510 Coil Over Conversion Front ( Ground Control)

[DatsunMod]

Does anyone now a link where I can find out how to correctly modify a pair of 280 z struts to fit the ground control coil kit

 

Thanks

[qwik510]

The Dime Quarterly back issues has articles on how to do it.

 

Very helpful stuff. Buy a complete set before they are gone.

 

http://dimequarterly.tierranet.com/articles.shtml

[INDY510]

Does anyone now a link where I can find out how to correctly modify a pair of 280 z struts to fit the ground control coil kit

 

280Z struts will not work in a 510 ....... .. however 79-83 280ZX struts will work after modifying them for coilovers

 

....... are they 280Z struts??? ..... or 280ZX struts???

[DatsunMod]

280zx struts ...sorry for confusion

[Uber Deaf One]

Cut the struts to desired height, get split collars and use them as spring perches, then sit the coilover kit on the split collars. datzenmike should chime in shortly with some pics.....

 

paging datzenmike!!!

[Dime Dave]

No need to shorten a 280ZX strut if you are using camber plates.

 

A 195/50-15 tire will hit the inner fender about 1" before the strut bottoms out.

 

If you are on a typcal 15" or 16" set up don't waste your time shortening the strut.

[FiveTenzo]

similar to this

 

[DatsunMod]

similar to this

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KWCDDBbpNc

 

thanks for the video its exactly what i needed to see

[DatsunMod]

does anyone know the measurements where to cut?

[Uber Deaf One]

does anyone know the measurements where to cut?

 

All depends on the insert you're running.

[Dime Dave]

does anyone know the measurements where to cut?

 

DatsunMod,

Check your set-up before cutting your strut tubes.

 

Do a test fit WITHOUT the springs. You may find that you don't need to cut the tube to get the ride height you want.

 

With the car sitting at ride height you want the strut travel to be half way between fully extended and hitting the bump stops. Also check that your tires are not hitting the chassis before the strut hits the bump stop. You want to have as much suspension travel as your strut can give you (somewhere around 6").

 

If you shorten the strut without checking this there is a good chance you will end up with little to no droop travel and extra suspension travel you can never use because the tire is hitting the inner fender before the strut hits the bumpstop.

 

I lowered an S10 pick-up never checking the travel. In hard corners it would lay the tire onto the inner fender before it got close to hitting the bump stops. At times it would hit so hard it would actually smoke the tire and yank the steering wheel a good quarter turn.

 

Lots of fun when you are doing 70 thru a turn in traffic and hit a bridge joint!

[INDY510]

.

DatsunMod ...... do you even have a Datsun to check your ride height on??? ....... I don't reccomend shortening the 280zx struts at all

[Uber Deaf One]

I'm confused. I'm running 15s on my 510 and it's low, but not slammed, and I still shortened my 280ZX struts a decent amount. Running MR2 inserts though....

[FiveTenzo]

All depends on the insert you're running.

 

i used kyb vw rabbit inserts and cut AROUND 2", but still measure to be safe.

[FiveTenzo]

I'm confused. I'm running 15s on my 510 and it's low, but not slammed, and I still shortened my 280ZX struts a decent amount. Running MR2 inserts though....

 

so whats confusing?

[Uber Deaf One]

so whats confusing?

 

These two are saying there's no need to cut 280ZX struts... you'd pretty much have to be running stock height to not blow shocks if you don't cut the struts...

 

I guess I'm just assuming anyone who goes through the trouble of swapping to 280ZX struts will also go with new, aftermarket inserts lol

[q-tip]

to get the car to a lower ride height its not required to shorten the struts, i put spacers at the bottom oif my inserts to maintain travel. the 280zx struts are already 2" shorter than the 510 struts and with coil overs can get the car plenty low

 

the cilovers are close to the top of the collars,

 

[INDY510]

These two are saying there's no need to cut 280ZX struts... you'd pretty much have to be running stock height to not blow shocks if you don't cut the struts...

 

I guess I'm just assuming anyone who goes through the trouble of swapping to 280ZX struts will also go with new, aftermarket inserts lol

 

For day to day driveability ...... I feel like my shortened 510 struts with MR2 inserts are too short ,,,, ,, they were way too low in my wagon even raised all the way

 

for a 510 it's "okay" .... as long as you want stiff springs and a LOW ride height ,,, ,,, , if I was driving across country I would want it higher than the coils can go

 

.........I did alot of driving on these coilovers raised all the way up,,,,, ,, but they "feel" better when lowered at least an inch

 

 

The most fun I've had daily-ing a 510 was with stock struts,,, and better springs only lowered one inch front and rear from stock .... with 205/60/13 tires it was like a dirt rally car,, and even better on pavement

[Uber Deaf One]

I think it all depends on where you put the spring perch. Just a couple months ago I redid a set of 280ZX struts for my 510. Right now I have the springs preloaded at full droop (which is why the ride quality is amazing) and I can lower the coilovers to the point where the car is completely undriveable.

[Guest LoneWolf]

Hey guys, I thought if you were doing a 280zx strut swap into a 510 that shortening(cutting) will NOT be needed becase the 280ZX struts are already a little lower(variable like what type of inserts)...and I have heard that your inner brake pad will wear out alot quicker... not sure...but I've read that by installing the 280ZX struts on opposite sides(left side on right, and right on left) will correct that problem... but I still liked reading this thread(blog)...planning on doing this upgrade on my 510.

[hobbes_the_cat]

^^^ It's not necessary unless you want to go a lot lower than stock, but if you don't plan on slamming it in the weeds, stock length zx struts should be fine.