Bean Bandits Levin 'Globetrotter'

[Rascal21]

I know that what I have is far from ideal, as I said on my project thread it`s hopeless!
Pretty sure the guys who built this thing back then didnt have the time we have to dink around and find the best long-term solutions for someone who needed the car ready for competition asap zulu, we have forums, youface and toyo bible, back in the 80`s they had sh*t, lol!
But for a gravel setup it`s not THAT bad, solid performers for their use, back then it was respectable, today it`s old and antique.

Not wanting to write a poem here, but if I dont write what I`ve got on my mind I feel like I`ll explode:

As it`s entirely set up for gravel, a proper coilover setup up front to get the ride-height down and still retain some adjustability has been on my mind for a long time, the Bilstein`s are getting tired and as Totta says, blue TRD`s are among the best you can get for their intended use.

Now trying to find out about Toyota struts with the same shell casing diameter where I can take the shell casing off the struts of something like an AE82 and rebuild my AE86 spindles and strut shell remnants into OEM strut shell lenght again, THEN make them suitable lenght for Tokico HTS102 w/Cusco sleeves and Cusco camber plates.

HTS102, I`m told is same as the TRD adjustable`s and I have it on as good authority as I could hope for (the cars last professional owner who drove it on the circuit rather than gravel, with some achievements under his belts and currently owns a similar car platform which he also uses on the circuit and thus has a fairly good idea about how things work for my intended use) that these are among the best a mortal can get for the cheap enough price and are solid performers for their intended use.

I know I say "intended use" a lot, but with what little one can buy today, compromises are forced to be made, same as when the car was built; For it`s intended use.

If I cant get my struts restored and re-modified I will be forced to do nothing other than use what the car has despite what people might say is better or worse.
I bought the car to drive it instead of spending untold k`s and many months looking for parts, she`s been through some rough times before and not currently having the best dorikin dg6000ultra 60 way adjustable`s in the world is not the first time she`s been in trouble against modern cars with better.. well.. better everything (Sort of true of us all really)
But if this old fighters obvious compromises shows that the 80`s Gr.A wasnt all perfect hardcore speed demons (Unlike what some people make them out to be), and helps some good blokes on a forum decide for better and more modern setups in their cars then the purpose has been served