Capri Gaz into Oz 2.0 will go

What will fit Oz 2.0 escort struts? After a bit of searching through the various forums and a check the various dimensions listed in the 1996 Monroe catalogue, I opted for Gaz adjustables listed for Capri.
A phone call to smcka and a kerb side meeting a day or two later and I was the proud owner of a set of shinny new inserts.

Following is a few pics and step by step log of events.

Remove spring and top mount as per normal. E.g. Compress spring, remove ¾ or 19mm top nut, carefully lift off spring and top mount.




Clean away any oil and dirt from top of strut tube. Remove insert locking sleeve nut. I used a hammer and flat punch to move it then large circlip pliers to undo the rest of the way.






Carefully remove the old insert, Note there may be oil in the strut tube, if so just tip it out into a suitable container and dispose of. Clean out the tube.




Measuring and assessing
The trusty Monroe book states the Oz 2.0 has a type 6 insert and the Capri is type 4, however the top and bottom seats are the same size so that shouldn’t be an issue




According to Mr. Monroe the escort insert is 378mm long and the Capri is 369mm, so what’s a few washers between friends. But the Gaz insert is 355mm + a ball shape protrusion on the end.






When the Gaz is placed in the tube it is actually 22mm to short, that’s a lot of washers!!
So we need to make up a spacer. The nice people at Gaz supply new tube locking sleeve nut with the Capri kit, which doesn’t fit the 51mm Oz 2.0 strut (as the Capri strut is only 47mm or so) but would you believe, its 22mm deep and has a 30mm hole which just happens to match the protrusion on the Gaz bottom, and fits snuggly inside the 2.0 tube.







So the Gaz spacer is installed into the tube nut side down



and the insert is installed, then the original 2.0 lock sleeve nut fitted and hey presto…….



Now I just have to pull apart again to sand blast and fit a coil over conversion.

Smcka when are the front coil over kits arriving?

So in short, Gaz adjustables for Capri will fit Oz 2.0 struts with ease.
Just remember Capri has 15mm less travel than an escort, so the std coil spring will be a little more compressed, but I don’t think that will be an issue. The top mount does fit back on with the same amount of thread exposure, but I think you may have to cut down the top section of the bump stop, just in case.

Great write up. What was the model of the GAZ strut used?

Thanks for the kind remarks about my jurno skills lads, but the truth is "dont give up your day job Hendo", Racin Jason's job is safe
[88][:x)]
The Gaz number is GAI 2103

Hopefully the flintstone floor will be started this long weekend and I will finish of the chassis mount engine kit.

As I suspected, but don't have the 2 struts to compare.

Coil overs are docking Wednesday, hope to have the shipment here by next weekend at the latest.

Try again, decided to go for under mount or upside down adjustable tops this time, the normal type can touch the inner guard hole when looking for max camber where as this type have flat surface as the bearing assembly is under the inner guard and below the hole.



Note the spacers inside the bearing, this is an area where a lot of problems arise due to spacers touching in the middle of the bearing. There must be a gap of at least 3mm otherwise the strut top will not be tight and knocking from the suspension will result.I also fitted a grease nipple to lube the bearing,they last for years with grease and only about 12mths without and are about $70 each.




Next What brakes?
decided to go for Lazer TX3 vented disc and Volvo 240/260 4 pot calipers as many people have done this and reports are they work well and are very easy to do. The calipers only need the holes elongated top way on the top and bottom ways on the bottom.



The TX3 disc requires the mount holes to be enlarged from 10.5 to 12mm to line up with the escort MK2 hub. It is important to centralise the disc on to the hub and check for run out.



I spaced the caliper on the strut by fitting a 3mm hardened washer between the caliper mount and the strut.
Fitted 190lb springs and assembled. Just need to sort brake piping out when I fit to the car.





Just need time to get onto the chassis mount kit.