The front of my G50 is slammed using OEM UNCUT springs and struts!!! What???

----UPDATE REAR IS DONE----
I've been searching the other forums and found [URL="http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=124899"]this[/URL]
which led me to the quest to drop the Q using OEM Z32 parts.

I used OEM Z32 springs,  Z32 upper mounts, and Z32 KYB GR-2 replacement struts for the FRONT ONLY (I didn't start on the rear yet).

(1) The two bolt holes on the strut towers need to be filed slightly closer together to accept the 300ZX upper mounts.

(2) The lower mount on the Z32 strut is too small to fit onto the Q's lower mount stud. The correct way to fix this is to have the OEM lower strut bushing from your old strut (or new if your anal) and press them into the Z32 strut.

Bolt it together and voila! Remember, its the fronts only. The rears are cut/blown oem G50 struts that I need to take care of.
[IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/thejapino/Qzstrutsfr1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/thejapino/Qzstrutsfr2.jpg[/IMG]
I'm looking into other options to get similar results in the rear without cutting any springs so stay tuned! Im open to your negative and positive feedback.

not bad... get er dun on the rear =) id take a little from the front off too. but to each their own...just a little but for now, thats not bad at all.

[url]http://vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7346&highlight=g50+suspension+reference[/url]

how's the ride and handling?

I saw that thread too Damicci but it seemed like it was for coilovers mostly.  I updated it too though.  

19psi, it rides pretty well.  You still have to drive it like a lowered car though (speed bumps, driveways, uneven pavement) but overall, it drives like a stock car!  I want to upgrade the struts to Tokicos or anything with stiffer valving (non-adjustable to keep costs down).

that's cool that it feels stock. just wondering if the weight of the car affected the spring rates since i thought maybe the front of the q was heavier than a z. but maybe it's not which keeps the ride nice.

looks like i need to bring out the dremal and do a little experimenting also. keep us posted on the rears.

[QUOTE=19psi;129517]that's cool that it feels stock. just wondering if the weight of the car affected the spring rates since i thought maybe the front of the q was heavier than a z. but maybe it's not which keeps the ride nice.[/QUOTE]

In nico, someone said the Z was 3400 lbs. dry and the Q was 3900 lbs. dry.  The +- 500 lbs. difference is pretty significant but I'm assuming the Z suspension is tuned for sporty/stiffness while the Q is tuned for soft/comfort.  My logic tells me that if thats true, and the Z springs/struts combo is tuned to be slightly sporty and stiffer, then it should be fine for the Q.  Just don't expect to run some high G skidpad tests with it afterwords though.  But then again, I could be totally wrong. 

I have an idea for the rears but I need to hit the junkyard to get some ideas and parts!

Actually it does affect the front alot. That where most of the weight difference is.

The mods needed to run z32 suspension is the same whether it is coils or oem shock/spring combo. But the oem shocks maybe taller in general than the coilovers so that would help allot. I believe that is one problem with running the z32 suspension is the strut height and srping rate.

I see what your saying.  Its nothing but positive for me b/c when I got my Q, the struts where already worn.  I cut the springs to get low b/c I knew I was gonna use Z32 suspension anyways.  So I went from floaty airy stock height to bouncy jarring low height to soft dampened low height.  I've spent $120 for used Z32 strut assemblies with newer KYB's so for me, it was worth it.  Well, halfway or frontway worth it.

What size wheels? Your car looks lower than mine.

19x8 +30, 19x8.5 +33

--------------------UPDATE--------------------

For the rear I used:

-OEM Z32 rear springs
-Z32 FRONT struts
-Q45 rear upper mount and bumpstops (centers had to be enlarged using a file)
-5/16" thick, 2" angle iron to fab up some adapters 

An adapter must me made to mate the Z's lower strut mount to the Q's upright.  The adapter was simple enough to make though.  The rear spring didn't completely seat in the lower spring perch so I used some 1/2" heater hose to center the spring onto the perch.  The piston of the front Z strut is thicker than the Q's piston so in order to use the Q's rear upper mount and bushings, they had to be bored out with a file. I'll snap a pic of the adapter when I get a chance.

I've ridden with it like this since saturday with no problems. It rides SO much better than my previous setup. Here's a pic:

[IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/thejapino/Q-Setup.jpg[/IMG]

nice, so in how much is that in total, 'round 400, wouldn't it have been a little easier just to do coil's then air later, or are you running air on these struts?

I've only spent about $180 in parts and materials total, front and rear.  The cost of coilovers range from 5 to 10 times that amount.  I like the setup so I may stick to it for a while.

180, that doesn't sound bad, will you upgrade to something like bag / struts later on

nice work man. it's sitting pretty nice right now. you should invest in some nice rims now to really set off your stance IMO...

Your rears are actually lower than mine. Good job though.

nice tuck for stock springs lol! :biggthumpup: i love G50s! get the sessions kit for it pls!

I doubt I'll bag the car anymore.  If I want to go lower, I'll use eibachs for another 0.8 inch.  I plan to do alot more to the car before I even start thinking about aero.  I'm need to fix what needs attention first and then go against the grain and 5-speed this bad boy.

Remember, for this drop you'll need:

front:
Front Z32 strut assemblies w/ oem springs, complete

rear:
Rear Z32  oem springs, 
Front Z32 struts,
Rear G50 upper strut mounts,
Adapter for the strut.

Thanks for the positive feedback folks, ride low

BTW for those of you interested in spring rates, here's what I found

front/rear

OEM G50
146/123

OEM Z32 n/a
168/123

OEM Z32 TT 
156/134