w0rM's J0urnaL
 

I've been putting off starting one of these threads for too long. So, off we go...

HOW I ENDED UP WITH MY Z

In April of 2012 I pulled into a Royal Nissan in Baton Rouge, LA in my 350z to take a passing look at the 370z out of pure curiosity. I ended up test driving a black automatic. I was pretty impressed. The only thing I didn't like was the paddle shifters. Unfortunately, at the time they didn't have a sport model with a 6 speed so I wasn't able to try one out.

A few days later, I decided to try another dealership to see if I could find one to test drive. I found one at another dealership so I decided to stop in and drive it. That's where I first saw the gunmetal color and I fell in love. They didn't have the sport model on the lot so I drove the manual gunmetal I saw.

I felt like a complete newb trying to drive it but after a few minutes I got the feel for the clutch and I was hooked.

I decided to see what I could get for my 350z. To my surprise, this other dealer offered me 18,000 for my 350. That's almost $2k more than I paid for it so I was interested. I told them if they could find me a gunmetal manual with the sport package, I'd buy it. Within a couple of days they actually found one in New Orleans.

Long story short... they gave me the runaround on the pricing so I pretty much gave up on the whole idea of getting a 370z. :(

Then I spoke to my friend who worked at Royal Nissan. He said he could get the car the other dealer found for me. So, we sat down and worked on a deal. I ended up agreeing to a deal to get the exact Z I wanted for $300 over invoice.

I bought the car on May 5th, 2012 and took delivery on the 6th. Here's a picture of my old baby and my new baby side by side on pickup day.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps376c76de.jpg

CURRENT MODS

• Fast Intentions CBE with 12" Resonators
• Work Emotion CR Ultimate 19s
• Swift Springs
• SPL Rear Camber Kit
• Tommy Kaira Hebi Bebi Shift Knob
• Pioneer AVH4400 BT
• Zenclosures 10" Speaker Box
• JL Audio NexD XD400 Amp
• Polk Audio DB 6501 Component Speakers
• 10" Boston Acoustics Sub

First Mod
 

The first thing I did was install my spacer from my 350z on my 370. I think I had around 100 miles on it at this point.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...11100604AM.jpg

Then it was on to the tinter... 40% is the legal limit in Louisiana so that's what I went with on the sides. The back window you can do 12% so it's nice and dark back there...

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...6-22123040.jpg

First "Real" Mod
 

The next thing I did was get a decent stereo with Bluetooth put in. I just can't live without a good sound system. I settled on the Pioneer AVH4400 BT. Plus I picked up a Proclips iPhone mount to go along with it.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4f8d054d.jpg

Then it was on with the real mods...

After listening to about 857 YouTube videos, I decided I couldn't live without an FI exhaust. I watched the member used parts forum religiously for weeks before I found one from Mr. Squeeze $950 shipped. It was non resonated but I ended up swapping mid pipes with KaienZ34 to get a 12" resonated midpipe. I was happy and all was good with the world.

I hand polished the scratches out before I got it installed. It took a couple of days but it was worth it. It looked like brand new when I got it installed.

My usual installer did the dirty work...

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...l/IMG_2890.jpg

Once I had it in, I made the comparison video I wish someone else had made before I bought one...

Liking that exhaust! Nice build so far :)

Getting low and dark
 

Next, I picked up a set of Swift Springs and Berk HFCs. I actually never installed the Berks and ended up selling them a couple of months later.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5b823677.jpg

Since I'd spent pretty much every penny I had at this point, all I could afford was a can of Plastidip so I got down to business with backing out the emblems and door handles...

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4617fe4b.jpg

Next it was back to the sound system. I had some sound deadening put in along with a Zenclosures box for a single 10" woofer, a 400 watt JL audio amp and a Boston Acoustics 10" woofer.

No pictures of this stuff but trust me, it sounds awesome!

At this point, I really started missing the Tommy Kaira Hebi Bebi Shift Knob I had on my 350z so I started looking for a decent price on one. As you may have guessed, that never happened. I said screw it and bought one anyway. I got super lucky and found one online that was in stock. I ordered it and had it a week later.

After tearing my stock shift knob into tiny pieces in the process of taking it off, there it was in all it's glory...

(cue singing angels)

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps270bfaa0.jpg

Work Emotion CR Ultimate
 

Then a few weeks ago, I convinced myself that my car absolutely must have new wheels... MUST HAVE!

After a very long search... I mean seriously, I probably spent 2 weeks looking at wheels every day for hours... I found the Work Emotion CR Ultimate and fell in love. I ordered a set from Rav Spec with some extras cash I had from a side project I had just completed. I just got them installed on Monday 6/17... damn I love these things...

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf3e4fb6e.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...psef6e9628.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa0837bf9.jpg

More to come!

Digging the rims. I was close to ordering a set... Bought floors for the house instead

Looking good :tup:

I thought the screen name looked familiar from 350zmotoring... looks good br0, awesome upgrade.

My girlfriend is starting to look at me intensely when I order new mods for the Z. Might have to buy a few things for the house before my next mod. :D

Hey stogey! How've you been?

So clean...

Best vid ever. TY!!!
:happydance: :happydance::happydance: sigh. Love the deep notes on the FI.
Mad money toward tires this summer, next: mad money for FI :tup:

Just FYI: we had simultaneous buy dates....only i took mine home w me on May 5 2012!!! Awwww! We are kinda like siblings!!! ;)

We're like fraternal twins! :tup:

Been good br0, I see you've been busy :icon17:
Looks good, how low is the drop with the swift springs?

It's 1.2" up front and 1" in the back. Not too aggressive but I'm pretty happy with it for now. Any lower is tempting fate on Louisiana roads. lol

Haha, any lower you'll have to change your driving habit.

lol or move to Texas

Nice build! I love those wheels too I'm debating on getting them either 19 or 18 because of tire prices lol

Thank you!! :tiphat:

Get the 19s! It's worth the extra couple of hundred bucks every couple of years (depending on how much you drive it). You can get a much deeper concave look with the 19s than you can the 18s.

Thanks for the advice!! It's your Z a dd?

Good looking car w0rM. It's really too bad you're getting rid of her. Best of luck to you.

Thanks man... I'm certainly going to miss her. It wasn't an easy decision to move on. Hopefully I won't regret it later. :)

Tomorrow is the big day. I'll drive her (for the last time) to the dealership and officially trade her in on my Juke.

All her parts now have new homes with other Zs in the wide ranging corners of North America. They'll no doubt be loved but they'll never mean as much to them as they did collectively to me.

I'll miss you my Zweetheart. :tiphat:

Why and what make like the Juke vs your Z?

The Juke is just transportation. It'll never replace the Z... Not even close.

I'm just kind of at a point where I want to spend less money on cars and more on other things - like my house, my photography and videography hobbies and more vacations.

I doubt I've owned my last sports car... just taking a break for a while. :)

Man I wish I have the courage to let go....of her my Z.

Many times logic will tell me so....it's time to let go and just be back with a vengeance some other time. But the Z keeps me sane in trying times emotionally. That is why I still hang on her while I can.:tup:

Btw you sold your wheels too?

:hello: it IS too bad but YOU aren't going away. The car is nothing compared to you. So you better start visiting the "what did you do with your Z today (with off topic replies)" thread!!
Zee ya on FB too! ;)

I did... everything but my lip is sold.

I'm not going anywhere. I've made too many good friends here to just up and leave. :)

:tiphat: :hello:

what color were those wheels? I only see black and silver on their site, but yours look like they could be more gray. I don't knwo much about after market wheel brands. Are Work ones pretty strong? I know they're not forged, but will they be fine for track days?

also, what size/offsets did you have and what size spacers if any? I really love those wheels.

Mine are in GT Silver. In person it looks like more of a gun metal. The sizes where 19x9.5 +15/19x10.5 +12 and I didn't run any spacers.

They should be fine for track days but not as light or strong as forged wheels. Similar Volks weigh like 17 or 18 pounds. These are closer to 25 to 26.

wow, +15 in fronts didn't stick out?

They did just a little but I like that look. I actually wanted to add a 10mm spacer on the back to make it look more like the front.

gotcha, cool. I am debating between these and the Weds Sport sa-55m wheels

Tough call... I like those too. Good luck!

with your fronts sticking out and lowered on sifts, did you have any rubbing issues?

looks great bro!!!