Rear differential and suspention upgrades

[383 Z]

Hello everyone, I'm new here but have had a Hybrid to 2 years. It is almost finished (never really finished always something to add). I need help in finding stronger control arms for the front and rear that wont break the bank:shock:! AZC has them but I cant afford them at this time.

Also any help or suggestions on upgrading the differential. I have a R200 short nose and half shafts for a JDM Sylvia S13. modern-motorsports.com sells a complete mounting kit and that looks good but I just don't know!

[Pyro]

why do you need stronger control arms and why do you need to upgrade the r200 diff?

 

both of these items are strong enough for most v8 applications.

[neotech84]

Check out the Brakes wheels ect. forum here. Great place to figure out what you want to do. Also the Drivetrain forum has many diff swaps that you can use that R200 for. If you don't want to change much there are a few people just changing out the carrier.

 

But why do you NEED stronger LCA's?? And if you give us an idea of what you want than we can give you more info.

 

Welcome! hope to see some pics of your setup.

[RTz]

383 Z, Please refrain from cross-posting.

[383 Z]

Pyro, I read the post on here about the different differentials. I it said that the R180 was a very week diff (the R180 two pinion and that’s what’s in it...). The "A" arms are a maybe for me. The motor in my car is a 507HP all motor. I am concerned about there strength and ability to hold up. I have spent lots of time on this project and don't want to kill it by having a weak link. I guess I have read too many different things on the net. So now I'm asking the pro's here on Hybrid Z. Thank you for your help and any suggestions!

Edited November 24, 2009 by 383 Z
added info

[383 Z]

Hi Jack, My car is a 1977 280Z, 383 cid SBC. I bought the car with a V8 in it, I was told it was ready to drive.... I same to find that the motor that was in it had issue's, blow by (bad rings), The lifters when installed were over tightened. The springs in the lifter were mashed and upon removing the cam some of the lobs were bad!

I threw in the towel on that motor and started over.

The 383 is a new Bowtie block forged Probe flat top pistons, bushed "I" beam H rods, Hastings rings, King Bearings and a Scat 9000 crank. Upper end has aluminum 210cc runners comp heads (2.02 1.60 valves) compression 10.5 to 1, valves are SS, Wisco SS roller rockers, Crane Blue flame 300/310 duration, lift is 510/540. Carb is a Mighty Demon 750.

Tranny is BW T-5 (the trans came out of a 1989 1LE Camero, lucky find for me!).

 

I'm a middle aged guy and not great with computers!!!! I don’t know how to put picks in here. I tried to cut and past them but it won’t let me. It asks for a URL, I don’t know how to do that!

The car is 100%, it originally from Georgia no rust. The interior is complete, all new and nice.

Don’t know what else to add, so I'll leave it there for now.

Everyone please feel free to ask and I will respond and answer. Thank you!

Edited November 24, 2009 by 383 Z
missed a word and added it.

[383 Z]

Ron, sorry for the cross-posting. First time posting and wasn't sure were to post it.

Thanks, Brett

[rossman]

I think most people get after market control arms because they are more adjustable than stock (toe and camber). If you are just worried about strength then just stick with the stock units. Techno Toy Tuning sells a set for a seemingly reasonable price. Modern Motorsports also has a set of rear lower control arms. I wouldn't hesitate to get the Modern Motorsports short nose differential kit if I were in the market.

[neotech84]

As for posting pictures check out photobucket.com

great site very easy they have a very easy layout. Sign up for the site, log in, in the middle of the screen there is a section for adding pictures from your computer. As far as posting them you can just copy the link and add it to your post. Very simple way to add pics.

 

So with that said I look forward to seeing your Z.

The R180 would "work" for you as long as the tires stay glued to the ground and you can control yourself. But once you start getting wheel hop then you should start looking at a R200.

 

If you have any questions feel free to ask. PM if needed.

[383 Z]

Well here are the pic's I have now. http://s931.photobucket.com/albums/ad157/bhcii/

The pic's of the new motor isn't very good, it over heated on the first firing before we got it timed. I'll add more pic's as I go!

Thanks Jack for your help with the "how to" with the pictures!

[383 Z]

Jack, There is a post on here about differentials. It says that the R180 2 pinion is very week!

This car is for touring. That having been said, I do love to punch it! I used to drag race, I had a number of car's that I took to the track (1 was a 1968 Corvette with a 468 in it that ran in the high 9's). That was 15 years ago and don't plan on taking this car to the track. I have to be honest if a Mustang, Corvette (or anything that looks like fun to run against) pulls up at a light and is beginning for it, I'm going to get on it!

Have you or do you know anyone that has bought the viscus conversion kit from Modern-Motorsports?

 

Ross maybe you know someone?

 

Thanks Brett

[rossman]

I don't know anybody who has used it, but that doesn't mean much. I'm sure there are others on this board who have. I went the Z31 LSD differential/half shaft route. I purchased adapters for the half shafts from Modern Motorsports. They appear to be very heavy duty and high quality.

[Pyro]

yes, the 180 is weak.

 

I would use a stock r200, 3.90 gear with stock a-arms but use stronger springs in the rear. use stock springs up front.

[rossman]

Oh, and I don't think neotech's name is Jack. That is just his signature, which is a quote from the Saturday Night Live writer Jack Handy.

 

Also, on the Photobucket website, when you view a picture, down on the left side bar there is a box called "Share this Image". Copy the text in the "IMG code" box and paste it into the "Reply to Thread" text editor box on this website. Your pictures will show up inline with your post. Like the following picture of my Modern Motorsports adapters. You can also "preview Post" before submitting it to check to see if it looks right.

 

Hope this helps.

 

[neotech84]

Thanks Ross for clarifying the name........ I didn't notice that till today. My name is Scott in case any one was wondering.

 

Here are his pics from the bucket.

 

Beautiful motor

 

Cowl hood

 

Roll cage

 

Interior

 

More interior

 

Side view

 

Front

 

Drivers side

 

 

As stated by Ross, there is a section on the left when you view a pic that says "Share this image" and under that the last option is IMG code. Just click that and paste it in any post. Very simple. Or the option is the same if you move your mouse over the pic in ALBUM view (Don't Click) it will be outlined and you can click the IMG Code option.

 

Lover your car looking forward to seeing more of it!

 

What is the chassis in the background of the pic with the cowl? Would like to see that car.

 

Scott

[383 Z]

I'm laughing at myself for not catching that (The name)!

 

Scott, Ross and Pyro thanks very much for the help and education with uploading the pic's. I'll give that a try with the next set of pic's.

 

Now about the dirty pic's of the car, the water spots on the car and motor is an example of my trying new things on the car. It did over heat while we were timing it. It turns out that replacing the mechanical fan and shroud with a new electric relay fan didn't work out so well! The plug wires on it are just to get it fired up . I have a brand new set and Billet looms that should dress it up nicely.

 

I live in Upstate New York, South of Rochester, so unfortunately the car has to go into the garage for the winter. I won’t move it when they start salting the roads! They salt heavily here!

I don’t have a lift so it will be slow going but I do have heat. I will be working on it through the winter installing the VLSD R200 that I just got for it.

 

I'll drop in and update on the project as I go, maybe I can help someone else that needs info on this install.

[neotech84]

Sweet! glad to hear that you have a project. Check out the project threads and start your own with LOTS of pics. Welcome once again. Enjoy yourself here at HBZ