Hi all:

This might sound crazy or dumb to say the least. I love the zed (350Z 2006) but here in the Twin Cities the winters lasts about 6 months. Winter tires help but I wonder if any of you have done it or thinks that is possible: lifting the zed a couple of inches. The objective is to have a little more snow clearance.

The solution should be something that could take even 2-4 hrs to accomplish because you would modify the height only twice a year, lift it at the end of fall and lower it at middle of spring. I have seen solutions for pickup trucks with air shocks and compressors that a flip of a switch you can change the height of your vehicle. I’m looking form something more permanent and that in spring/summer time have a minimal effect in the car handling performance. In winter you cannot drive very fast anyway so a superb handling is not required at all.

I just wanna be driving the zed all year long!!!

 

you're on your own with this one...

 

The 350Z was not designed to be driven in snow. Yet members continue to try to make it fit. It’s a sports car – not an SUV. That said, you want to raise the chassis? What about increasing overall tire height?

 

Airbag suspension.

 

air shocks, take 1 minute to raise or lower a car.

 

What about coilovers? Are any of them adjust to higher than stock height? If so, would prob be quite a bit cheaper than an air suspension...

 

+1

get a beater or something.

 

Jack it up on 26s, donk style.

 

Tire height would be easy. But you have to consider that higher profile tires and bigger rims will also reduce your wheel clearance in the wheel-well where snow accumulates.

 

Worst idea ever. Sell the Z and buy a Sti or something with AWD. Sounds like your area isn't good for the Z.

 

I bought a used Wrangler for the winter. Don't bother lifting the Z, it wouldn't be worth it.

 

Yes you are crazy.

 

Don't do it. Close thread.

 

Get a winter car...why on earth would you want to raise your car??? That's stupid, it'll look horrible. I live in South Bend, Indiana and we get horrible winters here and I have no problem driving the Z with blizzaks and traction control.

 

 

just run larger tires... take the front wheels for example (concept applies to both front and rear):

if you went with a 225/50/18 tire on OEM rims you'd be effectively increasing overall wheel diameter by an inch and ride height by 1/2 inch...

at stock height this will not cause any rubbing for SURE since folks are running 20s with overall diameters 1 inch larger too (245/35/20)

I bet at OEM height you could go for 225/55/18s and still be OK

in the summer, just switch back to OEM sized tires... simple solution

 

Perhaps you can find some camber plates that will raise you little and give you just enough clearance. Hey, may even get some camber out of the whole deal. Not sure if there are raising camber plates out there for the Z but I've seen them for other performance cars.

 

Without commenting on the merits of what you want. I don't see 2" of height gain as being in the cards. Tein flex can be set to a 1.3" front height gain, but the rear only does a token .1" gain. As long as the rear dampners can extend in length for a 1" taller rear spring, Tein may have taller rear springs that you could purchase. Thing is of course, the flex setup uses very high spring rates, may not be the sort of thing your really after.

A oem G35 sedan suspension would give you a 1" height gain. But forget about wanting the performance to be the same. Spring rates are the same as 03/04 oem Z's, but the shocks won't deliver.

 

That is the ultimate, Number ONE reason why I went with Tanabe Coilovers on my Accord previously, and will be sticking with them on the G, you can do just that, raise it up for the winter (higher than stock), and lower it back down when the season is over. The Zs/Gs can be driven year round, but of course it wasn't designed to be a WINTER car, so you have to adapt your driving habits.

 

You could just go and buy a smaller rim and smaller slightly smaller tire to reduce overall size giving you more room in the wells. You would have some issues with the speedo being off but other than that you should be ok. Just make sure they are the same overall size front and rear.