Z32/S13/S14 - multi-link rear suspension swap

  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    Cool, good to know, thats what i'm looking for, and the stock Z32 spring rate is about right?
    Good thing is they make Illumina's for it..

    badboyz31 wrote:
    with stock z32 shocks and springs in the rear, the ride height is about stock of what the stock z31 suspension is.
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • G-E
    G-E
    Junior Member
    • 6320

    OK now I have a question, at one of my favourite wreckers they have a nice condition Q45 with the 4.1L, I didn't check the date but that makes it the newer one, does anyone know if that one would be a good rear end to get for such a swap?

    I remember track width being significantly wider on Q's than s13.... but which one and how much?
  • Careless
    Careless
    Senior Member
    • 13279

    G-E wrote: OK now I have a question, at one of my favourite wreckers they have a nice condition Q45 with the 4.1L, I didn't check the date but that makes it the newer one, does anyone know if that one would be a good rear end to get for such a swap?

    I remember track width being significantly wider on Q's than s13.... but which one and how much?
    if you're going to steal that Q45 diff at cookstown, im going to murder you. :-(
  • Racinjitter
    Racinjitter
    Z Force Commander
    • 3128

    The y33 rear end is not the strong one. You want the earlier version (G50?) pre 1997 rear end. The rear suspension is utterly close to the s14.
    Shiro Special # 981 Being assembled in my spare time Chromoly acquired!
    Originally posted by BoostedMamma
    Heads up makes teh panties drop. BUT I don't have a penis OR a fast car, so I guess my opinion doesn't count.
  • Rick88ss
    Rick88ss
    Senior Member
    • 2433

    [quote]Careless wrote:
    Originally posted by G-E
    OK now I have a question, at one of my favourite wreckers they have a nice condition Q45 with the 4.1L, I didn't check the date but that makes it the newer one, does anyone know if that one would be a good rear end to get for such a swap?

    I remember track width being significantly wider on Q's than s13.... but which one and how much?
    if you're going to steal that Q45 diff at cookstown, im going to murder you. :-(

    Early bird gets the worm. The race is on!
    Shiro #443

  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    I have one of these sitting on the floor of my shop right now..
    They are wider then a Z32 rear end, so will not work too well unless you like that look..
    I have the center section out of a S14 that I'm going to use in conjugation with the Q45 arms, diff, uprights and Z32 struts.
    The nice thing about the early Q45 rear diffs is they have a VSLD and use the same size axles as the turbo Z32.
    As far as i can tell the arms are basically interchangeable between the Z32 and Q45.

    G-E wrote: OK now I have a question, at one of my favourite wreckers they have a nice condition Q45 with the 4.1L, I didn't check the date but that makes it the newer one, does anyone know if that one would be a good rear end to get for such a swap?

    I remember track width being significantly wider on Q's than s13.... but which one and how much?
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • G-E
    G-E
    Junior Member
    • 6320

    I have a nismo short-nose LSD sitting on a shelf with 5-bolt axle stubs, so in such case the non-vlsd later Q45 diff would work as a shell to swap into or I guess it wouldn't matter which year then…?

    How about track width on them, is the early Q narrower/wider than the later Q, has anyone measured ?
  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    I haven't compared between the early and late Q45's, all i know is the 94 and earlier is wider then the Z32 sub frame by a couple of inches hub to hub.. I did measure it at one time but did not record the number. I'll try to remember to get the actual measurements from my 94 Q sub frame tonight..

    According to the FSM's track widths are as follows:
    94 Q45 - 61.8"
    02 Q45 - 61.4"
    Z32 NA - 60.4"
    Z32 TT - 61.2"
    Z31's - 58.1" on Xenon's Z31 page under general specs.
    89 S13 - 57.5"
    But track width is not really going to help us here unless you know the tire width, wheel width and wheel offset. You cant really calculate the distance from outside tire to outside tire without all this.
    For what it's worth: http://ateupwithmotor.com/automotive…finitions.html

    I know the later Q's (after 2002) had an open diff and the traction (limited slip) was controlled by the anti lock brakes applying the brakes to the side that was slipping, but on the plus side had a RP ratio of something like 3.13 for those looking for better economy or top speed. The 94 I'm using as my parts car uses the same 3.54 rear end as our early turbo cars, so it's easy to get the speedo pinion to get everything calibrated and have VSLD.

    The difference in durability comes form the fact that some came with 2 spider gears (later models) and some came with 4 (earier models). All had an output axle size that is actually the same as the turbo Z32, so heavier then ours..

    G-E wrote: I have a nismo short-nose LSD sitting on a shelf with 5-bolt axle stubs, so in such case the non-vlsd later Q45 diff would work as a shell to swap into or I guess it wouldn't matter which year then…?

    How about track width on them, is the early Q narrower/wider than the later Q, has anyone measured ?
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • Careless
    Careless
    Senior Member
    • 13279

    K_Scheeringa wrote: but on the plus side had a RP ratio of something like 3.13 for those looking for better economy or top speed. The 94 I'm using as my parts car uses the same 3.54 rear end as our early turbo cars, so it's easy to get the speedo pinion to get everything calibrated and have VSLD.
    but that's for an R230 diff then, right?

    shit… 3.13… my car would be a highway monster.
  • G-E
    G-E
    Junior Member
    • 6320

    Nice, perfect, those Q's are wide, guess S13 it is…
  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    yes for the R200 diff..
    Here is the dims from a 94 Q45.


    Its hard to make out.
    Hub to hub 64 3/4"
    Small side 28 1/2"
    Large Side 46 7/8"
    From small side to axle 6 3/4"
    Large side to axle 17"
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • millsaps
    millsaps
    Senior Member
    • 133

    so reading through this the s13 or s14 are the best options. i should be buying a z31 here soon and will have stance coilovers from my s13. would the s13 subframe be best because i can get my hands on one for damn near free?
    also where can i find just an s13 how to thats well detailed and organized?
  • badboyz31
    badboyz31
    Senior Member
    • 2403

    what's with all this taking and less swapping, I have been driving on my setup for a little over 2k miles now, get to work guys!!

    dampening set at 10 clicks to the stiff side and 12k springs all around is fun for DD driving, why? because race car!!
    1uz Swapped, lowered, flaked out '86 z31
    '72 Datsun 510 4dr, ka24de-T, slammed resto mod
    '84 z31 turbo, coils, wheels a.k.a the gfs weekend car
    '86 na2t parts for now a.k.a eventually will get running with a/c daily
    '83 280zx project backburner a.k.a ls turbo drag car one day
    Custom vg30et tube chassis drift exocet project
  • Butter
    Butter
    Senior Member
    • 1519

    millsaps wrote: so reading through this the s13 or s14 are the best options. i should be buying a z31 here soon and will have stance coilovers from my s13. would the s13 subframe be best because i can get my hands on one for damn near free?
    also where can i find just an s13 how to thats well detailed and organized?
    S13 is quite adequate.

    See page 14/15 of this thread, more info throughout this thread and the one you're on now.
    viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27070
    sigpic
  • G-E
    G-E
    Junior Member
    • 6320

    OK silly mix'n'match question time…

    I have nismo clsd with beefy 6-bolt axle stubs, not the 3x2 style like 240sx, I believe it's out of a GT-R…

    Would I swap that into a 240sx housing, or the Q45 housing?

    And if I swap that into S13 subframe, will I need the Q45/TT axles? What if I use Q45 spindles/hubs which axles then?