Guest FLiPSyDe71 Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I purchased some coilover springs with Tokico Illumina's for shortened 280Z struts and I want my Z as low as Ted Fisher's Z shown here: http://www.reactionresearch.com/Fisher%20PIR/images/img_49812_std.jpg Can anyone you give me a round about idea about where and how much I should cut my tubes?...2 inches?...3? Do I just cut somewhere in the middle off and re-weld the top half of the tube so that I still have that "cup?" If anyone has pictures on how to do this procedure it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! -jAy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JAMIE T Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I'm putting my suspension back together now. I sectioned my struts. It's been so long since I've done it that I don't remember exactly how much I cut out of them, but they measure 12 5/8"(front) from the bottom of the tube to the top. I also modified mine for coilovers(which the car you pictured probably has). Think about this, if you don't use coilovers, you will need to section your struts BELOW the spring perch to actually lower it with stock springs. Most guys who section there struts use lowering springs or coilovers. The sectioning actually only returns suspension travel to lowered cars. It prevents bottoming out the struts. FWIW, the VW strut cartridge sits about 1/4-1/2" in the tube(I'll need to make spacers) on my set-up. I cut mine in a "Cold Saw", but I know guys who have used pipe cutters, sawzall's, abrasive chop saw's, etc... When welding them back together, simply clamp them into the "V" of a peice of angle iron. Tack it together in a couple of spots, un-clamp it and welderass up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WickedWild Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I cut my rear tubes to match the front. Off the top of my head I want to say to 13" (but I dunno 4shure). I did this when I converted to coilovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Adding a note here about a severely lowered car. Take into consideration the tire height and back spacing when doing such modifications. The unibody reinforcement that rides over the tires (from front to back over the front tires) will cause problems on typical street set-ups that have a lot of compliance in the suspension. I don't know if Ted's Z has a tube frame, but if not, I'll bet a dollar to a dime that the unibody is nearly resting on top of the tires. Here is an example of what I speak of (and I bet mine is at least a couple of inches higher than Ted's Z): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillZ260 Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 welderass Word of the week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JAMIE T Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Ya like that?! Terry, what size tires are on the front of you car? I love to see huge tires on all four corners of street cars. Your's looks exceptional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilRufusKay Posted March 20, 2004 Share Posted March 20, 2004 Terry, what size tires are on the front of you car? I was just going to ask the same question!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted March 20, 2004 Share Posted March 20, 2004 Can anyone you give me a round about idea about where and how much I should cut my tubes?...2 inches?...3? Thanks! -jAy Someone has a write up, I've seen it before. You need the strut cartridge to hit the bottom of the housing when tight, leaving a small amount of thread exposed at the gland nut. So if your struts are 3" shorter you need to shorten the tube 3" or you could go 2" and use a 1" spacer in the bottom of the tube but it must hit the bottom. Also, I believe Ted is running 18"s and is still unibody. I didn't have enough time to check it out but it is one of the cleanest cars I've seen on a track, looks like a show car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluex_v1 Posted March 20, 2004 Share Posted March 20, 2004 Someone has a write up, I've seen it before. http://240z.jeromio.com/frontsusp2.html Jeromio's site has a write up on sectioning struts for vw rabbit cartridges. He already had coilovers so you won't see the original spring perch and the measurments may be different, but the concept is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 teds car at least the front half is all tube contstruction. You can see it in some of the pictures on his website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 The tires in the picture are 315/35ZR17 on an 11" wheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cable Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Does anyone have pictures showing the step by step process? I need to section my front and rear struts, using aftermarket springs, but still staying within 2" of the original ride height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Man. You guys aren't even trying. It is a sticky at the top of this forum http://hybridz.org/nuke/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=25481 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.