Wally
Club Member
Yes they are 5kg at the rear. I'm going to be putting in an RB25DET from a skyline. The engine is pretty much an identical weight but gearbox, intercooler etc will end up weighting more at the front.
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Suspension replacement advice for a '73 240z
- Thread starter Graeme - CZ
- Start date
Yes they are 5kg at the rear. I'm going to be putting in an RB25DET from a skyline. The engine is pretty much an identical weight but gearbox, intercooler etc will end up weighting more at the front.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
ask them if they alter the valving to suit changes in spring rates. Also if they do that in the UK or do you have to wait for a set to be shipped over.
Wally
Club Member
Anything other than the 4/5kg is special order. Took around 3-4weeks to get them through. Although that might have been because I was waiting on other parts I ordered at the same time.
johnymd
Club Member
BC’s are a basic budget setup. I use them on 2 of my Zed’s and I’m reasonable happy with them. Ride is acceptable but not good. My car with GAZ gold rides noticeable better but is 50% more expensive. I’d be interested in details of the basic intrax setup and an exact price franky. I would ask what the ride quality was like but can’t wait a couple of years for an answer.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
that was quite funny.
you’d have to email ad at va for a price as they’re not the same as I’ve got Anyway.
Other factors to consider are tyre sidewalls and what bushings you’ve got
quality dampers are quality dampers.
atomman
Club Member
As with all these set ups , you get what you pay for , all the after market set ups are basically the same , bar the damper
An adjustable spring platform for height, bit of CNC machined alloy and/or a tube that welds on , standard or adjustable top mount, a spring (of different rates) and a damper , either upside down or top adjustable and this is where the money is .
If you look into the design of dampers (I've been doing some work on protoype's for a few years now ) there are different idea's of how to do it , foot valves , external reservoir,gas, oil etc etc , basically the way it controls the flow to make it dampen and how it is adjusted, most systems just use a valve for this that opens and closes to restrict or open up flow (i.e GAZ, BC), some others do it differently (i.e Koni, Bilstein) dampers are also usually matched,(valved) to spring rates , not sure if the cheaper coil overs really do this or rely on the adjustabilty
In short you get what you pay for and don't go to higher rate as the car will bend
An adjustable spring platform for height, bit of CNC machined alloy and/or a tube that welds on , standard or adjustable top mount, a spring (of different rates) and a damper , either upside down or top adjustable and this is where the money is .
If you look into the design of dampers (I've been doing some work on protoype's for a few years now ) there are different idea's of how to do it , foot valves , external reservoir,gas, oil etc etc , basically the way it controls the flow to make it dampen and how it is adjusted, most systems just use a valve for this that opens and closes to restrict or open up flow (i.e GAZ, BC), some others do it differently (i.e Koni, Bilstein) dampers are also usually matched,(valved) to spring rates , not sure if the cheaper coil overs really do this or rely on the adjustabilty
In short you get what you pay for and don't go to higher rate as the car will bend
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
What I really don’t understand is that people chase massive power, adjustable suspension arms etc and Then finish it off with budget dampers.
the one thing you’ll feel most in the car.
the one thing you’ll feel most in the car.
Wally
Club Member
I wouldn't call £8-900 dampers budget. I'd much prefer the KW V3 for mine over the BCs but it would be overkill for a roadcar. I think the BCs are a good middle ground.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
£800/4. So £200, thats for housing/springs/mounts/dampers.
I Don't think the KW v3 are all that, overall. Theres also http://leda.com/ plus others. On a road car the dampers have to work over a much wider range than a race car, surely that'd be more important than having every pickup point adjustable and solid rod ended joins everywhere?
Wally
Club Member
I totally agree spending money on suspension is the way to go. But £200 of modern day coilover is infinitely better than what was originally on the car. Yes there might be better options but I still believe BC are a great middle ground.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
Yes, however thats probably about £100 per corner, so as a point of discussion, why have all that adjustment in your suspension parts, solid joints, t3/apex/arizona(etc etc), where the most important thing becomes a £100 damper.
Looking online 4kg/mm is 225lbs/in so that's about right for the road.
I THINK he means better than the stock system as it left the factory.
I THINK he means better than the stock system as it left the factory.
Wally
Club Member
Over 50year old original suspension then yes. If you're changing to a modern spring and modern damper, then the gap definitely closes significantly.
Wally
Club Member
You are most likely right and the money should be spent on the dampers. After BCs other better quality coilovers I would concider to be the next step up raises the price by a £1000. Leda, KW V3, Intrax. That's a lot. Would the average bloke significantly notice the difference?
On my car I could have probably got away without all the apex gear but I liked the look of it, it made fitting the engine, diff, cv drive shafts, modernish hubs, rear disc conversion easier to all fit together. A set of BCs and new bushes would have probably done.
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
At one point in the past I got interested in the BC Racing conversion as a budget setup, but wanted to know more about the actual bump and rebound range of the damper units. Most people talk about the spring rates, but I wanted to know the actual damper rates. A readout from a shock dyno would have done the trick.
Asked around everywhere, including BC Racing 'UK'. They couldn't (not wouldn't, but literally did not know) so I tried contacting the manufacturer in Taiwan. They wouldn't. Don't know why not.
Anyone know the actual rate range for the valving?
Asked around everywhere, including BC Racing 'UK'. They couldn't (not wouldn't, but literally did not know) so I tried contacting the manufacturer in Taiwan. They wouldn't. Don't know why not.
Anyone know the actual rate range for the valving?
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
Its not. Decent dampers and set spring length would do.
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Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
I think the cheapest intrax is about £1500, same for the leda.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
Please don't spend money based on my opinions!
My suspension might have been £1500 more than a set of BC(however thats as a bolt in), there's no magic there, just more expensive dampers.
However for that £1500 i'm using rubber bushings/stock arms so lots of money 'saved' there. its the only none stock suspension part.
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