Diamond in the rough.

Red__Zed · 05-29-2013, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

If it makes us feel better, an M3 (E36?) owner told me he needed an extra fuel pump too, to fix fuel starvation.

On the streets it is tougher to have happen as going left sends the fuel sloshing back. I don't face many long right handers.

The e36 is the generation that ended in 99.

There are other cars that have the same issue, the s2000 among them, but it's particularly bad in the Z.

critical · 05-29-2013, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Only real issues for me are the need for better brakes (even the sport brakes are lacking)

say what?

Mandingo · 05-29-2013, 01:46 AM

Oh, he said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Only real issues for me are the need for better brakes (even the sport brakes are lacking)

Ubetit · 05-29-2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

7. Horrible road noise.

Don't care because........ roadster

SurfDog · 10-09-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

Sound like the OP has no real experience with a true "mediocre" car - which makes him very fortunate!

Two comments from the OP:

1.kinda true
2. Thank GOD above for that!!!

I did drive a ford probe (total FWD crap!) and a Miata (fun but reeeeeealy slow) for awhile though.

Nismodean · 10-09-2013, 05:16 PM

I've had the fuel starve when at 1/2 tank. I thought I didn't have that issue until I took a sweeping on ramp to the highway in a "highly spirited" fashion then the engine just died. I was mashing the pedal "WTF'ing" for about 5 seconds when she just came back to life and continued on. I guess I incidentally clutch popped the engine back on haha.

What is this extra weight you speak of in the hatch? I don't recall ever hearing about this. Her hatch doesn't seem overly burdensome but then again I've never opened anyone else's hatch. Or maybe I just like my women with heavy rear ends!

Arrvaxx · 10-09-2013, 05:30 PM

I'm sorry but I don't agree that it is 'in the rough'. A diamond in the rough would be a car that consitantly appears in the lower half of comparative reviews. The Z, -over all- (please don't pull one or two bad comparatives), lands in the middle of the pack. Nissan made compromises to keep the car's cost down and some of them didn't pan out. Just be happy we -can- turn them in to true mini-Godzillas. You could be stuck with a 2.5L that already has a turbo in it and that won't benefit from coil overs or what ever.

There are cars that can out accelerate it, that can out corner it, that can out brake it, that can out anything it. But over all it is a solid car and -very- reliable. That to me describes a finished diamond. Granted...the grade may not have an 'Ideal' across the board but it is a finished diamond.

Z owners are, IMHO, -way- too hard on the car. I think it comes from very high expectations that are a result of a love of the brand; a love that comes from a history of meeting high expectations.

I'll take a steeering lock issue any day over trannys that fail every 10k miles or engines whos internals fail after 40k.

ElVee · 10-09-2013, 05:39 PM

I'm of an opinion that the road noise issue has slowly and quietly been addressed over the years by Nissan. I don't really hear this complaint from newer models, and my own newer model is perfectly fine for a sports car.

ElVee · 10-09-2013, 05:42 PM

By the by, something that could take this thread to a new place would be maybe linking each issue/fix from the first post to a key thread or two about the topic.

SurfDog · 10-17-2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElVee

By the by, something that could take this thread to a new place would be maybe linking each issue/fix from the first post to a key thread or two about the topic.

wow! you demand a lot from me!

but hmmm let me hit the big ones!

1.Steering lock fuse pull. Wow what a great DIY mod! 20 minutes because I'm an idiot and dropped a leather-man tool down into my bay
Steering lock problem solved (for real)

2. no oil cooler
- unforgivable defect but easily retrofitted. (I used stillen 25 row kit)
Oil Temperatures ?

3. Horrible clutch feel on 6mt
- many solutions from removing the stupid assist spring to a full clutch replace. I went full on with a JWT, but do we all agree the OEM clutch sucks donkey balls and should be considered a must fix or is it just me???
RJM Clutch Pedal System for 370Z - Fully Customizable Clutch Feel & Stroke
Clutch pedal too soft/no feel? Remove the helper spring!

4.Failure prone CSC.
- I did mine when puling apart tyranny to put in JWT. Is it worth swapping before failure?
http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...-failures.html

5. Massive 25 lb Flywheel.
-Is this a poor designby Nissan? I think so!!! I put in a much lighter JWT flywheel and did not notice increase in vibration, but did notice much better throttle response.

Jim Wolf Technology Clutch/Flywheel Combo w/ Free Accessories!! FREE 3-DAY SHIPPING!

6. TUNE!
- why don't they all come engine tuned to NISMO specs. Why do I have to put it up on a dyno (4-600 bucks) to get the same tune a nismo has stock??? That's just stupid marketing bs IMHO. It would cost Nissan nothing to flash all EDCs with the nismo data no?

I don"t have a DIY link but just... well get it done!

7. Horrible road noise.
-From day one it has been criticized for road noise by everyone from R&T to my wife. I know sound-proffing is heavy (for you track bubbas), but a little engineering effort to help buffer the howl is definitely needed if you DD (I put some dynamat in key spots, but it still screams on some surfaces)
Cabin noise

8. The "sport" VLSD. (let alone the base "open" one!!)
-this thing is terrible. A real locking 1.5 or full 2 way (or at least a helical gear type) is a must unless you only bought the car for looks in which case this thread is wasted on you.
LSD on Sport Package

9. hatch springs
-I mean come ON Nissan
DIY: Weight reduction/Fix hatch not opening issue
and
!!For 370Z Owners with the Stuck Hatch Release Issue!!

10. unnecessary Hatch weight
- so stupid that some have and some dont, even the factory kinda addresses this by only putting them in like half the cars.
DIY: Weight reduction/Fix hatch not opening issue

Whew and that was just a super quick search of the issues I mentioned

let me reiterate:

I LOVE MY 370Z!!!!!!

stop hating on me! I just feel like there was a lot to fix to make it go from troublesome and unpolished to amazing

Most of these fixes are almost free. Some are not

Example:
Right hand fuel starvation(Fuel Starvation Control Product) Which only effects those of us who drive this car either on the track, or like the kick butt sports car it was born to be, is a THOUSAND bucks to fix! I call that a bit "in the rough", but don't hate on me, mine is fixed, and I love it!

alcheng · 10-18-2013, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

wow! you demand a lot from me!

but hmmm let me hit the big ones!

1.Steering lock fuse pull. Wow what a great DIY mod! 20 minutes because I'm an idiot and dropped a leather-man tool down into my bay
Steering lock problem solved (for real)
Nissan does not use SC on all the post-Jun-2011 production, for those prior to it, just pull the fuse.

2. no oil cooler
- unforgivable defect but easily retrofitted. (I used stillen 25 row kit)
Oil Temperatures ?
honestly, 2+ years with the Z, oil-temp never an issue for me, even though a 90 mins Z cruise, how do you drive your Z on a normal day..?

3. Horrible clutch feel on 6mt
- many solutions from removing the stupid assist spring to a full clutch replace. I went full on with a JWT, but do we all agree the OEM clutch sucks donkey balls and should be considered a must fix or is it just me???
RJM Clutch Pedal System for 370Z - Fully Customizable Clutch Feel & Stroke
Clutch pedal too soft/no feel? Remove the helper spring!
"feel" is very subjective, you don't like how it feels, mod it, if you are ok with it, leave it... can't blame it.

4.Failure prone CSC.
- I did mine when puling apart tyranny to put in JWT. Is it worth swapping before failure?
http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...-failures.html
what kind of component can last forever..?

5. Massive 25 lb Flywheel.
-Is this a poor designby Nissan? I think so!!! I put in a much lighter JWT flywheel and did not notice increase in vibration, but did notice much better throttle response.

Jim Wolf Technology Clutch/Flywheel Combo w/ Free Accessories!! FREE 3-DAY SHIPPING!
most of the OEM flywheel are heavy, no matter it's on bimmer or civic (I drove a bimmer before, the OEM flywheel is about 40lbs)

6. TUNE!
- why don't they all come engine tuned to NISMO specs. Why do I have to put it up on a dyno (4-600 bucks) to get the same tune a nismo has stock??? That's just stupid marketing bs IMHO. It would cost Nissan nothing to flash all EDCs with the nismo data no?

I don"t have a DIY link but just... well get it done!
you want the NISMO spec....?? then buy the NISMO...!!!

7. Horrible road noise.
-From day one it has been criticized for road noise by everyone from R&T to my wife. I know sound-proffing is heavy (for you track bubbas), but a little engineering effort to help buffer the howl is definitely needed if you DD (I put some dynamat in key spots, but it still screams on some surfaces)
Cabin noise
man.... no offense.... it's a sports car.... you don't want noise... get a prius.....

8. The "sport" VLSD. (let alone the base "open" one!!)
-this thing is terrible. A real locking 1.5 or full 2 way (or at least a helical gear type) is a must unless you only bought the car for looks in which case this thread is wasted on you.
LSD on Sport Package
Same as (6), buy the sports package Z then...

9. hatch springs
-I mean come ON Nissan
DIY: Weight reduction/Fix hatch not opening issue
and
!!For 370Z Owners with the Stuck Hatch Release Issue!!

10. unnecessary Hatch weight
- so stupid that some have and some dont, even the factory kinda addresses this by only putting them in like half the cars.
DIY: Weight reduction/Fix hatch not opening issue

Whew and that was just a super quick search of the issues I mentioned

let me reiterate:

I LOVE MY 370Z!!!!!!

stop hating on me! I just feel like there was a lot to fix to make it go from troublesome and unpolished to amazing

Most of these fixes are almost free. Some are not

Example:
Right hand fuel starvation(Fuel Starvation Control Product) Which only effects those of us who drive this car either on the track, or like the kick butt sports car it was born to be, is a THOUSAND bucks to fix! I call that a bit "in the rough", but don't hate on me, mine is fixed, and I love it!

man.... how much do you want Nissan to sell a base Z for if you want them to put:

a light weight flywheel
better sway
25 rolls oil-cooler
LSD
NISMO ECU
better clutch
better CSC
PSS tires
more light weight material
better audio
better quality components....

dude.... please be realistic.... for its price.... what do you want...?

it's a USD$30k sports car.... it's not a Ferrari...

damian_mb · 10-18-2013, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

In summary, for a few thousand bucks you can turn a pretty, though unreliable turd into a "real" sports car capable of holding its own against other "real" sports cars.

What have I missed??

So what do you consider a "real" sports car....

People want wayyyy too much these days, I just don't get it.

Someone said the sports brakes aren't great....wow! Drive my WRX and then tell me how "bad" the brakes are on the Z. Hell my Si had better brakes than my WRX.

Red__Zed · 10-18-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damian_mb

So what do you consider a "real" sports car....

People want wayyyy too much these days, I just don't get it.

Someone said the sports brakes aren't great....wow! Drive my WRX and then tell me how "bad" the brakes are on the Z. Hell my Si had better brakes than my WRX.

The WRX brakes get air on them. The Z's brakes don't work because of a styling decision.

SurfDog · 10-18-2013, 01:43 PM

[QUOTE:
a light weight flywheel
Same cost as heavy one

better sway
Same cost as weak one (and not addressed on my post)

25 rolls oil-cooler
Now included and only a hundred buck or two from factory would not effect cost much

LSD
As part of sport package either don't offer a crap one or charge enough to make it worthwhile. Most ppl who need LSD have to buy two. (One installed and one upgraded)

NISMO ECU
free. just use the Nismo flash. RCU Data is free once developed

better clutch
Point taken. Though I don't know how expensive it would be to put in a well designed clutch pedal. I doubt it would cost much outside of design cost. (Which cost almost nothing to implement.). (I'd be happy to send them mine to copy for free. Lol)

better CSC
Point taken. But failure prone OEM cost more in long run than decent OEM would.

PSS tires
Never addressed in my post.

more light weight material
Not addressed in my post

better audio
Not addressed

better quality components.
Not requested or demanded

I think you are just mad that I have insulted your car (I her it I love mine too). That was not my intention tho this is just meant to be a quick reference of easy fixes for new Z owners. Things almost everyone eventually addresses. Don't be mad it's just info for shining up a cool car to make it great.

Chuck33079 · 10-18-2013, 02:01 PM

A heavy flywheel makes the car easier to drive. A lightweight flywheel is a pain in the *** to drive with and it's noisy. Nissan didnt design the car for enthusiasts, they designed it for a larger market.

And part of the sales pitch for the Nismo is the increased power. Why would they tune all zs to that level?

10-09-2013, 05:16 PM	#36 (permalink)
Nismodean Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington Posts: 313 Drives: 2009 RIP Now 2012 Rep Power: 15	I've had the fuel starve when at 1/2 tank. I thought I didn't have that issue until I took a sweeping on ramp to the highway in a "highly spirited" fashion then the engine just died. I was mashing the pedal "WTF'ing" for about 5 seconds when she just came back to life and continued on. I guess I incidentally clutch popped the engine back on haha. What is this extra weight you speak of in the hatch? I don't recall ever hearing about this. Her hatch doesn't seem overly burdensome but then again I've never opened anyone else's hatch. Or maybe I just like my women with heavy rear ends! __________________ The Truth, it hurts sometimes. FI LTH & FI CF CBE. This is a 370Z forum, if I want to fling poo at another brand of car and your feelings get hurt, then you're hanging out in the wrong forum (cry elsewhere).

10-09-2013, 05:30 PM	#37 (permalink)
Arrvaxx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Whore Island, MN Posts: 1,243 Drives: 40th F.I. Twin Turbo Rep Power: 18	I'm sorry but I don't agree that it is 'in the rough'. A diamond in the rough would be a car that consitantly appears in the lower half of comparative reviews. The Z, -over all- (please don't pull one or two bad comparatives), lands in the middle of the pack. Nissan made compromises to keep the car's cost down and some of them didn't pan out. Just be happy we -can- turn them in to true mini-Godzillas. You could be stuck with a 2.5L that already has a turbo in it and that won't benefit from coil overs or what ever. There are cars that can out accelerate it, that can out corner it, that can out brake it, that can out anything it. But over all it is a solid car and -very- reliable. That to me describes a finished diamond. Granted...the grade may not have an 'Ideal' across the board but it is a finished diamond. Z owners are, IMHO, -way- too hard on the car. I think it comes from very high expectations that are a result of a love of the brand; a love that comes from a history of meeting high expectations. I'll take a steeering lock issue any day over trannys that fail every 10k miles or engines whos internals fail after 40k. UNKNOWN_370, mayday813, Felix 808 and 5 others like this. __________________ 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary (#480 born 1/19/2010) Fast Intentions Twin Turbo \| Varis Arising II \| Limited Edition Recaro Sportster \| Tuned by Specialty Z \| 604hp 525 torque @14lbs boost on 100 octane Last edited by Arrvaxx; 10-09-2013 at 05:33 PM.

10-18-2013, 01:43 PM	#44 (permalink)
SurfDog A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Colorado (9000 feet) Age: 56 Posts: 1,796 Drives: 09 6mt, 13 Sequoia, Rep Power: 15749	[QUOTE: a light weight flywheel Same cost as heavy one better sway Same cost as weak one (and not addressed on my post) 25 rolls oil-cooler Now included and only a hundred buck or two from factory would not effect cost much LSD As part of sport package either don't offer a crap one or charge enough to make it worthwhile. Most ppl who need LSD have to buy two. (One installed and one upgraded) NISMO ECU free. just use the Nismo flash. RCU Data is free once developed better clutch Point taken. Though I don't know how expensive it would be to put in a well designed clutch pedal. I doubt it would cost much outside of design cost. (Which cost almost nothing to implement.). (I'd be happy to send them mine to copy for free. Lol) better CSC Point taken. But failure prone OEM cost more in long run than decent OEM would. PSS tires Never addressed in my post. more light weight material Not addressed in my post better audio Not addressed better quality components. Not requested or demanded I think you are just mad that I have insulted your car (I her it I love mine too). That was not my intention tho this is just meant to be a quick reference of easy fixes for new Z owners. Things almost everyone eventually addresses. Don't be mad it's just info for shining up a cool car to make it great. __________________ 09 6spd Berk CBE, JWT cams, ZSpeed CSC, Stillen (25 row oil, brake cooling, sways, gen3 CAI), Passport (9500ci), Quaife LSD, Z1 400 hp kit, ss lines, pads, rotors, clutch etc, Phunk's pan and fuel starve fix Last edited by SurfDog; 10-18-2013 at 01:46 PM.

10-18-2013, 02:01 PM	#45 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Diamond in the rough. A heavy flywheel makes the car easier to drive. A lightweight flywheel is a pain in the *** to drive with and it's noisy. Nissan didnt design the car for enthusiasts, they designed it for a larger market. And part of the sales pitch for the Nismo is the increased power. Why would they tune all zs to that level? __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

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10-09-2013, 05:39 PM	#38 (permalink)
ElVee Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Iowa Posts: 750 Drives: 13 370z 7at t+s grey Rep Power: 16	I'm of an opinion that the road noise issue has slowly and quietly been addressed over the years by Nissan. I don't really hear this complaint from newer models, and my own newer model is perfectly fine for a sports car.

10-09-2013, 05:42 PM	#39 (permalink)
ElVee Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Iowa Posts: 750 Drives: 13 370z 7at t+s grey Rep Power: 16	By the by, something that could take this thread to a new place would be maybe linking each issue/fix from the first post to a key thread or two about the topic.