Newbie "hello everyone" Larger wheels-Suspension c

[Guest ShelbyZ]

I won a set of Copse 5ZR wheels the size is 17x7.5 with a positive 35mm backspace. I just changed my springs and struts about 2 months ago and hate to change to coil overs without making every attempt to make these wheels work with the setup I have currently. Any suggestions? I have MSA lowering springs with tokico struts-nonadjustable. Can I get enough of a spacer on this setup staying inside stock fenders or will I have to go to coilovers?

 

Keep ZZZZZZZin

ShelbyZ

[BLKMGK]

Well, try putting them on and see how close it comes. I can't quite recall which offset I had that came closest to touching the springs with my coilovers but I'm thinking you might need a pretty thick spacer Be wary of that as it adds stress to the studs I believe.

 

Easiest thing to do is set it in the wheelwell and just eyeball it. Trak Auto and other places sell cheap spacers - try stacking a couple for a test fit but don't drive it with stacked spacers

[Guest ShelbyZ]

Well,I went out and took the wheel off and placed the new rim up there and to get the wheel all the way on. The rim goes under the spring perch. Just holding the wheel up to where it looks like it should be would require a big spacer-from what I can tell. It would also require fender mods that I don't want. I had also been told that large spacers put more stress on the studs. What size of wheel did you put on your Z? Have you seen Simon Degroot's Z site? He lives in Australia and has a really NICE Z. I talked to him via email, he went with a positive 2mm offset but had to do fender mods in the rear to keep the stock fender appearance. What size of tire did you go with? I saw a site where the guy had 245-40-17's on his Z under the fenders. This is the size of tire I would like to run. I can't find the site now. Thanks for the input. I guess I will have to wait until I can get the coilovers. But the rims look so good in the box that I would really like to have them on the car.

 

Arizona Z car has a really nice hub and brake setup. I wonder what wheel offset is needed for the upgrade.

 

Thanks Again for the advice!

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

First off, can you choose your bolt pattern and offset with the wheels you won? Or was it a single set, take what you get??? Assuming you can get them in a 4bolt pattern you SHOULD be able to fit those but most likely NOT with 245's....225 treads fit front back without alteration when spaced correctly. And so do 16x7" rims fit front back when spaced correctly...with some extra room which 'should' accomodate your additional 1/2" with wider rims. That 1/2" will quite likely require rolling in your rear fender inside lip (do a search/many here have done it). Your spacer will likely be right around 1" (25mm thick). IF your wheels are same as Z pattern, see if you can round up a 'cheap' transdapt bolt on 1" thick 4x4.5 patterned spacer for test fitments. From that you should be able to fine tune it to your exact thickness needs for proper rim placement (unless 1" works). Keep your transdapt receipt as their bolt on adaptors are crap, they've been breaking regularly in our area as they're not made with any respectable materials.

 

Once you know they'll fit and have determined your appropriate thickness I can provide you with a custom set of bolt on adaptors. The adaptors themselves do not put additional stress on your existing studs as they experience the same as a wheel bolted on. Still always a good idea to replace those studs if you can, everything has a design life and if you're not the original owner you have no way of knowing if they've been routinely overtorqued in the past etc.

 

good luck and let us know more about your wheel specs (bolt pattern same? etc).

 

On a different note, do you like your MSA springs? Are they stiff enough for your needs? If you are interested in a change you'll be out the least $ by doing it while your MSA stuff is near-new for resale. Just a thought...sometimes (not saying it's true in this case) we devise the $1000 solution around keeping a $250 part that'd be easier swapped out.

[Guest Anonymous]

Can you use adapters? Spacers will not work for this distance (35mm or 1.4 inches), but adapters will.

 

OK - Ross beat me to it What he said.

 

[ October 16, 2001: Message edited by: S ]

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

quote:

---

Originally posted by S:

Can you use adapters? Spacers will not work for this distance (35mm or 1.4 inches), but adapters will.

---

He likely doesn't need a full 35mm, that would definitely put rear tires into the fenders unless his lip is fully rolled ALL they way upward (assuming tire travel isn't severely limited, which it shouldn't be with MSA springs (ie. not too stiff)).

 

And spacers can be used if desired. But obviously studs should be changed and upgraded to 7/16's or 1/2". I run 1-1/4" slipons up front and 1.5's on occasion. I rec'd bolt-on's as those not so familiar with spacers that haven't used/seen them in action typically prefer bolt-ons. My buds lean to slipons once aware of various setups/options. If you plan on having more than one set of wheels their are great advantages to slipons IF their is any chance your offsets/tire sizes will differ.....numerous autox/event drivers use slipons. Drive up on 7" rims....swap on 3pc wheels with 8->10" width spaced outward to max with slipons, nice to be able to do that in a 20 minutes or so. Always options

 

[BLKMGK]

To answer your question to me - I'm running 17X8 Konig 5.0s. Tires are 245/45 in back and 225 or 235 up front (I've forgotten ) My wheels are 5lug Mustang offset with +20 on one end and +40 on the other if MEMORY serves. I've got 300ZX hubs up front so my offset is different than yours and I'm running coilovers. Overall I'm not sure my experience in fitting wheels on my car will help you too much. If you do a search here yo'll find at least a couple of threads where weI hashed out this sizing on my car and my WEBsite has info as well. Oh, I did use thing spacers in front but it looks like I can remove them in back no problem but it's REAL close.

 

Sorry that's not much help - if you search though you'll find tons of info as this has been a VERY popular subject. I ended up with Outlaw brakes (HUGE) similar to what you see on the ArizonaZ site...

[Guest ShelbyZ]

The wheel has two bolt patterns. One is four bolt nissan-4x114.3 and the other is for a Jetta. The wheel is also suppose to be a direct bolt on for a 240SX. I picked the offset and sizing from what they gave me to choose from. I won them in June and finally got them last week so I was just happy to get what I got. I don't mind turning the fender lip up or trimming it off some, but I was afraid it would hit the inner fender above. The adaptor might be a way to go in the meantime. I haven't seen an adaptor before. Does it bolt onto the studs and the wheel bolt to the adaptor? I'm trying to picture what exactly your describing.

 

Ross I talked to you awhile back via email about the spacers and recommended someone locally here who I know could make them, but he is very busy. As for the springs I don't think they are stiff enough. I had a 260Z with the MSA springs and old KYB's and it was alot stiffer. I really liked the way it felt. My neighbor has the Eibach progressive springs from MSA and his car literally sits on the ground and that's with 14" rims with 60 series tires. Kenny has a 240Z with the MSA springs and Koni adjustables and it is really stiff. I like the way it feels. Ross how much for the adaptors? Or email directly if you prefer.

 

Keep ZZZZZZZin

ShelbyZ

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

OK, only q left is if it'll fit or not without coilovers then. Your front tires will most certainly have to be 235's or less (not 245's). My Z to honda adaptor set (simple picture on my website, URL below, and yes it's as you described, is $210 for the set of 4. Anything 1.25" (and perhaps 1.5") or thinner is same pricing (ie. 4 bolt or 5bolt etc).

 

Thanks for that prior note on machining. The 'display names' here can make it hard to associate real names. I actually received a check in August from someone whom we'd exchanged email, but his 'real name' was never displayed or given. It was a bit of work sorting to which email address/name it actually belonged. (most buyers include a copy of at least one email of correspondence). My adaptors are made by a man who's made it his profession(fully certified) making wheel adaptors and the quality is all top notch but I have your prior email filed for future use

 

drop me a line with any further q's, I try to read/post here regularly but it's not always possible on my end.

[Guest ShelbyZ]

BLKMGK, I finally got a chance to get a good look at your site. I really like your Z and your website. It has alot of info on it I can use. I have seen pics of the other red Z before. My computer was hit by lightening and it fried the modem so I lost everything. I had wanted to show some of the guys the Z's and couldn't, but now I can. This is how I would like to have my car setup. I think the coil overs will be a good idea.

 

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll keep ya posted on the progress.

 

Keep ZZZZZZin

ShelbyZ