Front shock absorber spacer

[rsk289]

I'm fitting a set of original Konis to my 289, and would appreciate a bit of advice as the AC chassis manual isn't much help.
Chassis Instruction Book, p.16, legend for suspension drawing on p.14. Drawing part no.22, AC part no. D60106 - listed as 'Shock Absorber Distance Piece'.

Problem is, the drawing has no part no.22 shown.

The Konis came with a couple of thin BZP spacers which I presume are those referred to in the legend. But - where do they go? They only fit the bottom pin of the front damper, but if I fit them, and keep the heavy-duty rubber bump stop on the top shaft, the compression travel available for the damper is reduced (OK, not by much) to not much more than an inch before the bump rubber is in play.
Can anyone tell me what these spacers are for, please, and advise on fitting them or not?

Thanks,
Roger

[LMH]

Roger, could that description from the manual, only apply to OEM Armstrong shock absorbers?
Larry

[rsk289]

That’s perfectly possible Larry - but the Konis I have are NOS in their original box and came with two spacers held to the rubber bushes by cable ties, unopened.

[CompClassics]

Anything like this?

[CompClassics]

Or like this?

[rsk289]

Yes, exactly like the second, without the all-over orange. I assume your first photo is of period originals, and the second later items sold for the aftermarket, in which case mine are the latter. The dampers are upside-down in the photos, but in the top one I can just see the spacer installed on the lower (at the top in the photo) pin, beneath the first plated cup washer. In the second photo, I think I can see one loose in the bag towards the top left of the photo, sideways on.
Photo of my spacers attached.
From your photo, Comp, it looks as though they should be installed between the rubber bushes and the damper body. I thought this would further reduce the damper travel, but I guess they must be there for a reason. Maybe to give a better base for the cup washer to sit against, therefore bevelled to sit over the pin-to-body weld.

[1985 CCX]

The spacers are in the bag in the photo John provided

[LMH]

Just looking at the photos, it looks like the threads would bottom out if the spacers weren't used. Like it wouldn't tighten completely.
Larry

[CompClassics]

I believe that spacer is used as a shoulder between the body and the first insulator cup washer, the cupped side toward the shock body. I have the instructions and I’ll post a photo.

[rsk289]

That would be great, thanks. I have the sheet that came in the Koni box but it doesn't show the spacer.

Larry - I have them installed at the moment without the spacer, and there's enough thread not to bottom out. I don't like the rubber bushes to bulge out too much past the washer diameter.

[CompClassics]

As I thought it is not a spacer but a shoulder for the first bushing cup...look at #1 in the diagram.

[LMH]

I'm sure they're different but they sure look a lot like shocks for ball joint front end Beetles from the mid to late 60's.
Larry

[rsk289]

Spacers duly fitted. Those bump rubbers are going to be busy...

[rsk289]

I tried to find a photo online of a car with the damper in the compressed position, i.e. with the weight taken on the wheel, but no luck. I guess the damper does most work when levelling the car after extension, but when the weather clears up I'll road test and see.
Out of interest, any idea what dampers this Goodwood racing car has fitted? I didn't think Koni Classics had been produced for Cobras, but this looks very much like one, down to the modern logo.
The forum won't let me upload it, but it's CSX3018's photo of CSX2136, in this thread:
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...um/DSC0038.JPG

...and just for info/comparison, here's mine at full droop:

[glenview289]

This is the same shock as on a 1967 1/2 Datsun Fairlady 2000 my son and I are restoring.

[LMH]

I was under the impression that Koni shocks of the time period had dust shields over the shaft.
Larry

[glenview289]

We had a pair that was never used and in the original boxes, but being 50+ years old they were not in very good condition. They were sent to a shop in Kentucky that stripped and replated the piston, added new internal seals, cleaned up and repainted the housing and added a new decal. Also included new bushings, cups and mounting hardware. Good as new.

[LMH]

The "wings" decal was in use by Koni until 1967. Here's 2287 with Koni's like I was thinking about. Dust shields on the shocks.
Larry

[rsk289]

The triangular Koni logo came in in 1967, so technically the 'wings' logo would be correct for 1964 - but as the cars came from the showrooms with Armstrongs, I doubt many street cars would have replacement dampers fitted so early. I see 2287 in Larry's photo is a coupé, not a street car, but the resolution stops me making out the wings.
This is probably why I only remember the triangular logo as I was 12 in 1967, so not buying Konis yet! The UK concessionaire was JWE Banks of Crowland, near Peterborough, and about 10 miles from where I lived then, and now. I wrote to all the bolt-on goodie companies when I was a kid to get stickers, and well remember my stash of white triangles. I think I've fitted every car I ever had - almost - with Konis: Triumphs, Jensen, J-H, Mini, Jag, even the Mustang, and some of those had the exposed shaft. As Cobras did not come from the factory with Konis, it's difficult to know much about the early offerings - apart from the Armstrong, that is, which was truly the original. At least we didn't get the Selectaride.

[CompClassics]

The winged water transfer decals would have been used on the Cobra era shocks.
I have not installed the decals on the original type shocks. The other neat thing on the original type shocks is that KONI stamped the winged logo into the shock body.