[LiamNyborg]

I have a '71 automatic Z that I am looking to improve the suspension on. I was thinking of getting new springs, shocks, and u-joints through Motorsport Auto. (yes I know sway bars and strut tower bars help alot but I don' t have the money)
What spring/shock combinations and companies have you guys used? The total price has to be under $600 as I am a 16 year old high school student who works a whole 20 hours a week. The setup shouldn't be as hard as a race car but I definately want to improve the car's handling.

Thanks for your help,
Bill Nye

 

[dbryan70z]

Liam,

Springs and struts are a major investment both in initial cost and installation. Since cost is an object, then unless the springs are sagging and/or the struts worn, I would suggest other less expensive changes first.

$600 won't purchase new springs and struts, much less install them.

Keep in mind that tires are the #1 consideration in performance enhancing improvements. I won't matter what you put on the suspension if your tires aren't up to the challenge and able to grip.

Lowering Zs and increasing the spring rate can cause headaches the average 16 year olds income and time can ill afford. I would go for good performance tires (and maybe rims if you don't already have some) and the sway bars first.

$600 will purchase sway bars and install them with money left over.

See the link below for a good explanation of suspension considerations

http://www.jimcookracing.com/catalog/page16.html

I bought the sway bars on the next link for around $177 (I think) and you can install them yourself without a lot of difficulty. They make a tremendous difference in cornering from stock.

http://www.jimcookracing.com/catalog/page17.html

There are many others on this forum that can lead you to other vendors. I have had a heavily modified '71 lowered car and replaced all rubber compnonts with solid bushings etc. This makes for a brutal ride on anything but near perfect pavement and makes getting into and out of some parking lots a grind! It was a lot of fun, but I also replaced things in the undercarriage more often due to conecting with ground objects.

Once you decide what kind of ride, use of the car and $ you can live with, go for it!

Regards,

RDB

 

[TimZman]

Sway bars make a nice difference. $600.00 will buy springs and struts
I can get springs for about $300, and Kyb struts run $40 a piece. They are tricky to replace on the rear, but there is a trick to it...where you don't have to remove the strut housing from the car. I'm running Tokico springs, KYB struts, and Suspension techniques sway bars. It's borderline on comfort, but it really handles well. Tim

 

[David240Z]

Hey,Bill.If you can do everything yourself then $600 will cover your strats/springs update.Don't buy struts from MSA go to shox.com,they have better prices.If you want hard set up,then i suggest you update your bushings with urethane ones.Energy suspension www.suspension.com has set for $147.00,then buy Tokico strats,add another $250,if you want stiff ride order MSA springs which are about 25% stiffer then stock,they are $180, this comes up around $625 with tax,but you have to add s/h.If bushings are OK,then use money for performance sway bars.If you are not able to work on your car by yourself,then i'd suggest just get struts/springs update,put them first,next find out used 260Z sway bars front/rear ( i think they should fit,but check archives )and try to install them by yourself,but update to urethane bushings.Front will be easy,maybe you will need help on the rear.Good luck!

 

[Matt 78Z]

Change springs & struts yourself

Like David said, this will make the biggest difference in all forms of driving. Leave the stock front sway bar but install new end links, almost all the auto parts stores carry the urethane end link kits, I know for a fact that Advance auto has the exact same on that came with my aftermarket sway bars. The end link kit is only $10-15 dollars and will make your factory bar do what its supposed to. Do you have a rear bar, alot of 240's don't have one stock? You want to run the lightest, smallest diameter sway bar set you can, body roll should be controlled with the springs for the best handling.

Matt