VintageRice Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Gave it a go at building some rear coilovers. I just finished my front 280zx/coilovers and that went smooth but wanted that adjustability in the rear aswell. I ordered some cheap ebay coilovers for a civic/integra or anything else really. got 2 sets(4 in all) for $40 shipped. Good start. Rear monroe shocks from a camaro were $22 each and some exhaust pipe and washers were a few bucks. So total I'm into these rear shocks about $70. I'm only counting half the dollar amout for the springs cause I got 4 for and used two for hte front. :) Heres what I started with(plus about 8 inches of 2" exhaust pipe for eash side) This picture is one side worth of material. 8 inches of 2" exhaust pipe welded to a 1" washer. X2 of corse. Test fit on shock(had to cut off the dust shield of corse) Cut a 2I.D.X2O.D. reducer in half, and use the big half as a sleve for the coilover sleve to sit on. Put together. Install DONE. 4 Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Cool write-up, bro. :cool: Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks for the easy right up, what year camaro did you use the shocks from Quote Link to comment
dirtboy411 Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 nice..was it more to customize and build your own than rather getting a kit???? Quote Link to comment
zerow Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks for the easy right up, what year camaro did you use the shocks from 1982 - 1992 Camaro...I'm going to be running the same shocks... Quote Link to comment
freekwonder Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Hmmm may have to give this a try, my coil overs are to long since I've went with 280zx a-arms. Just have to find a strut short enough Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Yep, ordered 1991 camaro shocks. I heard anything from 82-02 but 1991 seemed to work. If the shock body itself were a little longer it wouldnt hurt. As-is its sitting maxed out on height because I couldnt get the collar any higher. If I would have welded a washer in the INSIDE of the 2" pipe instead of on top that would have allowed the threaded collar to be set heigher on the shock gaining about an inch of right height adjustability. but it works. With 15's and lower profile tires I'll be in buisness. Those camaro shocks wouldnt work on a stock ride height 510, they are just to short. As it sits, the shock is almost at full extention. Not much left for wheel drop. The reason for doing this instead of buying a "kit"? HELLO! $70 bucks vs. $600. Purely a budget move. A few days earlier, I put the other two ebay springs and collars on my zx front struts. But you've all seen that before so didnt document. Wheres all the ground controll lovers/ebay haters?? :P With the huge price difference it seemed crazy NOT to try this. Hopefully I can drive it soon to test them out.:D Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I gotta say I cant take the credit for the main idea. This guys thread inspired me. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/28283-280zx-adjustable-height-coilover-conversion/page__p__419354__hl__%2Brear+%2Bcoilovers__fromsearch__1?do=findComment&comment=419354 Quote Link to comment
BRE_dAtSuN Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 yo can also use fox body mustangs same thing... what i would do is use kyb agx's from a camaro or mustang and then do the coilover so u can have height adjustment and dampening adjustment 1 Quote Link to comment
freekwonder Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Yep, ordered 1991 camaro shocks. I heard anything from 82-02 but 1991 seemed to work. If the shock body itself were a little longer it wouldnt hurt. As-is its sitting maxed out on height because I couldnt get the collar any higher. If I would have welded a washer in the INSIDE of the 2" pipe instead of on top that would have allowed the threaded collar to be set heigher on the shock gaining about an inch of right height adjustability. but it works. With 15's and lower profile tires I'll be in buisness. Those camaro shocks wouldnt work on a stock ride height 510, they are just to short. As it sits, the shock is almost at full extention. Not much left for wheel drop. The reason for doing this instead of buying a "kit"? HELLO! $70 bucks vs. $600. Purely a budget move. A few days earlier, I put the other two ebay springs and collars on my zx front struts. But you've all seen that before so didnt document. Wheres all the ground controll lovers/ebay haters?? :P With the huge price difference it seemed crazy NOT to try this. Hopefully I can drive it soon to test them out.:D What is the length of the camaro shock? Total length compressed and all the way out? About how much shorter than a 510 strut? Quote Link to comment
Bullet_theory Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I gotta say I cant take the credit for the main idea. This guys thread inspired me. http://community.rat...__1#entry419354 yeah i caught that off ppk's main build thread, for his car... its a great idea, and he said they work pretty well (altho not as great as a $600 kit, but pretty close) and they are really cheap to do... ive thought about doing that to the front and rear of my 620 (using a 4 link).... but great idea, let us know how they do compared to stockers Quote Link to comment
vdubjim Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Cool. Ya i def would like to hear about it with a koni etc shock and longevity. KYB AGX @ rockauto are 97.00 Whites are 39 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 cool write up. However those springs are too stiff for those sensatrac shocks i bet. Quote Link to comment
PurePontiacKid Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 cool write up. However those springs are too stiff for those sensatrac shocks i bet. +1 I'll bet you notice the rear bounces alot, due to the springs being overly stiff (look really similar to my springs which are 10k or ~560lb/in) and the shock not having enough rebound dampening. of course, with this design you can easily just take the whole assembly off and transfer it to another, better shock when you get around to it. ALSO, MUY IMPORTANTO: get rid of those rubber top hats asap and find some metal ones!! Those rubber things suck total ass! but at least I'm glad my write up went to good use and inspired someone to apply it to a different application! P.S. oh and I have yet to drive or ride on the coilovers I built, my friend is still trying to build his car... needs to finish the engine and get tires haha Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted April 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 +1 I'll bet you notice the rear bounces alot, due to the springs being overly stiff (look really similar to my springs which are 10k or ~560lb/in) and the shock not having enough rebound dampening. of course, with this design you can easily just take the whole assembly off and transfer it to another, better shock when you get around to it. I know the setup isnt ideal by any means. But it got my car low and looking good for now. It was all about the price. ALSO, MUY IMPORTANTO: get rid of those rubber top hats asap and find some metal ones!! Those rubber things suck total ass! I've read this a few of times and have yet to hear a real reason WHY. Maybe they don't last as long, but who cares. They cost a few bucks and I don't, and never will daily drive my 510. Not worried about the top hats at all... but at least I'm glad my write up went to good use and inspired someone to apply it to a different application! P.S. oh and I have yet to drive or ride on the coilovers I built, my friend is still trying to build his car... needs to finish the engine and get tires haha Quote Link to comment
Jason Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Nice work, I like this idea a lot. Quote Link to comment
oldskoolvws Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Can you tell me the diameter of the springs? I'm looking for something around 4". Also, how the ride? Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hopefully you can afford some lug nuts with the money you saved :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted April 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Just threw the front wheels on for the picture smarty pants!! Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hopefully you can afford some lug nuts with the money you saved That was funny! Quote Link to comment
WAGON JON Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Cheap, easy and a whole lot of fun making something at home! Great build! Quote Link to comment
BenJammin Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Nice work. Not hating on you here, just a safety concern but is it just the photos or does those welds on the strut housings look like there was very poor penetration into the exhaust tubing? EDIT: ...or maybe that is just flux (covering a better weld) from flux wire mig or stick? Looks awfully dark, so maybe that's the deal. Quote Link to comment
WAGON JON Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Nice work. Not hating on you here, just a safety concern but is it just the photos or does those welds on the strut housings look like there was very poor penetration into the exhaust tubing? EDIT: ...or maybe that is just flux (covering a better weld) from flux wire mig or stick? Looks awfully dark, so maybe that's the deal. It looks like plenty of penetration. You see the oxidation line created by the weld procedure its self. He did not clean it off with a wire brush. Im sure we will find out if it does break! Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Yeah I was actually kindof proud of those welds. They seemed to have great penetration. Welded like butta'. :) Quote Link to comment
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