Ok I just picked up a 1200 coop and I've decided that this is the car for me. No more 510's or other datsuns this is the car. Now I've got alot of questions so please bare with me.

1. It seems the stanza struts and brakes are the common upgrade for the front but what about 280zx struts? Do these not work? I recall hearing that it has to due with camber issues. I have a set of camber plates to offset this if this is the case.

2. I want to lower the car. What would be the negative affects of reversing the leaf springs in the back?

3. I have a replacement set of ball joints for a 510 will these work on the 1200?

4. Will a 15 X 6.5 + 15 offset wheel fit the front without sticking out or scrapeing the strut?

I know some of these are eather tuff or extreamly obvious but like I said I'm new to this and I'm not sure where to start so any help would be greatly apreciated.

thanks
Max

First welcome to 1200 ownership. I've raced mine since 89 or so and it has been in a circle of friends since 85. I've raced or owned a variety of Datsun's B210,510, 240Z and I like the 1200 best.
For a cheapy suspension upgrade you can use 7/8 front bar , 5/8 rear bar, lowering blocks in the back and 240Z rear spring with one coil cut out. I used this set-up on the car at SCCA Autocross and Club races from 89-92.
Since 92 I've had 280ZX coil overs , control arms and radius rods.(crossmember is modified) The rear uses NISMO springs with Koni shocks.
As for 15" rims , well , remember the 1200 came with 155/12" tires so without some flares I'd say stick with some 13 x 6 Rims. The A12 motor only puts out 68 HP so those big tirels will act like four giant flywheels and slow the car coming off corners. Eevn on a street car it is noticable. Unless you plan on putting a twin cam motor go the old school route.
For a starter go with cheapy suspension set up some 185/60 13 grippy tires(Kumho/Falken) and put on a weber 32/36 carb with a header and 2" exhaust. Also get some good brake pads. This will make the car loads of fun to drive.

Tom Grossmann

Thank you for the valuble input.
That rear suspension trick sounds cool you got rid of the leaf springs entirely?
sounds a bit to dificult for me though.

I would like to get rid of those springs eventualy though I hate leaf springs makes you feel like your driving a truck only it's 1/2 the weight.

Ok hears my first concern then I'm over the wheels for now but I want to get the suspension good before I do anything.

I don't want to do anything cheap because I wont be happy with it.

I need a larger diameter strut to fit my coil over kit. Do the zx struts fit the 1200? I figure I could get biger brakes and use my new springs all in one step. What is the issue with these that keeps people from doing them? Is it just overkill?

I'm going to put a bigger motor eventualy so I want it to be safe.

Ohh also where can I get replacement bushings ball joints tie rod ends ext?

Ohh yea and as far as the sway bars where can I pick those up?

And thanks for the advice with the carb I think I probably will end up doing that.

Thanks again

Anti-sway bars can be picked up from ADDCO , 7/8 front 5/8 rear.
A 280ZX strut will fit but you will need the control arms and radius rods. The problem you will face is if you lower the car more than an inch or two you will need to flair the fenders. I would just put the coil over kit on e-bay. coil overs are fine for us racer types but unless you have access to scales you can actually screw up the handling with coil overs. The 240Z rear springs in the front work well.
I still have the leafs in back but they are the NISMO ones and don't suffer the pick up truck chatter over wash board surfaces.
As for brakes Wilwood makes a caliper called the Dynalite (twin and 4 piston) , these will fit over the standard rotor. You will have to make a mounting plate. I used Dynalites on a single seat D-sports racer I had a few years back. (The car used VW Scirrocco uprights) The vented ZX rotors are nice on my 1200 but the calipers had to be milled to fit inside a 13" wheel plus I use a wheel spacer.
Ball joints can still be had from a good parts store , although I use all rod ends and spherical bearings so my knowledge of ordering them is at least 5 yrs old.
One day I still would like to have a strictly street 1200. I plan on running the Addco bars , Wilwood calipers , 240Z spings with tokico inserts , Nismo rear springs and a set of 185/60 13's. Motor would be A14 with header and 32/36 weber. Throw in some nice period Recaro seats. This should result in a car fast enough to have fun with but mellow enough to keep La Policia concentrating on all those decked out Civics they love to pull over.

Tom

question re: 280zx struts, I have a set that i am sacing to make into coil overs, I didn't get the radius rods or control arms, do I need those for the sunny 310 ( b310).

I also saw that dynalite adaptor on ebay today for $85, is getting that adaptor and the wildwood brakes a better way to go than spending a bout 2/3 as much to get remanufactured zx calipers?

rallytwit, I'm building your car :) ( but with an A15 )

rallytwit

I got impatient and it was 1/2 off day at pick and pull so I went and bought the 280zx shocks and struts. Based on what your saying I'm having second thoughts. Eather way the whole set up only cost me 75 bucks and I'm sure I could sell them for much more than that.

Anyway your Idea for a street 1200 sounds cool I'm thinking in a similar fashion. I picked up an a15 block at pick n pull as well I think this is what I'm going to ride for a while until i get inspired for more power which may or may not happen.

Is there a coil over setup for the 1200? The main reason I like the coil overs is the adjustable ride height. I'm picky about how my car looks and I might want to change it frequently.

How is it that the zx struts make the wheels stick out? Is it the length zx of the control arms? Because by comparison of the strut the hub sticks out farther on the 1200. And the angle on the zx strut looks like it would suport a wider wheel with a more positive offset. I don't know interesting stuff anyway.

some more questions for you

what diff are you running on your race cars?

would an a12 head improve compression on an a15?


b210 sleeper

From what I can tell the 310 stuff is similar to the 1200 in design but has the wider struts and I think the spacing is the same as the zx struts. They should bolt up. So I don't think you will need the other stuff. I looked at the 310 stuff and I think the springs are smaller than the zx ones but if your doing coil overs it shouldn't matter. I'm not to sure about clearence issuse though.

ohh yea rallytwit. Thanks again for all the great advice!