vert88 Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 So I have been here in Japan for quite a litle while (10 months) and i have to tell you guys that you should cherish your old z cause they are very scarse here and the ones that they do have here are very expensive. Now for the topic. I know that there has got to be someone in the states that have installed these rear end assemblies into their cars because it has been done here in Japan. I just bought a complete rear assy here and i plan on swapping it out once i get back but i would like to know if anyone has done it and if the have any detailed pics to put out some pointers. I think that for the price it is to get a limited slip rear diff for our cars you can buy a complete rear assy from the junk your for an s13 or 14 for way less and just find a way to install it. one of the reasons why i hate not having my car here because i cant work on it and do the things i want. So i have to hoard parts and wait til i get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 (edited) You can easily find a subframe from an s13 in a junkyard of CL for less than $100. I sold mine for $30 with no arms. Adjustable arms, solid bushings, general cleaning and powder coating can easily raise the price of the subframe though. Then there is the fab work of course. Then getting a quality LSD in your diff and a custom driveshaft, then converting to s13 coilovers since it'll work with the rear subframe. It all adds up. I would suggest an s13 subframe, as the s14 is just a tab bit wider (were talking an inch or two at best, but that can be all the difference) and just bracing the s13 subframe. Purepontiackid on ratsun is currently fitting one. It took him a lot of measuring to get the arm lengths right. He had to chop them shorter Edited June 18, 2013 by BluDestiny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skatekov Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Oh and I don't know who you are so I can't judge but being born in Japan, Zs (especially ZX) arn't that expensive in Japan for the like new condition its in FYI... and remember PPK did it to SLAM the S130 (closer to Z31 & S13) to the ground.... Not sure How it'll come up on performance S30's or whatever it is that your trying to build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger280zx Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 What are we trying to accomplish here? S13 bolt in coil over? Cheap bolt in LSD? It'll be the only one in my neighborhood? S13 coil overs essentially bolt into the rear of s130 already. LSD assemblies can be had for $500-$600 (lsd only) and it bolts in to your r200. I'm pretty sure if you have coil overs and lsd in your 280zx there isn't another like it in your neighborhood. If there is I will move there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 He hasn't done it yet, he is still mocking it up. He is doing this for the reason outlined below. The point is to have correction in all directions for rear camber/caster/toe. When you extremely lower a ZX (more than say 2 inches, but even 2 inches) will cause massive toe in and negative camber. This can not be taken out no mater what you do with stock components. PPK is doing this so that he can run correct wheel geometry while being as low as he is. Even myself, lowered maybe 2 inches or a little more has a problem with some toe and camber. An old school way to combat this is to measure how much correction you need (so you already know how low you want your ZX) and you cut and weld on heim joints in an offset pattern. This only fixes the problem and does not allow you to really change anything anymore. If you raised your car, well you just messed up the angles again. On top of this, the rear subframe is 4 points instead of 2. It really stiffens the chassis up more at really a minimal amount of weight gain. This would be the next step in my suspension, if I get any kind of competitive and become a fab master any time soon lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 You know maybe I am looking in the wrong area here in Japan but the zx's that I have seen here are pretty expensive compared to what you get them in the states, Let me clear something here, I have an 83zxt with a 5 lug swap and s13 coilovers and I was just wondering if someone has tackled this and what there thoughts are. The z car is not new to me but I find new things about this car every time I dig into it. My plans for my car at the moment and this might change is to have a nice 400hp car that I can daily if needs be and have a nice suspension maybe with some up to date parts, right now I am brainstorming trying to see what will work and what will not. You must understand that with a project car you always try to improve on what you have and see if you can push it to the limit. I like the idea of using the S13/14 subframe assy because its readily available and there are many interchangeable parts and I can get a diff just about anywhere. I know what comes with doing a swap like this and for me doing it will reward me with a sense of accomplishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Well considering what I just said, the ZX suspension isn't horrible, and can be made to handle better. If you're doing this because you think it will make you an ace driver you're going to be disappointed. If you're doing this because you think it'll be fun, go for it, I'd just prefer a write up instead of going in blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 I do appreciate all of your input guys. I will compile all the data that I get that way once I get back to the states I will be putting all this new data to work building my baby and mixing the old with the new. I planned at one point to run an rb26 but I will stick with the l28 for the time being and just keep my rb on the sideline until its needed. So far here is what I have acquired for my build. P90a head converted to solid lifters, ported polished, stainless valves and triple springs arp headstuds and rod bolts hks turbo header with wastegate 2mm metal head gasket that I got from motorsport auto Looking into building my own intake using an aftermarket intake piece for a 2jz but if that does work out I will utilize an intake manifold from Lonewolf Perf. Still trying to figure a good turbo for my build and a good grind for my cam but I have an idea, All this will be ran thru a Megasquirt 3 with a coil on plug assembly; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 I do plan on doing a writeup since there is hardly anything written for the beloved zx and it will be detailed. I am doing it for the fun of it and not because im an ace driver even thought I know I am in my own mind but that's beside the point. I want a car that has a little better modification parameters than what the zx has now especially since its such a sexy car with beautiful lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger280zx Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I have never understood why people lower cars beyond the limitations of their suspension. I completely agree with the argument to lower the CG, but I will take a CG 1 inch higher for a car that has travel and traction. Don't frown too badly on a heim jointed semi trailing arm suspension. If you think it can't be fast don't look at 510's or serious prepped 280zx's (if you can find one) or e30's for that matter. If you don't lower your car beyond what its geometry allows you will never need this mod, and then you can concentrate on that engine build you've been compiling parts for. That's what I would do. But PPK's car is slow, ahem, I mean low and he makes it go sideways so everybody should go do what he does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skatekov Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Jesus, Pay attention... vert88 never said anything about going low... but hey vert. I don't know if all that mod will be street legal in Japan...　Its been a while since I've been with the Japanese rules but I remember the registration as complete nazis when it comes to modded cars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger280zx Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Pay attention... His car is not in Japan first of all. And second of all the ones who have completed the mod did so because they were so low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 You guys are a hoot, Yes your right my car is currently in the states and I am hording parts for my build because I have nothing else to do here but collect parts and then when i get shipped back home they come with me and then i will build my car to my spesifications not because i want to go very fast but because i can and i know i will have fun doing it. Its something that I can enjoy with my friends who enjoy wrenching on there cars and something we can talk about later, whether it was a hit or miss you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 By the way you pay to mod your cars here in Japan, Im planning on buying an 89 Skyline gtst in August and installing an rb25 and 5 speed and that is going to run me 600 bucks for papers and for it to be legal in japan. if i can find a decent rb26 by then i think i will go that route but i got an rb25 and 5 speed for 300 bucks so that was a sweet deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamo3 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Takkun did install skyline multi-link rear suspension installed onto 280zx. http://www.takkun.net/dri-z-323.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eboling Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I am working on just such a project. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3978026/1983-nissan-280zx/ It is slow going as I just don't have enough time to work on my baby. I started with an s13 conversion, but changed course after a complete s14 suspension fell in my lap. I'm probably about 1/2 through. Still need to work out the parking brake, alignment, and a few other minor issues. I like the way that Takkun welded in new suspension mounting points for the rear of his s130, but not the major cutting and welding required to make the s13 shocks sit at the correct angle. In the end, I decided to modify the s14 subframe to fit the s130 chassis because I wanted to fit it as high up as possible under the car to keep the roll center as close to the cg as possible. In fact I will need to do a bit of hammering on the underside of the tool bins to clearance the subframe from the chassis. The s14 suspesion actually solves a few problems like the rear shock angles and I like the wider track (for modern wheels). The donor suspension I used is the 4-lug version, but 5-lug models are more common and possibly more desireable for z32 brake conversions and such. My modded s13 subframe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260DET Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Why go to all the trouble to fit a Nissan multilink rear suspension unit when the original semi trailing arm unit can be made to work very well. Did someone shorten the arms of a S13 unit to make it fit? That is ridiculous, it will ruin the geometry. Keep in mind also that the S13 unit has a lot of built in anti squat which is not great for a sports car. Back to the stock suspension, anyone heard of the E30 BMW M3 and how well they handle? Well they had a semi trailing arm rear suspension and strut front, there is plenty of info around on how they did theirs, see my post here for example http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/85166-s130-suspension-tech/page-9?do=findComment&comment=1080407. Mods are great but only when they do what they are supposed to do and at the right price. Edited October 19, 2013 by 260DET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Ok so I my friends and I stripped an s14 here on base about 2 months back and I kept the whole rear subframe with the 2 way cusco rear. Which I got the whole thing for 75 bucks. Man I love Japan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh280z Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Any update with this? I'm curious as to what is going on, and what problems you are encountering... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vert88 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Well i have not written anything in a while but i will be heading back home to Florida in December for good and in April 2015 i will start this project of mine, im very excited about it. i will take lots of pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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