What strut tubes do I use?

[383 240z]

I'm painting my front suspension this week and decided to go coil-over. is there a better strut tube? I have a set of 240's and 280's I remember reading that they have different O.D.'s I read that shortening the tubes is unneeded with 16+" wheels any input here? also should I use the short 240z upper insulaters or the later tall 280's? Keith

Also anybody have a recomendation on new strut cart's? I've read everything from rabbit to mr2 and even z cart's(but who puts z parts on a z car?) the car will be lowered but needs a decent suspesion travel as a LOT of street miles will be seen. Thanks again Keith

[Guest Anonymous]

Keith.. Go with the 280 strut tubes/ bigger diameter.Before doing any cutting trial fit the new strut cartridges to what the sectioned strut tubes will be. I did a 2 inch section using KYB GR2 strut cartridges (#364014) from a 80's Rabbit GTI on the fronts and fit perfect in the 2 inch section. I cut approximately one inch below the original spring perch weld bead and one inch above removing two inches from the tubes. Ross C supplied a large washer for the coilover spring perch that I welded above the sectioned cut. I used 10 inch Carerra coilovers on 5 inch inch threaded sleeves. The threaded sleeves came out flush under the gland nut. This method gave me at least a 4 inch drop with about 5 inches upward adjustment on the sleeve.. I also did nezzie 76's and used the front 280 Z strut cartridges in the rear tubes, but needed about a 1 1/8 spacer placed in the bottom of the strut tube to fit the short cartridge snug to the retaining gland nut. An Austrilian member posted that a Toyota Celica strut cartridge was a better fit in the sectioned rear 280 tubes but I do not know what year,, etc and differences the Austrailuian application entails. I have not done my rears yet, (which requires a strut pin removal tool from member Dan Bertha to get the rear struts out).A non sectioned strut tube utilizing the original perch weld bead will give a 2 inch drop with 10 inch coilovers. The shorter 240 tops will also give a lower drop on the 280 tubes and using the 280 front tops on the rear 280 strut tubes will give an additional 1 inch drop. Look up an old post(s) of mine on suspension modifications about other modifications like lower control arm relocation.Get your parts from SCCA or Ross C

[383 240z]

OK so i cut the spring perch off the 280 struts cut 2" out off the tube(removing the factory weld point)weld a bead on the tube to hold the sleeve drop in a 1980 rabbit cart add a 5" sleeve button it up using the short 240 isolater and put it back in the car. what do the sleeves cost? Does the O.E.M. upper spring perch hold the new spring? If so what mods must be done to it? Thanks again Keith

[Guest Anonymous]

I got some real nice aluminum "hats" from Ross C that held the upper coilovers in place. Also the large washer he supplied for the lower spring perch was great to MIG "weave weld" to the sectioned and re-welded strut tube which heavily reinforced the sectioned cut. The strut tubes are thick enough for good wire welding. I got some used Bilstein threaded sleeves and nuts that I had machine turned on the inside diameter to fit the larger 280 tubes. Afco Racing (1-812-897-0900) and Stock Car Products (1-800-262-8099) has threaded sleeves and nuts at less than $30.00 for a strut tube.( but you will need to get these sleeves slightly bored out since the 280 tube is not standard sized).Ross and Scca can get the sleeves already sized to fit a 280 tube. I got my 10 inch Carerras off E Bay plus an additional set of 12 inch Carerras off E Bay that I will just section 2 inches below the original perch weld bead for my second project.