wstar's Journal

travisjb · 05-31-2009, 08:27 PM

Looks like you did end up routing it through a different hole in the firewall... mine went through the larger hole closer towards the right fender...

Looks like a decent install, nice job... one comment, I worry that in a front collision the battery in the position you have it would become a missile... mine was placed up against the cross member for this reason... good thing you have a sturdy battery box !

wstar · 05-31-2009, 10:14 PM

I'm not too worried about it. The walls of the box are pretty damn thick, and the thing fits the battery like a glove, I actually had to kinda squeeze the battery between the walls, flexing them slightly. What I really wanted to do was mount it roughly where it is (or if anything further to the passenger side) sideways, with the terminals facing the center of the car. That would've been even more secure. However, the trunk floor doesn't provide a lot of options for level mounting surfaces that would work, it's got lots of little studs and ridges and so-on.

Right now I'm still fighting with getting the passenger footwell back together, specifically that damn A/C blower. Apparently it needs a warning label that you need a higher IQ than me to fit it back in there correctly.

Update: got the interior back together again, time for driving and food. I hate that A/C blower. One day, years from now, when this car is pretty much dead, I'm going after that A/C blower with a baseball bat, Office Space style.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 10:25 AM

The test drive last night went great, nothing came loose, no shorts, etc. Being the paranoid person I can be sometimes, I took my garage fire extinguisher with me in case of some horrible battery incident, but it was totally unwarranted

It seemed like the car handled better, although I didn't do anything too aggressive on this drive. The car just seemed flatter and more neutral through corners. I wasn't really expecting to be able to feel any difference from a single weight reduction/shift mod, but I guess the battery is a pretty big one.

travisjb · 06-01-2009, 11:05 AM

Cool ! Now imagine what a full setup and corner balance would do !

miguez · 06-01-2009, 11:36 AM

I am amazed that you can actually feel that! It tells me the car is very well designed, if it transmits (and is affected) by that little a weight shift. I have had experiences with cars that were not so good in telling me they had changed, until the very last moment of grip, at which point they departed happily into uncontrollability.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

Cool ! Now imagine what a full setup and corner balance would do !

I know, I can't wait

It will probably be another month or two at least, I'm still waiting on those Forgestar wheels to come in, then I'll do the coilovers and try to get all of the suspension geometry and corner balance stuff done up.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 11:47 AM

Added a fuller version of my batt relocate info to the DIY thread here: DIY: Battery Relo

theDreamer · 06-01-2009, 11:51 AM

Any ETA on the Forgestar, would like to see them on the Z in person.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Any ETA on the Forgestar, would like to see them on the Z in person.

I haven't heard anything lately, I think Mike said a few weeks a few weeks ago, FWIW

I would expect they'll be shipping them out sometime this month. Then I need to get tires and do the big swap (I want to keep the pressure sensors if they fit, so I'm going to have to drive my car down to a shop with the new wheels and tires and have them unmount my old tires and move the sensor stems over before mounting the new ones, etc).

ChrisSlicks · 06-01-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Any ETA on the Forgestar, would like to see them on the Z in person.

I heard (or at least interperated) mid to late June.

ChrisSlicks · 06-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

so I'm going to have to drive my car down to a shop with the new wheels and tires and have them unmount my old tires and move the sensor stems over before mounting the new ones, etc).

Yeah ... good luck with that

I did it with just tires and it was a ridiculously tight fit in the car. 2 tires in the passenger seat, 2 in the back. With wheels as well it would be near impossible.

The only sensible option is to jack the car up and put it on jack stands, take off the wheels and throw them in a truck.

wstar · 06-01-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Yeah ... good luck with that

I did it with just tires and it was a ridiculously tight fit in the car. 2 tires in the passenger seat, 2 in the back. With wheels as well it would be near impossible.

The only sensible option is to jack the car up and put it on jack stands, take off the wheels and throw them in a truck.

Yeah a friend of mine has a Scout, I may just throw all the new stuff in the back of that and have him follow me over.

travisjb · 06-01-2009, 01:21 PM

Re 18-in Foregestars, Mike told me late June last time we talked

M.Bonanni · 06-01-2009, 01:23 PM

18" Forgestars are ETA of late June. 19" Forgestars are an ETA of 2-3 weeks from when you order them.

wstar · 06-02-2009, 01:20 PM

Random status updates:

Battery relocate still doing fine. Haven't had any issues starting the car, etc. Still looking around for what to do about switching/protecting in the rear though. Ideally I need something that makes it easy to disconnect the ground (a switch or quick-disconnect plug of some kind), and I also need a fuse/breaker that can take starter motor current draw. Turning up a blank on an ideal solution so far, although many things look close.

Got my Hotchkis swaybars in today. The delivery truck driver was very envious when he saw the box, and then the car

These will probably be installed tomorrow evening.

05-31-2009, 08:27 PM	#136 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	Looks like you did end up routing it through a different hole in the firewall... mine went through the larger hole closer towards the right fender... Looks like a decent install, nice job... one comment, I worry that in a front collision the battery in the position you have it would become a missile... mine was placed up against the cross member for this reason... good thing you have a sturdy battery box ! __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

05-31-2009, 10:14 PM	#137 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	I'm not too worried about it. The walls of the box are pretty damn thick, and the thing fits the battery like a glove, I actually had to kinda squeeze the battery between the walls, flexing them slightly. What I really wanted to do was mount it roughly where it is (or if anything further to the passenger side) sideways, with the terminals facing the center of the car. That would've been even more secure. However, the trunk floor doesn't provide a lot of options for level mounting surfaces that would work, it's got lots of little studs and ridges and so-on. Right now I'm still fighting with getting the passenger footwell back together, specifically that damn A/C blower. Apparently it needs a warning label that you need a higher IQ than me to fit it back in there correctly. Update: got the interior back together again, time for driving and food. I hate that A/C blower. One day, years from now, when this car is pretty much dead, I'm going after that A/C blower with a baseball bat, Office Space style. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 05-31-2009 at 11:09 PM.

06-01-2009, 10:25 AM	#138 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	The test drive last night went great, nothing came loose, no shorts, etc. Being the paranoid person I can be sometimes, I took my garage fire extinguisher with me in case of some horrible battery incident, but it was totally unwarranted It seemed like the car handled better, although I didn't do anything too aggressive on this drive. The car just seemed flatter and more neutral through corners. I wasn't really expecting to be able to feel any difference from a single weight reduction/shift mod, but I guess the battery is a pretty big one. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

06-01-2009, 11:05 AM	#139 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	Cool ! Now imagine what a full setup and corner balance would do ! __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-01-2009, 11:47 AM	#142 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Added a fuller version of my batt relocate info to the DIY thread here: DIY: Battery Relo __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

06-01-2009, 11:36 AM	#140 (permalink)
miguez Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 359 Drives: '04 Cavalier Rep Power: 181	I am amazed that you can actually feel that! It tells me the car is very well designed, if it transmits (and is affected) by that little a weight shift. I have had experiences with cars that were not so good in telling me they had changed, until the very last moment of grip, at which point they departed happily into uncontrollability.

06-01-2009, 11:51 AM	#143 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4211	Any ETA on the Forgestar, would like to see them on the Z in person. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

06-01-2009, 01:21 PM	#148 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	Re 18-in Foregestars, Mike told me late June last time we talked __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-01-2009, 01:23 PM	#149 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	18" Forgestars are ETA of late June. 19" Forgestars are an ETA of 2-3 weeks from when you order them. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

06-02-2009, 01:20 PM	#150 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Random status updates: Battery relocate still doing fine. Haven't had any issues starting the car, etc. Still looking around for what to do about switching/protecting in the rear though. Ideally I need something that makes it easy to disconnect the ground (a switch or quick-disconnect plug of some kind), and I also need a fuse/breaker that can take starter motor current draw. Turning up a blank on an ideal solution so far, although many things look close. Got my Hotchkis swaybars in today. The delivery truck driver was very envious when he saw the box, and then the car These will probably be installed tomorrow evening. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

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