Guest zfan Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 I have a 1971 240Z sbc with Nissan comp springs or so the previous owner says. They are stiff as a board up front and ride high but too soft in the back and ride a little low. I am looking at replacing them with the Stock heigthe european Z springs that MSA sells. They were on the cars sold in europe and have 15-20 percent stiffer springs than standard stock springs. Is anyone familiar with these springs? I want to soften the front up a little and stiffen the back up a little as well. The reason I don't want lowering springs if I can help it is I don't want to drag my full lengthe header collectors when going over bumps and what not. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Not familiar with those, but you may want to swap your current springs F to R and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j260z Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 i don't know if you can swap them front to rear. my haynes manual shows the 240z as having two different length springs in the front. free lengths on the front are 14.1" on the left side and 15.1" on the right side. the rears are both 15.0". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 They can be switched front to rear. Aftermarket springs are same length L/R, but not sure F/R. But the back of his car is too low, the front too high, the back too soft and front too hard. Seems like a good place to start for a little time and no money. If the springs did not come labeled originally, someone could have installed the wrong ones in each end of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 Arizona Z has some nice stock height springs that are rated at 185 lbs/in and I think are $80-$90 a pair. They are stiffer than the euro springs but are still comfortable IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 I would have to second the suggestion that your springs may already be reversed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j260z Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 makes sense... if they are aftermarket you can never tell if they were installed correctly in the first place. it couldn't hurt your wallet to try swapping them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synlubes Posted April 28, 2003 Share Posted April 28, 2003 It`s been my experience that most aftermarket springs have different diameter(coil thickness) for front and rear springs. The rear springs usually are thicker in coil size, fronts not as thick. Ck them with a set of calipers or a micrometer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted April 28, 2003 Share Posted April 28, 2003 Thanks for the info and idea's. I just ordered a set of springs from Arizona Z Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Let us know how the AZ springs work out for your Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 Well I recieved the Arizona springs that were suposed to give me stock ride hidthe and they are 12" springs in the back the ones I had pulled are 14" springs. Last week I put a set of 12" springs I had recieved awhile back and they scrape on the edge of the back tires every time I go over a bump. Maybe the 14" springs are after market? They scrape sometimes but not as bad as the performance springs allow. I think I will just take my 14" back springs to a circle track shop who customize builds and see if they can get me a set of springs made 14" long but maybe 50 lbs stronger. Crap!!! Mike Hope Arizona Z takes returns, atleast I did not install them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j260z Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 if you are hitting the rubber with your springs then it sounds like time to go to coil overs. check out http://www.modern-motorsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=12 Ross has a great setup with spring sizes from 7" to 12" and 150# to 375# and no sectioning required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 Don't get the blues over the height of those AZ springs, I thought the same thing at first. Remember that they are stiffer than stock and so won't compress as much. Stock springs at 80-100 lbs/in need to be longer because they compress much more under the weight of the car. If you do manage to find springs that are as stiff as the AZ springs AND 14" tall, you'll have a great set of rally springs that'll lift your car probably 1" or more ABOVE stock if you're going for the jacked-up Z look, but I think you're shooting for stock height. Install 'em and you'll see, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Well I installed the rear arizona z springs last night and I like them. I also used the 280Z strut cap for added clearance. I can get three fingers between the top of the tire and the fender lip. Thanks for all the help. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Glad to hear it Mike, having clearance on the street is key to a good in-town haulassmobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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