AlWakRa 370z's Journal - PW from Qatar

AlWakRa · 11-15-2019, 12:48 PM

More progress and the car nearly ready to install roll cage. Also, I need to change the bolts on sunroof delete.

Rusty · 11-15-2019, 03:22 PM

Getting there.

What's up with the Smart Car in the background?

AlWakRa · 11-15-2019, 07:20 PM

Correct Zezus, Smart has a busa engine swapped, but not a normal one, it is a modified engine that has been supplied from a Radical SR3. Unfortunately, the owner has issues with engine management and he may swap it for normal hayabusa engine.

AlWakRa · 11-22-2019, 03:08 PM

Got the chance to try the new Supra, it is my friend car, it only has an h&r lowering springs. Sorry about the music

and I forgot to zoom out a little.

Hotrodz · 11-23-2019, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlWakRa

Got the chance to try the new Supra, it is my friend car, it only has an h&r lowering springs. Sorry about the music

and I forgot to zoom out a little.

What are your impressions?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

AlWakRa · 11-23-2019, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

What are your impressions?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Good to do fast laps without killing yourself

Really, it is part of the truth, the handling characteristics are pretty good, nice turn in, and puts its power beautifully on exits. Tbh, it is like 90% of what Z owners want from Z35 with VR30. The power on lower speeds is fantastic, you don't feel turbo spool, and low end torque is nice and smooth. I wasn't pushing it and it did 2:25 there in the video, I think I can cut 2-3 seconds if I am going to push it, the owner did a 2:21, which is as fast as I did in my 370z, where I am on Nexens and he is on stock PSS. It is a very communicative car as far as handling. The seats are great and supporting the body nicely, seating position is great and can go to a very low position (but high hood doesn't offer good visibility, which you don't need at track).

The things I didn't like, it has a lot of body roll, even with lowering springs, it is comfortable as a daily, they perform on track, but I have it as a negative, because it needs some time to get used to all that angle. Brakes feel aren't good, they don't have bite or the feel of good stopping power, but it is stock pads. Although it is communicative, it is not a fully engaging car, and transmission option isn't the best for purist (which is the only option anyway

)

To sum up, as a dual duty car, daily and track, it is a great car, very streetable and have a good handling characteristics.

Hopefully next track I can try ND2 Miata

although it is slow, I am excited for it.

Hotrodz · 11-23-2019, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlWakRa

Good to do fast laps without killing yourself

Really, it is part of the truth, the handling characteristics are pretty good, nice turn in, and puts its power beautifully on exits. Tbh, it is like 90% of what Z owners want from Z35 with VR30. The power on lower speeds is fantastic, you don't feel turbo spool, and low end torque is nice and smooth. I wasn't pushing it and it did 2:25 there in the video, I think I can cut 2-3 seconds if I am going to push it, the owner did a 2:21, which is as fast as I did in my 370z, where I am on Nexens and he is on stock PSS. It is a very communicative car as far as handling. The seats are great and supporting the body nicely, seating position is great and can go to a very low position (but high hood doesn't offer good visibility, which you don't need at track).

The things I didn't like, it has a lot of body roll, even with lowering springs, it is comfortable as a daily, they perform on track, but I have it as a negative, because it needs some time to get used to all that angle. Brakes feel aren't good, they don't have bite or the feel of good stopping power, but it is stock pads. Although it is communicative, it is not a fully engaging car, and transmission option isn't the best for purist (which is the only option anyway

)

To sum up, as a dual duty car, daily and track, it is a great car, very streetable and have a good handling characteristics.

Hopefully next track I can try ND2 Miata

although it is slow, I am excited for it.

Nice review and I agree with it. I didn't get to drive one but was passenger and felt the same about the car.

I really enjoy my NB Miata at the track. Because it is slow you are at full throttle a lot which is fun. I also teaches you to not make mistakes and pick the best line. You can't make up time if you miss your marks!

AlWakRa · 11-24-2019, 04:36 AM

The most amazing thing about it, locally, where most cars are overpriced, we guessed it will be over $75k, for a fully equipped car, but it surprised us to be sold for 63k, fully equipped, but no launch edition here.

A hardtop NB mazdaspeed, is one of the cars I would love to get, but I am sure it will be too small for me, I drove the ND in street and it has good torque mid range, unlike 86/brz, where they lack it, I have a good time invested behind the wheel of them, 86/brz, and I am pretty fast in them when I compare myself with my friends, I agree with you as not to make any mistakes, it is hard to recover the time with them, also it is important to get the brake point right, brake smoothly so you don't disturb the balance entering the turn (most important in my book, as many friends brag about their late braking but they cannot enter turns right because of it

), and using the throttle as fast as possible.

Hotrodz · 11-24-2019, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlWakRa

A hardtop NB mazdaspeed, is one of the cars I would love to get, but I am sure it will be too small for me, I drove the ND in street and it has good torque mid range, unlike 86/brz, where they lack it, I have a good time invested behind the wheel of them, 86/brz, and I am pretty fast in them when I compare myself with my friends, I agree with you as not to make any mistakes, it is hard to recover the time with them, also it is important to get the brake point right, brake smoothly so you don't disturb the balance entering the turn (most important in my book, as many friends brag about their late braking but they cannot enter turns right because of it

), and using the throttle as fast as possible.

Mine is the 1.8 version n/a version. I am 6'1" 215 so I had to do some modification to the floor to get the lower. My car is well sorted and you are exactly right about keeping your inputs smooth and handling the car aggressively at the same time. Too many do not follow the basic rule of slow in fast out when comes to cornering. I have been focusing on my braking as the last track weekend was at small technical track as is the next track I will visit in two weeks. I am really trying pay attention to gradual applying the brake up until full braking and then releasing the brake in the same way during trail braking so as to not allow the front of the car to lift and induce under steer.

AlWakRa · 11-24-2019, 03:50 PM

I am not that far, 6' and 230 lbs.

And yes, after being very good in turn and exits, I am also working on my braking, this is the most part I am lacking right now. Hopefully racing will improve it a lot.

So, a sneaky look on Smart engine

And finally roll cage work starts

We are trying to fit all the cage pipes and see if we need to make any adjustment to them, with testing welds, and if everything fits well and looks nice, we will start the final welding.

Also I tried out the seat position and fitment inside the car.

AlWakRa · 12-15-2019, 03:58 AM

Stopped posting for sometime, I think 3 hard weeks, so finished the roll cage, I had to travel to Paris for 4 days and then returned to install the dashboard and finish all the remaining job to get the car in a working condition for the race, my target was to check if I have any technical requirement missing and to get the chance to have a shake down for the car.

The car had an exhaust leak, before the cats, which got wrong reading for the o2 sensors, so I think it was pulling a lot of timing, my car was maybe the slowest out there

and right axle boot broke, after inspection, it appears the ball joint nut snapped and with small bumps and play broke it. Made a quick fix, and entered first race to just see if there is more problems, I think I have over cooled the engine as it barely reach 92-93 while racing. The suspension setup was very safe, understeer and then turns with throttle, I didn't have the time to get alignment, I think it will make the car turns harder.

Didn't finish the race, hopefully next race it will be ready and finish both races.

I made a list for what to buy now, I will start with new full exhaust, front lower arm, high hp rated axles, and new bolts/nuts for the car.

Zezus · 12-30-2019, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlWakRa

Stopped posting for sometime, I think 3 hard weeks, so finished the roll cage, I had to travel to Paris for 4 days and then returned to install the dashboard and finish all the remaining job to get the car in a working condition for the race, my target was to check if I have any technical requirement missing and to get the chance to have a shake down for the car.

The car had an exhaust leak, before the cats, which got wrong reading for the o2 sensors, so I think it was pulling a lot of timing, my car was maybe the slowest out there

and right axle boot broke, after inspection, it appears the ball joint nut snapped and with small bumps and play broke it. Made a quick fix, and entered first race to just see if there is more problems, I think I have over cooled the engine as it barely reach 92-93 while racing. The suspension setup was very safe, understeer and then turns with throttle, I didn't have the time to get alignment, I think it will make the car turns harder.

Didn't finish the race, hopefully next race it will be ready and finish both races.

I made a list for what to buy now, I will start with new full exhaust, front lower arm, high hp rated axles, and new bolts/nuts for the car.

Put KPro high up on your list of future upgrades. An increased rev limit and proper tune really bring the K20 to life.

AlWakRa · 01-05-2020, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zezus

Put KPro high up on your list of future upgrades. An increased rev limit and proper tune really bring the K20 to life.

Yeah, it is on my list, I talked to Steve@e-tunez about it, as two friends who are racing got their tune from him with good luck, in addition to more revs, making the vtec engage at 4k rpm would be very useful.

I am planning to get Hybrid Racing 3.5" CAI, 70mm TB, RRC IM, and tune. I already have big bore header and 3" catback on order from a shop called Solid Fabrications.

AlWakRa · 01-05-2020, 07:38 PM

Yeah, got the Z on track again, didn't video record laps, it was more of a track taxi

but I got some really nice photos, I tried a minor tweak to my usual alignment and I like it, front camber -2.94 with as much caster as I can get, 0.08 front toe out, rear -1.83 camber and 0.15 rear toe in. One of the people who got a ride with me, said I didn't thought a Nissan would have that much grip

Rusty · 01-05-2020, 08:39 PM

11-15-2019, 03:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 69 Posts: 35,357 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684438	Getting there. What's up with the Smart Car in the background? __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

11-15-2019, 07:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
AlWakRa Track Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Qatar Posts: 600 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Rep Power: 13450	Correct Zezus, Smart has a busa engine swapped, but not a normal one, it is a modified engine that has been supplied from a Radical SR3. Unfortunately, the owner has issues with engine management and he may swap it for normal hayabusa engine. __________________ 2010 370Z Touring Sport Pearl White 6MT Powered by: Fast Intentions - Motordyne - Stillen - OS Giken - CJ Motorsports - Mishimoto - MCA Suspension - SPL - SuperPRO - RJM - Z1 Motorsport - Zspeed - Volk My Humble Journals

11-22-2019, 03:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
AlWakRa Track Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Qatar Posts: 600 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Rep Power: 13450	Got the chance to try the new Supra, it is my friend car, it only has an h&r lowering springs. Sorry about the music and I forgot to zoom out a little. __________________ 2010 370Z Touring Sport Pearl White 6MT Powered by: Fast Intentions - Motordyne - Stillen - OS Giken - CJ Motorsports - Mishimoto - MCA Suspension - SPL - SuperPRO - RJM - Z1 Motorsport - Zspeed - Volk My Humble Journals

11-24-2019, 04:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
AlWakRa Track Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Qatar Posts: 600 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Rep Power: 13450	The most amazing thing about it, locally, where most cars are overpriced, we guessed it will be over $75k, for a fully equipped car, but it surprised us to be sold for 63k, fully equipped, but no launch edition here. A hardtop NB mazdaspeed, is one of the cars I would love to get, but I am sure it will be too small for me, I drove the ND in street and it has good torque mid range, unlike 86/brz, where they lack it, I have a good time invested behind the wheel of them, 86/brz, and I am pretty fast in them when I compare myself with my friends, I agree with you as not to make any mistakes, it is hard to recover the time with them, also it is important to get the brake point right, brake smoothly so you don't disturb the balance entering the turn (most important in my book, as many friends brag about their late braking but they cannot enter turns right because of it ), and using the throttle as fast as possible. __________________ 2010 370Z Touring Sport Pearl White 6MT Powered by: Fast Intentions - Motordyne - Stillen - OS Giken - CJ Motorsports - Mishimoto - MCA Suspension - SPL - SuperPRO - RJM - Z1 Motorsport - Zspeed - Volk My Humble Journals

12-15-2019, 03:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
AlWakRa Track Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Qatar Posts: 600 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Rep Power: 13450	Stopped posting for sometime, I think 3 hard weeks, so finished the roll cage, I had to travel to Paris for 4 days and then returned to install the dashboard and finish all the remaining job to get the car in a working condition for the race, my target was to check if I have any technical requirement missing and to get the chance to have a shake down for the car. The car had an exhaust leak, before the cats, which got wrong reading for the o2 sensors, so I think it was pulling a lot of timing, my car was maybe the slowest out there and right axle boot broke, after inspection, it appears the ball joint nut snapped and with small bumps and play broke it. Made a quick fix, and entered first race to just see if there is more problems, I think I have over cooled the engine as it barely reach 92-93 while racing. The suspension setup was very safe, understeer and then turns with throttle, I didn't have the time to get alignment, I think it will make the car turns harder. Didn't finish the race, hopefully next race it will be ready and finish both races. I made a list for what to buy now, I will start with new full exhaust, front lower arm, high hp rated axles, and new bolts/nuts for the car. __________________ 2010 370Z Touring Sport Pearl White 6MT Powered by: Fast Intentions - Motordyne - Stillen - OS Giken - CJ Motorsports - Mishimoto - MCA Suspension - SPL - SuperPRO - RJM - Z1 Motorsport - Zspeed - Volk My Humble Journals

01-05-2020, 08:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 69 Posts: 35,357 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684438	__________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

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