Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[brihoo2k]

I have also used a piece of nylon rope to compress springs along with a press to compress them. Then when its all together use a razor knife taped on a pole to cut the rope. I would not suggest this procedure to any one though because of the danger involved

[bennelson]

I hollowed out the foam from the underside of the back seat to be able to use it as a "cover" for the battery box.

It doesn't really quite fit down on there though, because I still have too many cables going everywhere.

Once I get my cabling really figured out, it will all run out of the way of the seat, which should make a nice cover.

I also bought some of those cheap rubber bumpers designed to go in between spring coils to help boost them. The car rides so low that ANYTHINGs gotta help at this point!

[my first gmc]

Ben, do you still need springs? I have some springs that came off the front of my truck. How wide and tall do you need the springs?

[bennelson]

Yes, I still need springs.

I've been told that Ford Ranger front springs will fit.

The specs that I got from the local (good) auto parts store say that the Ranger springs are 3.6" coil interior diameter, .687 wire diameter, 13.47 inches long, and 10.4 coils

They are "Type F" springs according to the Napa book.
Those springs are flat on the one end and go to a "pig's tail" on the other. The pig's tail end last coil is a smaller diameter than the rest of the coils.

On the Metro, the pig tail faces up, on the Ranger front springs, it faces down.

Also, if I get the year/make/model/4wheel/2wheel of your truck, I could have the Napa guys look up the specs on the springs too.

[my first gmc]

96 gmc sierra 1500 2wd v6

[bennelson]

Napa lists the specs for those springs.
NAPA 1500 springs

It looks like they are a little big in diameter a little long, and very beefy. Also, they don't have the pig's tail end on them.


I got those little rubber spacer things into the back springs. Hard to tell if they even made a difference! I think the car is riding half and inch higher than before!

[my first gmc]

You could always modify the spring perch to accept any spring you needed. I'd say 10 batteries need a beefy spring.

[bennelson]

I have never modified a spring perch. Where the lower end of the spring goes is integral to the swing arm.

The upper part is sort of hard to get at.(Pig Tail end)

I figured the Ranger springs would be a good solution because they would fit with no modification, other than to squeeze them in there in the first place.

[bennelson]

I was finally able to find some Ford Ranger front coil springs!

Now I just need to figure out how to cram them in there!!!!


It would be nice to sandblast them and paint them too!

[Intrigued]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I was finally able to find some Ford Ranger front coil springs!

Now I just need to figure out how to cram them in there!!!!


It would be nice to sandblast them and paint them too!

FINALLY! I've been jerked around by Craigslisters myself. They seem to spend a lot of time griping about each other's posts. 'Bout makes me as mad as Paul gets sometimes...

It'll be good to see your car mobile and level at the same time!