DDM Project 370Z

M.Bonanni · 08-28-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Let us know how those pads work out, I'm had my eye on the Carbotech's for a while now just couldn't figure out which one would be best.

And to keep the wheels shiny, spray them down with Eagle One "Keep Clean" before you head to the track. It's amazing at repelling brake dust.

Will do on the pads and thanks for the tip on the Keep Clean stuff. I will have to try that out! I assume there is no risk of that stuff being flamable with excessive heat right?

ChrisSlicks · 08-29-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Will do on the pads and thanks for the tip on the Keep Clean stuff. I will have to try that out! I assume there is no risk of that stuff being flamable with excessive heat right?

Nope, it was initially recommended to me by a friend who tested it out on their Corvette Z06 at the Glen, the stuff works great!

M.Bonanni · 09-02-2009, 02:42 PM

Ok so the car will finally come home from Password:JDM on Tuesday the 8th! Well, I will pick it up on Friday the 4th, but spending the holiday weekend down on the beach while I am there

.

Once its back here in Vegas, the scramble begins to get it ready for a test weekend on the 19th & 20th at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, then the Redline Time Attack event at the same track a week later. Here is the to do list, including some new parts to install and test fit!

- Change transmission & differential fluid (wish I could get my JWT clutch/flywheel installed but don't have the budget right now)

- Install second Mishimoto oil cooler. No I never got the one back from the guys I lent my first one too and because of budget restraints a custom setup is not in the cards right now so I got another Mishimoto setup.

- Test fit Jim Wolf Technology VQ37 Oil Pan Spacer. Yep, thats right! Should be in my hands to test fit next week! The spacer should add approx. 1 qt. of oil capacity which will help keep oil temps in check. I will also install my Project Kics magnetic drain plug while I am at it.

- Test fit SPL Parts Sway Bar End Links. These are the end links from the 350Zs, but we think there is a good chance they will work on the 370Z as well. We'll find out!

- Install NRG Innovations steering wheel hub, quick release, and deep dish steering wheel. Should get the wheel closer to me for better driving position and shed some weight getting rid of the air bag. Only downside is losing the air bag and steering wheel radio/bluetooth controls. Luckily there is tons of run-off area at Spring Mountain and no walls so I am not too worried about not having an airbag. Might swap back to the stock steering wheel/airbag for street driving.

- Get Nitto NT05 tires mounted on 18" wheels. Since Forgestar still does not have their 18" wheels in yet, I have a back up set of SSR Type-Fs just in case.

- Remove trunk plastics/spare/tools

- Adjust ride height (raising it a little since the 18" wheels/tires have a smaller overall diameter than stock)

- Corner balance

- Alignment (finally able to add some negative camber up front with the SPC arms!)

- Install Carbotech XP10/XP8 brake pads

There are a few things that are also still up in the air and may or may not get here in time for the test weekend. The 18" Forgestars are on that list of course, along with the Challenge Stainless Steel Braided brake lines which I am supposed to test fit. Also a few new braces and such from GTSPEC may or may not get here in time to install/test before this time attack.

M.Bonanni · 09-08-2009, 04:41 PM

Picked up the car from Password:JDM on Friday! They got the radiator cooling panel, battery/brake fluid covers, and prototype shift knob done! I will be dropping the car off again probably in October so they can finish the engine cover which is 90% of the way there. All parts are 100% genuine dry carbon fiber or high quality aluminum. All Password:JDM parts are made 100% in house in the USA.

Here are some photos...

Dry Carbon Fiber Battery/Brake Fluid Covers:

Dry Carbon Fiber Radiator Cooling Panel:

Theft Proof Oil Cap:

Shot of the entire engine bay:

Pre-Production Aluminum Shift Knob:

The shift knob pictured is the pre-production model. The production versions will be largely the same except they will feature the colored washer system option pictured below. They will also be offered in a variety of anodized colors.

Togo · 09-08-2009, 07:22 PM

Man thats stuff looks nice! Keep us updated!

GingaBreadMan · 09-08-2009, 08:00 PM

I like the carbon fiber in the engine bay. That is a great idea. How much weight does it save?

M.Bonanni · 09-08-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingaBreadMan

I like the carbon fiber in the engine bay. That is a great idea. How much weight does it save?

Any weight savings will be minimal. The radiator cooling panel doesn't replace anything, it just sits over the existing plastic in the engine bay. The battery/brake fluid covers are full replacements of the stock plastic pieces, but the stock plastic pieces don't weigh much. So these mods wont really gain or lose you much weight at all. More for looks.

M.Bonanni · 09-09-2009, 05:04 PM

Just got word that some new GTSPEC chassis braces should be in my hands early next week for test fitment

. I also think I am going to swap out the JWT Pop-Charger intakes to an Injen dual intake setup to see how it compares.

M.Bonanni · 09-11-2009, 01:31 PM

Double Down Motorsports is now an authorized dealer for NonStopTuning so I will be running their underdrive pulley kit instead of the Unortodox Racing crank pulley.

M.Bonanni · 09-12-2009, 07:39 PM

Did a little bit of work on the car today...

I fabbed up a new mounting bracket for the Mishimoto Oil cooler that positions it so it is 100% in clean air flow instead of being partially covered by the bumper. I am still waiting on the Jim Wolf Technology oil pan spacer to get here before I finish installing the rest of the lines and such for the oil cooler so I can put everything on at once and not have to drain the oil twice.

While I had the bumper cover off, I also decided I would replace the Jim Wolf Technology Dual Pop Charger intakes with a new Injen Technology Dual Cold Air Intake system to see how they compare. I also did not re-install the washer fluid bottle included in the Injen CAI kit for the purpose of saving weight on the front end.

I have a ton of work to do on the car before this next weekend's test event out at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park before competing in Round #7 of the Redline Time Attack Series a week later at the same track. I really want to make this test weekend since there are so may new parts on the car since last time it was on track. The only problem is that I am waiting on a bunch more parts to come in so my hopes of getting a lot done this weekend are somewhat shot.

Tomorrow's agenda:
- Change Transmission Fluid & Install Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plug
- Change Differential Fluid & Install Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plug (if it fits)
- Test fit SPL Parts Adjustable Sway Bar End Links

The only other thing I can do at this point is install the NonStopTuning Crank & Alternator Pulley Kit which arrived today, however I don't have a lift so I probably won't be able to get the leverage needed with a breaker bar to get the stock one off. Might have a local shop with a lift do that install.

M.Bonanni · 09-13-2009, 06:03 PM

Updates from today...

Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plugs do not fit in the transmission or the differential. Gotta find some other ones that do.

SPL Parts 350Z end links don't fit the 370Z

. The good news is that only minor changes are needed to make them fit so I expect that problem to be resolved very soon and we should have 370Z specific SPL Parts sway bar end links in our near future!

So all that was accomplished today was changing the differential and trans fluids. Now we are just waiting on parts.

I did order these though since I am now an authorized dealer of Race Ramps!

Wheel Cribs - I got the 8" tall ones. They should be perfect for adjusting the sway bar end links once we can get them to fit! Not to mention easier and safer than jack stands for things where you don't need to take the wheels off. Also cool for checking tire clearances and such from under the car with the suspension compressed.

Scale Ramps - These will make life so much easier not only for corner balancing, but also just to use to get some more height to slide a jack under the car since it sits so low.

I am working on getting all of Race Ramp's products up on our site, but if you want to order any just let me know!

RCZ · 09-14-2009, 11:34 PM

Carbon junk looks great Mike! Car is turning out quite nice.

NonStopTuning · 09-15-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Double Down Motorsports is now an authorized dealer for NonStopTuning so I will be running their underdrive pulley kit instead of the Unortodox Racing crank pulley.

We are very happy to have Double Down Motorsports as our first Authorized NST Retailer on these forums.

Many thanks for your interest in our site and products, and for your help and support. Good luck and have fun with all your projects!!!

M.Bonanni · 09-15-2009, 01:32 PM

^^^Thanks Mike! Hopefully I will be able to get your pulley on the car very soon!

Caravanshaka · 09-15-2009, 01:35 PM

Oh no, more Mike's??

Welcome to the forum!

09-02-2009, 02:42 PM	#498 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Ok so the car will finally come home from Password:JDM on Tuesday the 8th! Well, I will pick it up on Friday the 4th, but spending the holiday weekend down on the beach while I am there . Once its back here in Vegas, the scramble begins to get it ready for a test weekend on the 19th & 20th at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, then the Redline Time Attack event at the same track a week later. Here is the to do list, including some new parts to install and test fit! - Change transmission & differential fluid (wish I could get my JWT clutch/flywheel installed but don't have the budget right now) - Install second Mishimoto oil cooler. No I never got the one back from the guys I lent my first one too and because of budget restraints a custom setup is not in the cards right now so I got another Mishimoto setup. - Test fit Jim Wolf Technology VQ37 Oil Pan Spacer. Yep, thats right! Should be in my hands to test fit next week! The spacer should add approx. 1 qt. of oil capacity which will help keep oil temps in check. I will also install my Project Kics magnetic drain plug while I am at it. - Test fit SPL Parts Sway Bar End Links. These are the end links from the 350Zs, but we think there is a good chance they will work on the 370Z as well. We'll find out! - Install NRG Innovations steering wheel hub, quick release, and deep dish steering wheel. Should get the wheel closer to me for better driving position and shed some weight getting rid of the air bag. Only downside is losing the air bag and steering wheel radio/bluetooth controls. Luckily there is tons of run-off area at Spring Mountain and no walls so I am not too worried about not having an airbag. Might swap back to the stock steering wheel/airbag for street driving. - Get Nitto NT05 tires mounted on 18" wheels. Since Forgestar still does not have their 18" wheels in yet, I have a back up set of SSR Type-Fs just in case. - Remove trunk plastics/spare/tools - Adjust ride height (raising it a little since the 18" wheels/tires have a smaller overall diameter than stock) - Corner balance - Alignment (finally able to add some negative camber up front with the SPC arms!) - Install Carbotech XP10/XP8 brake pads There are a few things that are also still up in the air and may or may not get here in time for the test weekend. The 18" Forgestars are on that list of course, along with the Challenge Stainless Steel Braided brake lines which I am supposed to test fit. Also a few new braces and such from GTSPEC may or may not get here in time to install/test before this time attack. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-08-2009, 04:41 PM	#499 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Picked up the car from Password:JDM on Friday! They got the radiator cooling panel, battery/brake fluid covers, and prototype shift knob done! I will be dropping the car off again probably in October so they can finish the engine cover which is 90% of the way there. All parts are 100% genuine dry carbon fiber or high quality aluminum. All Password:JDM parts are made 100% in house in the USA. Here are some photos... Dry Carbon Fiber Battery/Brake Fluid Covers: Dry Carbon Fiber Radiator Cooling Panel: Theft Proof Oil Cap: Shot of the entire engine bay: Pre-Production Aluminum Shift Knob: The shift knob pictured is the pre-production model. The production versions will be largely the same except they will feature the colored washer system option pictured below. They will also be offered in a variety of anodized colors. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-09-2009, 05:04 PM	#503 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Just got word that some new GTSPEC chassis braces should be in my hands early next week for test fitment . I also think I am going to swap out the JWT Pop-Charger intakes to an Injen dual intake setup to see how it compares. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-11-2009, 01:31 PM	#504 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Double Down Motorsports is now an authorized dealer for NonStopTuning so I will be running their underdrive pulley kit instead of the Unortodox Racing crank pulley. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-12-2009, 07:39 PM	#505 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Did a little bit of work on the car today... I fabbed up a new mounting bracket for the Mishimoto Oil cooler that positions it so it is 100% in clean air flow instead of being partially covered by the bumper. I am still waiting on the Jim Wolf Technology oil pan spacer to get here before I finish installing the rest of the lines and such for the oil cooler so I can put everything on at once and not have to drain the oil twice. While I had the bumper cover off, I also decided I would replace the Jim Wolf Technology Dual Pop Charger intakes with a new Injen Technology Dual Cold Air Intake system to see how they compare. I also did not re-install the washer fluid bottle included in the Injen CAI kit for the purpose of saving weight on the front end. I have a ton of work to do on the car before this next weekend's test event out at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park before competing in Round #7 of the Redline Time Attack Series a week later at the same track. I really want to make this test weekend since there are so may new parts on the car since last time it was on track. The only problem is that I am waiting on a bunch more parts to come in so my hopes of getting a lot done this weekend are somewhat shot. Tomorrow's agenda: - Change Transmission Fluid & Install Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plug - Change Differential Fluid & Install Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plug (if it fits) - Test fit SPL Parts Adjustable Sway Bar End Links The only other thing I can do at this point is install the NonStopTuning Crank & Alternator Pulley Kit which arrived today, however I don't have a lift so I probably won't be able to get the leverage needed with a breaker bar to get the stock one off. Might have a local shop with a lift do that install. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-08-2009, 07:22 PM	#500 (permalink)
Togo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: E. Northport, NY Posts: 7,597 Drives: Stuff Rep Power: 657	Man thats stuff looks nice! Keep us updated!

09-08-2009, 08:00 PM	#501 (permalink)
GingaBreadMan Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York Posts: 313 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6spd Rep Power: 16	I like the carbon fiber in the engine bay. That is a great idea. How much weight does it save?

09-13-2009, 06:03 PM	#506 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Updates from today... Project Kics Magnetic Drain Plugs do not fit in the transmission or the differential. Gotta find some other ones that do. SPL Parts 350Z end links don't fit the 370Z . The good news is that only minor changes are needed to make them fit so I expect that problem to be resolved very soon and we should have 370Z specific SPL Parts sway bar end links in our near future! So all that was accomplished today was changing the differential and trans fluids. Now we are just waiting on parts. I did order these though since I am now an authorized dealer of Race Ramps! Wheel Cribs - I got the 8" tall ones. They should be perfect for adjusting the sway bar end links once we can get them to fit! Not to mention easier and safer than jack stands for things where you don't need to take the wheels off. Also cool for checking tire clearances and such from under the car with the suspension compressed. Scale Ramps - These will make life so much easier not only for corner balancing, but also just to use to get some more height to slide a jack under the car since it sits so low. I am working on getting all of Race Ramp's products up on our site, but if you want to order any just let me know! __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-14-2009, 11:34 PM	#507 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Carbon junk looks great Mike! Car is turning out quite nice.

09-15-2009, 01:32 PM	#509 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	^^^Thanks Mike! Hopefully I will be able to get your pulley on the car very soon! __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-15-2009, 01:35 PM	#510 (permalink)
Caravanshaka I shake Caravans Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: north Dallas Posts: 9,517 Drives: everyone crazy Rep Power: 42	Oh no, more Mike's?? Welcome to the forum! __________________ ____________________ PROJECT DiaD - Sold but not forgotten! The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that in order to work the penis, the brain must remain whole.