Smokescreen

AWESOME! That is great news, bring on the LT1!!! I am very excited. I pulled this unit from the local Pick and pull for 50.00 Bones. I was pretty upset when I started pricing parts and hunting parts for the steering swap. I thought for a while that the V8 swap was not gonna happen, but it was actually pretty simple work to remove the parts so I dont think it will be too bad to cleanup re seal and install this to my car. Are there any alighment ghosts to speak of after the swap is done or is it pretty straight forward? Thanks again guys! Jason

I have already searched this swap repeatedly and I have already aquired a manual rack and crossmember with the steering linkage up to the coupler from an 81 ZX. My question is, do I have to swap out the entire steering column to get the linkage to connect to the Manual rack or will my power steering setup swap at the coupler with the rack setup? Thanks for any input. Again before the Napalm starts flying I have searched the swap and found that I needed the Rack + the crossmember but nothing on the steering linkage from the column to the rack, I can post pics of what I have if need be, or would like pics of what I actually need if someone has them readily available. Again thanks for any input. Jason

Ahh, so the dampers we are talkin about are the Shocks??? That make sense I read the previous post and thought there was some strut mount insulator or something I had overlooked. In that light, I take it that the Tokicos are what they are...STIFF!!! LOL. Cheap and non-adjustable. It's all makin sense now, The difference in terminology from the US to ACross the pond has been throwing me. I am so glad all you guys put into this thread, I knew there were some S130 folks with fast cars out there. I just needed to be a fly on the wall to learn something. Thanks again.

Thanks for the info richard.I'll do more homework. Jason

400 Lbs. front and rear spring rates? Whats your cars total weight and what type of tires are you running? Just curious as to How the thing rides on the street? Also, forgive a n00b but, what do you mean by ARBs???

Yeah, thats seems to be the theory. I can see where you would want to stiffen the rear end up, but how far do you go before you have limited travel and the car beats you to death on the daily drive? Its all relative. Racecare/streetcar...Can't have both. I will be adding front and rear strut tower braces as well as thicker sway bars and a tire that has lower sidewall profile and see where that gets me.

I'm running the tokico kit with full poly bushings and its pretty stiff for street/daily driving. Borderline uncomfortable on a daily commute. I have pushed it pretty hard canyon carving with a friend of mine(99 legacy GT) and I found its limits... The car(with the tokico/poly setup) running 50 series rubber has a good solid feel when being pushed moderately to mildly aggressive. That being said it tends to give way pretty fast when pushing the car "hard" . What I mean is that it feels real good and then hits a point where the handling deteriorates very quickly. I'm talking 85 to 90 mph in some serious turns. The tires begin to flex at the sidewall quickly followed by the rear end abruptly rolling out. All in all I think for the Dabbler the Tokico kit is a great start on the s130. I will be doing some fabrication and suspension work and getting better tires before I consider re-vamping my springs/struts/shocks from Tokico. I am happy with the Tokico kit bang for buck, its just enough to make you say...How far am I really gonna go with this suspension stuff?!?!?

I like the G37 tail light concept. Found this pic online and I really like the look, though like everyone else I'd do my own twist of course...

I definitely have no desire to go lower than the Tokico kit has me right now, which is around 1 inch lower than stock. I think any lower would be impractical where I live and drive, I have already had some conflict with what I assumed to be small road debris.( Had to fix rear E brake brackets when I thought I could straddle a small rock on the hwy,lol.) I am curious as to why lower would be bad as far as the adjustable tension rod is concerned? Thanks Jason

I like the Adjustable tension rod from Techno-toy, But, I'll be getting those later , after I work out my rear end set up. Still workin of cash flow to get the brackets for the rear control arms to adjust Camber/Toe issues with the lowered car. I am thinking that with front and rear strut tower braces as well as thicker sway bars the car will ride like a concrete truck on the street but handle like a demon on the track/ autox course. thats the goal. (Though I am getting tired of chronic back pain on long drives, plus all the bumps make me spill my beer...)

I like the look of this kit as well. It will need nice fat rim/tire combo though with sweet offsets to pull it off w/o looking cheesy In my opinion.

"Has anyone used these end links?" I haven't and honestly I'm not sure what the real advantage to using them would be...

The rear trailing arms are an almost identical system... That being said the actual parts interchange is what has been stated here s130to 510 is doable but not vice versa. I have found some nice suspension upgrade "Ideas" from 510 sites but not crossover parts, if that makes any sense.( There are some rear trailing arm camber/toe adjustment parts that can be installed to an s130 with minimal fabrication.) Jason

I couldnt agree more. I really like your engine compartment layout. BTW, Where did you get that Intake manifold? Also, did you custom cut your plug wires for the wrap around? Jason

Fricfrac, Sounds like you feel the same as me. I don't like the slotted set-up that is offered through Motorsports. The shackles I found over on a 510 forum will be more adjustable, maintain integrity, and Will not move. These are not "heim" set-ups, they are camber/toe brackets for trailing arm suspension set up. They sell for $320 a set but you will have to do some of the welding /mounting work to fit them to your Zx. If your interested in them PM me and Ill get you more info on them. Jason