Spudz

Hey Guys,
I need help from someone who has both a 280ZX and
also a 240Z front sway bar. I am looking to see if the
bends of both the bars are the same.
I want to use the 23mm front bar on a 240Z in the up
coming <font color=blue>" Zdriver.com Project 240Z budget racer"</font color=blue>
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Bleach

Well, my 240Z's wheelbase is much more narrow than my 280ZX. I would first say that the outter hole for the sway bar links will not match up right if you put a ZX bar into a 240Z.

I do have both at home though, so if anyone thinks they are interchangable, I can double-check by measureing width. But yes, the bends are simular. It goes right below the oil pump on both so you have to raise the engine or remove the sway bar to get your oil pump off.

Spudz

Bleach ,
I am thinking they are interchangeable byt the part number that
the Nissan Motorsports catalog has for them. They are normal
stock part numbers . Usuallly meaning that they come from another car. Part number is 54617-RS610 . Take a look
for me if you can .

Thanks,
Mike

Bleach

Ok, I'll try to remember to measure them tonight. Both sway bars are on the cars, so it'll be a fairly close measurement... not exact. :-)

I just now understood why your name is Spudz... Idaho..

lifegrddude

I'm not sure if the front will work, but I know the rear won't. My friend Ray and I tried to use a rear sway bar from Suspension Techniques that we found off of a 280ZX onto his 240, but it didn't fit. The bar was too long and didn't match up.... If you did some machine work, I'm sure you could make it fit, but that might compromise the structural integrity of the bar. Good luck.
82ZXT

Spudz

Loki,
I don't have a problem with the rear slipping out on me in
tight corners I have a problem with turn in or understeer in
the front due to a huge 1 1/8" front bar. I am using 225/45/15
Hooiser racing tires now. I will list my set up in my Project
write up to be featured here on Zdriver.com. when we move
to a different server.



Mike

Bleach

Both sway bars look the same to me. The center curve looks the same, and to my surprise both outer mounting holes measure 40 inches apart. So it looks like you're probably right and they should interchange.

Are you all saysing that a weaker sway bar helps your car stay planted, even though it sways more? So I should just have urethane bushings on my stock sway bars and that will have the best control? Or should someone upgrade just the front sway bar?

Spudz

Bleach,
The current sway bars on my car are for a 280 they are heavier
and tend to roll more for what I understand. I got these bars of
a road race Z and they had problems with understeer as well.
The car does remain fairly flat now in corners though [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I also am using strut tower braces.

I was sent a list from a suspension guy who has set up many
240's for ITS racing and he specified a 23mm front and 20mm
rear bar and the rest of the set up would will be done with
coil overs, spring , strut inserts, and camber plates.

Everything I have seen tells me the 280 / 280ZX needs the
28mm or 1 1/8 " front bar and a 23 mm 7/8" rear .

I am not a suspension person ,so I am going by what people
with experience tell me. I think sway bars can be your friend
as well as your enemy.

On the front and rear sway bar issue . I think it all depends on the car , weight bias front to back , type of suspension , use and other factors. If I had the money right now I would have went
with front and rear adjustable sway bars that way I could dial them in.

Thanks for checking for me. I will try and make a trip to Pull n
Save this coming week.

Mike

Bleach

Ok, I see what you're saying. I suppose using nice large sway bars on front and rear of my heavy 280zx 2+2 would keep it level on turns for a daily driver. I never autocross this car and I don't drive on the street as though I'm racing. With that in mind, it might be ok to go with a thick bar. I was thinking of just using the 1 inch Motorsport lowering springs that are about 25% tighter. Again, just for a driver.

Spudz

Bleach,
I would try that first . My car is lowered 1" so far using Eibach
fronts and cut Nissan factory springs rear. I am not to happy
with the rear cut springs. When the suspension is in full drop
the springs don't make contact with the perches. lots of banging around on a bumpy course or the street. I was told
to wire them to the perches so they would follow the control
arms.

Mike<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by SpudZ on 10/03/02 10:27 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

Spudz

let me try [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]



You know the sad part is not many engine programs can produce the power that Hondas has been able to for the
displacement. If they didn't make good cars they would
have been long gone buy now . I can still remember the
600's and 800's sports car from the 60's .<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by SpudZ on 10/03/02 03:47 PM.</EM></FONT></P>