Mid Engine Suspension

[bb4_96]

I was looking at an old VG maxima in the pick'n'pull the other day and had an idea. What would have to be done to a 240 or 300zx to move the weight of the motor from over the front wheels to just ahead of the rear wheels in terms of suspension? I saw a mid engine on a civic but those components are all very light compared to old iron block parts.

Spring rates? Custome valved shocks? Any ideas?

[bb4_96]

I'm not going for a record in unanswered posts if anyone's wondering

[s14unimog]

^ There is just too much to list. If you are asking this broad of a question then everybody assumes you're just curious and so wouldn't justify concise thought out responses.

Lets just say, A lot of work. Its one thing if you have a frame to work off of, but the 240 & 300 were never designed to deal with that weight in the center of the car. I don't know what the answers are but spring rates and shock valving is the last of your worries.

[Aki180sx]

Toyota already did it for you. The MR2

[sirfallsalot243]

Theres a guy in team-integra.net that put an H22 in the back seat of an Integra. EXTREMELY detail oriented build, built as if Honda made it themselves. I dont care if youre not a Honda fan, its an incredible build, and would show you exactly how much work would be involved.

94 GSR mid-engine RWD H22A4 conversion - Team Integra (http://www.team-integra.net/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=15&TopicID=106670&ReturnPage=1&PagePosition=0&ThreadPage=1)

[bb4_96]

^^ A guy did a similar build with a civic coupe and b18.

As far as frame considerations go I think I'll mock up rough placement then tube it into the chassis. Then I'll probably have to tube the part of the rear subframe that clears the diff to clear the transmission.

Has anyone ever seen the late 80's early 90's maxima layout? I don't think this will be as difficult as it sounds.

I can get the motor in the car. Getting the car to handle after that I don't really know what to expect.

[bb4_96]

The 300zx is heavier than the 240 bya signifigant amount. I know that the rear uprights on 240/300zx can be interchanged with a change to the struts but could 300zx coilovers be used on the 240sx to compensate for heavier rear? What do the upper mounts look like?

[sirfallsalot243]

You'd be better off with 240sx suspension with the proper spring rates for the weight, I would think. They do make stiffer 240 suspension..

[bb4_96]

Thats the things I need to know. Fabricating and engine building I'm ok on. Suspension I'm completely baffled. I've read the suspension thread like a dozen times and it's still makes sense like reading a chinese phone book.

So 240 coilovers would work? Most of the back of the car will be tubed... don't know if that makes any difference.