wstar's Journal

wstar · 04-28-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

OMG, wstar it is horrible the past two days. If the wind was not so bad the rain would have been ok, but the wind just poured buckets onto my car as I drove home, glad I do not have my Z just yet.

What part of town are those pictures?

Those pics were taken on Beltway 8, southbound on the west side between richmond and 59, on the way over to pick up my dinner date. Took two hours to get home from Clear Lake this morning just from re-routing around all the flooded streets. All of 8 was closed between about westheimer and 59.

theDreamer · 04-28-2009, 10:46 AM

Yeah I saw that, I just have to get to I-10 and I am in the clear, still took me an hour (normally 20 minutes). So many roads are flooded or they are just shutting them down anyways. Glad to hear the Z was fine through this weather, calms my nerves. How was driving though in the Z, any spinning of the tires or anything?

wstar · 04-28-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Yeah I saw that, I just have to get to I-10 and I am in the clear, still took me an hour (normally 20 minutes). So many roads are flooded or they are just shutting them down anyways. Glad to hear the Z was fine through this weather, calms my nerves. How was driving though in the Z, any spinning of the tires or anything?

I've found my Z to be a fantastic machine in wet conditions, actually (not just today, but also during earlier, lighter rains). I generally leave VDC on in wet conditions, I think it's a real plus (especially if you have to hit a deep puddle with one side of the car somewhat unexpectedly at a little more speed than you planned

), so keep that in mind.

As far as low-speed driving and cornering go, I'm really quite impressed with the RE050's from the sport package. I expected I'd be ice-skating on them in wet conditions, but they hold up admirably. I drop my speed a little bit to match conditions, but overall I'm still tearing it up on the wet pavement pretty well.

What's really impressive is the highway performance though. I suspect that may be more due to our aerodynamics, downforce, and those little mini-spoilers in front of the front tires (in the sport setup) than the tires themselves. In conditions yesterday where other people were running their wipers full blast and driving 60 in a 70 with white knuckles from gripping the wheel in fear, I was running 90-110-ish in the open stretches with no stability problems (and no wipers thanks to Rain-X. The faster you go, the better it works

).

wstar · 04-29-2009, 10:32 PM

Just an update on Magden's stuff. I'm not planning to order one for another month or so (I've gotta keep my car toy spending *somewhat* within reason here), but I emailed their tech guys about it today just to ask about some basic compatibility stuff. My main question was about ECU compatibility and data update rates, premised on the assumption that our ECU is substantially similar to the 2008 G37 ECU, and this was the response from Magden I wanted to share:

Quote:

Since 2008 all vehicles sold in the U.S. must have the high speed CAN version of OBD-II. The G37 we have validated does use CAN and provided approx 20hz in total channel update rate (all channels displayed/logged on the M.1 share this bandwidth in a prioritized way). Our G37 customers have been happy with the M.1b's performance in their vehicles. Check out the forum at myg37.com for some installs and pictures.

The list of channels available on the M.1b plugged into the G37 are:

RPM
IAT (Intake Air Temp)
ECT (Engine Cooltant Temp)
TPS (Throttle Position)
BAT (Battery voltage)
BARO (Barometric pressure)
MAF (Mass Air Flow)
Ignition
Fuel level
Speed
Lambda (wideband)
Dynamic HP
Dynamic Torque
Current Gear position
Longitudinal g-force
MPG

With a Zt-2 extension you can add your own sensors as well.

In conclusion, the 370Z should work very well with the M.1b

travisjb · 04-30-2009, 07:31 AM

g37 forum link... + there are other threads
ECU/Chip mods & managment systems - MyG37

wstar · 05-04-2009, 03:42 PM

Had a near-miss last night. I downshifted to 2 to push the rear a bit before braking into a hard right 90 into a parking lot entrance (it's a fun technique, what do you call that? Power-assisted braking slide?). Conditions were wet, which I was calculating well for. What I failed to notice was that while the street and the parking lot were both made of wonderfully grippy flat pavement, there was about a 10 foot stretch of the parking lot entranceway that was paved with some stupid cobblestones (nice and slippery).

The car made the 90 attitude-wise of course thanks to the slide, but then kept on drifting sideways once the tires hit those evil cobblestones, and I missed slamming the side of the car into a curb and big stone centerpiece with the name of the shopping center on it by about 3-6 inches before it caught traction and started moving forward again. It probably would've been a light tap instead of a near miss if it weren't for VDC saving my *** on the slippery, uneven cobblestone surface.

So remember, VDC+Rain = good. Being an idiot and pushing the car like that heading into a parking lot = kinda silly and not worth it

And to whatever moron thought it was a very fashionable idea to put a section of slippery, uneven road surface right at parking lot entrance people will be cornering into, I hate you

RCZ · 05-04-2009, 04:16 PM

haha careful man, bumps like that can bend suspension pieces slightly which you cant notice, but they start throwing off everything when u want to align the car etc.

eXo5 · 05-04-2009, 04:20 PM

Be careful with that beast!!!!

I cant wait until I get my Z and I can make a journal. These things rock.

RCZ · 05-06-2009, 10:52 PM

I would argue I always feel a difference...but like you said, it may be in my head...but I swear it feels smoother!

wstar · 05-06-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

I would argue I always feel a difference...but like you said, it may be in my head...but I swear it feels smoother!

Well maybe it really is smoother, it certainly felt better. Just no way to really measure that objectively.

The other update is that I'm pretty confident now that the last exhaust gasket replacements I need will be here Friday (thanks to Stillen, DDM, and Berk for working with me on getting them here), so hopefully I'll have my exhaust leaks all sealed up on Saturday, and I can burn in the new gaskets, retorque again on Sunday, and then get some new video clips of the final sound.

semtex · 05-07-2009, 07:48 AM

Nice work. Yeah, that Motul 300V is pretty expensive. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get a group buy on that stuff? I'd order it by the case if I could get a decent discount.

wstar · 05-07-2009, 10:20 AM

Update on the drain plug, after reviewing my order confirmation emails, the part numbers, and the mfg website, it's obvious I actually ordered the wrong one. I must have mis-clicked somewhere. I meant to order M12x1.25, but ended up ordering M12x1.5. Oh well they're $10. I ordered the correct one for next time, and now I've got more magnets to play with

miguez · 05-07-2009, 10:23 AM

Hey wstar,

What vendor are you buying your magnetic plug from?

wstar · 05-07-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miguez

Hey wstar,

What vendor are you buying your magnetic plug from?

Metric oil drain plugs

The website is atrocious to navigate. The correct size is the ones labelled 1040M and 1040SM on that page. The 1040M is a regular magnet and goes for $3.45, the 1040SM is $10.00 and has a neodymium magnet.

Edit: link for Neodymium info, since I've mentioned it twice here and maybe not everyone's into magnets: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neodymium_magnet

imag · 05-08-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Metric oil drain plugs

The website is atrocious to navigate. The correct size is the ones labelled 1040M and 1040SM on that page. The 1040M is a regular magnet and goes for $3.45, the 1040SM is $10.00 and has a neodymium magnet.

Edit: link for Neodymium info, since I've mentioned it twice here and maybe not everyone's into magnets: Neodymium magnet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nice - thanks for this.

04-28-2009, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4211	Yeah I saw that, I just have to get to I-10 and I am in the clear, still took me an hour (normally 20 minutes). So many roads are flooded or they are just shutting them down anyways. Glad to hear the Z was fine through this weather, calms my nerves. How was driving though in the Z, any spinning of the tires or anything? __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

05-04-2009, 03:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Had a near-miss last night. I downshifted to 2 to push the rear a bit before braking into a hard right 90 into a parking lot entrance (it's a fun technique, what do you call that? Power-assisted braking slide?). Conditions were wet, which I was calculating well for. What I failed to notice was that while the street and the parking lot were both made of wonderfully grippy flat pavement, there was about a 10 foot stretch of the parking lot entranceway that was paved with some stupid cobblestones (nice and slippery). The car made the 90 attitude-wise of course thanks to the slide, but then kept on drifting sideways once the tires hit those evil cobblestones, and I missed slamming the side of the car into a curb and big stone centerpiece with the name of the shopping center on it by about 3-6 inches before it caught traction and started moving forward again. It probably would've been a light tap instead of a near miss if it weren't for VDC saving my *** on the slippery, uneven cobblestone surface. So remember, VDC+Rain = good. Being an idiot and pushing the car like that heading into a parking lot = kinda silly and not worth it And to whatever moron thought it was a very fashionable idea to put a section of slippery, uneven road surface right at parking lot entrance people will be cornering into, I hate you __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

05-04-2009, 04:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
eXo5 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: delaware Posts: 368 Drives: skateboard w/ NAWWWZ Rep Power: 673	Be careful with that beast!!!! I cant wait until I get my Z and I can make a journal. These things rock. __________________ Remember kids, NAWZ energy drink will not make your car go faster.

05-07-2009, 07:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 33	Nice work. Yeah, that Motul 300V is pretty expensive. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get a group buy on that stuff? I'd order it by the case if I could get a decent discount. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

05-07-2009, 10:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Update on the drain plug, after reviewing my order confirmation emails, the part numbers, and the mfg website, it's obvious I actually ordered the wrong one. I must have mis-clicked somewhere. I meant to order M12x1.25, but ended up ordering M12x1.5. Oh well they're $10. I ordered the correct one for next time, and now I've got more magnets to play with __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

04-30-2009, 07:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	g37 forum link... + there are other threads ECU/Chip mods & managment systems - MyG37

05-04-2009, 04:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	haha careful man, bumps like that can bend suspension pieces slightly which you cant notice, but they start throwing off everything when u want to align the car etc.

05-06-2009, 10:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	I would argue I always feel a difference...but like you said, it may be in my head...but I swear it feels smoother!

05-07-2009, 10:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
miguez Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 359 Drives: '04 Cavalier Rep Power: 182	Hey wstar, What vendor are you buying your magnetic plug from?

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