sunnuntai 9. helmikuuta 2014

Coilovers

To get ride height that I would prefer I needed coilovers for my Datsun. There are not many off the shelf coilovers for S30, so I decided to try Nissan S13 BC racing coilovers. To use them in my Datsun I needed cut original strut tube and use threaded collar that is pressed and welded in.
My friend made those collars with lathe and I just welded them in place. 






I made camper plates that can be used with original strut tower. S30 strut tower is much smaller than S13, so there is not that much adjustment than these originally have, but at least some.





maanantai 3. helmikuuta 2014

The Wheels

Here are new wheels for my Datsun. Well not new as they are maybe over 20 years old, but new for me anyway. I bought these wheels even before I got the car, but now I finally find time to refurbish them. I have always liked these old BBS multi-piece wheels. In my previous project car I had BBS RS´s and these are RM´s.  While they might be played out, at least in German car scene, I like them and I think that they suit my Datsun perfectly.

Wheels are BBS RM 029 and they are 7.5 x 15” ET30. Bolt circle is 5x114.3, so I needed to change original 4x114.3. In front I used Z31 hubs and in rear there were drilled new holes. Originally these wheels have 1.25” lips and I wanted to have rear wheel wider than front so I bought two new 2.5” lips. 

Centres were in pretty good original condition and I also liked that gold color, so I didn´t painted them. Only thing that I needed to do was remove old lips, polish those two that I was using in front and then put all parts together again.



First I needed to part lip from center barrel. I used VW/Audi jack (AKA the Widowmaker) which makes it very easy. That might be only thing that jack can be used for.


After that I removed original lacquer with some paint remover that I could find from our local hardware store.  





After few hours lips looked like this and lacquer could be easily washed away.



Then I wet sanded and polished those lips and after that wheels could be re-assembled. I used new stainless steel bolts.



And of course I had to try them to car. Tyres are Toyo Proxes T1R 205/55 in front and 225/50 rear. I think that I get small spacer, maybe 5-10mm, in front but rear fitment is perfect. I have never liked wheels that poke 20mm outside fenders so this is perfect fitment for me.




This is drive height that I would like to have so I need to use coilovers, but more from that later.