WWJD's Journal

WWJD · 10-10-2011, 02:19 AM

^^ Thank you guys!!

WWJD · 10-10-2011, 02:31 AM

First track day at Big Willow. I managed a lap time of 1:36. I could push the car a bit harder if my didn't have rear spacers. I think 1:34 is capable for the stock form.

pros:
- Z1 coolers.
They worked like magic!
- Sport BBK and Endless MX72 pads
Very good.
- Chassis
From the stock form, the car is a bit under during high speed cornering and very stable during any type of turns. The only downside is a bit more body roll. I'm sure camber and front sway bar can get all these fixed. One of the best chassis out of the box.

cons:
- auto tranny.
The tranny is no good for racing. It wouldn't shift when the car is corning, or braking. The only way you can down shifting is when you doing northing with the car. SUCKS!!! Hopefully someone come out with some tranny software tuning.
- H&R rear spacers.
The worst product and the biggest mistake I ever made. They kept losing for entire day. I could drive more than 2 laps and came to the pit to re-torque them.
- RE050A pole position
These tires are OK, the grip is actually good. However, they can't handle heat. Normally 3 laps is OK, after that, they start to get slippery.
- Top end power delivery
The power is great in first 4th gears, but 5th gear and above has no power at all. I was doing 106-110 mph when exiting turn 9 at Big Willow, at the end of the long straight away, I could only get the car up to 122-123 mph range. WTF.

UPDATED with lap time sheet. Forget the list of the car, I was originally signed up both days for my M3, but unfortunately the M3 had technical issue on Sat. so I had to take the M3 back and drove the Z on Sun.

gtkiller · 10-10-2011, 06:22 PM

Great write up! I have a long way to go before I can do anything close to a 1:36. I know where I can push the car more but I need to develop a better feel for the car before I can move away from my comfort zone. It's too bad the auto tranny doesn't perform well under track conditions, yes the understeer is pretty horrid during high speed corning. When it starts to happen I always feel like the grip is going to break away.
1:36 is great time I'm sure you'll get faster with your Z the more you start dialing in the car. Can't wait to see what you do at Buttonwillow

WWJD · 10-13-2011, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtkiller

Great write up! I have a long way to go before I can do anything close to a 1:36. I know where I can push the car more but I need to develop a better feel for the car before I can move away from my comfort zone. It's too bad the auto tranny doesn't perform well under track conditions, yes the understeer is pretty horrid during high speed corning. When it starts to happen I always feel like the grip is going to break away.
1:36 is great time I'm sure you'll get faster with your Z the more you start dialing in the car. Can't wait to see what you do at Buttonwillow

Thank you Walter! I will bring the Z most likely.

Amuse370z · 10-13-2011, 04:46 AM

Damn, I wanted to do the White Amuse + CE28n + 40th Anniversary Callipers

Just wonder if there is any reason why only the wing is wrapped in CF vinyl? Also, are the black accents in a matt black?

WWJD · 10-13-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amuse370z

Damn, I wanted to do the White Amuse + CE28n + 40th Anniversary Callipers

Just wonder if there is any reason why only the wing is wrapped in CF vinyl? Also, are the black accents in a matt black?

The bodyshop recommended us to wrap instead of painting the wing, so I decided to go with CF wrap instead of black. It's easy removable anyways.
The black accents were painted in Satin Black, because I track the car a few times in a year, gloss black won't hold up the duty.

WWJD · 11-05-2011, 11:24 PM

Track/Course: Streets of Willow, CW (safety block at down hill chicane, organizer has tested about 1 sec. slower than normal course)
Best Lap Time: 1:28.81
Brakes: Stock
Tires (Size & Model): RE050A 255/35/19 and 275/35/17
Suspension: Stock with Eibach springs
Other Mods: Amuse bodykit, Stillen sway bars

Alignment spec: (Thanks to forum member MIKE)
-3 camber -.01 toe front and
-2.5 /.04 rear
This alignment works well on stiff side wall street tires. However, if you are running R compound or tires like RS3, go more aggressive like -3.5 front and -3 in the back.

Review:
- Stillen sway bars: I set front at stiff, rear at middle. The rear sway is too stiff, it causes less grip during corner exiting. Front is not stiff enough but I'm out of reach. I will reset the rear sway back to the softest setting
- SPC front camber arms: when I had them installed at the shop and aligned, one side of them came loose on the fwy during normal driving. After inspection, we found out that the lock bolt was not holding it up and the alignment shop probably did not know the torque spec. We called SPC and were told that they should be locked up tight at 120lb of torque. However, we don't really trust the design, so we went ahead and use extra bolts to get them locked up. I would HIGHLY recommend whoever is going to install the kit should get them locked completely!
Anyways, this isn't a very good design, but it's ok to live with for now.
- SPL rear camber arms and lock bolts: I'm very happy with the fact that SPL is having the lock bolts for sale together. They work perfect.

Cons:
- AT tranny/ gear ratio: again, the tranny sucks!!!

It wouldn't allow me to down shift from 4th to 2nd. So I ended up driving the car in 3rd and 4th gear for the entire course for whole day. The gear ratio is wired too, no power at 4, but too short in 2nd gear. The biggest regret for me. I would buy a manual if I were to buy it again.
- RE050A: again, these tires no good. However, they do providing very good feedback.
-Exhaust note: stock exhaust doesn't make any sound under any sort of situation, its quiet like you were in a luxury car. I had to look down on the rev all the time. For several times, I thought the engine couldn't rev.
- Fuel starvation: it started at 4/10 tank of gas

Pros:
- stock Nismo shocks and Eibach springs: the compression and rebound both feel well, no cheap feeling or too much travel.
- Tranny: upshift is as fast as Lambo e-gear on 06-08 Gallardo, very good
- Amuse: I'm not sure if it helps anything, but the kit looks awesome to me!!!

Red__Zed · 11-05-2011, 11:30 PM

car looks sweet on track!

I think you'll notice a positive difference when you get on something besides the 50's...but fuel starve will come in sooner. Time is pretty solid for the setup

WWJD · 11-05-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

car looks sweet on track!

I think you'll notice a positive difference when you get on something besides the 50's...but fuel starve will come in sooner. Time is pretty solid for the setup

Thanks. Maybe my 050's are just too old, they are 08's. I always thought Re050's are decent tires for DD and light track.
I could have done in 1:26 range if I have manual. Actually, I'm thinking of trading it in for a proper manual Z. damn it

Red__Zed · 11-05-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWJD

Thanks. Maybe my 050's are just too old, they are 08's. I always thought Re050's are decent tires for DD and light track.
I could have done in 1:26 range if I have manual. Actually, I'm thinking of trading it in for a proper manual Z. damn it

the regular 50's come up a bit short on track. The pole positions are slightly better, but even then, most recent tires will outperform.

I've never had the chance to run an auto hard, but I'd heard they were better on the track...sorry to hear it's not working out right. You might talk to some of the shops about getting the trans tuned, I know some have had good results with that.

WWJD · 11-05-2011, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

the regular 50's come up a bit short on track. The pole positions are slightly better, but even then, most recent tires will outperform.

I've never had the chance to run an auto hard, but I'd heard they were better on the track...sorry to hear it's not working out right. You might talk to some of the shops about getting the trans tuned, I know some have had good results with that.

I have been asking around who can perform the TCU tune, but nothing positive yet. Upshift is OK, it shifts very smooth on straight (can't upshift when cornering).
The biggest problem is downshift. The TCU wouldn't allow you doing anything else with downshifting at the same time, so I have to finish braking or corning or whatever I'm doing before downshift. Such a stupid tranny software Nissan put in here.

EventHorizoN · 11-07-2011, 03:52 PM

Ricky-Thank you for all of the valuable information. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help all of us out. You're set-up is very admirable, and I love all the progress you have made in such a short period of time! Godspeed my friend!

gtkiller · 11-07-2011, 04:29 PM

It's really too bad the auto tranny is holding you back, maybe it's time for that sequential shifter haha... How did the the SPC camber arm hold up? No problems with it slipping?

WWJD · 11-07-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EventHorizoN

Ricky-Thank you for all of the valuable information. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help all of us out. You're set-up is very admirable, and I love all the progress you have made in such a short period of time! Godspeed my friend!

Thank you Jason!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtkiller

It's really too bad the auto tranny is holding you back, maybe it's time for that sequential shifter haha... How did the the SPC camber arm hold up? No problems with it slipping?

Haha, I wanna get Leo's sequential gear box when the shop opens. BTW, I just updated the SPC review.

phelan · 11-07-2011, 06:00 PM

holy **** true amuse kit getting tracked. VERY nice

i don't have the balls to take rin out to the track...

11-07-2011, 06:00 PM	#60 (permalink)
phelan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Age: 38 Posts: 9,513 Drives: Scoobaroo Rep Power: 3406	holy ** true amuse kit getting tracked. VERY nice i don't have the balls to take rin out to the track... __________________ 凛 ('Rin')** - 2009 Nissan 370Z With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.

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10-10-2011, 02:19 AM	#46 (permalink)
WWJD Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 396 Drives: PW 370Z Rep Power: 15	^^ Thank you guys!!

10-10-2011, 06:22 PM	#48 (permalink)
gtkiller Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 474 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 3370	Great write up! I have a long way to go before I can do anything close to a 1:36. I know where I can push the car more but I need to develop a better feel for the car before I can move away from my comfort zone. It's too bad the auto tranny doesn't perform well under track conditions, yes the understeer is pretty horrid during high speed corning. When it starts to happen I always feel like the grip is going to break away. 1:36 is great time I'm sure you'll get faster with your Z the more you start dialing in the car. Can't wait to see what you do at Buttonwillow

10-13-2011, 04:46 AM	#50 (permalink)
Amuse370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,170 Drives: '13 PW Fairlady Z Rep Power: 17	Damn, I wanted to do the White Amuse + CE28n + 40th Anniversary Callipers Just wonder if there is any reason why only the wing is wrapped in CF vinyl? Also, are the black accents in a matt black?

11-05-2011, 11:30 PM	#53 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	car looks sweet on track! I think you'll notice a positive difference when you get on something besides the 50's...but fuel starve will come in sooner. Time is pretty solid for the setup

11-07-2011, 03:52 PM	#57 (permalink)
EventHorizoN Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Burbank Posts: 381 Drives: 2013 Audi S4 Quattro Rep Power: 15	Ricky-Thank you for all of the valuable information. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help all of us out. You're set-up is very admirable, and I love all the progress you have made in such a short period of time! Godspeed my friend!

11-07-2011, 04:29 PM	#58 (permalink)
gtkiller Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 474 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 3370	It's really too bad the auto tranny is holding you back, maybe it's time for that sequential shifter haha... How did the the SPC camber arm hold up? No problems with it slipping?