SUNNY Z Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I recently purchased a brand new in box ground control coilover kit for 240 and early 260z (cheap). My question is, would it be possible for me to use it with my 280z? I just spoke with ground control and learned the differences between the kits, but I was wondering if I could use 240z strut tubes on my 280, or if i would be money / time ahead to sell these and buy the correct kit? Thanks in advance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 The 240 tubes are different diameter and the rears are 1" shorter. If you're sectioning the struts, this won't matter. If not, the rear will be 1" lower than the front to start with and on a 240 you generally run the front lower to get a little rake to the car, so you might run out of adjustment before you get it where you want it. I can't imagine that it's easier to get the 240 struts (thinking spindle pin here) than it would be to just get the right sleeves, but if you have access to the 240 struts and are sectioning, yes that works. The other option is to get the correct ID sleeves from someplace like Coleman Racing. I bought new sleeves from Coleman about a year ago, I think I paid $15 per sleeve and they were longer than the GC ones. I believe the actual adjuster (the spring perch that screws onto the sleeve) is the same for both struts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 The 240 tubes are different diameter and the rears are 1" shorter. If you're sectioning the struts, this won't matter. If not, the rear will be 1" lower than the front to start with and on a 240 you generally run the front lower to get a little rake to the car, so you might run out of adjustment before you get it where you want it. I can't imagine that it's easier to get the 240 struts (thinking spindle pin here) than it would be to just get the right sleeves, but if you have access to the 240 struts and are sectioning, yes that works. The other option is to get the correct ID sleeves from someplace like Coleman Racing. I bought new sleeves from Coleman about a year ago, I think I paid $15 per sleeve and they were longer than the GC ones. I believe the actual adjuster (the spring perch that screws onto the sleeve) is the same for both struts. Ok. I was also told that the springs on the 280z kit were 12" springs, as opposed to the 10" springs that come with the 240 kit. I've been looking around (speedway motors) and i've seen some sleeves there as well. However, they are only the 2" ID, as for the 240 struts. I have thus far been able to find 56mm ID tubes. Can you confirm / deny the difference in spring length? Also, the springs are 150# and 200# which in my readings on here seems quite light. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I don't know about the spring height. There really isn't a reason to use a 12" spring on a 280 because the stroke of the strut is the same. Maybe they're trying to set the sleeve on top of the stock spring perch or something, but my GC setup from the mid 90's (for a 240) came with a weld on perch. 150/200 is a big step up from stock, but yeah, it's pretty light. Don't go too overboard with spring rates unless you have the shocks and chassis to handle a lot stiffer. That setup would ride pretty comfortably with Tokicos, and that's probably what GC was shooting for. FWIW, I just remembered that the 240 front hubs have a different offset for the rotor and the rears have different wheel cylinders, so unless you're changing brakes too you probably want to avoid changing the struts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 Ok. So i see that the threaded tubes have a small step in them (on the ID) i was wondering if it would be possible to bore that out to the 56mm required for the 280 strut tubes. That seems to be the only REAL thing keeping me from having a kit that works. Am I correct in this assumption? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 If memory serves, the step that you're looking at is the one for a rubber o-ring (which I never bothered running). I think you need to bore out the whole length of the sleeve to the strut diameter plus a little for clearance. I thin bjhines did this on his project. The question is: if the sleeves cost ~$60, can you have the machine work done for less than that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 If memory serves, the step that you're looking at is the one for a rubber o-ring (which I never bothered running). I think you need to bore out the whole length of the sleeve to the strut diameter plus a little for clearance. I thin bjhines did this on his project. The question is: if the sleeves cost ~$60, can you have the machine work done for less than that? Can you link me to a site to buy the sleeves? I've only been able to find 2" ID sleeves everywhere I've looked, and ground control sells them for like $25 apiece IIRC from today's conversation. Also, would the 150# and 200# springs work well for a street application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 You'll need to do some double checking on the strut size. I think 56mm is wrong. Coleman Racing (www.colemanracing.com) sells part number 450-700 which is 2.08" and 7" long, and they sell 420-700 which is 2.04". They also have 450-500 and 420-500 which is a 5" sleeve. I don't have a 280Z, so I don't pay as much attention, but I thought that the smaller one fit the 240 strut and the larger fits the 280 strut. I might be wrong though. Search and you should find that info easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 OD of the 280Z strut tube is 2.165" which is 55mm. A 56mm ID threaded collar will work. I sell a 2.17" ID threaded collar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) Sunny-I have 225/250 rate springs on my coilover kit. I love them: rides great, corners great. They are the only springs I have had except stock, so I can't do a comparison like the others can. Most of the cracks in my unibody occurred when I was running cut stock springs. The rear was bottoming all the time. I had trouble with coil bind with the "progressive" springs that ground control included with my kit-the car hammered away like it did with the cut stock springs. Stay away from progressive springs-it is just a gimmick. Non-progressive springs cured all my ills. GC swapped them for free. If you decide to sell your 240z coilover kit to buy a 280-based kit, let me know, I have a buddy who might want it. Keith PS-lets race to see who can get his LS swap on the road fastest! Edited January 4, 2012 by RebekahsZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Sunny-I have 225/250 rate springs on my coilover kit. I love them: rides great, corners great. They are the only springs I have had except stock, so I can't do a comparison like the others can. Most of the cracks in my unibody occurred when I was running cut stock springs. The rear was bottoming all the time. I had trouble with coil bind with the "progressive" springs that ground control included with my kit-the car hammered away like it did with the cut stock springs. Stay away from progressive springs-it is just a gimmick. Non-progressive springs cured all my ills. GC swapped them for free. If you decide to sell your 240z coilover kit to buy a 280-based kit, let me know, I have a buddy who might want it. Keith PS-lets race to see who can get his LS swap on the road fastest! Haha that's hardly fair! My car is still at 417 motorsports !! Thanks for your input, and yes, I am looking to sell the GC setup now. I have one other person in line, but PM me and we can discuss. Josey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surpip Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I have 250 springa all around an its great as well but i also have a bit more weight in back an hace in iron block SBC in front i used to work at GC you can ask mark about Blem sleves if you what to go the cheap rte normally the anodizing is slightly off of some other slight defect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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