danegrey's 370Z Journal

danegrey

Well track day, yesterday was one to forget. Had to be the most frustrating one this year.
First session was good, I got into a line of cars, we sorted ourselves out and I got into a rhythm, it was fun, just hitting the marks, car felt balance and was running well. It felt natural for me on the track. Set a time of 1:52:98

Second session no rhythm, a black flag and I seemed to be the slow one of the group. Running advance and people were in a hurry. So lots of point bys and being aware of folks. So this session was totally off. Really a wasted session.

Third session, similar to the second, with letting cars past. But this time I was the black flag. Similar to last time went into limp mode, seems the radiator sprung a leak. And out went the fluid. I had a note to check temps, I think what happen was trying to be aware of cars behind. It was a hot day, about 91.

Lessons -
Maybe Intermediate and only 3 point by areas, vs Red, where passing is everywhere. Really about comfort level and finding an open spot.
Turn 1, next time I go to brake deeper, forget about shifting, use 5th gear through.
Not sure about the failure, it is a 12 year old radiator, that has been punished.

I was a bit prepared this time, only because I now take coolent/water/something just in case.

So now I am looking for a radaitor with the A/C hookup also will replace the water pump..
Any suggestions -- hint, I might only have 1-3 years left of tracking..

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

just watched a video on the new Z, sorry but its not for me, performance version at 53K
I would have to look at Supra pricing. But really Nissan, a bit disappointed

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Decided to do one more Track day in the Z, it will be on Oct 22nd. It will be Atlanta Motorsport Park, I have an extra large helmet, if you want to come for a ride.

Just let me know, more to come as the day approaches...

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Ok, did the my last track event of the year in the Type-R, this ended up being an interesting day.

The Good
My car was driven by Thomas Byrne, in one flying lap he did a 1.48.27, which set my target mark for the day. Tommy Byrne is an interesting character, look him up

I did 61 laps for the day, with my 48th lap was my best at 1.47.26, so what I had learn from Tommy Byrne was put to good use.

Thanks to help on civicx forum, I got my tires pressures finger out. Front 32 / Rear 30 hot.

No problems with temperatures on the car, it was a cooler day, temps in the upper 60s.

Constant comments on the color, Tommy Byrne comment on the brakes and how good of a track car it was. People looking all over it. Got some comments on my driving too.

The Bad
I got the 'Emission and rev match system' failure/problem on track. Car went into limp mode and I nursed it back to the pits and done for the day. Then was trying to figure out what to do. OBD code was a P0087, which I cleared and then turn off the rev-limiter. Fuel was a bit low, but not enough I thought, considering at one point I was running with the low fuel light on at one point. I did after I found it was running ok, went and filled it up with gas. Fingers were crossed. Everything appear ok, was able to drive from Mid-Ohio to Morganton WV and then to Knoxville.

I have the rev-limit back on and no problems in normal daily driving. Just a wonderment.



A bit of excitement at the

My son put this side by side together. Interesting the comments that can be heard by Tommy, use the curbs.

https://streamable.com/dqyzze

Here a link to Tommy Byrned
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_...racing_driver))

Enjoy

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

Mr&Mrs

I love the battle cry at the end In the last year I've had so many electrical gremlins that its almost become normal. Id be more worried if I got nothing lol

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Project Z <--Click - Check out the link too many mods to list!

danegrey

I understand that, my Z, seems to find something new every year. This year chasing a coolant leak...

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

well fingers crossed, that the Z will run all day Sunday.
Doing a track day, only because I want to make sure it runs without problems.
But in the morning going to be like 50, and my group is out at 9am.
So just going to play with a new line on the back area of Atlanta Motorsport Park.
Also its Sunday, not sure if sound is going to be any tigher as making sure limits
Thou I have not gotten Black Flag for sound yet. (knocking on wood)

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Last Track Day in the Z (Maybe ever)
The good.
Car felt good and I got down to my best lap of 1.39.76 (about 3,38 seconds off my personal best). The tires grip was available quickly, tire presures were stable
at 36F/34R. Felt great, thou I was in the advance group, and by far not the quickest person, lots of pointbys to finally get
a lap or two clear.

The Bad
Coolant leak came back, but it was different this time. So on the way to Atlanta I ran into slow freeway traffic,
was watching the temps and it all was normal. Drove to the track about a hour away, everything looking good.
No Coolant leaks were seen. On track and it all went down hill. See I had bought a cheap HUD unit, the plugs into the
OBDII port. Temps were not accurate, but it gave me an idea. So the first ten laps it got up over 240 (please realize, not
sure how accurate the gavage was) The dots were moving. What was interesting is in the first session, they moved up and
and down. Sometime rapidly, sometime in a corner. Well first session ended and there was some coolant that had leaked out.

Hmm, ok, check the overflow tank, it was below minimum, filled it back up to minimum. Went out for the 2nd session. So
as in the first, watching mirrors and coolant temp. This time it last 4 good laps and was over 240, did a slow down
lap and did not drop much. Tried one more and no change and I came in. This time I saw lots of coolant as it was
coming from the overflow tank. very very odd. I let the car sit, filled it overflow tank with what I had left
and drove back the gf house. No problem. Next day drove from Atlanta to Knoxville and everything was working normal.
Temps would go up to 205, fans come on, temps go down to 185. Got home no coolant leaks.

So it only occurs on the track and outside temps was low 60's (reference point)

Lost as to what the problem is, Next step, replace the two radiator caps and replaced the water pump

Out of ideas, actually will probably sell it. Also at the point of not wanting to put a whole lot more money in it.

Why you might ask why, just tired of trying to do everything right and constantly having little things to fix or resolve.
When I compare it to the Type-R, which was built for the track, vs building a car for the track. Probably because I am an old man.

Thoughts/comments/ideas for I am out of ideas.

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

thekinn

Have you taken it to a mechanic?
If it is parked and drips coolant - where is it? front, back, drive side, passenger side?

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06 Enthusiast MT - v2

danegrey

Coolant appears to be coming from the overflow tank, and yes, my mechanics have looked at it. Have done pressure checks no problems, looking at getting a better understanding. Might be a bubble, might be a head gasket.

Replacing the water pump, it just rough, for there is no real way to take it. so when the work is done, going to go on the highway and let it rev of course at the speed limit

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

The photo team, ByPoint, used my car in for an ad, for the 10/22 event.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx8kYw5RFxc/

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Working on an Ad to sell the Z, I am all over the place on this, but it helps actually in inventorying all the stuff I have and why the garage is so filled. As we know getting rid of stuff is hard to do.

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

ok, update on the Z, still trying to decided what to do with it, but this is where it stands, Its at the shop, and the owner of the shop took an interest in the coolant problem and has been working on it, so the what is going to be done, is, lower thermoset tempature, catch can for the coolant. Also oil change, to make sure that it's just oil, then new spark plugs and check the spark plugs and compression check. No new water pump, if the water pump was going to be done, would have replaced the timing chain too. Lots of work to get that done. So time will tell. right now its out of sight, out of mind.

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Last fast lap in the Z at my session in October...
It felt good, be it without all the cooling problems I thought I might get close to my best time last year

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it

danegrey

Track photos of the Z from 2023

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CyL8JZdfy3xnyeKQA

a few of many

__________________
Lots of Changes
the Z needs to be driven and driven hard for the car lives for it