More Sidewayz!
 

This is my first Z, bought my car in Oct '11 brand new with some mods already on it thanks to Baker Tuning. My intro can be found here if you dont know who I am: http://www.the370z.com/new-370z-owne...cret-370z.html

Since then I have added a Top Speed y-pipe (thanks to phohman), Berk HFC's (thanks to nynhex) and my wife bought me some carbon fiber door handles for Christmas. Here is a pic of how it sits now.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6...d9b41b15_z.jpg

A dyno day came up at PowerFab here in Houston and I thought I would check to see how close my car was to 300hp before I start adding more parts. Here is a video I took: Nissan 370Z Dyno - Berk HFC's, Top Speed y-pipe, Top Secret exhaust - YouTube

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6...195f72ac_z.jpg

Car came closer than expected just from adding exhaust parts so I was pretty happy but there will definitely be more to add since I love upgrades. Just dont expect big turbos just yet, want to pay this thing off first! Also plan to have a little fun with it in the near future :tup:

Nice start. What do you have planned for your car?

Lookin good!! Who makes the door handles and how do you like them?

Sick! Really like those side skirts :tup:

Hey V, How much was the dyno test? I want to go by and put Nizz on there!

Shops in Houston run around 60-90, most will do 3 pulls but the price varies if they run AF also.
Next upgrade for VDC_OFF needs to be boost. :p

Right now, I just want more Top Secret Parts such as intakes, oil catch, engine cover, and Fiberglass hood but thats about another 4-5k pfft. Im not happy with the Tanabe springs so I want to pick up some BC Coilovers from Mike at NST and get some pullies while im there. I think the car needs just a few more carbon pieces like some type of lip in the rear, door pillars and maybe a spoiler. This car is going to eat my kids college funds :(

Door handles were purchased from thezstore.com. I was scared to put them on since the tape strips were thin but they seem to work pretty good. They are made really snug and almost snap on to the handle. Well see if it flies off.

Thanks, no too many people have these ;)

Houston-nissans posted a dyno day special, was $40. I think they have another one this month.

Boost will come after I pay the car off and sell a kidney.

So I havent seen too many 370Z into drifting, I guess because its too pretty of a car to destroy. If I ever do any harm to this car, you will see a man cry! Thankfully there are events here in Texas that are reasonably safe. Primarily two, one is Gulf Greyhound park (south of Houston which is a dog track in which we setup cones in their parking lot) and the other is Mineral Wells (a small town with an airport near Ft. Worth that absolutely has nothing to hit...except for more cones). Im not going to go crazy, just want to have a good time. There is one event coming to GGP on March 17th that I am signing up for.
http://www.fabricatedmotorsports.com...-3-17-2012.jpg

I just purchased some spare rims and tires, these came of a convertible 370Z. I think they look pretty cool and are 18's so tires are cheaper ;) Maybe I might Plastidip these a bright color before the event just for fun.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...75917721_n.jpg

Anyways, wish me luck out there. Definitely taking off my Top Secret CF goodies for these events.

nice numbers! 6mt or 7at?

6mt, need it for drifting as Auto doesnt work so well :D

car is beautiful man

thanks Anthonyy!

I'm digging it!! I foresee this car making a huge dent in my savings as well as mods will surely come.

I'm stoked to see someone out there rockin` the Advan RS-D's... I ordered mine last year in April.. They had some issue with logistics, and it ended up taking way to long.. (Settled for some Volk Racing G2Type2 Matte Black) Instead. Love the build, and your attention to detail, can't wait to see more. Are you planning on taking the car to the track at all?

I have been building my Z for drift too. You wont see them very often.. they are still a little pricey on the parts side. Good luck and have fun. I will probably run into you at mineral wells if you make the trek.

I'll be @ that Drift Event!

This car will do that, especially if you go JDM!

I would definitely love to as I havent yet. One track event is Red Meat and Race but they have those on Thursday so I would have to take the day off in order to do that. Maybe in the future. If I do I will use the RS-Ds for sure with the BF Goodrich tires, very sticky.

Sweet! Yeah hopefully I can make those more often, its been years since my last one. My KA 240SX couldnt handle the 90mph entry, kept losing power mid drift so Im curious to how this car will do. Just cost so much to get out there, towing for 5 hrs each way then hotel and tires.

Sweet, see you out there. Dont laugh, Im a bit rusty haha

Make to get some vids since it's not often you see a 370 drift

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...23439707_n.jpg
I have developed a love/hate relationship with drifting. The love comes from the feeling it gives me and the addiction I have towards it. But the hate comes from the damage it does. My last drift car ended with me sliding it into a pole.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4910856_n.jpg

This one I was going to be more careful since this is a much more expensive car, so I planned on entering "safe" events where there are no poles. Well at least not many of them. Problem was this event happened to fall on the same weekend as TX2K12. I wanted to show my car the way it was that Friday night and then get it ready for drifting saturday morning. This last minute preparation was a bad mistake. Dont get me wrong. The meet at Frankensteins was of epic proportions! So many cars, girls, people getting arrested for burnouts, crowds booing at cops and almost starting a riot, street races and green beer! It just sucked coming home at 12am and starting to swap wheels and remove my Top Secret cf parts. Didnt go to bed until 3am and I had to be there at 8am when it was 30 min away. So here is what when wrong. When I bought my car, I bought it with Advan RS-D's already installed with Project Kics titanium lugs. Little did I know the convertible rims I bought as drift spares required the stock lugs which were mag lugs and putting them on in the middle of the night did not allow me to see the difference. Well the wheels went on and I tightened them with the tuner lugs. Showed up the next morning at 8 on the dot. Few cars were there :/ Got up early for nothing! They were still setting up the course. In the drivers meeting Aaron of Fabricated Motorsports said they had over 50 drivers sign up so they are setting up a smaller course for the noobs on the side. Yay for me, since I want to get a feel for this car first. Hours later at 10:30 the courses are finally ready and we were off.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...92706313_n.jpg

The small course was setup with an "S" turn near the beginning followed by a long left had sweeper that went around a pole and finished. At first I couldnt get the car to drift very well. Lots of spin outs and I couldnt figure out what method I should use on each turn. Didnt know if I should clutch kick or ebrake the first turn and then then the second? Very confusing. It seemed when I tried to do the beginning I would spin out at the end and when I focused on the long part I would have to ignore the beginning. After the 6th or so run I ignored the beginning and went for the long turn. I clutch kicked once to get the rear out and threw the steering wheel immediately to the right, the car was drifting. Then I just started to feather the throttle, feeling if I needed more speed or to slow down. It was awesome!

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...93689998_n.jpg

I wanted to go back and try it again. It was such a difference from the 240SX I used to have. It seemed to love the high speed drifts better then the small turns.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...59619020_n.jpg

It was amazing how much control it had, its like this car was built for this. Even getting near the pole at the end didnt scare me. I just had to adjust my position with the throttle!

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...24654489_n.jpg

So then I just kept practicing my new found technique, after a while it just came second nature. No more thinking was involved!
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...30492158_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...59911733_n.jpg

Here is a pic of the "S" turn in the beginning. Tried to work on this one after I got comfortable with the big turn.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...54712288_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...65930876_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...94296521_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...65998805_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...42481935_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...06086920_n.jpg

Here are a couple of me and my daughter... see how much fun it is!
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...91850138_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...22968646_n.jpg

Video you want? I didnt have a go pro or any video cameras mounted but my brother was able to take a video with his cell phone of a couple of my runs. HTML code is off so here is the link.

So all this fun, what happened? Well after a couple hours of that, something sounded funny. I was hearing something clicking when I finished one run. I drove it around slowly to try and figure it out. Busted shock? Broken arm? Flat tire? Couldnt figure it out. Then I started thinking maybe I didnt tie my lugs tight enough. Pulled over and sure enough, they were loose to the touch on one of the fronts. Thats when my friend and I noticed that these lugs dont fit on these wheels. I then had to make a run to an auto parts store to find mag lugs and all the stores were spread out since this place was located in a little town outside of Houston. Everyone had packs of mag lugs but in M12 1.5 size for Toyotas. I drove to 6 different places, wasting hours of driving time. I was very frustrated and unsuccessful. I had to buy different lugs for some volks I had as more spares so I at least got those. Back at the event, I didn't want to drive on the convertible wheels anymore, so I was going to throw on the Volks when I noticed the new lugs fit the convertible wheels! YAY! Swapped all the lugs out and got back in line 3.5 hours later after leaving. First run, I initiated the drift and BAM! What the ****!!! Pulled over to see my rim was at a 45 degree angle and my rotor was touching the ground. ARRRGGGGG!!!!!! The lugs were still on the rotor as they broke all the way through the rim. My fender was bent up. I wanted to cry. Just so anxious to get back out there and this crap happens, I guess its all my fault for not being safe and calling it quits when I didnt have the right lugs. Was able to put my RS-D back on the front and limp home. Car drove fine, just making noises from the rotor being scratched. Now I have to buy a new fender and rotor. Makes me want to quit the sport, even though I know I will just come back to it again.

That was awesome VDC! Great pics and video.

great pics!

should have told me vdc i have a whole set, of lug nuts i would have let you borrow for the event. and i only live 15 minz away :p

Thanks guys, the problem was I didnt know stock wheels needed those lugs because when I bought my car it came with Project Kics. Live and learn I guess, but thanks for the offering. Im going to get some at Baker, I might be able to still use the wheels with the correct lugs, ill have to check the damage and make sure.

:tup: good sh*t VDC!

Nice write up !!!

What side skirts are those if you dont mind me asking

Thanks O&G and Zeuz!

@Apoc370z, they are Top Secret Side Skirts. Not too many of them out there, very rare.

Very interesting looking, no wonder i have never seen them before. Appreciate the info

They are actually very identical to the Amuse sideskirts, only difference is they are in Carbon Fiber and they have this little air scoop instead of going strait up.

So been working on my car, here are some photos of the damage from the wheel falling off.

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...522-damage.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...521-damage.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...520-damage.jpg

Have to get these repainted now.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...hese-baker.jpg

Time to repair!
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...iew-damage.jpg

Taking off the bumper I saw that the little plate on the bottom corner that holds on the fender lining popped off. Have to rivet that back on.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ose-bottom.jpg

Take off this stupid thing, too hot in Houston!
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ouston-hot.jpg

Fender is off and also removed the headlights, might customize these while they are out.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...rrive-mail.jpg

Now time to wait on my new fenders to come in the mail :tup:

^ this is the other 50% of drifting..... repairs! Your taking to the culture like a pro! :) good luck w/ everything! Videos next time!

thanks O.G., yeah GoPro is on the wish list ;)

So while the car was in pieces I decided to try the headlight modifictation. Instead of just painting it I wanted to see if I could pull off the 3m carbon fiber wrap so I ordered a 60"x24" roll on Amazon. The extra is just in case I get more ideas ;)

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...fiber-wrap.jpg

Trying to take the headlight apart with a blowdryer was a P.I.T.A. so I then test fit my headlight in the oven to see if it will fit. Half an inch gap on both ends was perfect! 250 degrees for 10 min and that did the trick.

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ree-10-min.jpg

Once I had the headlight apart, I cut a piece of the 3m to the size of the headlight. Later I realized I should have allowed for about 3 more inches in width since wrapping it around round edges was going to eat some.

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ng-3m-size.jpg

I started from the inside edge closest to the hood since I figured that would be the most noticable area and I wanted the weave to go across perfectly.

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ng-shaping.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...s-unsticks.jpg

You really have to use the blow dryer to get it soft so it stretches easier.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...makes-soft.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...se-corners.jpg

in the holes you will have to make some cuts because it can only stretch so much.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...etch-limit.jpg

A butter knife will help you get it into the sharp cracks. BTW I had to cut two separate pieces to fit on the very bottom of this part because it was too much stretching and it started to wrinkle in the corners.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...arp-cracks.jpg

After I was done I put the bezels and glass just to see how it looked.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...looks-like.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...-how-looks.jpg

Decided to paint the bezels flat black since I have no silver on my car, no more megatron http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...flat-black.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...flat-black.jpg

Finished product after heating again in the oven and reassembling
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...al-product.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...al-product.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...al-product.jpg

very clean, nice idea :tiphat:

very creative VDC... me likey! :tup:

Those headlights are awesome! Great job +1 :tup:

thanks guys and also thanks for the reps! going to look great on my car, installing soon.

So I replaced my scratched rotor with a $50 Duralast one from Autozone. Was looking at spending some $$$ on 2 piece ones but I figured Im blowing too much money already. I still had to buy fenders and pay for paint. I was scared of buying crap and money was tight, but there wasnt much of a selection and I needed them now. After searching around, the only style I wanted could only be found on here or on ebay. So I bit the bullet and ordered some ebay fenders since they had the best price, looked just like the others and the guy was very good at communicating with me before during the purchase so that made me feel good. I got my ebay fenders in the mail yesterday, would have been the day before but FedEx man was a jerk and said he knocked but no one answered and left. So I had to stay home from work yesterday just for him but whatever thats neither here nor there. Since it was too late to go to work, took the time to fit them on.

Very curious to fitment since I have never ordered a body kit from ebay and heard horror stories, I checked out all angles. Of course it wasnt perfect but I was impressed of how close it was. Here are some imperfections I noticed.

http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...some-bondo.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...47917-here.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...nding-here.jpg

Those could be fixed of course by the body shop but some big areas I tried to sand down myself to get them to line up better. Like this corner on the passenger side. At first I had to make it touch the door at the top and bottom to minimize the gap in the middle.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...-sand-down.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...t-too-much.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ood-fender.jpg

Then I sanded it down to get more of an even gap.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...r-side-gap.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...-side-edge.jpg

The drivers side seemed to fit much better.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...s-side-gap.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...-side-edge.jpg

Another thing that wasnt perfect was how much higher the fender was from the hood in the very front. I am hoping that the headlights will bring this down a bit when I install them later.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...ivers-side.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...enger-side.jpg

Other than those minor things, I think it still looks great! For $400 shipped I think its a win. Dropped it off at Baker this morning to get prepped and painted.
http://www.the370z.com/members/vdc_o...-looks-car.jpg

Gangster~!

Awesome! Bad luck on the drift portion but it looks like your making the best of it. Those headlights look killer, and I also like the vented fenders.

I gotta watch the video when I get to my computer