Twenty-Three with a Z

ZX_man · 06-28-2020, 05:21 PM

Hi guys!

I just wanted a place to put pictures of the Z and share any updates, mods, road trips, anything.

Quick introduction:

I'm 23 years old and I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering. I graduated with my bachelor's in 2019 from Syracuse University, and with a hefty graduation present from my family (I was lucky to have wealthy grandparents, may they rest in peace), I was able to afford a new Z! I bought a 300zx in high school-- sapphire blue that thing was gorgeous

. So this is my second Z.

The car:
2013 Nissan 370z Brilliant Silver with manual trans. 45k miles.
Mostly stock. I put nismo v2 rays on it and wrapped the roof. Previous owner painted the fangs and added a J2 axle back exhaust. I plan on getting my swift springs and FI cat back hopefully soon

.

I wanted to start this thread out with a tasteful little mod I did to the interior: I always hated the look of this big ugly cubby in the middle of the center console. So, I removed it and 3D printed some Z logos to fill the holes which were left over. One for the 370, one in memory of the 300

.

Rusty · 06-28-2020, 10:11 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Enjoy the ride.

Good luck with you master's degree.

Just don't become book smart and common sense dumb. Once on the job, you will learn about stuff that you was never taught or seen in a book. Get yourself a good mentor. I have 2 degrees. Welding and Mechanical.

ZX_man · 06-28-2020, 11:17 PM

Nice! Two sweet degrees to have.

I'm actually working at a small manual transmission design/manufacturing firm as a draftsman. It's small enough that I get a lot of one-on-one time with the CEO/chief engineer. He's a great mentor! Can't wait to see what the future brings.

axmea? · 06-29-2020, 01:34 AM

Good move buying a used one. Congrats on your Z.

danegrey · 06-29-2020, 08:48 AM

congrats on your Z and your career having a mentor is key and seems your on your way the best of luck to you... remember the Z likes to be driven.... but do it at the track...

dave11 · 06-29-2020, 09:16 AM

Very nice. When I was 23 I had an old TR-4.

Memphis370Z · 06-29-2020, 01:31 PM

Congratulations and welcome.

ZX_man · 06-29-2020, 09:39 PM

Thanks guys! I'm happy to be here. I'll be sure to post updates as they unfold

ZX_man · 07-20-2020, 09:17 PM

Good things are coming!! Here's a small teaser:

( Click to show/hide )

ZX_man · 07-28-2020, 11:45 PM

Finally finished my suspension and brake weekend overhaul. Swift springs, CHECK. 10mm Z1 spacers with extended studs, CHECK. Drilled and slotted rotors with stoptech pads, CHECK. I even threw some caliper paint in there as a bonus.

Currently she's looking super dirty and needs an alignment bad. Taking care of both of those things this weekend after the springs are settled. Regardless, here are some pics! Camber is noticable in the back but I can tell the amount of spacer is perfect back there. Front is much better than before and maybe could use a 15mm spacer instead. No rubbing so far!

I would have finished the job Sunday as planned but ran into a couple complications. Finding something to set the wheel studs was a bit annoying. I ended up going to the hardware store and picking up an 0.5" ID inch-long bronze bushing which worked great for the job. Stoptech also sent me the wrong brake pad retaining clips for the rear so I had to make another run to town to get the right size clips. However, the real time killer was painting the calipers (shitty, non-Akebonos). I heavily underestimated how much extra time this would add which was dumb because I've painted plenty of car parts in the past (1 hour between coats for caliper paint also hurt).

Overall, super happy with the new look! I feel so much more confident driving the car around. It's crazy how much the new springs improve the aesthetic of the car. Not to mention how great the Swifts are comfort-wise. This was also the biggest mechanic job I've undertaken. Makes the final product that much more satisfying!

chowtoo · 07-29-2020, 08:25 AM

Very nice job! It looks great!

danegrey · 07-29-2020, 09:53 AM

nice job

ZX_man · 08-10-2020, 08:15 PM

Another weekend of wrenching! Installed GMG no-holes front licence plate mount, did an oil change, and installed Z1 aluminum undershroud up front. Installed SPL camber arms in the back. Thought I could swing no toe bolts. WRONG. Now a next weekend project along with eccentric lockouts (shoulda done them with the camber arms) and brakes on the GFs car.

Pics:

ZX_man · 08-10-2020, 08:40 PM

Fog rolling in

alanyluan · 08-11-2020, 02:43 PM

Welcome! FSAE alum here as well. Enjoy the car!

06-28-2020, 05:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Twenty-Three with a Z Hi guys! I just wanted a place to put pictures of the Z and share any updates, mods, road trips, anything. Quick introduction: I'm 23 years old and I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering. I graduated with my bachelor's in 2019 from Syracuse University, and with a hefty graduation present from my family (I was lucky to have wealthy grandparents, may they rest in peace), I was able to afford a new Z! I bought a 300zx in high school-- sapphire blue that thing was gorgeous . So this is my second Z. The car: 2013 Nissan 370z Brilliant Silver with manual trans. 45k miles. Mostly stock. I put nismo v2 rays on it and wrapped the roof. Previous owner painted the fangs and added a J2 axle back exhaust. I plan on getting my swift springs and FI cat back hopefully soon . I wanted to start this thread out with a tasteful little mod I did to the interior: I always hated the look of this big ugly cubby in the middle of the center console. So, I removed it and 3D printed some Z logos to fill the holes which were left over. One for the 370, one in memory of the 300 . sx moneypit, old guy, Asus_ and 2 others like this. Last edited by ZX_man; 08-31-2020 at 10:38 PM.

06-28-2020, 10:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,217 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684438	Welcome to the forum. Enjoy the ride. Good luck with you master's degree. Just don't become book smart and common sense dumb. Once on the job, you will learn about stuff that you was never taught or seen in a book. Get yourself a good mentor. I have 2 degrees. Welding and Mechanical. gbrettin and JLarson like this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

06-28-2020, 11:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Nice! Two sweet degrees to have. I'm actually working at a small manual transmission design/manufacturing firm as a draftsman. It's small enough that I get a lot of one-on-one time with the CEO/chief engineer. He's a great mentor! Can't wait to see what the future brings. Rusty, axmea?, madwi and 1 others like this.

06-29-2020, 01:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,236 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	Good move buying a used one. Congrats on your Z. Zoren 370 likes this. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

06-29-2020, 08:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
danegrey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Knoxville Age: 71 Posts: 3,190 Drives: 12 370Z BK Cherry M6 Rep Power: 649540	congrats on your Z and your career having a mentor is key and seems your on your way the best of luck to you... remember the Z likes to be driven.... but do it at the track... __________________ Lots of Changes the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

06-29-2020, 09:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
dave11 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 141 Drives: 2020 370Z 6M Rep Power: 2979	Very nice. When I was 23 I had an old TR-4.

06-29-2020, 01:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Memphis370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Memphis Area Posts: 3,117 Drives: '09 MB Rep Power: 124434	Congratulations and welcome.

06-29-2020, 09:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Thanks guys! I'm happy to be here. I'll be sure to post updates as they unfold drahmin likes this.

07-20-2020, 09:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Good things are coming!! Here's a small teaser: ( Click to show/hide ) KingZTX likes this.

07-28-2020, 11:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Springs, spacers, and rotors! Finally finished my suspension and brake weekend overhaul. Swift springs, CHECK. 10mm Z1 spacers with extended studs, CHECK. Drilled and slotted rotors with stoptech pads, CHECK. I even threw some caliper paint in there as a bonus. Currently she's looking super dirty and needs an alignment bad. Taking care of both of those things this weekend after the springs are settled. Regardless, here are some pics! Camber is noticable in the back but I can tell the amount of spacer is perfect back there. Front is much better than before and maybe could use a 15mm spacer instead. No rubbing so far! I would have finished the job Sunday as planned but ran into a couple complications. Finding something to set the wheel studs was a bit annoying. I ended up going to the hardware store and picking up an 0.5" ID inch-long bronze bushing which worked great for the job. Stoptech also sent me the wrong brake pad retaining clips for the rear so I had to make another run to town to get the right size clips. However, the real time killer was painting the calipers (shitty, non-Akebonos). I heavily underestimated how much extra time this would add which was dumb because I've painted plenty of car parts in the past (1 hour between coats for caliper paint also hurt). Overall, super happy with the new look! I feel so much more confident driving the car around. It's crazy how much the new springs improve the aesthetic of the car. Not to mention how great the Swifts are comfort-wise. This was also the biggest mechanic job I've undertaken. Makes the final product that much more satisfying! danegrey and Asus_ like this.

07-29-2020, 08:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
chowtoo Base Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: S. E. MI Posts: 153 Drives: Red2018 M6, 2019 A7 Rep Power: 4596	Very nice job! It looks great! ZX_man likes this.

07-29-2020, 09:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
danegrey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Knoxville Age: 71 Posts: 3,190 Drives: 12 370Z BK Cherry M6 Rep Power: 649540	nice job __________________ Lots of Changes the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

08-10-2020, 08:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Another weekend of wrenching! Installed GMG no-holes front licence plate mount, did an oil change, and installed Z1 aluminum undershroud up front. Installed SPL camber arms in the back. Thought I could swing no toe bolts. WRONG. Now a next weekend project along with eccentric lockouts (shoulda done them with the camber arms) and brakes on the GFs car. Pics: Rusty likes this. __________________ "'He who shall be last, shall be sideways and smiling.' - Baby Jesus" - Jeremy Clarkson __________________

08-10-2020, 08:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
ZX_man Base Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: ME Posts: 49 Drives: 2013 Silver 370 MT Rep Power: 13427	Fog rolling in axmea?, madwi, johnxxx and 1 others like this. __________________ "'He who shall be last, shall be sideways and smiling.' - Baby Jesus" - Jeremy Clarkson __________________

08-11-2020, 02:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
alanyluan Base Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Seattle Posts: 45 Drives: 14 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 7	Welcome! FSAE alum here as well. Enjoy the car!