.
I also stock those.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Hot_Protein »

Jesus they're expensive, and ugly. I'll just get a strut brace.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by stevemarl »

A strut brace isn`t really a substitute for the strut/inner wing reinforcement plates, it just maintains the gap between the strut tops for geometry purposes.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Caprigear »

Hot_Protein wrote:Jesus they're expensive, and ugly. I'll just get a strut brace.
I could get you a pair delivered for the price of one of theirs.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Hot_Protein »

Caprigear wrote:
Hot_Protein wrote:Jesus they're expensive, and ugly. I'll just get a strut brace.
I could get you a pair delivered for the price of one of theirs.
I'll keep that in mind mate.
stevemarl wrote:A strut brace isn`t really a substitute for the strut/inner wing reinforcement plates, it just maintains the gap between the strut tops for geometry purposes.
I was being silly. I may just reinforce the tops from underneath so they look cleaner. Haven't decided on an engine yet so may not be any heavier than a pinto anyway.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by blitzy »

If its a 2.8/3.0 it needs them.
not so much on the 1.6/2.0 however I have seen some interesting factory stock Capris
one was a 1.6 laser now no one was sure if the plates were fitted to the car or the shell should have been a 2.8 but it also had a 1.6 with a 2.0 cam the owner said they had to fit a 32/36
to get it to run correctly.

Ford were know at the last run of Capri to chuck together what they had left over.
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Re: Strut tops: Repairs or Factory finish?

Post by Hot_Protein »

Mine was a 2.8. Just a shell now though.
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