Building custom cars in my backyard

After some time with the bench grinder, I finished cleaning up the front VW bug/MR2 strut mount tops. I now have to fit them to the spherical bearing mounts. I plan on welding some grade 8 bolts through the holes and then put nuts on the other side. I have to design these so I [...]

I now have my spherical MR2 strut mounts in. I am starting to build the top structure to hold these bearings in place. I cut out 2 pieces of 3/16" steel plate from the foam template I made. I now have to grind them down and make them look good and then through bolt them [...]

Now with the MR2 steering knuckle modifications complete, I can reinstall them. I have removed the wood boxes from around the tires so I can test the movement of the steering. With this initial fitting I have discovered that spherical bearing strut mounts will be required. I explain that pieces of wood are supporting the [...]

I am now ready to finish the front MR2 steering knuckle modifications. I know I say I am adding a 1/8" piece of steel tubing but it is actually 1/4" thick. These half pieces of tubing will be used to prevent the reworked mounts from crushing due to the strut bolt. After everything is welded [...]

The newly modified MR2 front steering knuckles are now ready for trial strut fitment. I have ground down the welds so the struts can be mounted as well as have some adjustability. I still need to add some steel to the center of each strut mount to avoid crushing the assembly with the strut bolt.

Now that I have the steering knuckle tabs built, I need to weld them in place. I calmped the tabs to the MR2 front knuckles and wrapped everything up in my welding blanket. I then welded everything together. I will have to gring down the welds where they line up with the strut mounts.

Full strut compression and some front end work.

With the steel plates drilled and cut to fit on the MR2 front steering knuckles, I need to trim them up and make them fit and look better. I bolted all 4 of them together and grinded them smooth and clean.

I can now stat the modifications on the MR2 front steering knuckles. The VW bug fenders are directly above the front tires and the struts need to be tilted in just a bit to get the strut mounts to fit under the VW bug hood. I have trimmed down the knuckle mounts to be able [...]

Now that I have the VW bug front strut link figured out, I will need to modify the MR2 front steering knuckles to accommodate for the greater strut angles. I have marked the steering knuckle as it sits right now. I will now remove them and start my modifications.