newb ? about coil overs

[dogma420]

Hello everyone!

I'm thinking about coil overs, but have no clue....

Since it is cartridges all the way around, do you convert to macpherson struts at all 4 corners?

ie. get front strut cartridges, and cut the outer strut housing and weld the coil overs?

I'm under the impression that the chapman struts on the rear don't have cartridges....

Any help before considering getting coil overs would be great!

10/71 240z (1972) stock. 2 door

[240ZX]

Coilovers......that is the question!!!

Well, they will allow you to adjust the ride height at each corner of the car. They will allow you to run wider tires/wheels because of the reduced O.D. of the coilover springs. You don't necessarily have to shorten just struts unless you are intending to lower your car an inch or two or more. If you lower the car concideraby, without shortening the strut assemblies, you will wind up with very little bump travel and have loads of rebound travel...not a very effective suspension set-up!!! If you do lower the car, you may want to consider camber and or caster adjustment capability. Relocating the front transverse link pivot height (up) is also a good thing to do when a Z car has been lowered considerably. This step will improve the suspension geometry and minimize and or eliminate the bumpsteer effect. With a little research, on this site and on numerous other Z car sites, you will be able to gain a perspective on all sorts of suspension possibilities. Regarding the strut inserts (shocks) when shortening struts; the easiest way to obtain the correct length inserts is to talk to the manufacture of the coilovers you will be installing. Oh! The Chapman struts in the rear do have inserts like the front but, slightly longer. Anyway, this should get you thinking in the right direction. Understand that just about any modification you can think of, for your Z car, has likely been done and has been written about. All you have to do is do your homework. Good luck and I hope this info helps you out a little.