tec280zx

Ok, finally got the 87 calipers to work. I ended up shaving material off the caliper mount in order for it to center over the rotor. Pretty easy fix really. I still needed to shim it with a small washer in order to center it over the rotor. No biggie.

Bringin' back an oldie. I just wanted to share my experience with this swap and it has not gone too well. I rounded up all the same parts that Frank has and attempted the swap. Well, the z31 do bolt in to get the 5 lug. The 87 300z calipers are bolt on as well, except once you slap the vented 300z rotor non of it lines up. The rotor/stub axle is about 1/4in. too far in and the caliper rubs on the rotor. (needs about 4-5 mm more to clear it) I have a striped down 87 300z control to take measurements from and its obvious why this doesn't work. The caliper ears are longer and the flange that the stub axle butts up against is also longer. No biggie though, I ended up redrilling my stock 280zx rotors to 5 lug and I'll just settle for no brake upgrade. I'm still curious though, how the heck did you get it to fit? In the next few weeks i'm going to take a shot at fabbing up some brackets to push the calipers out a bit since I have these rotors and new calipers just collecting dust. Anyways heres a pic of the rear now. Just need new rotors and pads and bleed em and I should be good to go. Frank, spill the beans!! lol, jk. but seriously

Nevermind, I happened to come across a 87 z31 at my local picknpull today. The only z31 there! And one turbo 280zx. I remember when there rows of z's just a few years ago, it was kinda sad really. Looking for some stub axles off a late model z31 that used the vented rotor setup. Let me know what you got. Thanks.

I just did a power recirc ball to manual rack conversion a few months ago. Heres a pic. Like the others said, you need the manual crossmember for it to work. Heres a pic of the difference between crossmembers. They look close, but won't interchange. The bushing sizes are different too.

Hey i'm in need of some rear calipers off a 87-89 z31. If anyone has any shoot me a message. Thanks. Brandon

LOL, unfortunately they aren't the same. Just got em in the mail from MSA, and they aren't the same pitch/thread. I did find some for an 87 z through Courtesy Nissan at freakin 11 bux each! Oh well.

You're right...I feel like such a noob. I must have mixed up the front and rear studs. The studs are the same, thanks. Otherwise I may not have double checked.

No, unfortunately the z31 studs are different than the earlier z's. The knurl diameter is a lot smaller.

Does anyone know off hand if the stub axle lock nut for the s130 is the same for a z31? I think I may have ordered the wrong ones. If not, do you guys know where I can order one?

Do you guys have any sources for longer wheel studs for an 87 turbo? Thanks.

Wouldn't your adapters basically act as a type of bump steer spacers? Instead of using a different ball joint, i'm thinking of trying to use the s13 control arm and tension rod. I just don't have the time to hunt down any spare 240sx parts to play with right now. Anyhow, i'll see how it works in the meantime.

Alright, heres the angle when jacked up. Its still too angled I think, just not as severe. Hopefully the maxima joints can be bolted on, they "look" like they might.

hey mack, does the maxima ball joint holes line up with the zx control arm? I too am a little worried about the angle they sit at now. In the pictures they are at full droop though, maybe the angle isn't so bad once its compressed.

I'm using s13 coilovers with s13 knuckles bolted to the 280zx control arm so that everything else will line up. So for I still have it on jackstands, i'm waiting for my rear wheel bearings so I can drop it on the ground. Heres some pics of some used coilovers for mock up. Also, the rear are bolt in as well, I just used my stock upper mount so I wouldn't have to drill any holes.

I modified some energy suspension subframe bushings from a Z31 to fit my crossmember. Just have to trim them a bit to make fit.

Armada has always had IRS, if I recall.

pictures? sounds like an awesome setup.

Scratch that...I just tried to fit my manual rack into the power steering crossmember and it looks like it won't fit after all. They look almost identical, but the mounting points are just a tad wider and I don't think the manual one will fit, even with different bushings. Manual on top and power on bottom. Good thing I grabbed the right xmember when I did. Sorry for the inaccurate info before.

I believe the crossmembers are actually the same, manual vs. power. I have both sitting on my garage floor right now. Later today I can take some pics. The only difference is the caps to bolt down the rack. edited: sorry meant crossmember not rack.

Post a picture, sound like you do have 79-81 control arms.

whats the build date on your 82? I'm guessing maybe late 81. My 81 was built in 09/80.

Input the specs into this website http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp and get the measurements for each wheel. Then go out and measure your z31. Thats what I did when buying the wheels. It helps if you make a cardboard template.

Good luck, i'd like to see it if you do it. When my Z was gutted I slid a 75 dash in there just to see, and it will need a good amount of work. They are shaped a lot differently underneath. I remember some cutting of the cross member involved. It would look pretty nice though.

Go rack and pinion, the turbo barely clears the steering box, but the wastgate actuator bracket will need to be trimmed. If you have the parts and already got the motor, i'd say do it. Plus, that recirc/ball steering is heaving! I should have weighed all of it when I did it.

Nitto Terra Grapplers. They work well in moderate offroad and do well in the wet. Depends on what kind of driving. Plus they look great.