Datsun 1200 suspension mods

[Morrisun]

I decided to start new topic around suspension. These little cars are a blast to drive and improving the handling -well it adds to the fun!

When I drive Smurf and get on and off the gas I could feel the rear end of the car move around, and doing a little hard connering- on the same conner, the result was always different...The NISMO Suspension book for 1200's recomends replacing the rubber chassis bushing for the front leaf spring hanger with alumiunm bushings. Since mine is street car, I went with steel it's simlar metal thing.

I once again I enlisted the services of Mike Klotz to make 1 set of bushings as a prototype.

Started with this piece of stock DOM 1.125 OD and 0.5 ID, and Mike made these bushings.

This shows what was being replaced.

And this shows why- the larger ones were in the front spring eye.

Bushings stripped out of spring and chassis.

Using 1/2" bolt and nut pulled the bushings into the chassis-bushings were made to have a press in fit.

Pressed until flush.

And yes leaf spring bushings need replaced and that's next. Thanks again to Mike Klotz-video??

Even with spring bushing needing replaced it connered better.

[Uber Deaf One]

Awesome!! Replacing rubber stuff with metal stuff is a great way to get these old cars to handle better.

[mklotz70]

[mklotz70]

I didn't take many pics.....but here they are....pretty much what Doug already had.

 

 

 

 

 

[mklotz70]

[mklotz70]

[DaBlist]

Glad to see this and very interested in the out come.

[831Sunny]

will they be available??? hope soo when i get my 1200 and some cash. hopefully by next year.. i would like to get these and your brakeupgrade kit.. Mike you sir are a genius

[KELMO]

Man you guys come up whith the coolest stuff......I wanna set

[mklotz70]

Thanks guys. I'm glad you like them, but I can't take any credit here.....let alone lay any claims to being a genius. Doug came up with this information.....I simply machined a set for him so that he could double check fit and get some pics to check interest. It seems they've done their job. :)

 

Yes, they will be available. I hooked Morrisun up with Datrod and 60 pieces will be made......hhmmm.....that doesn't come out even if there's 8 pcs per set....that number needs to be upped by 4. Read my signature. :)

 

As for the brakes....they were also Doug's idea. He told me what he wanted and we went from there. He was very specific and that made it pretty easy to narrow down the donor parts. Anyway..... it will be a few weeks, possibly, for the parts to reach Doug, but if you want a set, pm him to make arrangements.

[IttyBittyDat]

Kewl project! Were any lubrication means provided to keep these lovely bits from metal-to-metal galling/seizure?

[mklotz70]

Nope. The original design called for aluminum, but Doug wanted them in steel so that they wouldn't have that dissimilar/galvanic corrosion problem. You could hit them with a bit of paint, but they're a press in....it's assumed you're not removing them. But, it would probably be a good idea to put some anti-seize on the bracket bolts that go through them.....which should address the issue you're asking about.

 

....and Thanks :)

[littlejason]

I'm interested, if possible!

[Morrisun]

At this point I have ordered 8 sets to be machined and not expecting them to be ready and shipped until the after Labor Day holiday. When I know the shipping costs, I will have a price,

[LilBullit]

Awesome! I'm interested if available.

[CGS1948]

Doug, and Mike, you guys are a great team. I've forgotten how these little cars handle, as the last two that I owned was in 1998!!! I will probably be needing to tighten up the rear suspension on mine as my project won't have stock power.

 

---Craig

[datrod]

I'm gonna start these little beggars here in a day or two. You guys want some pic's of the machining????

[mklotz70]

Need you ask?!! Of course!!! :)

[goes2fast]

Please put me on the list for a set, and pm me when they are ready. :thumbup:

[datrod]

This is what I started with. Mike used tubing for the first set. But I had this just sitting here so I used it.

1045 poor mans 4340. Good mat'l.

 

In the chuck ready for some action..

The tools I used.

 

And the finished product.. I'll be shipping these up to doug tomorrow.

[mklotz70]

:) They're purdy!!!!! Thanks John!!!! I'd have gone nuts trying to do 64 of them suckers manually!! I'm guessing the cycle time was under a minute?

[datrod]

:) They're purdy!!!!! Thanks John!!!! I'd have gone nuts trying to do 64 of them suckers manually!! I'm guessing the cycle time was under a minute?

 

Just over!!!

[Morrisun]

John:

Thank you for doing this small project for me, WOW shipping them tomorrow, I may have them by this Saturday! Thanks to Mike Klotz for steering me in John's direction and sending the tech drawings!

[mklotz70]

You guys are more than welcome. Glad it all worked out. I'm looking forward to hearing about how these are working for guys as they install them. :)

[hurricane14]

i am in for a set. keep me posted. just drove our little guy home from the shop this weekend for the first time and need to verify wheel clearance for the brake kit. not too mention working out all the little kinks from a car needing serious CPR to get moving again. look for a new post with "oics" coming soon.