The stock Long-EZ nose gear strut, as currently configured, is thicker, fore & aft, than the original VariEze strut. It may be a very snug fit if the airframe incorporates the pre-fab strut cover that is installed between the NG30s. It will not be a "plug & play" procedure.
When replacing, make sure you duplicate the overall geometry of the old strut. This can be done on the bench. You need to be able to duplicate the exact angle that the strut makes with the upper pivot axis (think of a "T", with the pivot axis being the top section, and the strut being the vertical section). By bolting the upper pivot block between two pieces of wood that are affixed to your bench, then placing a fixed index piece on either side of the lower end of the strut, you can maintain this same angular alignment when you integrate the new strut with the upper pivot block. You need to make sure the index pieces for the lower end will also accept the new strut (i.e. if there are any width differences between the respective struts, you need to be able to accomodate them, and still maintain the correct geometry.).
Alignment of the lower pivot & nosewheel fork is best done on the airplane, not only to ensure the net length is OK, but to also ensure the lower pivot's vertical axis is truely vertical, and that the caster angle has the proper "negative" inclination.
Most of the above is all based on a nose gear re-build I did for Dave Koester a while back for his Long-EZ. I did the build-up of the lower end off the airplane, but this was a case of a Long-EZ strut/Long-EZ strut replacement.
Good fixing!
