I have some 8041's coming and I *do* need top hats, but since I cannot use a full Ground Control kit, I will only get a pair of Koni sleeves for the front. Ground control insists theirs hats with their kits only. What top hats can I use with those?
Or can I get the Koni kit + GC hat and not use the Koni top perch?

 

Don't know what you mean by top perch but I've seen people use the GC top hats with different springs such as the Skunk2's. But why do you NEED top hats? Just go to your local wrecker and salvage some OEM ones for cheap!

 

+1 Why not just use OEM?

 

You can use GC top hats on other stuff. GC likely says that in hopes they can sell you a set of coil overs.

The difference is the bushings, there is one for Koni, and one for others.

GC top hats are pricey, but you get what you pay for. Why do you need extended top hats?

 

Just cut, exstind and weld the oem ones.
That is if you have axses to a welder.

 

The EF 8041's fit my car (fork/shock body diameter) but my stock shock is shorter than an EF stock shock. I need to make up that difference.
So then, what I am saying is I can get a complete 80.0000.1 kit at ~70 each, or simply the #5 and 6 sleeve and lower perch and use the GC hat?
The issue is I need 2 different size sleeves front and rear, the rear being 8011 inserts, and I don't think there is a chance in hell GC is gonna mix/match me what I need. I will give them a call when I get a chance, but they probly aren't gonna know wtf I'm talking about.


http://www.koniracing.com/sleeves.cfm

 

How does the EF top mount bolt pattern compare to your Prelude? If it's the same, and you're going to be using standard 2.25" or 2.5" coilover springs with those sleeves (such as Eibach Race Springs), then why not just get the EF front top hats from GC?

 

Prelude is 3 bolt upper mount. so I will have to deal with that. my issue with EF hats is their site insists use with GC coil over kits only. Also I am assuming the hole diameter the hats pass through is the same, but it likely is or is very close. Maybe someone can grab me a measurement on that?
And dammit I still need to give them a call.. I will do that now..

 

Well if yours is 3 bolt and EF is 2 (I know it's 2) then I wouldn't try to make them fit. Don't go drilling holes in your shock tower to try to make them fit.

 

I was going to redrill the hat and get a 3rd stud to put in it.
Anyway, I called THM first (since I will be buying the shocks from there), and Nick said he would call Ground Control and see what he could do. Didn't hear back today, but here is to hope and optimism..

 

Don't those studs usually have a sort of "knurled" area right at the base of the threads to fit in a matching knurled hole in the top hat to keep it from spinning when you tighten the nuts? Similar to wheel lug studs I think. I don't think that's something you can drill yourself.

 

well not that I have done it, but a simple square tip bit to recess the studs then a second bit for the new holes. and yes, I expect a splined stud in there. I have a drill press. it really shouldn't be a big deal.
I'm not worried, everything on my car takes extra work, but it hasn't stopped me yet :D

 

I guess... so you plan on drilling 2 new holes in the top hat, moving one stud over to the new hole, and then adding a 3rd stud to the other new hole, correct?

 

yep. only hard part imo right now is figuring out the sleeves to fit the rear and getting them.