ToplessZ Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Ok sorry for posting a non z question. What has to be done to swap my zx struts into a 510. Do you swap all 4 or just the fronts. Are the disk brakes compatible all around? Ive heard of alot of guys doing it but I dont know anything about it. Hopefully somone will chime in here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 My friends have done this swap on 5 or 6 different 510s. They all swapped in the fronts and sectioned them and used 240Z front struts. In 2 or 3 cases they used the 240Z spring perch and top hat, and were able to get the much smaller diameter springs in the front (they're stiffer than stock 510 too). Then they could slot the strut top holes and adjust camber. In the back the early disc brakes (79-81) bolt right on, and I would assume the later ones do to, but I don't personally know anyone who has used the later 82-83 setup on a 510. The crossmembers are different, and the ends of the semi-trailing arms are slightly different, but I believe that the semi-trailing arms are similar enough to swap between 510 and ZX, although I'm not sure why you'd want to (maybe to get a caliper bracket???). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 A couple reasons to swap to 280zx trainling arms are the ability to use disk brakes as a bolt on, and the ability to use a coilover style shock in the rear. 510 trailing arm spring perches commonly rust out around here too. The 240z spring & perches with a zx strut works quite well, and if you run 710 isolators and control arms you can pick up another 1*-1.5* of negative camber up front. (the 710 isolaters are offset, and the control arms are slightly longer than 240z/510) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 The fronts bolt to the lower control arms exactly like the 510. If you lower the car you should install bumpsteer spacers at the same time between the bottom of the strut and the control arm. They are only 40 buck a pair or so. The 280zx springs and spring seats are too big. It is a good time to convert to coilovers. If you do that you don't need to section the strut, just cut off the spring seat and weld the collar on for the new coilovers. From what I remember the 280zx strut and 240 strut inserts are the same length. I ordered 240 inserts and thought I had to section the zx strut tubes but the 240 inserts were the same length. I know of only 1 510 that has 280zx control arms in the rear. Not common and not easy from what I know. Anthony '71 510 wagon, '91 Toyota Supra engine (327 rwhp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 OK, I'm smoking crack again. When putting a 240Z insert into a stock 510 strut and you have to section. If you swap to a ZX strut no sectioning required and its already much shorter than the original 510 stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Anthony '71 510 wagon, '91 Toyota Supra engine (327 rwhp) Too funny Anthony, I was at a club BBQ last night and Greg Macauley and I were talking about Shasta, and he was telling us a story about he and Ross Corrigan driving Ross's V8 280zx around Thunderhill. The long and the short of it was that they kept hearing this noise as they went down the straight, looked in the mirrors saw nothing, looked at each other in confusion, and then you blew by them on the straight in your wagon. Greg was saying after the session he demanded you to pop the hood because you came out of no where... Small world sometimes! As far as sectioning goes, there are shorter strut inserts available as well that you can use with the ZX struts to gain even more front travel in a 510. A great setup for the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Drax, That was a fun track day. I have video of that pass. I think that VW Golf inserts are shorter than the ZX stuff. I have 18's on it now and raised the ride height accordingly. I have no travel issues with the ZX length but some might with a lower ride height. Here is a link to the new wheels (not to hijack this thread). 18x8.5 with 255/35/18 in front, 18x10 rear with 285/30/18 http://www.510garage.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=topn&cat=-37&pos=12 http://www.speedyzx.com/Shasta2004/Day2DSCF0151.jpg Anthony '71 510 wagon, '91 Toyota Supra engine (327 rwhp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Anthony - you must know my very good friends Greg and Jen: http://www.510garage.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=38&pos=70 Before you make fun of the way the car looks now, let me just say that Greg started with something that probably should have gone straight to the jy, and he's got MANY hours into getting it to look this good. They have a wagon too. Handles really nice, they surprised quite a few people at the autox in Marina. Greg is usally an instructor for Dennis and Peggy when they do track days. Back to the thread though, I wonder if the MR2 rear struts would be better than the GTI stuff, just like they are in a Z. Although the Z has a lot more weight on the front. I suppose it all depends on what spring rates you're running and what engine you've got... Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 So let me try to get all this straight. I can use the zx strut with a 240 spring and cartridge in the front along with the zx disk brakes. I have 82 zxt struts and brakes if this makes a difference. To swap the rears I need to use my trailing arms? Do I use 240 springs and struts in the rears. I would have to cut off and reweld the 240 perches though to be able to use the zx struts though. This means I have to have an extra set of 240 perches... I think I might be getting this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 The ZX and the 510 have a very large diameter spring. You can use the smaller diameter spring from the 240 and have more room to redrill the strut top holes or slot them for camber. To do this you would have to cut off the 280ZX lower spring perch and weld on the one from the 240. On the top you need the rubber part from the 240 attached to the metal part from the 510 or the 280ZX. This is from a coming 2nd hand from a conversation I was having last night with Greg from the pic I linked to above, so you'll want verification from Anthony or Drax or someone else. The rear 240 springs will be slightly stiffer than the fronts. The 240Z and the 280ZX use the SAME EXACT strut cartridge in the front. The rear of the 510 is a semi-trailing arm setup, just like a 280ZX. Totally different than the 240/260/280, so no Z stuff will crossover into the rear of your 510. I thought and Drax seems to think that you can swap 280ZX semi trailing arms into a 510 no problem. For rear springs I know most guys are using roadster front springs, or roadster comp front springs, or comp 510 rear springs. I think the comp 510 or the stock roadster would be the best match for 240 springs. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToplessZ Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Ok So my 82 stuff will work I just need the corresponding 240 parts. What about the brakes. Will fronts and rears work or can I just use the front disks. Sorry Im probably asking dumb questions but I cant help it you guys know everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I agree with everything Jon just said in that last post... except for the semi trailing arm swapping in the rear. I've had them side to side on the floor and it looks do-able, but I don't think it's just going to bolt in and be done. Some of the angles and positions are different, and minor fabrication will be involved for the spring/shock change from one to the other. (reinforcing the unibody where the new springs are at least) Use 280zx brakes on the front as they are, vastly superior to the Z setup. In the rear you can make the ZX rears work if you use the ZX semi-trailing arms, if not you'll need a bracket fabricated for the disk brake swap. (and then use all ZX hardware) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Jon, Greg tech'd my car at Shast this year. I guess they were having some alternator problems but ran on battery power for the autocross. Hope they were able to fix the problem. Re: the 280zx Rears: I know of only one person who converted to 280zx in the rear and it was not simple. I would forget this option. You can have the rear crossmember slotted to allow for adustments if necessary. You should be able to use any rear kit for the 240z (brake kit) on the 510 sedan as I believe the backing plate holes are the same. I used Ross Corrigans 240z rear brakes on my wagon however as it is a solid rear axle some mods had to be made. Fronts: Confirming all of the above. You cannot use the 280zx spring. You could use the 240z spring and seat but unless you have spare 240z struts and springs sitting around you would be better off going to coilovers while you have the suspension out and are cutting anyway. Rear brake kit http://www.modern-motorsports.com Front coilover kit http://www.daveturner.com/ http://www.ground-control.com Anthony '71 510 wagon, '91 Toyota Supra Turbo engine (327 rwhp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Another option for rear disk brakes on the wagon is an early 80's 200sx disk bracket, and 280zx rotors and calipers. A bit of mucking with the e-brake is all the fabrication that is needed. We've done 2 of these on wagons now. However, I can't recommend enough to go with the 81-83 style of zx rear caliper over the 79-80 style one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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