Jasonmreiss Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I read in the v8 conversion book that removing the rear sway bar is a good thing. Also upgrading the front, and relocating some mounting points up front. I know everyone's setups change with how they're gonna drive so I'll fill you in I want a daily driver that handles very well but doesn't beat you up too bad on city streets. I want to keep the r200 the way it is, no lsd, just for control purposes. I may get a coil over kit, or section the struts. It's a 280z, and will have a 400+ horse 383 My question is, is going by the books recommendations the best way of doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Build your car the way you want to, but I don't understand some of your comments. I tried removing my rear swaybar to improve rear end traction-it didn't help-I still just spun one tire all the time. I also have run my car with and without LSD. LSD rocks! I can't understand why you think NOT having an LSD will give you MORE control. My car is a daily driver and it will always have LSD and front and rear swaybars. It doesn't beat me to death-it drives great. A small block V8 weighs close enough to an L24/L26/L28 that I wouldn't change the suspension a bit just due to the engine change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 I'm not sure about the sway bar thing, the jtr book talks about it lightening up the inside rear tire too much around turns. And the control thing was more about my wife driving the car than me. It'll have a lot of power and it'd get sideways in a hurry around corners with lsd. Don't ya think? Or am I not thinking 'straight' ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 The swaybar thing is real, but the car has to be set up properly to run no sway bar and still have the right amount of body roll and have balanced handling. This usually means stiffer springs than you would run on a car with sway bars front and rear. I've heard the LSD argument both ways, but for my money I will put an LSD in anything I drive, and I think if you do get the ass end out a limited slip will help you get it back. In the meantime it will allow the car to accelerate so much harder especially in a turn where an open diff will just light up the inside tire. If your wife isn't a very good driver (thinking car control with high hp RWD cars, not running into parked cars), you may just want her not to drive your Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Good idea lol, except that it is technically her car that she gave to me to work on and drive. I do prefer limited slip as I've driven both with high hp. I like to think I'm an above average driver (like most guys). So in an effort to do things right the first time, even with coil overs and stiffer suspension, I should keep the rear sway bar? I won't be autoxing it, just a few aggressive 'closed' road weekends )) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Donovan_ Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 LOL on the no LSD comment by OP just LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Before I put my LSD in, I took my car to an autocross specifically to play with the rear sway bar. I have a 1" front sway bar and a 5/8"(?) rear sway bar. The inside rear wheel spun exiting turns with the sway bar. I took off the sway bar in the pit area and tried again - no difference whatsoever. Next time I went to the autocross I had a Wrx CLSD and I could hammer out of turns with no spin at all. I was so much faster and the car was so much MORE predictable and much more "neutral" where as it used to be pretty bad about pushing the front end. In my mind, and LSD makes the car safer. If you are in a turn and you break traction on one tire, the car spins out virtually as easily as it would with two tires breaking traction. Think about it-with one tire spinning you have 1/2 of the contact patch of your tire working while the front wheels still have both tires stuck to the ground-it sucks! With my LSD, I am much more able to "modulate" the amount of slippage I have and am much more controlled when intentionally creating some oversteer. If you want to keep your wife's speed down, put an MSD rev limiter in the car. I love my LSD so much that I would recommend it BEFORE putting a V8 in the car. Don't worry about the sway bar it is the least of your issues. If it is your wife's car, start auto crossing and go to some schools together (that would be so totally hot) and you might find that she's a pretty good driver, or can learn to be one, and may even like it. My wife hates EVERYTHING automotive except her minivan and her cell phone (which really shouldn't be an automotive accessory). I'm jealous for you. On a side note: going off track backwards is SO much more fun than going off track forwards. But that requires that you are driving in a safe place like a road course or an autocross/drifting lot. In a safe and legal place, you can lose control all day long and it really doesn't matter. Cool it on public roads-it sucks to see a beautiful Z-car wrapped around a tree-these cars are getting rare, as are the people who appreciate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Just pop off a few plug wires when your wife drives it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonmreiss Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Thanks for the help, LSD for everyone!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.