DDM Project 370Z

ChrisSlicks · 06-01-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Yeah I had the same problem on my 350Z as well but that car was a fully prepped race car on sticky tires which generated much more lateral grip. Did not expect it on a near stock 370Z with street tires.

G35 did it bone stock at auto-cross. The tank slosh is bad in other ways as it adds a delayed and additional weight transfer, which was particularly bad in an auto-cross type driving scenario. I used to run the G35 with a full tank to combat this.

CBRich · 06-01-2009, 01:25 PM

I'm assuming the only real option to fix the gas sloshing is a new redesigned tank. Unless you want to race with a full tank all the time.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

I'm assuming the only real option to fix the gas sloshing is a new redesigned tank. Unless you want to race with a full tank all the time.

Yeah a tank with good baffles in it would probably help.

miguez · 06-01-2009, 01:56 PM

Or simply a surge tank.

miguez · 06-02-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Yes the LSD will go in ASAP. My next time attack will most likely be the Super Lap Battle Qualifier at Auto Club Speedway the first weekend in August.

Mike, I was reading the Super Lap Battle Rulebook, and it sounds like you could enter your Z in the Street category, correct?

Some heavy hitters in that event, do you know if Team Tarzan is showing up again? Sounds like Tanner Foust might be there too...

M.Bonanni · 06-02-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miguez

Mike, I was reading the Super Lap Battle Rulebook, and it sounds like you could enter your Z in the Street category, correct?

Some heavy hitters in that event, do you know if Team Tarzan is showing up again? Sounds like Tanner Foust might be there too...

Yes this car is well within the Street Class rules.

I have no idea who will actually show up this year, but you can bet that records will be broken as usual.

M.Bonanni · 06-02-2009, 07:18 PM

Link to my time attack results thread. Pics and video in there too

.

DDMotorsports Redline Time Attack Round #2 Results!

M.Bonanni · 06-05-2009, 04:55 PM

What's up next for the DDM 370Z?

Well with two track weekends in the books I have learned a lot about the car and the parts I have put on it. Road course racing is the ultimate proving ground for a car and for aftermarket parts developers. The track will uncover your car's weakest points in a hurry and once you fix one weak point, it may uncover another. One track may uncover issues that weren't relevant at another track. This is exactly the kind of testing and data needed to build a solid car with solid parts.

The biggest issue in building a track car is reliability, after all a car is only as good as its weakest part. This is why the immediate focus on the DDMotorsports 370Z has turned to cooling. At Buttonwillow Raceway back in late March, our 370Z was equipped with an off the shelf Mishimoto universal oil cooler kit. The kit worked excellent both on the street and on the track keeping oil temperatures in a safe range. Fast forward a few months and that puts us at this past weekend's event at Willow Springs. Temperatures were much hotter than they were at Buttonwillow, and the track layout meant there would be a lot more full throttle, sustained high rpms, which inevidably means more heat being produced by the motor. The Mishimoto oil cooler that worked so well at Buttonwillow found its limits at Willow Springs. The oil temperature after ~2 1/2 laps around the 2.5 mile track driving as hard as I possibly could would eventually hit 270 degrees, at which point the car's ECU would dramatically cut power and revs. Because of this, our next plan of action with this car is to upgrade to a larger oil cooler core.

Like the oil cooling issue, there is another heat issue that has plagued the 370Z. A post race inspection after Buttonwillow unveiled a differential fluid overheating problem. The stock limited slip differential was damaged at the first track day leaving bits of metal floating around and the factory differential fluid smelled severely burnt. Unfortunately we could not fix this in time for the Willow Springs event, but luckily everything held together for the event without totally blowing up and locking the rear wheels. So our plan of action to fix this is to install the Carbonetic 1.5 way limited slip differential in place of the stock unit. Although the Carbonetic part should generate less heat than the stock LSD, we will take precautionary measures and add a differential oil cooling kit as well to ensure no future issues.

While we are on the subject of cooling, we will also upgrade the factory power steering oil cooler to a larger unit as well as inspecting the transmission for signs of overheating to determine whether or not that will need a cooler as well.

All of these items are on our punch list before we start worrying about making the car faster again, although the Berk Technology Cat-Back exhaust is still scheduled to go on the car very soon.

Also on the horizon:
- Front camber arms
- Sway bars
- Different brake pads for the track
- 18" Forgestar wheels
- Wider Nitto NT05 tires
- Mines intake ducts (maybe)
- Painted door handles/rear diffuser thing

CBRich · 06-05-2009, 05:48 PM

From what 370Z.com shows having some sort of venting could really help the AEM G3 intakes. Mines seems to be an expensive option and I was hoping someone would design something a bit more reasonably priced.

miguez · 06-05-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

From what 370Z.com shows having some sort of venting could really help the AEM G3 intakes. Mines seems to be an expensive option and I was hoping someone would design something a bit more reasonably priced.

Modshack is working on that.

M.Bonanni · 06-07-2009, 11:49 PM

Put up a for sale thread for the barely used Piano Black Forgestars/NT05...

DDMotorsports: USED Forgestar F14 w/tires

Brazilbro · 06-10-2009, 04:55 PM

what plans do you have for upgrading the oil cooler.. I'm looking at getting one soon but it looks like most on the market are too small

M.Bonanni · 06-10-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazilbro

what plans do you have for upgrading the oil cooler.. I'm looking at getting one soon but it looks like most on the market are too small

Not 100% sure yet but I will probably just get a larger Setrab cooler core and use the lines and sandwitch plate from the existing Mishimoto kit.

M.Bonanni · 06-16-2009, 02:15 PM

Haven't posted any updates in a bit so here's what's been going on with the car.

Berk Technology Cat-Back Exhaust - This should finally be coming in very soon! Anxious to test it out.

Intakes - I have worked out a deal with a new company coming onto the scene to develop a new intake system that will feature intake ducts in the bumper connected to an enclosed air box intake system so the intakes will only draw air from the outside and not from the hot engine bay or behind the bumper where there isn't any direct flow. The intake system is in the very early stages of planning and development but the wait will be well worth it I think. Right now the car is scheduled to stay down with this company to have it developed for a full month starting August 3rd.

Carbonetic 1.5 way LSD - I have been slacking on getting this installed, but will do so within the next few weeks.

Oil Cooler setup - I have also been slacking on the research end about this, but I am very interested in the upcoming setup that Travisjb will be running on his car and if all works well, I might just switch to that setup.

GTSPEC bracing - Sometime this week, GTSPEC should be sending me out another chassis brace to test fit for you guys!

Next event - The next time attack event scheduled for this car is the Super Lap Battle Qualifier and N.A.S.A. Time Trials event at Auto Club Speedway's ROVAL configuration August 1st & 2nd. The track is a combination of low-mid speed technical sections and 2/3 of the high banked NASCAR oval. This is also where the Redline Time Attack Finals will be held in November.

Caravanshaka · 06-16-2009, 02:39 PM

that intake configuration sounds interesting. Do you know if the ducts are going to be through a modified bumper, or if they are going to use the existing airflow in the current bumper and channel it up to the airbox?

06-02-2009, 07:18 PM	#262 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	Link to my time attack results thread. Pics and video in there too . DDMotorsports Redline Time Attack Round #2 Results! __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

06-05-2009, 04:55 PM	#263 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	What's up next for the DDM 370Z? Well with two track weekends in the books I have learned a lot about the car and the parts I have put on it. Road course racing is the ultimate proving ground for a car and for aftermarket parts developers. The track will uncover your car's weakest points in a hurry and once you fix one weak point, it may uncover another. One track may uncover issues that weren't relevant at another track. This is exactly the kind of testing and data needed to build a solid car with solid parts. The biggest issue in building a track car is reliability, after all a car is only as good as its weakest part. This is why the immediate focus on the DDMotorsports 370Z has turned to cooling. At Buttonwillow Raceway back in late March, our 370Z was equipped with an off the shelf Mishimoto universal oil cooler kit. The kit worked excellent both on the street and on the track keeping oil temperatures in a safe range. Fast forward a few months and that puts us at this past weekend's event at Willow Springs. Temperatures were much hotter than they were at Buttonwillow, and the track layout meant there would be a lot more full throttle, sustained high rpms, which inevidably means more heat being produced by the motor. The Mishimoto oil cooler that worked so well at Buttonwillow found its limits at Willow Springs. The oil temperature after ~2 1/2 laps around the 2.5 mile track driving as hard as I possibly could would eventually hit 270 degrees, at which point the car's ECU would dramatically cut power and revs. Because of this, our next plan of action with this car is to upgrade to a larger oil cooler core. Like the oil cooling issue, there is another heat issue that has plagued the 370Z. A post race inspection after Buttonwillow unveiled a differential fluid overheating problem. The stock limited slip differential was damaged at the first track day leaving bits of metal floating around and the factory differential fluid smelled severely burnt. Unfortunately we could not fix this in time for the Willow Springs event, but luckily everything held together for the event without totally blowing up and locking the rear wheels. So our plan of action to fix this is to install the Carbonetic 1.5 way limited slip differential in place of the stock unit. Although the Carbonetic part should generate less heat than the stock LSD, we will take precautionary measures and add a differential oil cooling kit as well to ensure no future issues. While we are on the subject of cooling, we will also upgrade the factory power steering oil cooler to a larger unit as well as inspecting the transmission for signs of overheating to determine whether or not that will need a cooler as well. All of these items are on our punch list before we start worrying about making the car faster again, although the Berk Technology Cat-Back exhaust is still scheduled to go on the car very soon. Also on the horizon: - Front camber arms - Sway bars - Different brake pads for the track - 18" Forgestar wheels - Wider Nitto NT05 tires - Mines intake ducts (maybe) - Painted door handles/rear diffuser thing __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form Last edited by M.Bonanni; 06-05-2009 at 05:26 PM.

06-07-2009, 11:49 PM	#266 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	Put up a for sale thread for the barely used Piano Black Forgestars/NT05... DDMotorsports: USED Forgestar F14 w/tires __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

06-16-2009, 02:15 PM	#269 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	Haven't posted any updates in a bit so here's what's been going on with the car. Berk Technology Cat-Back Exhaust - This should finally be coming in very soon! Anxious to test it out. Intakes - I have worked out a deal with a new company coming onto the scene to develop a new intake system that will feature intake ducts in the bumper connected to an enclosed air box intake system so the intakes will only draw air from the outside and not from the hot engine bay or behind the bumper where there isn't any direct flow. The intake system is in the very early stages of planning and development but the wait will be well worth it I think. Right now the car is scheduled to stay down with this company to have it developed for a full month starting August 3rd. Carbonetic 1.5 way LSD - I have been slacking on getting this installed, but will do so within the next few weeks. Oil Cooler setup - I have also been slacking on the research end about this, but I am very interested in the upcoming setup that Travisjb will be running on his car and if all works well, I might just switch to that setup. GTSPEC bracing - Sometime this week, GTSPEC should be sending me out another chassis brace to test fit for you guys! Next event - The next time attack event scheduled for this car is the Super Lap Battle Qualifier and N.A.S.A. Time Trials event at Auto Club Speedway's ROVAL configuration August 1st & 2nd. The track is a combination of low-mid speed technical sections and 2/3 of the high banked NASCAR oval. This is also where the Redline Time Attack Finals will be held in November. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

06-01-2009, 01:25 PM	#257 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	I'm assuming the only real option to fix the gas sloshing is a new redesigned tank. Unless you want to race with a full tank all the time.

06-01-2009, 01:56 PM	#259 (permalink)
miguez Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 359 Drives: '04 Cavalier Rep Power: 181	Or simply a surge tank.

06-05-2009, 05:48 PM	#264 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	From what 370Z.com shows having some sort of venting could really help the AEM G3 intakes. Mines seems to be an expensive option and I was hoping someone would design something a bit more reasonably priced.

06-10-2009, 04:55 PM	#267 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 848	what plans do you have for upgrading the oil cooler.. I'm looking at getting one soon but it looks like most on the market are too small

06-16-2009, 02:39 PM	#270 (permalink)
Caravanshaka I shake Caravans Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: north Dallas Posts: 9,517 Drives: everyone crazy Rep Power: 42	that intake configuration sounds interesting. Do you know if the ducts are going to be through a modified bumper, or if they are going to use the existing airflow in the current bumper and channel it up to the airbox?