zemus Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 This is my first real post about my Z besides the idle issue. Here is the situation, I was driving my Z, front wheels locked, railed a curb head on and bending the front frame, everything from the firewall back is ok, so basicly I need to weld on a new front clip, and I do have the sources to have this fixed.. now here is where it gets odd... I am consitering putting a 280zx front clip on my 280Z 77, maily because I already have a S13 rear subframe ready to put in the rear, and I can mod S13 front suspention on a ZX front suspention (after looking at diagrams ect ect). So I can technicaly have a Z with fully S13 suspention setup (ofcourse with less aggressive springrates compare to the 560fl/lb springs they ususaly run on aftermarket S13 coilovers. Also id be able to rock a powersteering rack, and possably mod a S13 rack into working alot better. Now the issue is will this even work... are the dimentions at ALL the same, of course I woudlent run ZX body pannles.. is this even possable. The main poss. points seems to be -I loved the way my S13 felt, and id love to work that into my Z -The Truly HATE manual steering, even with all poly bushings.. I hate it, so PS would be nice -All attemps to make the Z more modern and have aftermarket parts cheaper (aka S13) is very cool, I mean I can get a BRAND NEW set of GOOD S13 coilovers for 1100 fully adjustable hight/preload/damper ect ect. -If I need to put another front clip on their, why not make it better then before.. Thoughts, Difficultys..Flames.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evildky Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 ok first of all: S13= 240SX S130= 280ZX (79-83) and anything is possible with enough time, tallent and money (actually I think you only need any 2 of the 3) 240sx rear assy's have been added to the s30 chassis the fromt should be no more difficult, given enough time, tallent and money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 5, 2005 Author Share Posted November 5, 2005 ok first of all:S13= 240SX S130= 280ZX (79-83) and anything is possible with enough time' date=' tallent and money (actually I think you only need any 2 of the 3) 240sx rear assy's have been added to the s30 chassis the fromt should be no more difficult, given enough time, tallent and money[/quote'] I know what the S chassis are, The 280zx (s130) shares some very comman front suspention peices as S13s, as seen on s12's they can put s13 peices up front including the coilovers and they work out nice, same with Z31 and a few other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I'm interested to see how this turns out. I had tossed around the idea of an S13 rear suspension subframe in my HGS130 [ZX 2+2], and S13 strut assemblies, but I've never looked into it deeply. My only concern with switching to an S130 clip, is matching the bodywork. The S130 doesn't have as steep of a line going up the fender ridge, also a main problem would be getting the headlight buckets to sit right. Just tube-frame it. I've got severe structural damage and rust on my passenger side strut area, mostly the strut tower forward, and I'm seriously contemplating just busting out a tube bender and my welder, taking some measurements, and going 'HomeDepot' on my car. Also, since my frame is tweaked up front slightly anyway, I might as well build a new front end. A benefit to tube-framing it, is for one weight reduction. Less stamped steel and seam welds equals lighter weight. Also, you can relocate the strut mount plates for more or less camber, and caster, to set up the front suspension to your liking or handling characteristics. Once you tube it, then you just need to fab up small brackets to hold your fenders on. I'd reccomend integrating the headlight assemblies to the fenders, then bolting up the completed fender/light assembly to the car as one piece. Then steering comes to mind. If you have a completely custom frame to start from, you can use a number of different steering racks. I plan on fabricating custom A-arms for my car anyway, so I could lengthen or shorten them as I needed, for a wider track and camber issues. I plan on keeping my power rack. I know the no-PS issue, my '86 Rx7 has power-nothing, and while she handles great, I want an easier low-speed turning effort [my cars see regular mountain passes and tight roads, so low-speed turning and response is critical]. There's just a few thoughts I had after reading your posts, hope this helps or guides you in some way. Maybe we could discuss different designs sometime? PM me if you have any questions or whatnot. -Dave-O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 Also, another thing I just though about - Brakes. You could use the S13's spindle assemblies, as well as brakes. I remember reading an old SCC Magazine tech article about putting Z32 brakes on their project S13, only custom work was re-drilling the rotors to the 4x114.3 pattern the S13 had. And that's another thing - the bolt pattern is the same. By you using the S13 rear subframe you've got, you can use the S13's diff [which has many LSD possibilities as of recently] and brakes, matching your front and rear running gear, in terms of braking and upgradeability. Since you'd be able to use the S13's spindle and hub assemblies up front, you might as well use the steering rack while you're at it. Get a set of high-performance adjustable tie-rod ends, and adjust them to the width of your car and toe requirements. Wow, all this has got me thinking ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 5, 2005 Author Share Posted November 5, 2005 See thats what I was thihnking, but after looking into tube framing, it seems kinda advanced, and kinda tuff... anyone else have experiance with tube framing, if its easier than welding a new front clip on, il do it.. the only downside with a tube chassie is that I cant compeat ing events like Formula D, or D1 if i ever wanted to, because its to much of a race car in their eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 Very true, regulations will get the best of you. On the other side of that blade though, swapping an S130 clip onto an S30 wouldn't be any less difficult than a tube-frame. I would dare extend and say that the S13 rear susp. subframe would de-classify your car in those events. But don't quote me, I know very little of competition rules and standards. I've had experience with tube-framing, just not mating it up to a standard chassis and firewall. I built the cage and basic suspension for a friends' sand rail [L28 powered, I might add ], and it wasn't difficult at all. It's just a precise job, and the slightest discrepancy could throw off the whole thing. Same goes for the new clip weld-on though. Because my car is going to be a track beater, and weekend mountain killer, I'm going tube. However, it may not be the right route for others to take. If you still plan on driving your car daily, it might be a wise idea to stick with an S30 clip. Even stretching to an S130 is a fair possibility. The tube-framing, like you mentioned, is "too-race" for most people. -Dave-O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 5, 2005 Author Share Posted November 5, 2005 I dont mind "to" race, but the s13 rear subframe would just put me in the same class as all the s13s, that wouldent put me out of it, id be fine. I think if i did the S130 front id cut from the wheel wells end forward and tube that, (which is legal in FD) and then make custom mountings for the headlights and stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 6, 2005 Author Share Posted November 6, 2005 any other words like stock zx dimention charts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 any other words like stock zx dimention charts Anyone, I really do need help knowing if this will even work.. please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Tell ya what, tomorrow I'll get out the ol' tape measure and give you some numbers from my ZX. -Dave-O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 8, 2005 Author Share Posted November 8, 2005 Awesome that would be great thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Okay, this is VERY general, but it's dimensions. I'm looking online right now for actual numbers. -Dave-O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 11, 2005 Author Share Posted November 11, 2005 Okay' date=' this is VERY general, but it's dimensions. I'm looking online right now for actual numbers. [img']http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8448/untitled1copy2sx.jpg[/img] -Dave-O AWESOME MAN!! Thanks, im working on getting everything together, I need to find somone who I can make sure it will be all aligned right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Yup yup, no problems. let me know if there's anything else I can help you with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 13, 2005 Author Share Posted November 13, 2005 Yup yup, no problems. let me know if there's anything else I can help you with. Yea im looking at doing it with a ZX or a S13, ill post pics asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dorifto Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Awesome - I've recently been thinking of grafting an S13 or S14 front end onto my Zed, as opposed to the tube frame idea. I'll post some ideas in a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zemus Posted November 15, 2005 Author Share Posted November 15, 2005 Awesome - I've recently been thinking of grafting an S13 or S14 front end onto my Zed, as opposed to the tube frame idea. I'll post some ideas in a little bit. Im not talking about like front end as in body panles im talking front frame, it should be to bad, i have an s13 front frame in my buddys driveway thats mine, and a rear sub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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