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

  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    s13 shocks yes, S14 shocks are way taller..
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    So here is my install so far..





    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • Butter
    Butter
    Senior Member
    • 1519

    Oh my.
    Did you use the from mount arms off another subframe and graft them on to make them longer?
    I never thought of that. A junkyard probably wouldn't even care to charge you for them if you bought something else.
    sigpic
  • badboyz31
    badboyz31
    Senior Member
    • 2403

    my only concern with that would be if that weld broke over time, I would take so 1/8" or 1/4" flat steel plate and weld it over the top and bottom to help add some more strength
    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
  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    Yep, i had the donor subframe from a q45. so i cut the arms off of it. bolted everything into position in the car and fit the arms to the S13 subframe. to get the correct angle i had to run a spacer above the front mounting points. The angle i chose was to keep the upper arm mounts parallel with the bottom of the car. If you read the discussion here http://www.nissanroadracing.com/showthread.php?t=2296 they have a lengthly discussion on anti-squat. It turns out the S13 set up has a lot more then the s14 set up. so that was how i set it up. This was a link Butter posted in another thread on the conversion process.

    This is my set up:
    S13 subframe
    Q45 diff w/VLSD and 3.45 gears
    Q45 arms
    Q45 brakes
    Q45 uprights
    Z32 struts

    I just got pricing for a local shop to make up my drive shaft and they wanted $575 plus taxes. Ouch.. Time to keep looking.


    Butter;324573 wrote: Oh my.
    Did you use the from mount arms off another subframe and graft them on to make them longer?
    I never thought of that. A junkyard probably wouldn't even care to charge you for them if you bought something else.
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • stufferton
    stufferton
    Senior Member
    • 467

    K_Scheeringa;324586 wrote: If you read the discussion here http://www.nissanroadracing.com/showthread.php?t=2296 they have a lengthly discussion on anti-squat. It turns out the S13 set up has a lot more then the s14 set up. so that was how i set it up.
    So poking through the first few pages of that link, Anti-squat is basically a similar concept to gearing? Where I mean the human mind tends to want to think that a larger number will gain you a greater top speed, which is the opposite as to what it does (short gears=greater top speed, tall gears=lower top speed). More anti-squat, puts more of the traction to the tires/ground, but has visibly less movement of the rearend, and less anti-squat will result in more squat and less power put to the ground and more through the suspension? Correct me if im wrong but this is what Ive gathered.

    Build thread http://z31performance.com/showthread…-Paint-done-eh
  • Butter
    Butter
    Senior Member
    • 1519

    Either the Q45 has a $200 companion flange, or that DS shop sucks.
    sigpic
  • badboyz31
    badboyz31
    Senior Member
    • 2403

    K_Scheeringa;324586 wrote: Yep, i had the donor subframe from a q45. so i cut the arms off of it. bolted everything into position in the car and fit the arms to the S13 subframe. to get the correct angle i had to run a spacer above the front mounting points. The angle i chose was to keep the upper arm mounts parallel with the bottom of the car. If you read the discussion here http://www.nissanroadracing.com/showthread.php?t=2296 they have a lengthly discussion on anti-squat. It turns out the S13 set up has a lot more then the s14 set up. so that was how i set it up. This was a link Butter posted in another thread on the conversion process.

    This is my set up:
    S13 subframe
    Q45 diff w/VLSD and 3.45 gears
    Q45 arms
    Q45 brakes
    Q45 uprights
    Z32 struts

    I just got pricing for a local shop to make up my drive shaft and they wanted $575 plus taxes. Ouch.. Time to keep looking.
    shit thats way expensive, I have the same exact rear end setup and my drive shaft only cost me $275 with taxes, I also have all SPL arms in the rear and stance coils all around with the z32 rear lower mounts.

    Also just to let you know I would not run the lower aluminum rear control arms unless you are going to have the lower shock mount cut off and rewelded, because you will have extreme bind and it will rip the poly, spherical, or oem bushing right out, ask me how I know.

    something like so
    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
  • K_Scheeringa
    K_Scheeringa
    Senior Member
    • 196

    I'm not sure on the cost of each part as they did not tell me, but looking at https://www.powertrainindustries.com/catalogs_series.htm?series=Nissan I think they where using 3102-69 flange yoke and I think 3103-30 tranny yoke with 1310 U joints and of course balancing the shaft.. I’m running a NA Z32 tranny and the Q45 diff.

    I was figuring somewhere between $250 and $400, but that was a little out there. At first if they where going to be re-machining my yokes they wanted almost $800. I almost fell over when they told me that..

    This place does a lot of heavy duty truck parts and was recommended to me by a race chassis shop, so I don't doubt it would be quality, but man.

    I got another name for a shop to try, I’ll be stopping by there tomorrow..

    I am running the aluminum uprights, I was thinking of slightly tweaking the bottom legs of the struts to line things up..

    Butter;324601 wrote: Either the Q45 has a $200 companion flange, or that DS shop sucks.
    badboyz31;324648 wrote:
    shit thats way expensive, I have the same exact rear end setup and my drive shaft only cost me $275 with taxes, I also have all SPL arms in the rear and stance coils all around with the z32 rear lower mounts.

    Also just to let you know I would not run the lower aluminum rear control arms unless you are going to have the lower shock mount cut off and rewelded, because you will have extreme bind and it will rip the poly, spherical, or oem bushing right out, ask me how I know.

    something like so
    Kevin
    ---------------------------------------
    1986 NA 5sp - Bone stock, but in good shape
  • badboyz31
    badboyz31
    Senior Member
    • 2403

    yea tweaking the legs would deff probably be the easiest most cost effective way, also as for the drive shaft just get a lengthened z31 shaft with the z31 flange and just drill holes in the q45 flange, there is more than enough space to do so, I have mine done that way as my driveline shop could not order me the q45 flange, I have been DD and racing with the rear for about a year now and its all holding up fantastic.

    as for your driveshaft contact these guys www.[B]driveshaftspecialist.com they deff should be able to get you a q45 flange and it would be cheaper to have made and shipped to you most likely
    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
  • 88NA2t300zx
    88NA2t300zx
    Junior Member
    • 3

    Ohh come on now…just cut the little angle piece like i said…it has to be easier than cutting and welding the knuckle…lol
  • TooSlow
    TooSlow
    Member
    • 31

    Hello. Can anybody tell me a dimensions of that plate for rear part of s13 subframe? I've picked up one subframe yesterday, and now looking for how to start. Dimensions of the rear plate would be nice start.
    1987 300ZX Turbo 2+2 - hard work and lot of fun.
    Sorry for my "tarzan" english.
  • adamvann3
    adamvann3
    Senior Member
    • 4160

    Its proprietary information however being in europe I am sure you could email either of the 2 people that sell them and I am sure they may help you out.
    86na - BlueZ
    Shiro #366 - Kouki Monster
    85t - Mr Tickles
  • New2Zs
    New2Zs
    Member
    • 97

    If I were to do the s13 rear subframe swap would I need different rear coilovers or could I use the Stance set for the Z31?
  • Butter
    Butter
    Senior Member
    • 1519

    Uses the same kit without the spacer for the lower mount.
    sigpic