StevenSlice's Journal
 

Hey everybody, i thought id be smart and make a build thread keeping track of all of the goodies that will be going onto the 370Z

I Picked up a 2009 Base / Touring around Early June in 2017, had 100k miles, and probably over payed because where i live all car dealers and used dealers are scammers. Bad.

The Backstory: Between 350Z,s and 370Zs have always been my dream car, and when my old 02 Toyota Celica started to fall apart, it was time for a car that d be fun, and more competitive on the track. I opted for the dream car, because why not.

The Z intends to see a LOT of track time, between normal track days, and Global Time Attack (Starting off in enthusiast until i can afford a nice LSD and everything), Corner 3 Nissan Challenge, and local autocross. Maybe SCCA autocross in the future.

Thank you to my amazing Current Sponsors/Supporters!!

VMR Wheels
http://i63.tinypic.com/2q9jbq9.jpg

ISR Performance
https://image.ibb.co/juQ1Yn/images_1.png

Corner 3 MotorSports
http://i63.tinypic.com/6hiaz7.jpg

Element 6 Design
https://preview.ibb.co/n08c67/308261...84799982_o.jpg

Current Mod List:
#DriversMod
VMR Wheels, 19 x 9.5 +25, 19x 10.5 +22
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 275/35/19, 285/35/19
Z1 34 Row Oil Coooler
Z1 Staineless Steel Brake Lines
Z1 2 Peice Rotors
Z1 Brake Booster Bracket
Z1 Stainless Clutch Line
Extended Studs
Carbotech XP10/XP8
Winmax BF Brake Fluid
Akebono Sport Calipers (Im a base model :D)
Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
Z Speed Aluminum Undershroud
SPL Titanium Rear Camber Arms
SPL Titanium Rear Traction Arms
SPL Titanium Front Tie Rod Ends
SPL Titanium Front Sway Bar Endlinks
SPL Toe Bolts
Megan Racing FUCA (Ran outta money lol)
CJM Top Hat
NFG Racing Brass Shift Knob
Redline Diff / Trans Fluid
Rotella T6 Motor Oil
ISR Single Exit Exhaust
ISR Y-Pipe
PowerTrix SS Coilovers, 12k/11k Swifts
Bayson R SL Front Lip
Side Blades ( unknown manufacturer)
GTR Start/Stop Button
Cipher Auto Harness Bar
G-Force 6 point Harness
Driven GT Bucket Seat
Evo-R High Wing

To Be Purchased:

GT Wing - Will be a later investment when the car is built enough to compete at higher level of competition.
RJM Pedal
Short Throw Shifter (Suggestions?)
ATS Carbon 1.5 Way diff
4.08 Diff Gears
SPL Solid Diff Bushings
SPL Solid Subframe Bushings
SPL Knuckles
Admin Tuning / AAM CAI
ISR High Flow Cats
EcuTek/UpRev/Admin Tuning Tune
NST/Stillen Lightweight Crank Pulley
CJM Road Race Pump
Custom Front Splitter
Brake Ducting ( Im starting to need it )



Will update periodically:
http://i65.tinypic.com/2h4m9kw.jpg
http://i64.tinypic.com/r0b3tt.jpg
https://preview.ibb.co/jvVx6J/321602...45016832_n.jpg

First off, congratulations on the new car. Make sure to keep us in the loop with all the mods that go into the car. Have fun and take :pics:!!! :tup:

Of course! I think theres about ~5K in parts on the floor of my garage and still on order.
Probably wont take pictures until its around time for the install, or have a way to lay them all out and take a 1 giant picture of them

have fun with the build, looking nice already....

Front Lip to Splitter
 

Im considering the Shine Auto Type - S front lip, not only does it make the car look more agressive, i could probably stand to benefit by combining it with a front splitter.

The lip would fix the inward bend of the bumper making better downforce, because itll be more flat? Thats where im heading with it:confused:

That and it should help with a "Bumper mounted" Splitter, since entry low level Time attack groups do not allow frame mounted... It should help there? Maybe.

Nothing will probably get installed until beginning of 2018 anyways so i have time to mull it over :ugh2:

Added intended install parts and currently installed parts

Picked up some Powertrix 12k/11k Coilovers from a forum member. Walked away with a lip and sideblades too.

Also took a road trip to Corner 3 Motorsports in LA and met John, talked about a lot of stuff and got some advice on some mods i didn't think of to plan out for the Z.

New Tint!
 

So i finally got the crappy old tint from the previous owner removed.
http://i66.tinypic.com/4ue2rn.jpg
It was absolutely unbearable, not only did it look like crap, it made driving a pain in the but. You couldnt see out the rear window because it was so hazy and bubbled.


I went with a 35% front Tint and 5% Rear and pilot windows. It looks so much better with the black paint.
http://i63.tinypic.com/iypvds.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/20i6z2b.jpg

Still a lot of mods sitting in the garage, and still on the way. Should hopefully drop off a lip i picked up to get wrapped to match the car soon :happydance:

Looks really good with the new tint!!!

Looks nice... and what is the tint limit in your state?

Thanks!

No Limit on the rears... Supposed to be 70% up front but California.. nobody does it. There are people with limo all the way around so i should be fine.

Dang... NC is 35% all around

35% Seems good enough though. I like but dislike limo tint in the rear.

Trying to see behind you at night, goodluck. Even during the day its a tad dark..

When you look at the car though, my god does it look great. That and i know for a fact my car should never get broken into for whats in my trunk. You cant even see inside it.

Supply crate from John at Corner 3 Motorsports.

http://i63.tinypic.com/24w7igl.jpg

In the box was the hotckis front sway bar, SPL Rear Traction arms, Front Tie Rod Ends, and some cool Corner 3 Shirts!!

This about wraps up suspension, im just waiting on some rubber spring boots to replace the rotted ones on the Z right now.:tup:

Small install, threw it in with some more goodies from Z1 and Winding Road Racing that showed up this week.

Was about a 2 minute install, relatively easy compared to what it going to take to install what came with it ;)

Changed the look of the inside a bit in my opinion, definitely a fan of the red. Only grouch is unlike the stock white one its not back-lit at night, but its not a big deal. Ill get used to it eventually.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2db1pj8.jpg

Bought A harness and the eyebolts / clips to go with it. This way it wont be done ghetto, and should pass any and all tech inspections. Pictures will be added once they arrive

http://i63.tinypic.com/j7qm95.jpg

Not Z Related, but it sort of is. Incase the Z ever crashes and burns at the track, i know ill walk away (hopefully), if there is a fire
http://i64.tinypic.com/25u73ma.png

Added sponsorship / supporting companies near the top of the description

Right on!

Wonder if I can get sponsorship from Forgeline Wheels and FI? :eek:

Never hurts to send them an email or give them a call!

Probably have a easier time than me, your Z is already built up.

Big.. BIG Install day, for only a single day in a borrowed shop.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2q0k6qu.jpg

Front:

Got the Z1 34 Row Oil Cooler installed.
ZSpeed Aluminum Shroud
Extended Studs
Z1 2 Peice Rotors + Lines
Sport Front Calipers
SPL Tie Rods
Megan Racing FUCA
PowerTrix Coils

Rear:
PowerTrix Coils
SPL Camber Arms
SPC Toe Bolts


There was a lot that didnt get done, because either the part failed, like the Sport rear calipers.. So i now have agressive front brakes with worn out DD rear brakes.

The exhaust and smaller maintance things got left out due to time constraints. Started at 11am, got done at midnight, then a 3hr drive home.

So i want to thank a fellow forum member, Eagle, for helping me all day getting it installed.

Theres still a lot more to do, but for now just gotta get the eye balled camber fixed, and little things over time.:icon17:

Pretty soon. You won't be able to see the top of the rabbit hole. :rofl2:

I cant see it already haha.

So much left to do, so little time ( and money ) to do it.

Gonna buy all the bolt ons / drop in parts i can before the day comes custom fabrication with the help of others begins.

LOL, I got a couple of thing for you to consider. Get the Z1 brake cylinder brace it does add for better feel under braking. Also, you will need something for fuel starve. I have the Z1 anti-fuel starvation kit and it has work without fail. I ran my fuel content down to 2 dots and twice and 1 dot once without issue this weekend at the track.

I have the brake cylinder brace already, just didnt get a chance to install it haha.

The fuel starve is something i needs the moneyz for. Hopefully Corner 3 will have the CJM Tophat in stock soon, and then ill either get the RRP or the Z1 Kit.

I also have a SS Clutch line and better fluid :D

Bucket + Harness!
 

RPW Shipment showed up last night. Mocked up how well my seat fit me with the harnesses in place. Its so comfortable, which is kind of amazing.

I made sure to get a seat that actually fit me rather well, so unlike when i drive others peoples cars it was amazing.

http://i63.tinypic.com/o5ak61.png

I went G-Force Harnesses with all the necessary hardware, Eye-bolts, the 4x4 Steel backing plates, and got the changeable clips on the harnesses themselves so it would make putting them in / taking them out easier.

This is really becoming my #FinanicalMistake now :rolleyes:

Right on and good move to do the top hat before you it fails. Mine failed the last session that I was going to run at Auto Club last summer.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Haaahhh.. Mine has already failed. I live that no fuel gauge and CEL life as a result :rofl2:

Well,

Did Y-Back exhaust, courtesy of ISR Performance. Thing roars and makes the gurgle and crackle noises

Installed the JDM Foglight. Courtesy of forum member Eagle. Looks much nicer than the smoked one on a black car.

Changed the spark plugs, boy were they black.. Car runs much better now.

Did a throttle body bypass since my hoses were rotted and leaking.

Installed the Cipher Auto harness bar. Thing should be renamed to the GhetooAuto harness bar. Thing had the worst instructions for something Ive ever seen. And was a total bitch to get in.

No pictures sadly. Phone did a factory reset the night of so i lost all the pictures i took :/

Learned SPL RTAs get in the way of Sport Calipers in the Rear. I will have to remove the RTAs every time i do a brake job in the future.

http://i64.tinypic.com/smpyx0.jpg

Definitely a nice part, i noticed the difference right off the bat when i went to my "Test Road".

http://i66.tinypic.com/rsa5go.jpg

Sport Brake Rear Converstion Attempt #2. SUCCESSFUL.

http://i65.tinypic.com/29lee6r.jpg

Second attempt went much better. New Bolts, New Caliper.

This time they didnt have messed up threads so they went right on.

Centric high carbon blacks + Carbotech XP8 rears are good to go and are slowly bedding in.

(Side note: I have 2 base model sized rear rotors i bought because when the first install was a flop i needed rotors to make it back home. If interested they have ~650 miles on them and barely even worn in. Shoot a PM if intrested.)

The ISR Single Exit exhaust was installed a while ago but i never took pictures because there was a lot to do in 1 day with limited time.

http://i67.tinypic.com/mr8sk5.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/nd67x3.jpg

Its the ISR Single Exit + ISR Y-Pipe. I really love the sound, it gurgles and pops a lot and it has a deep rumble and no rasp whatsoever. Plus its loud which is nice.

Thanks to ISR for the opportunity to rep their brand on my car and the sponsorship opportunity :happydance:

May have finalized a few more sponsors to add to the list, and more stickers to the car.

Fingers crossed it all works out:driving:

First Track day in the Z!
 

Went to Autoclub Speedway - Roval this weekend! Broke the Z's virginity of track days. Going to become a sloppy girl for even more of them:rofl2:

Had a blast, set a good time according to the Nissan challenge guys there for what i have on the Z.

2.02.xxx on an open diff and basic suspension mods.. the open diff was killing me on the bankments and corner exit.

I feel i could have gotten a 2 flat or sub 2 if i didnt hit traffic literally every lap, but thats what happens when you go a lower class for the sake of learning the car.

Here are some cool photos from the event, Next up.. Buttonwillow :tup:

http://i63.tinypic.com/1elyrm.jpg
http://i67.tinypic.com/1zq4g0h.jpg
http://i68.tinypic.com/9qe0kj.jpg

I’m digging the updates Kimosabe

I missed this post before the track day because i was pressed for time. So ill switch it up a wee bit.

The after install look with a Driven GT FIA Bucket Seat(I.E. a re branded MOMO seat) + Sparco Seat Rail setup w/ slider. Courtesy of Corner 3 Motorsports for helping me choose a good seat that fit me well.

Along with G-Force 6 point harness to keep me strapped in place for all my late braking heavy footed goodness. This was definitely a life saver at ACS.

Im too lazy to take pictures but yes, there are eyebolts for the harnesses with metal plates under the car for the proper install. I also have the Ghetto-Auto harness bar for a "Safe" mount for them. Rollbar eventually but i wanted my harness setup.

Pictures:

http://i66.tinypic.com/24ypr8w.jpg
http://i64.tinypic.com/517ac7.jpg

Great job at the track and yes you should be very happy your time. The Nissan Challenge gang are welcoming group of individuals. John is awesome! I participated in the fun back in August and had great time. I even got a third place plaque. I spent most of my sessions getting instruction from Steve Daughtry...it was definitely worth it! Look forward to your updates. I was at Chuckwalla Valley this past weekend and it was awesome!

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Nice maybe ill see you out at a nissan challenge event! Chuckwalla is 7 hours from me but i may try to attend one.

I also finished third of 8 people. Freaking Malko (Eagle) stomped everybody by a few seconds.

The 1st picture. That is how I destroyed 2 black plastic chin pieces. :eek: :icon14: :shakes head: