MOWAHAHA 5 lug z31 conversion !!! No camber issues
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
Yes we did calculate, but dont forget it is needed to correct the negatvive camber ( or better 0 camber) from the use of the complete z31 strut, however yes this will give some camber
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
Well the axles of a z31 fit with no mods, It has the z31 hubs and vented brakes
As you can see the sub frame is mostly re-assembled, it has poly bushing and solids in the sub frame mounts, it has been seam welded. The trailing arms have been seam welded aswel.
The diff is a 3.3 cooled euro turbo diff , running an OBX hlsd( pump is not on this picture but i will update when i mount this on the car)

The rims ill be running will be 17"s 10J the clearance is minimal but enough, measuring on the car does not show problems at this point

For the front use of a z31 strut you need to extend the arms by 25mm ( or however much you feel suited)
i also run adjustable bushing upfront so i can adjust from 20mm to 30 mm and adjust some of the cars roll center.
Next to that i will use 30mm bumb steer spacers

all in all a fun day!
As you can see the sub frame is mostly re-assembled, it has poly bushing and solids in the sub frame mounts, it has been seam welded. The trailing arms have been seam welded aswel.
The diff is a 3.3 cooled euro turbo diff , running an OBX hlsd( pump is not on this picture but i will update when i mount this on the car)

The rims ill be running will be 17"s 10J the clearance is minimal but enough, measuring on the car does not show problems at this point

For the front use of a z31 strut you need to extend the arms by 25mm ( or however much you feel suited)
i also run adjustable bushing upfront so i can adjust from 20mm to 30 mm and adjust some of the cars roll center.
Next to that i will use 30mm bumb steer spacers

all in all a fun day!
ross at modern has done that rear swap years ago, but for whatever reason his diff needed adapters for the cv's or something. his car is long gone, so i cant take a look anymore. (some ***** stole it and wrote it off) what diff/cv combo did you use?
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
Rear s130 coilovers done for 5 lug swap

Well here we go the generics are on the back , I use re valved koni adjustable for this.
One ifs fully extended the other dropped to the max. for reference.
This gives me nice control.
The ebay sleeves where machined and a 2,5 CM spacer was made to get the right amount of adaptation.
Here is a detailed shot of the machined ring.

The set up does require some minor details but i have faith in the fact it will work out for what i am looking for.
The fronts will get a sleeve welded over the strut housing. pics of that will follow as soon as i get them done.
sofar am happy with rear set up. Ebay generic crap seems to work great as long as you have access to a machine shop for some tweaking.
They are OBX but it is prolly made by the same Chinese slave labour workers , spring rates are ( after measuring in a press) 304 left front and 301 r Front
276 R rear and 273 L rear High rates but i like a stiffer set up in high speed corners better
However if you buy these and do NOT have access to a machine shop .. DO NOT BUY THESE!!!! or settle for work around
Next to that do NOT expect the best quality etc.. for me this is a pure test set up.. I solely use these in the rear the front sleeves and rings are better quality, though i would not hesitate to use these.. good thing is that you can buy brand name springs on ebay and the hardware is good enough!
cost so far USD 70 for the set up and a 6 pack for the machine work.
Last edited by frank280zx; Apr 16, 2007 at 06:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
Originally Posted by lww
John?! Dude, how's it goin'? Haven't heard from you in awhile.
Frank, you continue to amaze me.
Cheers,
LWW
Frank, you continue to amaze me.
Cheers,
LWW
Will you be at MSA?
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
coilover 5 lug update!
Well i did do some installing again , it can sit pretty low now about 3'5" from the ground.
However you do need bump steer spacer for a z31 when you do this!! ( guess what nobody makes them... so i was off to the machine shop again)
Next to that i trail fitted my front part of the cage .. that will all get to together quite nicely i take!
anyhow here are the pics i use z31 calipers for now but i will receive a set of z32 that ill probably run, not the steel brake lines lets see if i note the difference.
This is more a looks thing as the z31 calipers are more than sufficient as far as i experienced.

However you do need bump steer spacer for a z31 when you do this!! ( guess what nobody makes them... so i was off to the machine shop again)
Next to that i trail fitted my front part of the cage .. that will all get to together quite nicely i take!
anyhow here are the pics i use z31 calipers for now but i will receive a set of z32 that ill probably run, not the steel brake lines lets see if i note the difference.
This is more a looks thing as the z31 calipers are more than sufficient as far as i experienced.

Last edited by frank280zx; May 19, 2007 at 09:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
well like said i need the spacers on the car to do so now im at 4" (10,5 cm )ill shoot some pics once i roll it from the lift the wheels are big enough haha
Last edited by frank280zx; May 20, 2007 at 01:11 AM.
3.5 inches or 3 feet 5 inches? cause the ' " tells me you were measuring from the ground to the roof line but uhhh, 3.5 inches is pretty retardedly (not really possilbe even) low so i thought id just ask. lol
Thread Starter
Euro Z King
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 387
From: Utrecht The Netherlands where owning a car is a CRIME!!
no the lowest setting is 3,5" from the ground to the lip of front airdam witch is flush with the fraim rail! needless to say this wont work on the street.. but would on track.. i need the bumbsteer spacer to make make it happen as the lca with be way out of wack if not and even hitting the frame rail
so it is possible easily!
so it is possible easily!
when your LCA gets even close to horizontal you'll find you have a lot more body roll. Your sway bar won't be able to keep the car level. (you probably know this)
Going too low doesn't help your handling.
Nice setup though. I wonder if I'll ever get around to my Z31 swappage
Going too low doesn't help your handling.

Nice setup though. I wonder if I'll ever get around to my Z31 swappage
I did part of it. It does bolt in, even with the different flange I have.
The outter hub seems to sink in just a little too far. The caliper looks like it will bolt on but the rotor is in just a bit too far.
Reading Franks post again I think I may have missed a part. The inner bearing that is left inside the Z31 trailing arm probably needed to be swapped over as well. That might space the hub out another 1/8 inch. So far so good though I guess....
Update: I looked at Rockauto.com - they list the actual dimentions of parts. The Z31 inner bearing and 280ZX inner bearing are the same size and part number. swapping that over won't do anything.
The outter hub seems to sink in just a little too far. The caliper looks like it will bolt on but the rotor is in just a bit too far.
Reading Franks post again I think I may have missed a part. The inner bearing that is left inside the Z31 trailing arm probably needed to be swapped over as well. That might space the hub out another 1/8 inch. So far so good though I guess....
Update: I looked at Rockauto.com - they list the actual dimentions of parts. The Z31 inner bearing and 280ZX inner bearing are the same size and part number. swapping that over won't do anything.
Originally Posted by NismoPick
Is the Z31 offset different so you can use your 5 lug rims w/o spacers?
I was looking to buy the wider wheels like what I have. They stopped making them a little while ago! 18x9 +20 ....
Originally Posted by frank280zx
interesting what year z31 is that ? i have different hubs ! and i have different stubbies .. i have four bolts..
I compared pics of my 280ZX CV inner flange and the Z31 looks bigger.... it sticks inward farther. I dont' think the CV axels are short enough.
I might try another trick by using the 5-lug Z31 outter half and the 280ZX inner half. If the splines line up it should work fine. But then I'll see if the outter hub is the correct distance for the rotor to align with the caliper. Yours swapped in so easy.

but yes on the axel bolt pattern. Both are the smaller 6-bolt style and they appear to bolt up the same.
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