280ZX Turbo CV Shafts

[Mr.G]

I'd like to convert my 240Z halfshafts to 280ZX Turbo CV halfshafts on my 240Z which already has an R200 installed.

Can someone confirm if they will be a straight bolt in to 240Z stub axles?

I've also heard of some people sourcing 260Z or 280Z stub axles and having the Modern Motorsports adaptor welded to them, which I believe is supposed to make it all stronger?

If I could just use my 240Z stub axles it would simplify things and make the conversion cheaper.

Has anyone gone down any of these routes? Any tips or photos of the conversion would be great.

Thanks!

 

[datsun dave]

Hi George,

Sorry mate they will NOT bolt onto the 240z stub axles, i have this set up and have the Modern Motorsport adaptor that bolt in place of your original 240z ones.

Also the 280zx turbo driveshafts are handed so make sure that you fit them the right way round.

 

[Zed2k]

Dave I would have thought you would have gone for a R230 300zxtt axle setup, which I am looking at!!
I thought you could change the driveshaft flange side of the stub axle with the 280zx cv ones, but might be wrong they suggest using 260z> hubs as they are alot stronger. Still haven't decided which way to do on the backaxle. yet

 

[datsun dave]

I bought them with lots of bits from Black Bug at a great price just hope that i do not break them.

 

[samuri-240]

Dave I would have thought you would have gone for a R230 300zxtt axle setup,

I had an R230 complete with drive shafts here gave it to the scrap man a couple of weeks ago , could not get any interest in it even at 99p

 

[Zed2k]

Oh bugger would have had that off you, never mind, the R230 setup is in my opinion unbreakable, but cost involved in making the halfshafts are what killing it at the moment, what we need to do is get a few sets made up and lower the cost. you need 2 pairs of drive shafts and use the 4 inners and some Modern motorsport flange adapters but need the shorter halfshafts which will probably cost over £500 before they land on the doorstep.

 

[Nigel Brook]

The 280zx stub axle flanges will fit the 240 stub axle but are too long. I'm currently trying to figure how, and to what length, I need to reduce them to.

 

[Mr.G]

Thanks for the replies.

Dave did you use 260 or 280Z stub axles then?

I took a look at the MM website and there appears to be two adaptors that they sell for this conversion, I am non the wiser as to which one I need.

Billet 280ZXT CV Adaptor, 70-78 Z at 395USD:
Welcome to Modern Motorsports Ltd!

or
70->78 Z - 280ZXT CV Conversion Package
225USD
Welcome to Modern Motorsports Ltd!

Can someone let me know what the difference is.

These are the turbo halfshafts I purchased from ebay, which arrived yesterday:
eBay Motors: Datsun 280zx turbo C/V axles, LOOK! NR! (item 310120910408 end time Feb-08-09 19:25:20 PST)

 

[rallymanDP]

George - as I know that you do not want to spend a lot of money ( and indeed do not need to do so ), on this conversion, the simple answer is :-

a) The Late 280ZX Driveshafts will fir straight into the R200 Diff, but they are, as has already been said, handed. If I remember rightly, the shorter of the two splined shafts fits into the left-hand Diff output ( i.e. the nearside ). It will be a tight fit - you need to remove the thin end plate & make a new one without the 'cone' part, from alloy or thin steel.

b) Both of the Half shafts where they meet the Driveshaft need modifying with a 6-bolt Halfshaft flange taken from the Donor 280ZX Hub to be welded onto the 240Z inner face.

This by far the cheapest way of doing this conversion, as the US kits are very well Engineered but are only doing the same thing as I have described, at a considerably higher overall cost.

I have a printout of the conversion details which I can photocopy & send you if you want to give me a call.

 

[zedhead260]

George - as I know that you do not want to spend a lot of money ......................................................... the simple answer is :-

George, if this is the case then perhaps the simple answer is to keep the stock set-up. I think it is a bit of a myth that regular half shafts with UJ's are weak.

Besides, there has to be a break point somewhere.
I'd much rather replace a half shaft UJ than rebuild a diff.
I'd much rather replace a half shaft UJ than the damage caused by a shattered prop'.
I'd much rather replace a half shaft UJ than rebuild a gearbox.

Are you really putting that much power to the wheels ?
What tyres do you intend to use ?

 

[Mr.G]

All, thanks for the replies.I don't mind spending money on this set up, but if there is a more cost effective way then that would make sense.

Duncan - I'll give you a call, thanks.

Rob - I take your points on the UJs, I also do not want to be stranded somewhere if they fail. Power will be between 250-300hp, no idea yet. For the short term I will be using 225 AVON Turbospeeds. And I do plan on getting a Quaife LSD fitted into my R200.

If you still think it may not be necessary to do this conversion then please let me know, I don't want to do this if it's not really necessary.

 

[zedhead260]

If you still think it may not be necessary to do this conversion then please let me know, I don't want to do this if it's not really necessary.

In your application it may not be necessary, but I must admit to doing mod's and conversions purely for the sake of it myself.

All adds to the wank factor in my opinion

 

[260Z TT]

I converted my '78 260z to S14 viscous LSD unit, into a 3.9 R200.
Using 280zx outer flanges on 240z hubs, with the S14 inner flange into LSD.
Had new driveshafts made up to suit, using all original nissan joints, inner and outer.
Shafts are so short, the cv boots actually touch eachother!
Cost of one off shafts was £220 the pair.
Purchased the S14 diff and driveshafts for £200 from a breakers 7 years ago, when I did the conversion.

 

[Zed2k]

Can you give us the name of the driveshaft guys thanks.

 

[260Z TT]

Nick,
Managed to dig out the number for you.
They can also shorten and specialist weld the std S14 shafts which are very long. I made the mistake of cutting them after some one elses say-so, but then this company said I should have left it to them to do, just give them the total length of shaft required!

North West Propshafts
Regency Works
Regent Street
Coppull
Nr Chorley
Lancashire

01257 791681

 

[johnymd]

An old thread but its not been talked about for a little while.

So what have people done to use the CV shafts?

I'm using UJ's but think I need to go to CV's. I been gathering bits but need some help on the final bit of the puzzle. I got a pair of 280zx 6 bolt axles, 280zx companion flanges, 260z stub axles, and 260z companion flanges. I think that's all the bits to do the conversion. Dave J suggested I machine and join the 280zx companion flange to the 260z companion flange and this is the way I'd like to go. So, what's the final dimmension of the finished companion flange and has anyone got any advice to give me on the subject.

 

[johnymd]

Also, is there a difference between 280zxt and 280zx 6 bolt axles?

 

[rallymanDP]

Johnymd - Dave J has described exactly how to do the conversion, but you should note :-

a) The 260Z Half Shafts have a different number of splines to the 240Z and will not fit the 280ZX Flanges, so you will need to source a 240Z set;

b) The newly modified setup to the nearside needs to be as thin as possible in order to fit the Tripod type Driveshafts into place ( because of the added width of the R200 Diff ). Even so, you will think that they will not compress enough to do so, but indeed they will - though you may need to remove the studs first and then tap them back into place afterwards to secure the shafts.

 

[datsun dave]

Welcome to Modern Motorsports Ltd!

Go have a look at this conversion package as this is what i am using.

 

[ben240z]

still running standard 240z shafts with UJs and using avon very soft compound hillclimb slicks.
In 15 years of running the car I have only had 3 UJs break only one of these was on a very aggresive start. The othe 2 went coming out of a corner.
I have seen numurous CV jointed drive shafts break on much lighter cars
In my opinion there is no need to change the shafts. The engineers seemed to know what they were doing when they built the cars back in the 70s
As far as 240z shaft availability I have a company that can make replacement shafts thatare lighter and as strong as the standard item.
I will go back under my stone now and carry on TVR baiting