mrbutcher

I found this thread. Check out post #33. http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/42446-280zx-s13-frontm30-rear/page-2 Looks like he's got the same angle going there. Seems like it should be ok?

Update time. I finally got my parts. Still need to paint them but I mocked it up today. Now. I had my machine shop correct the tapering size on the hubs to fit the original s130 ball joint from the steering arm. I'm concerned about the angle that this puts the ball joint at though. The arm is long enough but it -almost- maxes out the angle of the ball joint. What do you guys think? Will it hold up fine? Do I have to worry about snapping something? Check out the pics and let me know thoughts and concerns and of course solutions.

Thanks Josh280z. Yeah basically I'm making an adapter that will extend the balljoint out and angle it properly so that the s130 balljoints will fit properly. Pretty much the same thing that one guy did with the Maxima balljoints in the thread you linked. I'll see how it goes and post pics later this week when I get the adapters back.

Just a little update for you guys. I took the plunge and bought the s13 hub/rotor/calipers. I then proceeded to try and fit an early 90's maxima ball joint into it. Yeah that didn't work out. The tapering is wrong, it doesn't fit snug. So I proceeded to take it home and try to fit my s130 ball joints instead. Well. They fit snug. Unfortunately the geometry is off and the mock up was pulling the ball joint as far as it could go. So I'm having my local machine shop buddy make me a custom adapter that should correct the angle issue. We'll see how it goes. Otherwise the only other notable difference is that the bolt on the steering arm ball joint is a bit short. I'll cross that bridge after I handle this adapter issue. I will be taking coherent easy to understand pictures and posting it all up after it's done and has had some road testing.

Man I love you guys. Anyway. Yeah mostly aesthetics and some performance(as well as the general thirst for knowledge...I'm an engineer. Don't trust me yet). It's an enthusiastic daily driver for now that I plan on taking on rides with the local Z guys but later down the road of life I would like to put it on a track. after reading everything you guys are saying I think I'm really considering the s13 wheel hub conversion. Seems really practical and reversible so I don't have to worry about cutting and welding my sparkling new coilovers(and trusting my welder to do a good job). I looked into ground controls before but I don't really like that idea for the reasons m1ghtymaxXx mentioned. That and my original 32 year old struts/shocks were better meant for the sea. Also I'd like to add that I'm not a sponsor of duct tape and I never really trusted mickey mouse. He's so shifty. This topic was created with the point of collaborating information since I've had different people say "Well I saw this one thing this one guy did" and never be able to track down what they were talking about. That being said, thank you guys for all the information. It's truly a help and I'm glad I decided to ask before I settled on welding. Last questions for the s13 swap, those Maxima ball joints....anybody know what year to use? It must matter? I got that it's an early 90's. Also, does anybody know if anything else other than the control arms need to be extended? The OP of that one thread never answered this question but I assume he didn't based on those pictures.

m1ghtymaxXX, that's actually the same tutorial I was planning on following from the start! lol I am insterested in that member that succesfully used the s13 spindles but I'm not able to find any write up on it. I've just heard about it from other members. How long did you drive the car on your front suspension? This still seems like the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get the front put together, like I said I'm just worried about the safety and reliability of it. I'm not putting the car on the track. It's just gotta be my daily driver.

Alright this has to be a beaten to death topic by now right? I've spent the better part of my free time all week googling around and looking for information on this. The 510 guys and the s30 guys all have a lot of good info on converting their respective suspensions but what about the poor s130? I was originally going to weld the stock spindle onto my s13 megan coilovers but lately I've been thinking I'd rather it be able to just bolt in. Unfortunately I'm not very experienced or smart and I can't find the answer to my question. Can I easily make the s13 wheel hub and rotor fit onto the s130 control arm and other stock parts? What doesn't line up? Am I better off just having the welding done? My true concern is safety. Also adapting some bigger calipers sounds like a good idea too. So I'd like to see if anyone has heard of doing this or knows of a write up on it that I wasn't able to find?

Hey guys, so I'm looking to finish putting together my 82 280zxt and all I'm missing is a good working transmission. If anybody has a T-5 Borg Warner for sale please let me know, I'm located in Georgia and I know I'm probably gonna have to have one shipped to me. Also, I'd appreciate it if anybody could tell me a good website that I can buy one from if nobody personally has one for sale. I've only found one and that salesman told me it would cost 1050 bucks plus shipping. Was that a good price?