coilovers question

[tickwon]

Hi there guys, I just wanted to know if anyone else out there has put some on their 280ZX. I just wanted to see some pics of coil-overs on your cars. Even if it's not a ZX.

 

My problem is where I should place my threaded tube. I got my coil-overs from Ross at modern-motorsports. I have a 8" threaded tube with 10" (200lbs front and 225lbs rear). I do have the metal support collar, just need to know where to weld it. I did take the OEM perches off, placed the treaded tube at that welded bead where the perch sat and it looks too tall. I'm thinking I should lower it. Grind the welded bead and slide that steel collar past where the OEM perch used to sit. Is that a good idea? Thanks for the help.

 

Chris

[JMortensen]

If you've got the 8" threaded sleeve you pretty much can't miss. Are you going to run 240 inserts and section the struts? I believe that is recommended if you're going really low.

 

I would think that you could run the sleeve flush with the top of the strut tube and be fine.

 

Jon

[tickwon]

Thanks, I have Tokico Illuminas all around for the 280ZX. Are the 240 shorter? That's something I didn't know. No, I don't want to section the strut out. But I'm with you, cuz I was thinking about it more and I should be fine with leaving the sleeve flush with the tube. Thanks again.

 

Chris

[slownrusty]

This was a two month long project and required doing the project twice, as it was a trial and error project. There was absolutely no support and it seemed at the time that no one could help, not even the vendor who sold me the kit. This was a fairly frustrating project, especially as the car was down for so long. I used Tokico Illumina adjustable struts in front and race Tokico ProDraG in the rear imported from Japan. The coilovers on my car use 8†threaded sleeves with 200lb springs in front and 225lb springs in the rear. All the suspension pieces were removed from the car, sand blasted and the painted as well. At the same time I replaced my bushings with a full polyurethane set from Energy Suspension and upgraded the sway bars with Suspension Techniques 1 1/8†(front) and 7/8†rear. The car handles superbly and even though it rides a bit harsher than stock, it is worth it. High speed cornering is very sure footed, predictable and safe, a “must do†for an ZX car!

 

Here are coilovers on my '83 ZXT.

 

Rear:

 

Testing the travel, with the spring all the way down:

 

Front:

 

The car really dumped:

 

Hope that helps

 

Regards - Yasin[/img]

[Guest Steve-Z]

Tickwon

 

I might be repeating this, but I think the basic concept for placing the threaded aluminum tubeon the strut is that you want some adjustment on both is sides of the final lower spring seat. But getting to that final position is the trick. I think you need to:

1) set the ride height

2) make sure you have enough suspension travel at his ride ht. and shorten the strut to gain enough suspension travel.

3) then you can locate the threaded tube so you have some adjustment on either side of the lower spring seat.

 

What I did for a friend of mine running a 510 race car with a shortened strut is to locate the strut shortening weld underneath the welded-on lower threaded tube perch. then I welded on a small tube at the top of where the threaded tube stops, so there wouldn't be much slop between the threaded tube and the strut tube with spacer. He already knew what the ride height would be and how long he wanted the strut, to give him enough suspension travel, so we didn't have to go thru that exercise.

 

As another bit of information, the 280zx struts are very different from the 240/260/280z struts. the strut to sprindle angle is very different and the bolt hole for the steering arms are very different. the angle and hole distance is the same a a Datsun 510 and is a very common swap for better brakes and a shorter strut for a lowered car.

 

Hope this helps Steve

[tickwon]

Thanks Steve for the info...I was wondering about the difference between the 280ZX and the 240/260/280.

 

Slownrusty, nice coil-over set-up. Man, your ZX is slammed. Is it like that all the time? Still looks great. I hope to get mine rolling sometime soon. Thanks for the advice and pictures.

 

Thanks,

Chris

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

Thanks Steve for the info...I was wondering about the difference between the 280ZX and the 240/260/280.

 

Slownrusty' date=' nice coil-over set-up. Man, your ZX is slammed. Is it like that all the time? Still looks great. I hope to get mine rolling sometime soon. Thanks for the advice and pictures.

 

Thanks,

Chris[/quote']

 

Chris, how're you doing Been a while since we chatted, I just sent you my coilover instructions, perhaps that old email died on you or we didn't send it. Weld your support collar on such that you have ~3/16" between the top of your strut tube and the top of your blue threaded tube. This will allow room to put a good wrench on your gland nut without interfering with your threaded tube.

 

Slownrusty's not referring to my product or service BTW. We helped him sort out his 'other' setup to get him rolling post purchase/install efforts FWIW.

 

Great points by Steve-Z and others. Always best to evaluate your PRESENT setup, check it's height and available travel, given that and the amount you believe you can reasonably drop it (ie. control arms horizontal/all tires clearing, exhaust not sparking on ground etc...), then if you plan to drop over 2" check out sectioning...if you're not dropping more than that sectioning is VERY rarely required. Less than 10% of our coilover buyers every section their setups and some have sectioned that didn't need to. With today's more common larger diameter and wider rims/tires it's less frequent that we Z's or ZX's much lower than 1-2" below OEM.

 

Good luck with your install Chris, I assume your rear install went quite easily We did some custom 'bolt on' rear coilover sleeves for Chris who has one of the last sets of 280ZX rear Illumina's.

[tickwon]

Ross, thanks...I do have your instruction somewhere in a folder, but I'm the process of moving and my car is in my parents garage. My brother and I were talking about my car and we started working on the fronts. We cut the OEM perch on the front and we weren't certain where to weld that collar. Thanks for jumping in, Ross. I appreciate the help.

 

Thanks,

Chris

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

You're welcome, good luck with your move!