JustinOlson

What is the height of the MSA Type 3 airdam from top to bottom?

Attached is a Solidworks Model of the R36-5022H0 insert. R36-5022H0.zip

I'm having them revalved anyway. I figured they'd recharge them after revalving. Justin

From manually pushing the strut down with my hands, I measured a 4.75" travel on the R36-5022H0 stock. I'm curious to get it apart and cut down the bumpstop to see what I can achieve. Justin

The hyperco progressive coilover spring has me curious. I'm thinking I'll give them a shot for a mixed purpose car in the future: http://shop.a1racing.com/hyp1810b-p.aspx

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Bridgestone&model=Potenza+RE-01R You can get the 245/40-17 for $116. That's the tire I got for my Rota RB-Rs http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-01R&partnum=44WR7RE01R

Thats great news! Now I can section the strut tubes in the normal process, and use off the shelf gland nuts from Bilstein. Here are the two M52 X 1.5p gland nuts I've tracked down for the 36mm: E4-b36-816-B2 B4-B36-U242-B2

Dang, thats nut much loosening of the gland nut. I didn't realize these cars were so sensitive to the gland nut being tight. You are running a 1.5" insert in a 1.71" strut tube though. That could account for some of it.

Any 240z users that did the P30-0032, if you have some female gland nuts kicking around that came with the inserts. Part number B30-627-B1 is what I'm interested in. I'd like to try these in conjunction with the male gland nut E4-B36-816-D1 for adapting my 36mm bilstein. Please shoot me an email if you have a set you can part with: JustinAOlson at gmail.com Justin

I checked with Bilstein today. The gland nuts that come with the P30-0032-M0 insert are M50X1.5. To use a 36mm insert with this female nut, you would need these male gland nuts w/ a M50X1.5p thread: E4-B36-816-D1. I've seen mixed information in this thread regarding the gland nut thread pitch. Does the 280z have M51x1.5 or M52X1.5? All of the post by John Coffey list the M51X1.5. I just want to clarify that this is indeed correct. Also, I confirmed that the E4-b36-816-B2 is a M52 X 1.5. Regards, Justin

Jon, we are talking about 0.020" clearance per side on these. I'd be surprised if these inserts slip right into the strut tube really. IDK if they are going to "clunk" around. I do plan on using the press fit gland nut provided. I'll have more measurements and pictures when these arrive. Justin

Do you guys have trouble rubbing the front air dam on lowered cars?

Direction:

The gland nut that I will be using is a press fit on the strut tube. On the bilstein install for the 3000gt, you cut the top of the strut tube off (including the threads for the gland nut). You then use the bilstein press fit gland nut and the bolt on the bottom. They work together to secure the insert in the strut tube. Here is a install pictorial: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/348632/3T

Do you guys run spacers under the P30-0032 insert in the front? From what I can tell, its not how much I I section the strut housing, but the total distance from the bottom of the strut tube, upto my camber plate that will set my spindle height. If you compare the R36-5022 to the P30-0032, there extended length is 18.89" vs 19.74". The middle of each inserts travel is 16.93" vs 16.75". If you remove 1.5" from the R36-5022 bump stop, these numbers become 16.18" vs 16.75". In this case, at static ride height, with the insert in the middle of its travel, the R36-5022 insert will lower your ride height 0.57". Are the factory upper isolators the same thickness front and rear? I will be running TTT camber plates, so I have to take that into account as well. As far as gland nuts go, they do work. They would just add $50 a corner to buy them as I'd need a female and male gland nut per strut. I may go that route if I can't get the strut in the correct part of its travel at my desired ride height. Justin

I feel from a simplicity standpoint it would be nice not to have to deal with the gland nut for load barring. Getting the spacers just right, keeping it tight, ect ect ect. It looks like if I section the struts down 4.25" front and rear, I'd end up with a weld in spacer that is ~3.25" tall in the rear. It is designed as a 1.75" X 0.12 tube with a 10ga washer welded to the top of it. I'd then weld it into the bottom of the strut tube. The struts are fully compressed in these renderings.

That sounds like a good plan John! Thanks for the the input!

An interesting thing about the 3000gt bilstein inserts. They use the threaded rod and nut on the bottom of the strut to carry all of the rebound loads that the strut experiences. This is good news for the front insert, as the gland nut becomes non critical in terms of carrying loads. Its primary purpose then turns into a contaminant shield. I'm not sure what to do in the rear where you can't run the insert all the way to the bottom of the strut tube. Maybe lower the rear strut towers?? Also, its standard practice for 3000gt owners to trim 1" to 1.5" off the internal bump stop. So that gets you upto 5"-5.5" of total travel.

Yeah, I got free shipping on my order through AllShocks.com http://www.allshocks.com/bilstein/html/show_shocks.asp?make=MITSUBISHI&model=3000%20GT&year=1991 I'm just going to get them fitted and figured out before I throw money at having them revalved. I'm thinking I'll have them revalved 300/100. My spring rates are 350/375 F/R. What are your thoughts? Also, if I can't get the press fit just right, I'm going to make 4 tack welds to hold the gland nut to the strut tube.

Actually welding the Female threaded gland nut on to the strut tube: B4-B30-U226-A1 Then threading in the male gland nut: B4-B36-U242-C1 I called about the 3000gt gland nut. It is a press fit unit I may just be able to use this part if I can make a little sleeve to weld onto the strut tub :) I'm going to order my set of 4 X 3000gt inserts today and get this ball rolling. Justin

The Minor Diameter on a M48X1.5p internal thread is 1.8307" (46.5mm). Looks like this will clear just fine for fitting the strut tube dia of 1.803" (45.8mm). Its a go :)

Got off the phone again with Bilstein. Internally threaded M48 X 1.5p gland nut(made for 30mm insert, so you'd have to got it out to work with the larger strut tube diameter: B4-B30-U226-A1 Externally Threaded M48X1.5p gland nut: B4-B36-U242-C1 Regards, Justin

More Info on the 36mm inserts after Talking with Keith at Bilstein 1-800-745-4636. Looks like the problem is the gland nut yet again. They have M48 X 1.5p and M52 X 1.5p. No M51 gland nuts available. I'm going to look into have some M52 X 1.5p threaded tubes made that can be welded to our strut tubes. The M52 X 1.5p gland nut part number is B4-B36-U242-B2. Here is a table showing the factory valving of the inserts I identified in the last post. I'm thinking the 3000gt insert may be workable. According the Bilstein you can cut down the 2.36" internal bump stop to gain some travel. The nice thing about these 36mm piston units is the re-valving potential. There are linear and digressive pistons available to use when rebuilding the units. Regards, Justin

Here is a list of possible 36mm Bilstein Inserts that are workable: 3000GT R36-5022-HO: Body: 10.47" Min: 14.96" Max: 18.89" Stroke: 3.93" http://www.allshocks.com/productimages/R36-5022-H0.jpg Z31 300zx P36-0262-H0: body:14" min: 14.5" max: 20.625" stroke: 6.125" http://www.allshocks.com/productimages/P36-0262.jpg Audi P36-0369-HO: body: 14" min:14.375 max: 20.5 stroke: 6.125" http://www.allshocks.com/productimages/p36-0369.gif Saab 900 PE3-3093-H0 body: 13.75", min:14.75" max:20.5" stroke:5.75" http://www.allshocks.com/productimages/pe3-3093.gif Porsche Inserts may also work: P36-0112, P36-0113, P36-0114, P36-0115 For Comparison, the Bilstein everyone is using currently on Z's: P30-0032-HO, Body: 12.5", Min: 13.98" Max: 19.74" Stroke 5.76" http://www.allshocks.com/productimages/P30-0032.jpg

Interesting thing I just found. Looks like you can fit a 36mm piston Bilstein into a 280z strut tube :) 280z strut tube ID: 1.845" ref: http://sccaforums.com/forums/permalink/274631/276929/ShowThread.aspx#276929 36mm 3000gt Bilstein: 1.803" ref: http://ryanizer.blogspot.com/2008/07/bilsteins-for-s14s.html Now I'm wondering if a HD bilstein is the same internal parts as a sport bilstein since I plan on revalving either one. Regards, Justin