some 12i questions for those who "lived it"

[GoMachV]

I have some questions for those that are from the 12i era- I can MAKE this stuff work, but I want it to be period correct, or at least correct as it could have come out of the box. Here is my dilemma...

I am building from scratch a 12i, I have a late style chassis with the longer rear cut outs. I have also acquired a complete spring style front end kit for 12i. although the instructions cover using it on a 12i or 12e, it has the 10L style three hole mounts. These mounts do no fit the chassis, which is exactly the part number they recommend. The holes in the chassis are offset not inline, so you cant do like a 12L and stack the body mounts. I have a set of nip 12i two hole mounts, but then cannot run springs, which is what this chassis was designed for.

Did they make 2 hole suspension mounts for a spring front end? Or were you just supposed the trim the three hole mounts to the shape of a two hole mount? Ideally I want this how it would have been.

[RC10resto]

yes AE made 2 hole mounts that used springs - standard on all 12i's (no spring was for 12e)

[GoMachV]

Ahh. All my 2 hole units are 12e then. Drat!

[reign79]

Yes Brian is correct Look for a cut out on the top of the a arm opening and the knuckle is bigger!!

[a01butal]

I thought early 12i cars used the 12e front suspension arms and then later cars might have come with the 2 bolt hole spring mounts and you could optionally upgrade the early cars. All the 12i chassis I have are 3 hole with the front hole offset a little further out for the bumper/body mount and the suspension mounts to the rear 2 holes. The original 12i manual shows the non-sprung (12e) type mounts, would be a good time for Kent (WC1982) to give us a little history lesson.

[GoMachV]

Thats more inline with what the sheet that came with my front spring suspension kit says- it says that its an upgrade and to cut the chassis when updating to tge spring front end. I have the chassis part number it recommends. Just weird that it came with 3 screw mounts and spacers, cause they don't bolt on. Package looked to be unmolested.

[a01butal]

3 screw hole mounts are for the 12L you can cut off the front hole part and it will fit the 12i chassis. Here's a picture scr8p posted showing the difference on a '12e' chassis not '12i'.

[GoMachV]

I know that's what is so confusing about this front end kit! It should have 2 hole mounts but has 3. It has the correct steering arms and instructions say for 12i/12e! I think it was simply packaged with the wrong arms. Think associated will fix their goof up from over 25 years ago? LOL

[GoMachV]

BTW....with the 12i the holes are offset so it won't bolt up at all anyway... unless the fronts are cut off

Here is a quick pic I snapped....

[a01butal]

That is the "right side" 2 hole 12e/i front suspension mount in your picture which you mount to the right side rear 2 holes on the 12i chassis. Cut off the front of the 12L 3 hole mounts and you have the same suspension mount as the 12e/i but they always mount to the rear 2 holes, front one is for the bumper/bodymount.

[a01butal]

Actually the 12L had the 2 hole mount and the 3 hole mount came on the 12LW.

[GoMachV]

I know what your saying and I know how to fix it... but that is not how it would have came from associated.....I understand I need the 12i spring style mounts to do thus correctly... just finding it odd that associated packed the kit this way

I didn't lay out the 12e block with correct orientation but I know how it fits. Also...oddly enough in my 12i manual it shows a solid axle option. Odd...I have never seen one. I had a pretty early 12i bitd and it was the non spring front with cut front chassis.

[WC1982]

Early 12i cars had slots in the front of the chassis and no springs on the front arms. Or maybe they had slots and springs, not 100% sure. I used 12e arms on my 1982 Worlds car, no springs.

Later cars had no front chassis slots and used spring front ends with two screw holes.

I think the 3 hole arms started with the 10L, then they started using them on the 12L.

So, you need to find some 2 hole arms with springs for that 12i chassis

[GoMachV]

Thanks guys:-) off to do more shopping

Anyone need a pair of minty 12e 9° arms? LOL
I can't imagine they were very sucessful

[rraeford]

I will be happy to take those off your hands. Please PM me!