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When I did my first LoCost build back in 1995, I searched around my local "U Pull It" junkyard for a front upright that had double a-arms. After looking at several different suitable solutions, I decided on the Isuzu Impulse. The ironic thing about it was the badge on the later model Impulse's front fender sitting next to it that said "Suspension by Lotus"!!!! Pretty cool considering what I was putting them on! Since they worked so well, I grabbed another pair with hubs and machined them the same way I did the originals. Unlike most who use a traditional upper and lower ball joint, I like to use a "high mis-alignment" rod-end as a ball joint. The upper and lower holes are reamed to 5/8"(lower is 3/4" and sleeved down to 5/8" with a steel bushing). I bead blasted, primed and painted them. I have the hub bearings, caliper hardware(no calipers).
$80 plus shipping from zip 18643.
Here is an explanation of what cars they are also the same as.
"Chevette spindle extended interchange/brakes/trivia
First, I love your web site/forums. I own 6 Lotus
(Elan’s/Europa’s/Esprit). I’ve been looking for a spindle to use
on my Elan’s/Europa’s to get away from trunnions. I also want to
convert to 4X100 bolt circles. I thought Miata was the answer, then I
saw your posted Chevette spindle dimensions and had two thoughts, first
it does look to be the right size for our Lotus uses and wait, it looks
just like my Esprit!!!. 1976 to 1980 Esprit’s used Opel Manta/1900
front suspension. The Chevette being a “world car” borrowed much from
existing European GM design. I bought some Chevette spindles to compare
to the Esprit/Manta/1900. All critical dimensions are the same. Minor
detail differences are a bolt-on verses cast-in steering arm and the
ball joint tapers are slightly larger on the Opel. The Opel spindle
uses a separate hub/rotor design making swaps to big brakes easier (more
on that). I decided that I wanted to make a post on this forum
reporting the Lotus/Chevette connection, so I did more research and made
an additional discovery. Chevettes were marketed around the world using
several different model names (there was even a Chevette based pickup
truck). In Japan, Chevettes were marketed as Isuzu I-Marks. An I-Mark
is a Chevette? I looked at exploded suspension diagrams and Isuzu
I-Marks use the same suspension design as a Chevette. As they say in
infomercials; But wait there’s more! All rear wheel drive Isuzu sedans
use the Chevette spindle. So here is a list of years/models that I
believe use the Chevette spindle design:
1971 to 1975 Opel Manta and 1900 (great autocross cars in their day)
1976 to 1980 Lotus Esprit
1976 to 1979 Buick Opel (which is an Isuzu I-Mark)
1976 to 1987 Chevrolet Chevette (Vette for short)
1981 to 1985 Isuzu I-Mark
1983 to 1989 Isuzu Impulse
1976 to 1987 Pontiac Acadian (for those from the great white north)
1984 to 1987 Pontiac Fiero
1981 to 1987 Pontiac T1000
All of the above use the same Set 1/Set 4 wheel bearings. The Isuzu
Impulse, intrigues me because it has a separate rotor/hub design similar
to the Manta/1900. I need to find one and compare it to the Opel hub.
Now for brakes. The Opel owners group has worked out an inexpensive big
brake option for 13 inch wheels. They use 1977 BMW 320i vented rotors
(only year in U.S. with vented) which bolt directly onto the Opel hub
(which fit Chevette spindles). For calipers, they use either the BMW
(rare) or early 80’s Volvo. Caliper to hub clearance is tight, but they
fit inside 13 inch wheels! I considered this for my Esprit, but I have
upgraded to 17X8 on the front and wanted something more visually
substantial. I’m now using Volkswagen Corrado 4 bolt rotors (11 inch
vented) re-drilled to bolt-on Opel style. For calipers, I’m using Mazda
RX7 4-piston aluminum. Rotors can be bought for as little as $22 each
(not drilled or slotted, hubbearing.com) and junk-yard calipers for $15
each. The aluminum caliper adapter is easy, all 4 holes are in a
straight line (AN washers to shim the spacing). My mock-up was a
Chevette spindle, Manta hub, Corrado rotor and RX7 caliper. On the car
I retained the Manta spindles. I haven’t tried smaller wheels yet, but
15 inch may clear this combination. There are bigger 4-bolt rotors.
Lotus Exige is 11.3 inch. A 2005 Mini Cooper JCW is 11.57 inch. Both in
4X100 bolt circle, easily modified to fit the back side of an Opel hub,
and maybe a direct fit from the front of an Impulse hub.
But wait, even more! Because Fiero’s are popular kit car platforms,
bigger brakes and drop spindles are offered. Streetdreamsbyross.com has
2-inch drop 84-87 Fiero spindles with aluminum hubs drilled in any bolt
pattern (you want Lambo wheels on your replica, they drill to fit). For
Locost builders who can mount suspension pickups wherever they want, a
drop doesn’t matter, but for my Vintage Race Europa it does. Vintage
rules require original suspension mcontrol arms are free. By having the option of standard and drop
spindles and using AFCO standard and extended ball joints, I’ll have 8
different combinations of roll centers and swing arm lengths. It’s worth
the cost of the drop spindles to get those options. By the way, drop
spindles are not offered for Miata."
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Dan Lipperini Jr
www.RaceLabz.com
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