s13 z32 rear

[catnipple]

hello everyone, so i recently bought a rear end from a z32 tt for $200. from what i have read the tt stock lsd will not fit with the s13 stock subframe.. i was also told that the entire rear end will be a direct bolt up replacement for the s13 stock rear end. this would be great so i could knock out the steps of 5 lug and an lsd all in one shot but i need to know the facts about this stuff so i can understand what i can n can not do and what parts i can n cant use... thank you in advance for anyone with information!!!! heres a picture of what im working with...

[Hijacker]

I did a quick search and didn't turn up anybody doing this particular swap successfully. Just a lot of talk unfortunately.

Now, the subframe will be an issue as I'm 99% certain it won't bolt into the S13. Even with S14 subframe conversion bushings, I don't know if it'll fit. The track width of the Z is 1534mm with a 35mm offset wheel, and the S13 is 1460 with 40mm offset wheels. The control arms, hubs, and spindles are all physically identical between the platforms, so I'm pretty sure the track width difference is made up in the subframe width, and it's a substantial difference from looking at the width measurements (for comparison, the S13 and S14 are 10mm different, so 5mm offset bushings will allow you to swap subframes). With some cutting and welding of the subframe, you can get it to fit as the width difference will be in the center sections, not the curved lengths the suspension pickups are attached. I'm not a huge fan of that idea as you have to be pretty confident in your location of the sides when you re-weld everything to ensure that the geometry isn't thrown off.

If you try to swap the R230 into your S13 subframe, you'll need to shorten the axles, and you'll need to use the TT hubs as the spline count will be different. I had a friend years ago unsuccessfully try to hybridize TT axles with S13 axles to run an R230. It never got past the planning stage. The S13 runs a tripod style CV while the Z runs a 5 bearing style, so I don't know if it's really possible to hybridize the axles.

[catnipple]

ahh thats sad news but thank you for the reply and the usefull information. i should be able to use the hubs and spindles with the s13 axles though right? if i cant use the rest of it id at least like to have the 5 lug with the z32 brakes..

[catnipple]

i googled some pictures of what the s13 rear end looks like n it looks about identical to the t rear end i picked up.. so it must be the difference you were talking about on where the busshings are placed?

[Hijacker]

They look similar, but not identical. To give you an idea, I pulled up the service manual measurements for the narrow end mounting studs. The Z32 is 686mm from stud to stud by the FSM whereas the S13 is 606mm stud to stud by the FSM (these numbers aren't always accurate as I've found though). Nissan used the same style subframe to keep costs down in the suspension design over a multitude of platforms. Z32, S13, S14, J30 and Q45 all use the same setup, but in some cases the width is the only difference. I say your best bet is to drop the S13 subframe and see how far off the bushings are from the studs. The R230 might bolt to an S14 subframe as well since it has the 2 stud cover.

As far as the hubs go, TT Zs use a thicker axle so the spline count is larger on the hub to accommodate. Gotta use the axles to match the hub. The real issue is that the axle is too long if I remember correctly from dealing with one of these. You can send the axles off and have a driveshaft shop shorten them to the proper length. When you convert the knuckles over to the aluminum units from the Z, you'll need to swap your rear dampers out for ones compatible with a Z. S13s use the post to mount the bottom of the damper, Zs use a fork over a bushing.

Lastly, and I'm sure you've thought of this, the TT Zs had super HICAS. You'll need a HICAS eliminator to run that subframe.

[catnipple]

Okay so that 80 milimeter difference is around three inches difference there if I'm thinking correctly.. Would there be any possibly way to modify the subframe where the mounting stud bushings are to shorten the distance between the two without affecting the integrity of the subframe, like drilling new holes closer together? Or Is the only realistic modification that'd work is cutting n shortening the subframe.. I also have two z32 n/a sitting around if this doesn't work n I need parts from one of them.. I believe I have read that the diff from n/a would be a direct replacement as it actually fits the s13 subframe if you swap diff covers but I'm not entirely sure. For the s13/z32 damper issues I was thinking about picking up some Megan track coilovers, I did some research a while back n found that they also make replacement lower sleeves for their track series coilovers that have the fork to accomodate the z32 upright.

[Hijacker]

Drilling new holes for mounting would be inadvisable.

If you have a rear diff cover for an R200 sitting around (like from an N/A Z), check to see if it swaps to the TT's R230. If it does, then the S13 diff cover should work. The diffs should be the same length, so with the proper cover, it should bolt to an S13 subframe then. You would only be gaining track width with the Z subframe as the all the geometry's the same, so I don't really see the need to swap to the Z sub if you could avoid it at this point.

[catnipple]

Yeah I took a look At the subframe that was a dumb question about drilling. Tyat definitely makes sense n does seem like it'd be a lot of work for not much purpose at all. I will do that though n see if I can get something figured out with the dif. If not ill just use the stock diff with tt hubs spindles n shortened axels if I understood right it should work.. I do have z32 master cylinder n am currently trying to locate s14 five lug front so I can have five lug n z32 brakes all around. Thanks a lot for the clarification and the great thorough answers!!!!

[fiznowler]

I am running an N/A z32 diff with j30 axels. I am not even sure I could find the axels again if I had to. If i were in your postion I would try and sell the TT diff and get one that is a bolt in affair. 5 lug swap has been covered a ton of times on here there should be alot of good info on the 5 lug zbrake swap.

[compactfean]

I have a couple j30 axles at my buddies house, we were gonna hybrid his diff but never for around to it. Im running the q45 diff with z32tt ds axle and q45 ps axle with the tt hubs and knuckles so In a sense, if the diff directly bolts into the s13 subframe you could use the same axles and stuff that I did. I've never seen anyone try to fit the r230 into the s13 subframe, so keep us posted!

[catnipple]

I don't mean to disappoint, but in thinking about ditching the tt r230 n using the r200 from a q45 with z32 tt driver side axel and q45 driver axel on passenger side n using the tt spindles n hubs that I do have now to get the stronger rear end upgrade im wanting. this is just because I don't have enough faith in myself to modify the stock s13 subframe to try n fit the r230 without messing anything up or throwing off the geometry... I was thinking about just tearing apart one of my n/a z32 n using those direct bolt on parts with the stock s13 dif n axels, but with the mildly modified ls1 I am in the process of building for my s13, I want a bit more strength so I won't be snapping axels. Which is why I bought the tt rear end in the first place.

[compactfean]

The na z32 bolts right in, just need j30 axles. As far as trying to make stock axles work the only way the stock axles work with vlsd you have to use the 95-96 j30 diff because of the output shafts being 6 bolt pattern (in sets,of 2), or a vlsd from a hicas 240.