Hi this will be my first post on this forum so I thought I would start of by saying hello :)
I know its not the right tool for the job but is thier much that I can do to improve the handling of my 1200 datsun ute so it can be used for the odd trackday?
Thanks
Andy

Hey welcome to the site !

Theres alot you can do to a 1200 to make it handle ,mines awesome ,sits flat as a board around corners and slides realy well
First ide start of by putting nolathane bushes through the car this will need to be done on an old car anyways

Next flip the rear leafs to lower the car ,this will stiffen it up abit too and make it sit lower . Just pull the leaf pack out and put the bottom leaf onto the tpp of the leaf pack upside down so it flattens the pack ,be careful though as the leafs are under huge pressure and shouldnt be touched if your inexperienced.

Next invest in some coilovers for the front ,cheap as if you buy a weld on kit and they dpnt need much skill to fit ,just weld them on and set the hieght

That's pretty much all mines got done to it ,and I've got 3 inch block in the rear so its super low all round :D

Good luck

use anti roll bar from b210 for your ute. stiffer ARB.

Ok thanks guys estyre: Thanks for the info what with me being a bit of a newb I did not get that completly but I will set up a bit of a project thread, and pull the suspention off and look at it closer.
I plan to spend a few months sorting the suspention & body work out. then drive it around for 6 months, then it will be time for the CA18DET :)

Ive almost finished setting up the front end of my ute, all new bushes, tie rod ends and all that, new shorter strut inserts with coil over kit, shortened struts, adjustable strut tops, bump steer spacers, strut brace and a 23mm sway bar is on its way. Only thing to do is possibly adjustable castor rods.

Was a fair bit of #OOPS#ing around to fit the coil over kit with my choice of insert, you would need a lathe and a welder at a minimum but access to a machine shop would be the hot tip.

Havent touched the rear end yet but keen to hear what people have do to theirs, especially those who have done track work.

I was hopeing that it might be alittle easier than this, I take it that theris no upgrades which will just bolt on like after market kits or parts from another car.
Unfortunatly I do not have a welder so I would probably have to get someone else to do it for me.

Plenty of bolt in stuff right here
http://www.maddat.com.au/

Andy, you hit it right on the head.
Quote:Two things will make your ute handle like a different beast:

1. Fit a 120Y Sway Bar

2. Low profile wider tires. Instead of the stock 155/80R12, fit 175/60R13.

It will be like day and night.



My ute has flipped leaves and coilover front suspension lowered down. It handled terribly bad. On the highway pavement joints it would sometime bounce and loose traction momentarily.

Putting shorter low-profile tires made it handle OK once again, although it is still too stiff. It might do well on a smooth tarmac track. The suspension still bottoms out against the unibody sometimes (bang!).

If its just simple setup you want, as most people have said new bushes, new shocks, new springs and get leafs reset this plus a 120y sway bar will do the job

Welcome... Sounds like you want to do what I have done. As most of the guys have suggested replace all your bushes/rubbers with nolethane ones. Unless they have been replaced at some stage earlier your existing ones are likely to be deteriated/cracked and not that great.

Instead of 'flipping a leaf' in the rear I had the local suspension shop reset them. Means that now ute now sits slightly lower than it did before with 2" lowering blocks.

Replaced the front springs with the 'low option' from the king springs range.

Finally I swapped the original sway bar with a 120y bar. This is an easy swap for a great gain, hardest bit is finding one. I did however do a little write up on how to do the swap which might help you out.

http://datsun1200.com/modules/newbb/v ... id=399819#forumpost399819

Good luck.