Brendan's 2014 Solid Red STU Autocross Build Thread

[1alexie]

Do you have any recent updates on this build?

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by 1alexie

Do you have any recent updates on this build?

Small update. I made some small setup changes after nationals. Now running the oem nismo front sway bar and the car is much easier to drive at the limit. I did win my class at our local winter event yesterday which isn't much but it's progress. Hopefully plan to finish the build with intakes, tune, 2p brake rotors and some 18x11 wheels all next season.

[vwhite_turbo]

Originally Posted by Brendan

The control arms from gktech work very similar the spl arms but are like a 3rd of the cost. These arms have spherical inner rod ends but the bearing is a standard type that you can get from most stores that stock suspension parts. What I decided to do was replace the rod ends with a type that would be legal for racing. I was able to find a set of rod ends from a 4wd parts company of all places. The dimension and type were perfect for the 370z. I ended up having to swap over the guts from the bushing on the z1 arms to make the rod ends work but someone might be able to put together a set by just having a set of inner sleeves made for the rod end bushings.

Fyi it seems like it would totally be possible to convert a set of spl arms the way I did these GKTech, I didnt want to spend $1000+ finding this out if I wasn't sure.

PXL_20210319_222049350 by brendan sobers, on Flickr

Man, this is very helpful and so close to exactly what I need. I am trying to do the same thing but using the SPL arm. The SPL rod end is a 5/8-18 RH thread, which barnes4wd.com doesn't seem to have. I will email them to see if they can custom make the exact mount with a different thread size.

I know Speedway sells one that has the 5/8-18 thread, but their bushing mounting width is only 1.3" which is too short and the housing ID is only about 1" which is a little small.

Do you happen to know the width of the forged housing without the bushing?

[gomer_110]

Originally Posted by vwhite_turbo

Man, this is very helpful and so close to exactly what I need. I am trying to do the same thing but using the SPL arm. The SPL rod end is a 5/8-18 RH thread, which barnes4wd.com doesn't seem to have. I will email them to see if they can custom make the exact mount with a different thread size.

I know Speedway sells one that has the 5/8-18 thread, but their bushing mounting width is only 1.3" which is too short and the housing ID is only about 1" which is a little small.

Do you happen to know the width of the forged housing without the bushing?

With some shims (think precise thickness washers) you can use the Speedway rod ends without too much difficulty. That's what I've been doing on mine for a number of years now.

[Rjk370z]

Wow! Very cool build. Its great to see your driving skills progress. Have you ever considered doing an HPDE?

[vwhite_turbo]

Originally Posted by gomer_110

With some shims (think precise thickness washers) you can use the Speedway rod ends without too much difficulty. That's what I've been doing on mine for a number of years now.

Thanks. I thought about that as a possible solution but it technically isn't legal in ST, even though it offers no performance advantage but you know how it goes.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Rjk370z

Wow! Very cool build. Its great to see your driving skills progress. Have you ever considered doing an HPDE?

I've done one in the z so far. It's a fun place to test set up changes and get a ton of seat time, but what I like most about autocross is competition with relatively low time and cost commitments.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by vwhite_turbo

Man, this is very helpful and so close to exactly what I need. I am trying to do the same thing but using the SPL arm. The SPL rod end is a 5/8-18 RH thread, which barnes4wd.com doesn't seem to have. I will email them to see if they can custom make the exact mount with a different thread size.

I know Speedway sells one that has the 5/8-18 thread, but their bushing mounting width is only 1.3" which is too short and the housing ID is only about 1" which is a little small.

Do you happen to know the width of the forged housing without the bushing?

38mm