john kosmatka Posted September 7, 2003 Share Posted September 7, 2003 To run coil overs do you have to section the struts, I am planning using tokico illumina's, but I am not sure if I want to use lowereing springs or coilovers. Are the coil overs a whole lot better than the lowering springs. Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 John, You do not have to section the struts if you aren't going to lower the car any more than about 1 to 1.5 inches. Any more than that and you lose too much shock travel. The advantages to coilovers are: the ability to run slightly wider wheels, the ease/low cost of changing spring rates (one rate for the road, one set for autoX, one set for drags etc), and the ability to set ride height and thus abilty to set weight distribution (using corner weight scales). If your car is only going to be a road car (with a few drag and auto cross runs sprinkled in), and you don't need any extra clearance for rims, then a regular set of lowering springs will do the trick. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Issues that make a coil-over set-ups desirable are 1) increased wheel back spacing for wide wheels and tires that would normally interfer with the larger diameter OEM springs 2) Ease with which spring rates and can be changed 3) Ease with which the ride height can be changed. Sectioning a strut tube is only recommended if you lower your Z enough that nomal suspension compliance causes the top of the strut tube to impact the bump stops. This would then be resolved by shortening the tube, which requires a shorter than OEM insert in the tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j260z Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 you forgot the most important reason to go to coilovers!!! they look cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john kosmatka Posted September 8, 2003 Author Share Posted September 8, 2003 Ok I'm still thinking about the coil overs, have any of you guys sectioned your struts, and also is there any need to lower the car more than 1.5 inches. Thanks for the info John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest billy383Z Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 J260Z, who manufactured the coil-over kit you show in your picture? I have been wanting to do coil-overs on my car, and can't seem to find a REASONABLY PRICED coil over kit for my '77. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 thats my strut/coilover picture ... its a kit from Ross. Modern-motorsports.com Ross is a great guy to work with too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j260z Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 i stole that picture from ON3GO but i have the same kit with the exception that my threaded aluminum tube (the red piece in the picture) is 8" long and blue. i got the kit from Ross Corrigan at http://www.modern-motorsports.com. it is a great product and Ross really knows his stuff. i just finished helping ON3GO get his assembled in this thread http://www.hybridz.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=25653. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 260zman Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Hi guys. it seems to me that nobody seems to make stuff themselves these days. I've made all my coilover suspension and now in the process of making my camberplates. i guess not everyone has access to lathes and mills like me i get a lot of satisfaction in doing everything myself, although somethings can be a bit of a headache!! Just thought i'd mention too that i'm real thankful for all the help i've been able to get through Hybridz. I think most of us NewZealanders are the sort of people who like to do things themself rather than buying kits(which are hard to find over here). the good thing is though we get lots of RB26dett engines!! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Well! The gauntlet has been thrown down On MY coil-over set, I was converting a race only (metal on metal) coil-over set-up to something more palatable for the street with some rubber included. I fabed up my own bearing retainer and upper spring perch using Honda (yes, fact is stranger than fiction) upper spring holders (my 2.5" coils fit very nicely into these Honda (YAH, I'll say it.....Honda.........HONDA) spring locator cups with the rubber (my camber plates made any kind of Datsun part useage very hard). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest billy383Z Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Thanks for the info, guys. If I still had access to the machine shop where I used to do a lot of my work, I certailny would have made my own spring locating components rather than buying a kit. Guess I'll just have to start saving my pennies and buy a kit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZROSSA Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Hey 260zman! Do you want to make a extra set of camber plates? Rear ones only for now. I want to replace the whole rubber assembly back there to lower the car. The car was originally set up with the rear 60mm higher then the front. Not the look I was after. Cheers Douglas (Hawkes Bay) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 260zman Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 well its good to see some people making stuff!! yeah at the moment my camber plate design isn't dampened to they might be quite harsh for street use...they're just a spherical bearing without isolator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZROSSA Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 260z, Not fussed about the harsness. Its a sunday only car. If it ever gets out of the shed. I keep finding more rust. Anyway, if you are keen to make a another set of plates can you let me know what they will cost so I know how much food to take away from the children. Cheers Douglas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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