A good crossmember upgrade for your 240/260/280Z helps with the handling and performance. A reinforced crossmember also helps with body rigidity, and this will help you get better handling with higher horsepower levels. The quality of the materials used in these upgrades can stand the test of time.
A sturdy crossmember can completely change your driving experience. Better steering accuracy and improved suspension response increase vehicle stability. The right combination of material strength and a simplified installation process will help you make the most out of your upgrade.
Your Z deserves an upgrade. Let's roll!
Table of Contents
Crossmember Rigidity And Why It Matters
Your Z's crossmember plays a big part in keeping your suspension system working, and this single part can affect the way your car moves and drives. The right crossmember can make your steering feel precise and your suspension alignment in check, too.
Your Z's chassis actually works like a basic shoe box. Your car's body can twist and change just like that box when you push it hard through corners. So you need a strong crossmember acting as a good brace to keep everything tight and stiff.
Strange tire wear or handling problems sometimes confuse Z owners on forums. These usually point to their alignment settings or worn-out suspension parts. Most of the time, though, a worn-out crossmember lets their chassis flex far too much. My friend's 240Z restoration project had this problem - not good.
His crossmember was in bad shape, and his car would slide through corners and burn through the front tires very fast. The difference after installing an upgraded crossmember was obvious. His steering became more responsive and sharp.
Your Z will give you some signs when the crossmember starts to fail. Your car could have a loose or disconnected steering feel during sharp cornering. The front end of your Z might also start to feel floaty or unstable when going at higher speeds. Since these problems build up slowly, you might not see them.
Your crossmember helps keep your engine and transmission supported. When it begins to fail, these heavy parts can move around more than they should. This extra movement puts unnecessary strain on your motor mounts while sending unwanted vibrations through your entire drivetrain.
Rust and age can take a toll on Z car crossmembers. Water and road salt like to collect in those hidden hollow areas over the years. The metal might weaken from the inside, and you usually won't see these problems until serious damage happens.
The Materials And Construction
You'll get those perfect-fitting parts with laser-cut steel and CNC machining. Modern methods can give you more accuracy than the techniques from the 1970s might give you.
A modern crossmember upgrade kit will probably draw your attention at just a glance. The powder coating looks so fresh, and it covers everything evenly. The welds are clean and steady - even professional welders might envy how easy they sound to appear. Your car will manage much better with these upgraded crossmembers because they have stronger and harder control arm mounts that can manage serious punishment.
You won't have to be concerned about the flex to suspension problems when you're driving hard or aggressively. The new billet aluminum steering rack also clamps everything in a far more stable way than the older rubber-mounted ones.
Some businesses or manufacturers try to save money with thinner materials or by leaving out parts that matter. These cheaper options might look fine at a glance. But these won't hold up well when conditions get tough. Your steering might feel loose. That front end could start moving around in ways it shouldn't.
The best manufacturers put their crossmembers through rigorous testing before they sell them to customers. They can create a number of tests to try and simulate years of hard use. These businesses also work with racers or experienced mechanics who push these parts straight to their limits during testing.
Your new crossmember will resist rust and road debris well, too - this feature will help, especially if you live somewhere with lots of salt or moisture that could otherwise damage those classic Z cars.
Most home mechanics might need to spend about a weekend to install a modern crossmember upgrade. You'll get some clear instructions along with the hardware that's included in your kit. The high-grade bolts and washers that come with it won't work themselves loose over time, either.
Fitment And Compatibility
Your Z-car's crossmember setup should have a perfect match for it to run. The factory mounts, the splash shields, and the engine brackets all need to fit together, or you'll end up with some serious problems down the road.
A fellow Z enthusiast, Mike, went ahead and jumped right in. He bought some aftermarket motor mounts for his 240Z without double-checking if they would actually work with his car. The mounts looked good in the catalog. But they gave him nothing except problems once he tried to put them in. His older Z just wasn't built to manage these modern parts.
You'll have different hurdles depending on which engine setup you're running. The bracket design has to be correct for the L-Series engines. Your car can shake so poorly that it might even feel like there's an earthquake happening right under your hood if you pick the wrong setup.
Modern crossmember upgrades pack some real possibilities for your Z's performance. But you need to remember how these fancy new parts will get along with what's already in your car. The classic Z cars weren't all built with the same precise and steady standards.
So, even good aftermarket parts might need some changing to fit. Your quick weekend project could drag on for weeks or maybe even months if you combine the wrong old and new parts together.
Your engine brackets need some extra attention to actually fit just right. Even a small gap or slight misalignment will send vibrations through your entire car. You don't want to feel like you're sitting in a massage chair every time you take your Z out for a drive.
Ways To Increase Durability
Your crossmember plays a giant role in keeping your Z's suspension working. Most of the Z owners out there won't look at their crossmember until something actually breaks.
A powder coat finish will help to protect your crossmember from day one - this coating helps prevent moisture and road debris from causing rust damage. It also helps prevent wear and tear from normal driving. You can spend a small amount of money on the powder coating now, but save yourself from needing to buy a whole new crossmember down the road.
Some quality hardware helps to get your crossmember in place. You'll need Grade 8 bolts and hardened washers to hold everything together. The lower-quality parts can stretch out or snap while you're driving.
Your crossmember takes stress at its mounting points. My first Z taught me this lesson in a pretty harsh way. I thought I could save some cash by reusing some old crossmember bolts that looked decent. Just two months later, my crossmember came partly loose while I was driving. I ended up stranded on the roadside. Now, I only use new Grade 8 hardware.
The rubber bushings from your car become stiff and start cracking as they get older. Polyurethane bushings can give you better performance because they last for longer and help to make everything more stable. They help prevent extra movement that could damage your crossmember mounts.
A few reinforcements will make your crossmember last much longer. You can stitch weld weak places, or you can add some support plates without much issue. These upgrades help to spread out force more evenly across your whole crossmember.
Z owners tell stories about their reinforced crossmembers lasting upwards of 20+ years without problems. You should check on your crossmember to find any problems early. Take a close look at the mounting points and high-stress areas to catch any cracks. Make sure that your hardware stays tight at least twice every year. Also, watch for any unusual suspension sounds or changes in how your car works during normal driving.
OEM And Aftermarket Comparison
The original equipment matches your car's specs, and everything is authentic Datsun/Nissan. Always a safe bet. Factory parts can cost an arm and a leg recently, and they need some searching to find.
The aftermarket has stepped up its game in the past few years. Modern options can now surpass the original design with harder materials and better engineering. Your factory crossmember started life as stamped steel that flexes when you're pushing the car hard.
Now, you can get laser-cut steel versions with beefed-up mounting points that can hold everything in place. You'll see a difference in how your Z drives with an aftermarket crossmember. The stiffer design can give you some better steering feedback as well as predictable cornering.
Most of the new designs also give you better engine mounts and some extra space for bigger exhausts. You'll want to remember that aftermarket parts aren't always as easy to install as the stock ones are.
Some budget options might need adjustments to line up well. The top manufacturers test their designs to nail the fitment, and premium crossmembers often come with extras like powder coating or different bushing options. Cost often can become a big factor for Z owners. Dealer prices for original parts may make your eyes water recently, and aftermarket crossmembers save you money and prove to be tougher, too.
This gap gets wider because original parts are becoming very scarce. Original crossmembers often need searching and waiting to find in decent condition. But a few businesses do make aftermarket versions you can order instead. Most aftermarket sellers have them in stock and ship them out quickly when you need one.
Worn Components And Their Repair
When the time comes to upgrade your Z-car's crossmember, it might feel like a bit of a scary job. You'll probably start looking into this after you hear some weird and annoying noises coming from the front end of the car. Your control arm bushings will usually give out first.
The stress from driving can affect these little rubber parts - and they'll eventually break down over time. You'll see your steering becoming a bit sloppy and harder to control. Your tires will start wearing in weird and uneven patterns because your suspension isn't keeping everything lined up anymore.
The steering rack bushings in these classic Zs also love to create some extra problems. Once they're worn out, then you'll feel more slack in your steering wheel than you'd probably like. Your Z will start drifting all over the highway lanes, too.
Don't be surprised if your steering wheel starts buzzing and shaking more than normal whenever you're cruising. Your ball joints need lots of attention, too. These parts link your control arms to the steering knuckles. A failed ball joint can cause you to face some dangerous situations out on the road.
You should watch out for popping noises whenever you turn the wheel or hit a bump along the way. Z owners should buy good replacement parts. Polyurethane bushings will last much longer than the regular rubber ones by a long shot.
And while those premium ball joints might hit your wallet harder, they'll give you way better handling and stay more reliable for much longer. The right modern materials will affect how your Z feels on the road. You'll need the right strategy to remove those old bushings.
Some people like to heat up those stubborn and tough rubber bushings, while others like drilling them out completely. No matter which way you go about it, don't rush through the process and make sure that you're protecting the metal around them. If you damage the crossmember housing while yanking those bushings out, then you'll end up with way bigger problems later on.
The original crossmember design has its weak points and flaws. That stamped steel construction tends to flex whenever you push it hard - and this gets even worse if you've improved your engine or like to drive aggressively. The aftermarket crossmembers use stronger materials and better designs to help with and fix these old problems.
Tips For A Successful Rebuild
A clean workspace can give you a much smoother project, so take the time to remove the grime instead of rushing through this first step like DIY mechanics tend to.
A good coat of rust-inhibiting paint will help to protect your crossmember from corrosion for the years ahead. I learned this the hard way when I skipped the painting during my first rebuild. I saw surface rust just a few months later.
Experienced Z owners often recommend reliable businesses like MOOG and ACDelco for simple reasons. The cheaper parts might feel interesting. But you'll probably need to replace them more frequently - especially with parts like tie rod ends and ball joints.
A limited budget is common for car projects. But some parts deserve the extra investment. Control arm bushings are a good example - cheaper ones can give you poor handling and cause unsafe driving conditions.
Those few saved dollars just aren't worth taking a chance with your safety. The reinstallation process can become quite a challenge. You might even find yourself looking frantically for one of the bolts you dropped into the engine bay late at night.
A magnetic tool and lots of light will help to make your life easier. Trust me - rushing through reinstallation usually means doing the entire job over again.
Your Z car's front crossmember connects suspension and steering parts. The torque settings help make sure things manage well and work right. Be sure to follow the correct tightening sequence and specifications for each bolt.
Build Your Dream Car
A wealth of shared wisdom exists in the classic car community - especially when you're upgrading these vintage vehicles. Enthusiasts can spend hours reading through the forum posts and learning from others about their own projects. Their stories of success and unexpected setbacks will also help you to plan your own upgrades in a better way.
Each project will teach you something new about precise measurements and alignment, so it helps to have some backup options ready. Your car will feel very different on the road after even the smallest kinds of changes. Nothing beats the feeling of removing those irritating squeaks and experiencing smooth and responsive handling after putting in the work.
We succeed in the Datsun community at Skillard because we create parts that blend style and functionality. Your car deserves quality upgrades that add to its classic desirability!
We add modern elements from custom bumpers to aluminum door cards and sleek center consoles. You can update your classic ride with our custom-designed Datsun parts at Skillard.com. You'll join other passionate enthusiasts who love to breathe new life into these classic machines.
