Z32 300zx front suspension on 240sx

[Guest Timtiminy]

Hi everyone I am new to this forum but am a member on some other nissan forums. So just wondering if you guys have any advice you can give me about adapting the double wishbone front suspension setup from the Z32 300zx to the S13 240sx... I know that the double wishbone setup is superior to the Mcpherson setup and that it looks like the suspension setup change could possibly be made in this application, especially after looking at the Full Race R14 that is essentially a S14 240sx with a full R32 skyline conversion mechanically. In their setup they change the front McPherson strut assembly on the S14 to the double wishbone front suspension from the R32 which is very similar to the Z32 (with the biggest difference being that the R32 has front axles for the AWD). I am interested in doing this on my S13 in order to have more room for wider tires up front and to be able to run less negative camber up front and get the same if not better handling. I know it might be quite the undertaking but i have 2 S13s one that the engine bay got roasted in a fire and the other one as a clean chassis for my project car, so i have the ablity to mess around with one without the fear of screwing things up. I see that there are two approaches to this setup... one being that I use the Z32 strut towers and wheel wells welded in place of the S13 ones and just bolting on all the Z32 suspension, or making brackets for the Z32 suspension components that can be welded/or bolted onto the existing structure of the S13... I havent gotten a Z32 front end yet to do all the measurements and I don't know of anyone having done this so I guess its all up to me, i just wanted to get some input before i go full force into this.

P.S. If anyone in Socal has a stripped Z32 front clip they are looking to get rid of please let me know.

 

Thanks for your comments,

Tim

[260DET]

From research done for project S130 I think that such a mod would be impractical and not that much of an improvement anyway. The S13/14/15 front strut design is excellent and there is so much aftermarket stuff available, seriously you don't need to redesign the front end on your 240SX.

[Guest Timtiminy]

I hear you 260DET, just kinda wanted to do something a little different from just throwing on aftermarket coilovers. It doesn't seem too difficult and it would be interesting to have the only S13 with a full 300zx suspension as I am already putting the 300zx rear spindles on my 240sx and will have to run 300zx rear struts... figured it would be kind of nice to be able to buy a complete 300zx strut set, rather than 240sx front and 300zx rear. we'll see i guess

[Evan Purple240zt]

I hear you 260DET, just kinda wanted to do something a little different from just throwing on aftermarket coilovers. It doesn't seem too difficult and it would be interesting to have the only S13 with a full 300zx suspension as I am already putting the 300zx rear spindles on my 240sx and will have to run 300zx rear struts... figured it would be kind of nice to be able to buy a complete 300zx strut set, rather than 240sx front and 300zx rear. we'll see i guess

 

Why do you want to do this? To run a wider wheel/tire?

 

The problem is, if you stuff a wider wheel in the wheelwell you will decrease turning radius drastically. Your wheel / tire will hit the frame rail/wheelwell. You would have to redo the wheel housings and front frame area as well.

 

The front suspension in my S14 leaves nothing to be desired. The 300zx uprights for the rear are fine.

 

Its hardly a drop in setup by any stretch. IMO there is no reason to swap front suspensions unless your doing something crazy!

 

Good luck with whatever you do.

 

Evan