Re: 1974 Datsun 260z project (updated 9/17!)
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:06 am
Mind blowing good news: I posted a picture of my coilovers on a Facebook group called "Datsun parts and Needs", a well respected Z car guru named John Coffey who worked with Nissan in the 1990's and is the owner of a company called Beta Motorsports that specializes in Z cars saw my coilovers and replied with this...
(Please note the capitalization of "Motorsports" which would imply used for competition for race cars.)
John Coffey:
"1970s Nissan Motorsports setup. They use the OEM inserts with a heavier weight oil - similar to how you tune older style motorcycle forks. The camber plates are designed for a cut out center hole in the strut tower but otherwise use the stock upper insulator mounting holes.
Replacement O rings are readily available from any industrial supply house. You huge issue will be the shaft seals. Most likely they are junk and you'll have a hard time finding replacements unless you can find a part number on the seal itself. The insert itself should be fine and you can just refill it with good hydraulic oil of whatever weight you want. The FSM has assembly and fill instructions.
You will also need to replace the spherical bearing in the camber plate. Its most likely a common COM10 which you can source from Aurora, NHBB, or any industrial supply house. You will also need to replace the Torrington bearing which is also readily available at any industrial supply house.
And no, they are not worth anything to anyone - unless you find the one guy who is restoring a period correct vintage rally or tarmac S30. And even then most current vintage racing rules allow replacement of the shocks with something more modern."
I posted them on a classic Z car message forum and he replied with this...
"Those are parts that Nissan Motorsports USA sold to racers back in the 1970s. Yes, they are not made by Nissan. They were locally sourced (the camber plate, threaded tube, and adjustable lower spring perch) from fabrication shops most likely here in Southern California. The same basic camber plate design is still being made by Don Oldernberg at DP Racing and he might have made the originals. "
So, I am very happy with my coilovers now that they have some history. They are still discussing my coilovers, I will refrain from copy and pasting whole conversations/threads on here so if you are interested in following the discussion of my coilovers you can follow the link to the forum. Thanks! http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread47813.html
(Please note the capitalization of "Motorsports" which would imply used for competition for race cars.)
John Coffey:
"1970s Nissan Motorsports setup. They use the OEM inserts with a heavier weight oil - similar to how you tune older style motorcycle forks. The camber plates are designed for a cut out center hole in the strut tower but otherwise use the stock upper insulator mounting holes.
Replacement O rings are readily available from any industrial supply house. You huge issue will be the shaft seals. Most likely they are junk and you'll have a hard time finding replacements unless you can find a part number on the seal itself. The insert itself should be fine and you can just refill it with good hydraulic oil of whatever weight you want. The FSM has assembly and fill instructions.
You will also need to replace the spherical bearing in the camber plate. Its most likely a common COM10 which you can source from Aurora, NHBB, or any industrial supply house. You will also need to replace the Torrington bearing which is also readily available at any industrial supply house.
And no, they are not worth anything to anyone - unless you find the one guy who is restoring a period correct vintage rally or tarmac S30. And even then most current vintage racing rules allow replacement of the shocks with something more modern."
I posted them on a classic Z car message forum and he replied with this...
"Those are parts that Nissan Motorsports USA sold to racers back in the 1970s. Yes, they are not made by Nissan. They were locally sourced (the camber plate, threaded tube, and adjustable lower spring perch) from fabrication shops most likely here in Southern California. The same basic camber plate design is still being made by Don Oldernberg at DP Racing and he might have made the originals. "
So, I am very happy with my coilovers now that they have some history. They are still discussing my coilovers, I will refrain from copy and pasting whole conversations/threads on here so if you are interested in following the discussion of my coilovers you can follow the link to the forum. Thanks! http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread47813.html