The Suspension pt. 1

6/6//2011

Last week I picked up the springs from my friend Jack at his shop (FASTTRACK Santa Ana,CA). We were going to do an experimental setup including the 280z linear springs rather than the 240z springs. The difference is that the 280z springs are a higher rate than the 240z, which the highest rate for them is 165lb. Jack is more conservative than I am and is running the 240z spring with the Tokico Illumina's (which are adjustable mine are the non-adjustable HP's), his are set at 3 out of 5. The HP's are set factory at about the number 3 like Jack's Illumina's (I've driven his car and it was a little soft for my taste) so since I don't have the freedom to spend large amounts on the my Z right now it's a slightly makeshift setup. I was originally going to run the 280z springs on all for corners but was unable to get the fronts since their on back order so I opted for the 240z rears for the front and the 280z springs in the rear so the normal spring rates will be 165 front and 225 rear which will be a huge jump from what the stock stuff was. I was also informed that as I cut the springs (yes I'm going to cut the springs) it will increase the rate too. I will have to get together with Jack to get a better idea on what the rates have become as I make the adjustments. So I planned to set aside most of Saturday to do the work on the Z, I asked Brian if he could give me a hand and he said he would. So I the plan for the weekend was as follows.

List of things to do:
-Remove and install new struts and springs-
-Remove broken bleeder on drum and replace-
-Bleed brakes-
-Adjust handbrake-
-Cut springs to get the ride height I want-

Friday afternoon after I got back from Jack's with my car packed with work things and car parts, I unloaded and got started on installing the front springs and struts. The install went relatively smooth minus the retaining bolt for the strut tub as well as one of the nuts on the strut itself but the channellocks on the strut tube took care of that. The initial decision on cutting the springs was to cut the "dead coils" first and continue from there. If you don't know what the "dead coils" are they are the coils that the top hat and the perch rest against once there is weight on the actual spring, I was really excited to do everything so I didn't measure the spring height before I cut so eh.

The nasty stock parts.

Yeah that wasn't fun.

My little roly-poly pal

Tokico 240z Rear Springs (165lb)

The "dead coil" top

The "dead coil" bottom

The initial cuts to the spring the normal uncut on the right

Old strut insert vs the new Tokico HP

New vs Old

 

 

All back together for now.

New Parts...Finally!

Finally, I can make some progress on the Z. Yesterday I bought and picked up some suspension parts such as a whole rear suspension! The guy even threw in the front strut as well. Now why am I so excited for a stock rear end, that's easy. The stock rear end that I picked up is the R180 and if you actually read these blogs you'll know I've really been looking for one. The rear end is a 3:54 ratio like the one I currently have in the Z now so once I change differentials I will keep the same gearing. I just have to replace the gasket but that's cheap and should only take a couple of minutes. I also got new (well slightly new) struts to and not just stock ones the ones that were in the rear end and the fronts I procured are Tokico HP's and with my good friend Jack hooking me up with the 280z linear springs the temporary performance setup will be complete. The parts also included a intacted front diff mount and supposedly new brake shoes as well as a useable bleeder valve for the rear drums since I fucked up one of mine. So all in all I came up pretty nice. So today since I had nothing to do I pull the diff out to the nice Southern California day cleaned it, I still need the gasket and I will most likely change out the rear retaining bolt and opt for allen head bolt for a little visual, we'll see. I was going to pull the struts out of the cartriges but realized I needed a set of channel locks to do it so I'll stop by Will's to pick his up as well as the floor jack so I can raise the car to do the needed work. I still need to pull the crossmember and drill and re-tap the bolt holes so the diff doesn't knock anymore (thank you previous owner).

A shitty picture of Emil

Eww..dirt!

Yeah it's clean..well kinda

0.0 Pretty

Random shots of the Day

So I've decided to take pictures of nice cars I see throughout my day so here they are.

New GTR...clearly he doesn't know how to back up

Classic Ford, er a Galaxy or Fairlane not to sure

Low slung EK not my taste but to each their own

Looking at something a lil more "family"

So I what something a little less 2 seater and a little more roomie. With the options I have it's either something new or well something old. I still want a car that's fun to drive but isn't a full blown sports car. So I looked at my options, there is the Impreza, Evo, IS300, Mazdaspeed 3 or 6, or the Integra DA. It has to be RWD so the kills the DA and the Mazdaspeed 3. Then it has to be affordable so long Impreza, Evo, IS300, and Mazdaspeed 6. Well hell that leaves no options at all, right...well not quite. I forgot one car that I didn't think of until Friday at the Torrance Meet, the 510. Yeah it's just as old as the Z if not older (I know) , but it's RWD and it's a sedan or a wagon so it works. So my search for a 510 will begin after I fix up the Toyota Solara, I hope. Now the only question is do I stay with the factory motor or KA24?

Ayrton Senna Top Gear Tribute

A day to remember....

I'm not an avid F1 enthusiast although I wish I had been sooner. My friend introduced me to one of the greatest drivers in the world and the worst part about it is that he's dead! Yes, he died about 18 years to the date and who is this legendary driver well his name was Ayrton Senna. So here is my salute to him and the wonderful things he did on and off the track. Rest In Peace Senna, your still missed.

Support for Japan!

Yes I donated to the efforts in Japan, doing my part and here it is the Heartbreakers for Japan vinyl (well not so much the vinyl) but it shows that I donated funds to help.  I have also started on some more body work on the Z such as painting the hood and (re-installing) my original gas door. The original one had the twist lock for the access door and it looked lame, so I swapped it to the later gas door which got rid of it. However after deciding on the JDM feel for the car I knew that I had to revert it by either buying a keyed gas door or modifiying mine. As I looked more into it I realized that I could use my current one and just install the keyed lock as opposed to buying a JDM door and spending money that I didn't have too. So here it is.

Ah, the old door ready for paint.

Heartbreakers for Japan

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The start of the hood prep....finally!