Early Production S13 Chassis is Stiffer? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

s13dan · 03-05-2006, 08:32 PM

I read a long time ago that in the very first six months of production that the S13 front cross member was stiffer and stronger than any other S13's after that.It said that the front cross member was the same as the silvias was in japan, but due to customers complaning about ride qaulity nissan changed the cross member and weakend it in favor of ride qaulity.Sounds like something nissan would do, and I have heard of many peaple claming that there early produstion 240s are stiffer than the later modle ones (S13).I searched and cant find anything, does anyone know of this?And does anyone know when the 240 was first introduced?Earliest I have heard is 8/88.<---thats me!

RyanA96 · 03-05-2006, 09:12 PM

that sounds like something that could be true, but yea I have no idea about it

HyperTek · 03-05-2006, 09:14 PM

cant be something strut bars and a power brace cant achieve

s13dan · 03-05-2006, 09:18 PM

True,but if you have a beefier front cross member to start with and then you get stut bars and a power brace, you would be just that much better off. I think my current 240 is a little tighter than my other 2, and this one is the oldest.

drift freaq · 03-05-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13dan

I read a long time ago that in the very first six months of production that the S13 front cross member was stiffer and stronger than any other S13's after that.It said that the front cross member was the same as the silvias was in japan, but due to customers complaning about ride qaulity Nissan changed the cross member and weakend it in favor of ride qaulity.Sounds like something nissan would do, and I have heard of many peaple claming that there early produstion 240s are stiffer than the later modle ones (S13).I searched and cant find anything, does anyone know of this?And does anyone know when the 240 was first introduced?Earliest I have heard is 8/88.<---thats me!

This sounds like a internet twist on the truth. The truth is S13 crossmembers are all the same. Truth is S14's were softened up in their ride, due to customers complaining of the S13 having a noisy ride. That is actually true. Reason is, S13's were designed to be entry level sports cars and sports coupes. S14's were dumbed down because people at that time were more concerned with quitness and ride smoothness over sports car like ride and feel(part of this was because of Nissan North America's marketing department missing the target on how they were marketing the cars!!). What is ironic about this is the fact that though the ride of the s14 was softened and quited the chassis is actually stiffer than a s13 chassis. So that pretty much throws water on the internet theory you proposed.
People you need to stop looking at Nissan as some kind of culprit for things you don't like or are opinionated about. Can we say bite the hand that feeds??
If it was not for Nissan building your damn car period you would not have the pleasure of owning it.

Ricks15 · 03-05-2006, 09:21 PM

what chassis is more stiffer the coupe/Fastback???

nsn240 · 03-05-2006, 09:25 PM

^coupe

asfldsa length

drift freaq · 03-05-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricks15

what chassis is more stiffer the coupe/Fastback???

it goes like this
S13 Fastback- stiff
S13 coupe - stiffer
S14 chassis =stiffest
S15 probably as stiff or stiffer than a s14 but we do not know because we do not have s15's maybe someone from a country with s15's could speak up.

originalsin · 03-05-2006, 09:37 PM

s14 is rly the stiffest?

s13dan · 03-05-2006, 09:39 PM

Im NOT saying stiffer than all 240's, im saying stiffer than a normal S13, like i posted.And i have read and know for a fact the chassis from silvia and 180, differ from 240's, I have read that on zilvia from people that say the dealt with it hands on. I know about the s14s, but i really think that the s13 thing could be true. DAMNIT I wish i could find that damn thread, but i on a lot of nissan forums so no telling where i got it from.Ill keep looking.

Ricks15 · 03-05-2006, 09:41 PM

I see this might sound stupid but what are the chances of someone who takes there 240 to drift and abuse the car can all those violent G-forces and quick motions that the chassis go through without proper stiffing aids destroy the balance of the frame, or owrst deform the chassis???

g6civcx · 03-05-2006, 09:55 PM

If you ever have the chance to look at an S14 chassis when stripped to the bare metal, you will see why it is stiffer. Nissan addressed all the structural integrity issues with the S13. The S14 trut towers are reinforced. The A-pillars are reinforced. Everything about the chassis is an improvement over the S13 chassis.

s13dan · 03-05-2006, 10:53 PM

IM NOT ASKING ABOUT s14's! i know s14's are stiffer, im only talking about s13 chassis...

g6civcx · 03-06-2006, 12:03 AM

I was answering the poster above who asked if the S14 was the stiffest.

s13dan · 03-06-2006, 12:35 AM

gotcha... sorry

drift freaq · 03-06-2006, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13dan

Im NOT saying stiffer than all 240's, im saying stiffer than a normal S13, like i posted.And i have read and know for a fact the chassis from silvia and 180, differ from 240's, I have read that on zilvia from people that say the dealt with it hands on. I know about the s14s, but i really think that the s13 thing could be true. DAMNIT I wish i could find that damn thread, but i on a lot of nissan forums so no telling where i got it from.Ill keep looking.

Dan before you get all butt hurt and defensive about this. I have dealt with all of these chassis's. I answered your first statement correctly. Japanese, Silvia and 180 s13 chassis's, actually have less structural reinforcement than American s13 chassis's. Why? Federal crash safety standards. The frame rails to the unibody on the American market chassis go all the way back, on the Japanese ones they do not. This is just one glaring example. There is more including different radiator core supports on Japanese models vs American ones. If anything American s13 chassis's are more likely to and actually do have more reinforcements overall than there Japanese counterparts due to Federal crash safety standards. Flat out the 89-90 S13 chassis is no stiffer than a 91-93. Plus 91 up chassis were slightly heavier and had a tendacy to feel even more solid than 89-90 cars.
Like I said in my first response to your orginal post, I think you read someones twisted around mistatement of the facts.
You need to go out and study more about Federal crash safety standards. They are the reason all Imported cars into the United States from Japan and Asia have a tendancy to weigh more than their own domestic market counterparts.

axxent · 03-06-2006, 06:59 AM

What about a seam-welded, t-bar'd, roll-caged '91 S13 with 32-way adjustable coilovers, camber plates, sway bars, end links and strut tower braces?

How tight would that be? lol

ledzeppelin240 · 03-06-2006, 11:41 AM

Still not as tight as your mom, but getting close...

ryangreg · 03-06-2006, 12:31 PM

^^ goin for the low blow........hooorah..

EchoOfSilence · 03-06-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axxent

What about a seam-welded, t-bar'd, roll-caged '91 S13 with 32-way adjustable coilovers, camber plates, sway bars, end links and strut tower braces?

How tight would that be? lol

that was... very random. also pretty damned common.

Dutchmalmiss · 03-07-2006, 01:26 AM

camber plates don't stiffen

03-05-2006, 08:32 PM	#1
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Early Production S13 Chassis is Stiffer? I read a long time ago that in the very first six months of production that the S13 front cross member was stiffer and stronger than any other S13's after that.It said that the front cross member was the same as the silvias was in japan, but due to customers complaning about ride qaulity nissan changed the cross member and weakend it in favor of ride qaulity.Sounds like something nissan would do, and I have heard of many peaple claming that there early produstion 240s are stiffer than the later modle ones (S13).I searched and cant find anything, does anyone know of this?And does anyone know when the 240 was first introduced?Earliest I have heard is 8/88.<---thats me! __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

03-05-2006, 09:14 PM	#3
HyperTek Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 13,224 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	cant be something strut bars and a power brace cant achieve __________________ Keep it Classy

03-05-2006, 09:18 PM	#4
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	True,but if you have a beefier front cross member to start with and then you get stut bars and a power brace, you would be just that much better off. I think my current 240 is a little tighter than my other 2, and this one is the oldest. __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

03-05-2006, 09:39 PM	#10
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Im NOT saying stiffer than all 240's, im saying stiffer than a normal S13, like i posted.And i have read and know for a fact the chassis from silvia and 180, differ from 240's, I have read that on zilvia from people that say the dealt with it hands on. I know about the s14s, but i really think that the s13 thing could be true. DAMNIT I wish i could find that damn thread, but i on a lot of nissan forums so no telling where i got it from.Ill keep looking. __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

03-05-2006, 10:53 PM	#13
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	IM NOT ASKING ABOUT s14's! i know s14's are stiffer, im only talking about s13 chassis... __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

03-05-2006, 09:12 PM	#2
RyanA96 Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Buffalo,NY Age: 38 Posts: 175 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	that sounds like something that could be true, but yea I have no idea about it

03-05-2006, 09:21 PM	#6
Ricks15 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 39 Posts: 1,661 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	what chassis is more stiffer the coupe/Fastback???

03-05-2006, 09:25 PM	#7
nsn240 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: pa Posts: 642 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	^coupe asfldsa length

03-05-2006, 09:37 PM	#9
originalsin Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san diego Age: 37 Posts: 194 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	s14 is rly the stiffest?

03-05-2006, 09:41 PM	#11
Ricks15 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 39 Posts: 1,661 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I see this might sound stupid but what are the chances of someone who takes there 240 to drift and abuse the car can all those violent G-forces and quick motions that the chassis go through without proper stiffing aids destroy the balance of the frame, or owrst deform the chassis???

03-05-2006, 09:55 PM	#12
g6civcx Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 5,764 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	If you ever have the chance to look at an S14 chassis when stripped to the bare metal, you will see why it is stiffer. Nissan addressed all the structural integrity issues with the S13. The S14 trut towers are reinforced. The A-pillars are reinforced. Everything about the chassis is an improvement over the S13 chassis.

03-06-2006, 12:03 AM	#14
g6civcx Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 5,764 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	I was answering the poster above who asked if the S14 was the stiffest.

03-06-2006, 12:35 AM	#15
s13dan Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 1,519 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	gotcha... sorry __________________ 89 240sx hatch #933-the hot rod 91 240sx coupe #131,603-the daily

03-06-2006, 06:59 AM	#17
axxent Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 3 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What about a seam-welded, t-bar'd, roll-caged '91 S13 with 32-way adjustable coilovers, camber plates, sway bars, end links and strut tower braces? How tight would that be? lol

03-06-2006, 11:41 AM	#18
ledzeppelin240 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sinse Posts: 688 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Still not as tight as your mom, but getting close... __________________ Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. Looking for: JDM S13 OEM Sideskirts

03-06-2006, 12:31 PM	#19
ryangreg Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: exeter Posts: 216 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^^ goin for the low blow........hooorah..

03-07-2006, 01:26 AM	#21
Dutchmalmiss Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Socal (323) Age: 39 Posts: 3,501 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	camber plates don't stiffen __________________ Pignose, biaaatch.