MA61 coilover conversion: Questions

[mullett]

Just pulled the struts out and stripped them down in prep for welding the coilover sleeves on, but had a couple things I wasn't sure on:

#1: What the hell is with the bloody big tin nut-looking thing that retains the shock? It doesn't seem to thread out, and the top of the strut tube is actually slightly flared where it goes in...is it a press-in item? Maybe i should just give it to the suspention-man to take out...

#2: Height for the threaded tube: (using an Otomoto kit, if that helps...). I was going to just weld the top of the treaded tube flush with the top of the strut tube, should I be lowering it by an extra inch or so below that level? I don't need to be able to really drop the car, but it'd be nice if I could take it up to factory height at the extreme end of the 'up' adjustment...

-RM

[RA35GT]

#1 That should thread out. Should not be pressed into strut.

#2 You will need to work out where to put it to suit the lenght of the spring when compressed and where you want the car to sit. Also keep in mind the stroke of the shocks will need to be taken into account so you dont run out of travel.