My list of 7 biggest, but solvable issues with stock 370Z Nismo
 

I'm the owner of 2017 370Z Nismo 6MT and over that two year period I've made this list of 8 things that have disappointed me the most about factory 370z nismo, although you can easily fix them with few aftermarket parts. I've made this list, because when people make those videos "5 things I hate about my 370z", in my opinion they miss on some very important things and they don't provide with solution, so I decided to complement them with list of my own.

1) lack of factory oil cooler - since Nismo is theoretically a performance version of stock 370z, it's just super disappointing how hot oil gets while aggressive driving and if your right foot is as heavy as mine, you will kill your engine in no time without oil cooler installed. Although beware that even with biggest possible oil cooler out there which is 34 row Setrab, your Zee will still get hot on track days - during 15 minute session, I still have to make one slow lap in between the session for the oil to cool down to normal operating temperature.
2) lack of proper LSD - stock Vicious LSD is just not good enough and causes hell lot of one wheel fire on corner exits. There is a cheap way to modify stock VLSD, in order to give you proper diff lock (around 40%) with some under tray in the diff, but unfortunately it's my mechanics trademark secret and I'm not exactly sure how they do it, all I know it provides with tremendous results and Z is just so much faster on corner exit while accelerating and in general car feels much more rigid. Cheap alternative for proper LSD, but provides with similar results. There must be some information how to do it somewhere, I just don't believe my mechanic is the only one to know this technique, but personally I couldn't find any more info about it.
3) Lack of adjustable upper control arms - there is absolutely no better handling modification then -3 negative camber up front. No more super heavy nose and no more understeer. If you care how your car handles turns, this is should be first modification on your list (-3 front outwards 0.1, - 2.5 rear inwards 0.1 - optimal geometry IMO)
4) too high final gear for stock power - Z just feels so much slower than it actually is with stock 3.7 final gear. Upgrade to 4.08 and your car will finally start to feel alive, but beware of increased fuel consumption
5) looks without lowering springs and spacers - although general esthetics of 370z are good, they are ruined by how high Z seats and how hidden are the rims inside of wheel arches - upgrade to swift springs, they not only greatly improve handling, but looks as well and match it with 15mm spacers all way round, and you will get the look your 370z deserves
6) bouncing up and down differential while launching, especially noticeable on wet surfaces. Fix for these are urethane diff bushings, diff brace and rear traction arms. Solves this issue completely
7) too quiet exhaust and engine sounds coming from speakers - pretty self-explanatory
8) terrible clutch pedal feel out of stock clutch pedal assembly - fix for this is RJM Clutch pedal assembly, kind of hard to describe the difference, but with it installed I never missed any gear during fast shifts. Amazing modification, highly recommend to everyone.

If you think I've missed some important solvable issues with stock Nismo, be sure to share it in the comments.

Instagram (nismo_fairlady)

Most of these issues apply to all 370z models.

Ill add one..
-Blind spots behind the rear view mirrors...

I would love to know what your mechanic did to the VLSD. Inside the VLSD, it's filled with silicone fluid. The VLSD acts like a torque converter with the fluid acting like a transfer medium. Once the fluid gets hot. It loose that ability.

My opinion is that once you drop the diff and open it up. You're better off installing a proper LSD. Because you're already there. I have an OS Giken 1.5 way set to 70 percent lock. Held in place with a SPL solid diff bushing and a Bell diff brace.

Or that the underpart of the front bumper that we scratch the **** out of costs $250 more than the actual front bumper. That's either some seriously space-age plastic or Nissan giving the **** to the insurance companies.

I was on my 3rd one. Now I have a splitter to worry about. :rofl2:

How's the splitter doing after that physics demonstration last week? Never saw pics.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Never took pic's. The bolting under it shows some grinding. The splitter it's self doesn't have a mark on it that I could see.

Did you set the OS Giken LSD to 70% by yourself? I thought it comes with 100% lock only and can't be adjusted by ourselves unless sending back to OS Giken.

Mine came with 70% lock according Dealen at MAM.

You got me thinking now. I came across this. So was Dealen wrong on what he told me?

"Under racing conditions, the function of the LSD is to allow the drive wheels to apply equal traction under acceleration and deceleration. Our OS Giken Super Lock LSD is engineered to be extremely responsive to throttle input to give the driver full control over differential action. Our units are a negative preload design which allows for minimal lock when power is not delivered (turn in) and progressive maximum lock 100% on corner exit. Our unit is capable of controlling when 100% lock happens dependant on estimated power delivery and grip available (tires).

Through its innovative and patented design, up to twice as many friction plates are able to fit into the housing when compared to our competitors' products. This enables the OS Giken Super Lock LSD to achieve true 100% locking capability. Our LSD is also customizable by adjusting the spring inside the pressure ring to achieve progressive lock and allow high powered vehicles controllable lockup. Additionally, its superior design allows for excellent smoothness in regards to lock, virtually eliminating the “chatter” associated with other clutch type LSD brands."

All Z's 2012+ have an oil cooler. It's not great, but it's there. Also, I thought the 2015+ Nismo was a 3.9 rear end?

3.916 final drive for the 6spd manual Nismo from 2015+

https://nissannews.com/media_storage...ecs%206-16.pdf

basically everyone of these issues has been known for . . . almost a decade. this isn't a new car

Brakes overheat with ease...

We've overlooked the biggest issue.. one ******* cupholder that actually holds cups, except it doesn't if you have a MT.

Stop drinking and driving. Problem solved!;)

:iagree:

:driving:

I hate how the doors shut on you when trying to exit the cockpit, the stops they use SUCK!
A daily annoyance for sure.

I think you missed the #1 or #2 issue which is bad saddle tank design leading to fuel starvation! Most of the other issues you listed are far behind this and need for oil cooler. This is unforgivable for $40K+ Nismo.

As for your #3 - adjustable upper control arms, I think it's common for this to be aftermarket mod - even for Lotus. I'd estimate that <20% of Nismo owners regularly track theirs (a good poll question), and it just doesn't make sense for Nissan (or any other manufacturer) to include them. And even if they did, they wouldn't be as good as SPL.

This isn't specific to Nismos, it's all 370Z models. You should've put a problem with the Nismo is how it's a "performance" version of the 370Z but barely any different from the Sport models besides aesthetics lol

No they do not. There are several 12+ 370Z's I've looked into their front bumper and only see a power steering cooler that sucks, not a oil cooler. My 2014 included. I bought my 14 thinking the same thing over a 2010 and looked in the bumper to see no oil cooler.

The so called oil cooler on the 12+ models is different from what you think you will see. It's an oil to coolant heat exchanger. Not an oil to air heat exchanger like the aftermarket ones like Z1, FI, etc. It has what looks like a sandwich plate at the oil filter, with 2 coolant hoses going to it. The coolant circulates through the sandwich to cool the oil. In the right conditions, it's a great set-up if you can hold the coolant at a constant temperature. In a car, it's kind of so-so because you can not hold a steady coolant temperature. Too many variables with engine load.

Ahh, I never knew that. Or, I never noticed that in the oil temps lol. I don't get why they didn't just make it a exchanger out front like most cars? I would imagine a little 10 or 15 row would've been ok for regular non aggressive street use and wouldn't really cost them much in the production process. They could've even have it as a option you can order it with. The stock cooler is like there's none on there at all :ughdance:

Lot of discussion on this.. my dos centavos is, the warranty cost to Nissan far outweighed the benefits of an oil cooler. Bringing the oil outside the motor probably presented too many possibilities of loss.

The heat exchanger works great in warming the engine up faster in the winter though! Only good thing I can say ab it.

Crash testing might have to do something with it. Along with some other engineering /cost benefit decisions.

Mine were:
1. Door handles are too bulky and not color matched.
2. Fender flares hideous, removed right away
3. Front bumper on Nismo 2015+ is way too low. The front actually angles down underneath and would buy over and inch and a half if it went back straight like any other normal bumper.
4. Sunken in offsets and ride height.
5. Plastic plenum. 350z had a metal one... come on
6. 2015+ wheels compared to older years are far inferior looks wise.

My 2017 doesn’t have a trunk release button in the cabin and my trunk gets stuck when trying to open it

I'm been looking for a Nismo 15+, but I see that most of the issues a had with my 2009 still hunting the 370 to this date ....

Regarding the swifts

I thought others mentioned that is kinda screws up the handling of the nismo and better to stay stock or go with coilovers....

:icon14:

:tiphat:

Need a block, and head redesign to better hold under high boost conditions. Plus a sequential transmission. :driving:

Not sure what problems you are referring to but the transmission issue was resolved, they did add an oil cooler which helps but doesn't totally solve the problem.
Amsoil for me had NO oil consumption so that was easily resolved. The fuel starvation never once had a problem in my 2017. And also had 45k miles original clutch with no csc failure....
Maybe I got lucky or maybe Nissan fixed most things....

You should view this as a positive actually. With a chassis this old, all the problems are known and fixes available

1) Clutch slave cylinder? There's half a dozen options from zspeed, z1, tilton

2) oil cooler? Fast intentions, Z1 all got you covered with multiple options

3) fuel starve? z1 and CJM have a variety of options, and the problem doesn't hit everyone apparently

4) understeer? SPL FUCA and an alignment, problem solved


As long as you're smart and shop for a good used example that is obviously below what a dealer charges for a new one AND you build in the cost of these fixes into your budget . . . the Z is a pretty reliable and fun car