Ecotec 510

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duke
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Joined: 26 Oct 2005 14:21
Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by duke »

Very nice work. I'm loving this project. Looking at your rear trailing arms it looks like the plate which the pivots are connected to is mechanically fastened to the plate that supports the hub. Was this done to allow camber adjustment? Or just to ease in fabrication of the arms. I do see what looks like an adjuster bolt which controls vertical movement, is this for camber? Also, what does the interface between the two plates look like? I'm guessing that it is not just two flat surfaces because I couldn't see that being nearly strong enough.

I can't wait to see some more progress.
Duke Schimmer

'72 2-Door 510
"Simplify and add lightness."
iceD
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Joined: 31 Mar 2008 20:07
Location: Richmond, B.C.

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by iceD »

Do you have some more pics of the trailing arms?

ice D
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ecotec510
Posts: 71
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 19:12
Location: Oxford,AL

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by ecotec510 »

Yes, the arms are made in 3 pieces. Aircraft 7075 aluminum, it's crazy strong stuff. The inner bar with the heims that pivot is slotted in a radius around the outer of the 3 bolts. This gives me my camber adjustment. Set screws are used to lock the setting and make for quick fine adjustments. Toe is set by adjusting the inner heim in and out. It is just a flat bolted connection. Then I have a machined block on the other end that adapts the flat arm to the subaru knuckle. I made it this way since it takes a few tries to get something like this right, and a modular design is much easier to change. It took a few tries to get the front bar right this time around, since the arms pretty much tuck up tight to the floorpan now. This is all made from scrap at work. It's definitely not the simpliest setup, but it works.
one of the many versions of the new front bar until I got it right.
one of the many versions of the new front bar until I got it right.
another view of the arms, shows how they bolt together
another view of the arms, shows how they bolt together
www.machinedspeed.com
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m33pm33p
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Joined: 29 Oct 2009 03:40
Location: Coquitlam

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by m33pm33p »

Ahh how I love the scrap bin at work, looks like shit but turns into gold. Nice work, looks very clean! :mrgreen:
supra510
Posts: 33
Joined: 28 Apr 2006 22:33
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by supra510 »

Saw this at the Mitty this year. Very impressive.
Anthony
'71 wagon, 2jz-gte engine, other stuff
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/674663
70bird
Posts: 296
Joined: 02 Sep 2007 13:17
Location: california

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by 70bird »

man i love that front suspension set up i bet if you made those for other common swaps people would pay good money for them i know i would love to have a set up like that. you have a very nice car and crazy fab skills!! my new favorite thread! lol
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ecotec510
Posts: 71
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 19:12
Location: Oxford,AL

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by ecotec510 »

About time I updated this thread. :D Gradually making improvements to the build after I rack up more miles and testing. Recently re-did the front struts. I was getting a lot of hub deflection from my initial version with 350z bearings. Enough that my rotors were contacting my a-arms under cornering load. So, I stepped up to the monster 370Z hub assemblies and fabricated a much beefier mounting design on the strut. Deflection should be no issue now. Settled on an alignment of -1.7 camber all around, with a whopping 8 deg caster on the front.
Old vs. New
Old vs. New
All done.
All done.
Also fabbed up a one piece strut bar, from 1" .062 wall 4130.
Picture 011 (Large).jpg
www.machinedspeed.com
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ecotec510
Posts: 71
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 19:12
Location: Oxford,AL

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by ecotec510 »

Custom gas springs installed to hold the hood up.
Picture 013 (Large).jpg
Shaved front markers, and newly installed bmw m3 pieces. Also shaved the useless center hole in the front valance.
Picture (Large).jpg
www.machinedspeed.com
tylersloan
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Joined: 23 Jul 2010 05:30
Location: pekin illinois

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by tylersloan »

very very nice man ..... i got a 2.4 ecotec and a sky 6 speed at the house now i know what i would like to do with it some day.
your fab skills are top notch when you put in the engine and trans how far back was your shifter compared to stock ?
510rob
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Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by 510rob »

always a treat to get an update on your project. keep up the excellent work
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kayakdude07
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Joined: 06 Jul 2009 19:15
Location: Langley BC Canada

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by kayakdude07 »

ecotec510 wrote:Custom gas springs installed to hold the hood up.
I put mine in too :D
They are awesome.
510rob wrote:always a treat to get an update on your project. keep up the excellent work
Ditto
Jordan || '72 2 door KA project || '72 2 door goon project- Flintstones powered (dad's)
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ecotec510
Posts: 71
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 19:12
Location: Oxford,AL

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by ecotec510 »

tylersloan wrote:very very nice man ..... i got a 2.4 ecotec and a sky 6 speed at the house now i know what i would like to do with it some day.
your fab skills are top notch when you put in the engine and trans how far back was your shifter compared to stock ?
Actually the car was an auto, so I'm not even sure exactly how it compares to stock shifter placement. All I know is that it seems perfect to me. I mounted my seats a few inches further back than most so maybe that helps some. At 6'2 I need all the room I can get.
www.machinedspeed.com
blueridgespeed
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Location: Asheville NC

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by blueridgespeed »

When I (recently) found this build page, I was amazed, like everyone else. So when I saw THISISMATT chime in, I wondered what naysaying he could possible conjure up!

Then I read his post and laughed knowingly:
thisismatt wrote:I am disgusted with myself after seeing that :oops:

Awesome work, truly.
I completely agree! I think this is one of the best builds I've seen, ever. If you bring this to the Mitty again next year I will go to the event for the sole purpose of bowing to your magnitude!
blueridgespeed
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Re: Ecotec 510

Post by blueridgespeed »

I've had a few uninterrupted minutes to go over this build again. Very nice indeed!

This is quite the understated car. I love it!

Can you tell us more about steering clearance putting an Ecotec in a 510? I know you did a rear-steer rack and re-engineered the lca's for reduced scrub radius, and I think that is an awesome "win-win" way to upgrade the front suspension - not ONLY gaining the larger hub/rotor/brake parts

BUT!!!!! For those of us who wish to stay with the stock front suspension and steering, do you think an Ecotec would fit? -or what might you do to make it fit- if there is another way besides the rack setup you made?
Sleepys-14
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Joined: 03 Mar 2011 11:26
Location: Appleton, WI

Re: Ecotec 510

Post by Sleepys-14 »

We need some updates with this car!!! Just incredable fab work and an almost perfect execusion. Just amazing.
Beer... The cause of, and solution to, all of lives problems- Homer Simpson
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