Just to add to the confusion......
I have a set of 180B struts with brand new springs and shocks and balljoints sitting in my 1600 doing nothing...

Can i use these struts with a 1200 lower spring cup and top plate,smaller diameter lowered 1200 springs with the exsisting shocks on stanza lower control arms with the new balljoints (2 bolt type).I have a set of vl turbo calipers to suit, just need the rotors.
God that was a mouthfull!!

OR am i better off just doing a straight stanza swap....

Ok, this is the bit that confused me when I recently did my Stanza upgrade.

I got the complete strut assembly with the lower control arms but when I went to install them I noticed that one of the lower control arms had a slight twist to it.

I had a look at the one that came off my 1200 and they where Identical to the stanza (length as well) and they just bolted up to the ball joint. The steering arm assembly and castor rods were also identicle

Now My ute is a 1984 and the donor Stanza was a 1982 with the big Girlock brakes, so I don't know if the later utes are different to the earlier ones?

Does anyone know if this is the case?

Depending on the year of your car, you may not need the additional bits and pieces

Quote:

From memory.........no they dont, they 120y lower arms use the same ball joint as the 1200 ones. parts book would clarify quick enough.

Benny

BUGGER! I'm kicking myself for not taking the Lower control arms when I had them.

Just to clarify, 120y lower control arms suit the larger ball joint of stanza struts?

The reason I ask is, there are plenty of 120y's available at wreckers but not many stanza's. Thanks.

James.

Quote:

To use the stanza struts you will require different lower control arms as they use the larger ball joint. The larger ball joint has the bigger diameter taper to suit the stanza/180b etc steering arms. also keep in mind that the standard 1200 castor rods do not bolt directly to the stanza lower control arms.

cheers

Benny

Sorry to Hi-jack your thread Evilism, But i have another question (for converted).

Can standard 1200 lower control arms be used with stanza struts? or do you absolutely need the 120y (or stanza) lower control arms?

The reason I ask is because I recently wrecked an '82 stanza, I took out the struts, brakes, caster rods, but i forgot to get the lower control arms (DOH!!).

kickass thanks for all the info!

if i can use the 200B struts without much problem I will do it. I have a complete 200B ill be wrecking soon and I need to get everything thats useful to use in my 1200 or to sell to other enthusiasts.

from what I understand I am still aiming for the stanza struts (cheap hopefully) with 120Y lower control arms and front castor rods. I will also hopefully be using the 200B calipers which are meant to fit nicely onto a stanza strut.

currently with my stock struts / brakes it squeels constantly when im turning left - some brake place i took the datto too told me its old and slightly warped and it would be better to replace the entire strut/brake setup.
i already have great steering with the 22mm front stabilizer bar and dont really want to wear the tyres abnormally with camber / castor. tell me if im stupid for this - i only got into dattos last november and am still a bigtime 'newbie'.

thanks again for the help.

If you want evilsim, you can use quite a range of struts.
I have 200B on my 1200.
The key thing with the stanzas is that they use the same spring diameter as the 1200.
if you want to replace the bottom spring seat with an adjustable collar and 1200 spring seat, you can use 200B, Bluebird, Stanza, Pintara, Skyline and they have the longer stub axle to fit really big brakes....which just opens your availability 100 fold.
You can also use the Aussie 120Y lower control arms and front castor rods with the above struts as well. They are everywhere.
The fully imported 120Y's have smaller 1200 lower swing arms and castor rods.

So in summary:-

If you goto Pick n Payless and get 2 pintara struts with good vented discs ($80AUD), get a 1200 spring seat rewelded ($30) or an adjustable collar welded ($250), a set lowered 1200 springs rated at 200-275lb's and get the struts rebuilt ($250), plus 120Y lower control arms and castor rods ($include them in your cost with the struts), youll have a really good front end for your little car.

It will also have a litle bit of camber (about 1 degree) and some castor, which will improve the handling of your car infinately.

hey datto lovers. my old mcpherson stocko struts are in pretty bad nic and ive decided to get tid of them and try to replace them with stanzas so i can upgrade the brakes from a 200B etc etc.

if you have a pair of stanza struts (including the lower control arm which i believe your meant to need when installing them into a 1200) and want to sell them PM me, or email sim@sol1.net .

thanks