Shortening stock struts

[edekalil]

It's been a while since I have studied about shortening a 510 stock strut. I would guess you would make them the same length as a 280zx strut and use a 280zx strut replacement shock cartrage. I would guess a pipe cutter would do the trick when it came to cutting a section out of it.

[Draker]

Why not cut lower perch and use split collars to lower a bit?

[Laecaon]

Or if you are cutting the strut, why not look for a shorter insert?

[edekalil]

I believe the stock strut will bottom out if you do not shorten it when lowering your 510. By shortening the strut and using a shock cartrage that fits you can get more of the full travel of the shock without it bottoming out. Not being at the house I am not able to see the difference in length between the 510 and 280zx strut. I think the 280zx is a little shorter.

[edekalil]

Or if you are cutting the strut, why not look for a shorter insert?

That is what I plan to do, use a 280zx replacement cartrage in a shortened 510 strut.

The cartrage in this pic is for a 280zx, the strut in the pic is from a 510. By shortening the strut to fit the replacement cartrage it should give me plenty of travel so the strut will not bottom out. I do not plan to drop the car but about 2 1/2 inches. The streets down in New Orleans are not friendly to very low cars. I don't think you have to shorten it much but I do believe it makes a difference.

[Laecaon]

I meant shorter than 280zx...

[MikeRL411]

I meant shorter than 280zx...

 

Then why didn't you say so?  "Readers we are not" to quote Yoda !

[flatcat19]

Why not use 280zx struts?

Less work. Better brakes. 

[Laecaon]

Erm, because he said he was looking at 280zx inserts, and then I said why not look for something shorter, you know in like response to what he said.

 

And then there is what Flatkitty said, why go through the work and just get 280zx struts.

[banzai510(hainz)]

280 zx has differnet of set on the hubs and maybe his wheels fit better if like a +25mm.

 

if using a 280zx cartridge buy a better than a stock replacement.

I went with the old koni orange retractable adjustable. so it matches the spring set and you can dial it in.

[datzenmike]

Two inches is within reach of the stock strut using split collars and adjusting the lower spring perch down. Definitely, I mean, DEFINITELY trim the spring to increase the spring rate or replace with something much stiffer. Stock 510 spring rate is 89 lb/in. I would say double that and do the same on the rears to keep the handling neutral.

 

While you have the strut apart, dump the thin hydraulic oil out, (I assume it still has the stock oil bath dampers in it) and replace with thicker 20W motorcycle strut oil. The thicker oil will increase the damping. I did this with my 710 struts, split collars and new oil for under $50.

[edekalil]

Well I do have the 280zx struts and brake combo.

I have plans to use them on a 510 I have all apart.

I had the parts I bought a while back for the 280zx struts (strut inserts) so since I have gotten my 72/510 up and running I thought why not make use of some of what I have in a way that would work on the most resent car I have working with out any problems at this time.

That way I can still use the 280zx struts on the 510 I have apart with the intention to put the L20B motor in and go a bit more overboard with mods to it. I just miss the days when I could go to my friends junk yard and get what ever I wanted for my cars for nothing because I would fix his guitars in return. Any way I have a few 510 sedans I have collected over the years and a wagon I plan to drop a motor in her this summer and get it going again. At this time my plan is to get all my 510's going without any issues, sell my 2 64 Cudas and make room in the garage. That way I can focus and enjoy the 510's (the modern day model-t).

My 64 formula S

Way in the background my stock Cuda with an automatic on the floor with bucket seats. Here is a pic of my70/510 I got from an old lady who only drove it to church.

At the moment it has issues with trash in the tank. The good side is it does run. I plan to keep it original. The next to drop a motor in is the wagon and drop it with some old school parts I have. The green one.

 

I just want to use most of what I have collected over the years with out spending way to much money at this time and free up some space in the garage. So that is why I plan to use shortened struts on the 72/510. Forgive me for rambling on.

[edekalil]

So what I was wondering is I would guess a big pipe cutter like you use on cutting water pipe would easily cut a strut tube. I would think it would cut cleanly and not be crooked that way making it easer to lineup to weld it.

[datzenmike]

 

 

 

Yes this looks like a zx strut.

[edekalil]

Yea I had put the 510 perch on it with some springs that would lower the car and that's how they sat for so long. I plan to use them with some coil overs later on the 72/510 I took apart way back. And put the L20B in it with dule carbs on it. For now I need to get the 72/510 that I took to the muffler shop last Tuesday tomorrow and that will be the one I use the shorten struts on. Yea I plan to take the sedan for a ride if the weather works out. I should get to my friends house in Gulfport,MS in a couple of weeks hear and get a section cut out of the stock struts to shorten them.