370z project - outline of plans for feedback

sprint7

Hi everyone,

I was responding to a private message where I was asked what my plans were for my Z. I hadn't realised how much of the project I'd already planned in my head and as I wrote it all down I was quite surprised at the detail.

Rather than hiding it away in a private message I thought it best to share it and get feedback and suggestions. I'm really looking for input/feedback/warnings/gotchas/recommendations from people who have already done things like this...

I have not set a total budget for this because I just want to get it done! Doing something like this has been on my bucket list for a long time... So, I'll take as long as it takes and happen as quickly or as slowly as cash & opportunity makes itself available... One challenge I've hit so far is how all of these mods impact insurance and warranty...

For example, if I have a simple exhaust upgrade and Eibach lowering springs it adds £400 ($650) to my insurance (nearly a 50% increase) and excess goes up from £350 to £700!!.

Warranty cover is something I feel has been missing in the market of brand-new car customisation... at least as far as I'm aware. I've found a Nissan HPC that has done 350z super-charging and offered a top-up warranty and am in talks with them about offering a top-up warranty on my work so part specifics may come down to what they are able to sensibly add to the car with acceptable warranty risk (and therefore cost). I'll let everyone know what the outcome of this is.

If anyone knows of a company that would partner with me on this project and top-up the warranty so that if anything went wrong with the engine (my main concern) and if Nissan blamed the mods that I'd still be covered - let me know. I'm based close to London in Hertfordshire but willing to travel within England to find the right tuning partner.

The plan is split into phases and stages within each phase:

Phase 1: Fast-road and show
Stage 0.5: Piano Black 19" Wheels (DONE)
Stage 1:
a) Lower (not sure whether to do Eibach springs initially or go the whole 9 yards and go for adjustable coil-overs - will get adjustables eventually even if initially just springs) + Camber/Toe adjustment kit

b) Considering spacers to kick wheels out for now... but seems like a lot of hassle with sourcing extended lugs incl. locking

c) Exhaust (toying with idea of Stillen system but European Type-Approval of CATs is required and been investigating if that system has it. I may get a bespoke stainless exhaust - created with mandrel bends of course)

Stage 2: Mines carbon front splitter and rear-spoiler extension (unless I find a nicer one)
Wondering if I'll need Front ( & maybe rear) suspension lifts to help clear speed-humps?

Stage 2.5: Carbon rear diffuser (still investigating this but have some candidates already)

Stage 3: Touch of colour: Colour brake calipers Red (may replace brakes in next phase); Considering replacing black suede door/seat inserts with different colour (not sure what... might go for grey or red but latter will mean changing the colour of the illuminated kick plates because orange "Z" emblem with red door-inserts and seats might not look so cool);

Phase 2: Track-play
The sequence all depends on how she feels and performs on track and obvious dependencies (e.g. bigger wheels that have enough space for any brake upgrades)...
-Wheels Black or Carbon 20"
-Brakes
-Adjustable Coilovers (if I cut initial outlay in phase 1 by just getting springs)
-Oil Cooler
-Lighter fly-wheel
-Upgraded clutch

Phase 3: More power
Probably going to keep this simple with a super-charger but have found one crazy turbo kit that goes from 500bhp at stage 1 up to 1000bhp at stage 4 but I think that's a little over the top for me... and will prove expensive as I'll probably have to go back to the track-prep stage and upgrade everything all over again... on top of the $12000 it costs for the Stage 4 turbo kit.

So - if anyone has any thoughts, recommendations, suggestions I'd welcome them. I really want input from people experienced in projects such as this... as this is my first time even thinking about doing anything on this scale...