DDMotorsports Redline Time Attack Round #2 Results!

theDreamer · 06-03-2009, 09:35 AM

I have a couple of questions on how you feel, like, dislike of other stock parts:
~Seats
~Shifter (Not sure you have changed this yet)
~Pedals (Which Z model do you have?)
~Steering wheel

M.Bonanni · 06-03-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

I have a couple of questions on how you feel, like, dislike of other stock parts:
~Seats
~Shifter (Not sure you have changed this yet)
~Pedals (Which Z model do you have?)
~Steering wheel

Seats - They are fairly good for stock seats but I do have to use my knees to brace myself in turns. If I were turning this into a dedicated track car I would definitely get racing seats though, but since it remains my daily driver I will probably keep the leather/power/heated seats for comfort

.

Shifter - Love it. I am not going to swap it out. I personally don't like short shifters, at least none of the ones I have tried. Sure they are shorter throws, but they are a little notchy and because the stock shifter is smooth, I can actually shift faster with it than a short shifter. Short shifters also tend to increase my chances of mis-shifting, but maybe thats just a problem I have. These same issues I personally have with short shifters are on any car I have driven with a short shifter too (350Z, G35, Mini, Mustang, etc.). I just prefer stock shifters.

Pedals - I have the sport model and I have no problems with the pedals. I have never had a foot slip off and the orientation of them is easy for me to heel-toe, although I usually use SRM on the track.

Steering Wheel - The only thing I would change about the steering wheel in a perfect world would be to have it stick out farther. Like most stock vehicles, when I position myself where I want in relation to the steering wheel, my legs are too close to the pedals. I would like to extend my legs a little more and have the steering wheel closer to me. Other than that, I have no complaints. Again if this weren't my daily driver I would probably switch to a short hub/quick release/deep dish wheel combo, but since its a street car the stock wheel and airbag will stay for safety....and my radio/bluetooth controls

.

ChrisSlicks · 06-03-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Steering Wheel - The only thing I would change about the steering wheel in a perfect world would be to have it stick out farther. Like most stock vehicles, when I position myself where I want in relation to the steering wheel, my legs are too close to the pedals. I would like to extend my legs a little more and have the steering wheel closer to me. Other than that, I have no complaints. Again if this weren't my daily driver I would probably switch to a short hub/quick release/deep dish wheel combo, but since its a street car the stock wheel and airbag will stay for safety....and my radio/bluetooth controls

.

Whoever designed the wheel had long arms and short legs (it's like Alfa Romeo all over again). I have the same problem as you, either you arms are too far away or your legs are too close. For street driving you can live with your arms a back a little but on the track you need to be closer for more control.

M.Bonanni · 06-03-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Whoever designed the wheel had long arms and short legs (it's like Alfa Romeo all over again). I have the same problem as you, either you arms are too far away or your legs are too close. For street driving you can live with your arms a back a little but on the track you need to be closer for more control.

Yeah the Z is better than some other cars though. The Evo IX is the worst I have seen so far in that regard. Mini Cooper is pretty bad too.

spearfish25 · 06-03-2009, 06:23 PM

I did a track event this past weekend and after a run, had the car cooling with the engine running and hood up. A guy walked past and said my power steering fluid was boiling. Looking at the reservoir, there was quite a bit of centrifugal turbulence but no bubbles. While he claimed it was boiling, my feeling is the fluid viscocity has dropped so that the circulation is much more apparent. Turning off the engine, the movement in the reservoir stops immediately. Also, starting the car when the engine is cold results in a much smaller amount of turbulence in the reservoir.

Thus, I'm not sure it's boiling...just lower viscocity leading to more noticeable circulation of fluid.

M.Bonanni · 06-03-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I did a track event this past weekend and after a run, had the car cooling with the engine running and hood up. A guy walked past and said my power steering fluid was boiling. Looking at the reservoir, there was quite a bit of centrifugal turbulence but no bubbles. While he claimed it was boiling, my feeling is the fluid viscocity has dropped so that the circulation is much more apparent. Turning off the engine, the movement in the reservoir stops immediately. Also, starting the car when the engine is cold results in a much smaller amount of turbulence in the reservoir.

Thus, I'm not sure it's boiling...just lower viscocity leading to more noticeable circulation of fluid.

Hmmm, I will have to experiment with that. Thanks!

spearfish25 · 06-03-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Hmmm, I will have to experiment with that. Thanks!

I'm tempted to just drop the end of a meat thermometer in the reservoir during one of these 'boiling' times. Does that reservoir pressurize, or can I pull the cap when it's running and hot?

M.Bonanni · 06-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Just swapped brake pads and tires back to the street setup.

The Hawk HP+ pads look fine after the weekend. Wear is still awesome, after three full days on the track I would say there is still 80-90% left. There are no apparent signs of overheating. Everything looks to be in good shape.

I durometer tested the NT05 tires when they were brand new, and again just now when I took them off the car after two hard days at the track. Seems as though on average, they got a tiny bit softer after some good heat cycling on the track! The left front remained the same before & after, but this is also the tire that gets the most abuse at Willow Springs so my guess is that the tires get a bit softer with a few heat cycles then start to get harder. This seems to be a very consistent tire though as after two hard days on a really hot track, they are still a bit softer than brand new! I will have to start over when I switch to 18s, but I plan on keeping the next set of tires for a lot longer and will monitor their status more in depth.

Caravanshaka · 06-03-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Just swapped brake pads and tires back to the street setup.

So, about those track wheels??

also, about how much wear did you put on those tires in 2 track days? compared to the stock bridgestones? I know it was a different track with different wear, but just a general comparison.

M.Bonanni · 06-03-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caravanshaka

So, about those track wheels??

also, about how much wear did you put on those tires in 2 track days? compared to the stock bridgestones? I know it was a different track with different wear, but just a general comparison.

As soon as I clean them up they will be ready to go

. I would say there is probably a good 80% tread left on the tires, maybe more.

Caravanshaka · 06-03-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

As soon as I clean them up they will be ready to go

. I would say there is probably a good 80% tread left on the tires, maybe more.

Sounds good, just let me know what you want for them and if you are planning on keeping those tires on them or just doing wheels only.

Slow*Jim · 06-04-2009, 05:30 PM

What settings are you using for the coilovers?

M.Bonanni · 06-04-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow*Jim

What settings are you using for the coilovers?

I made a lot of adjustments throughout the weekend but I think I ended up at full stiff on compression in the rear, 2/3 stiff compression on the front, and around 2/3 rebound all around. Give or take a few clicks of adjustment.

The settings will depend on the track and conditions.

ChrisSlicks · 06-04-2009, 07:27 PM

I think the BC setup probably needs stiffer springs in the rear, that's the way this car is designed. By default they give you 2K softer in the rear which is the opposite of the stock configuration, and the Nismo. You were probably cranking up the shock settings in the rear to try and compensate.

M.Bonanni · 06-04-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I think the BC setup probably needs stiffer springs in the rear, that's the way this car is designed. By default they give you 2K softer in the rear which is the opposite of the stock configuration, and the Nismo. You were probably cranking up the shock settings in the rear to try and compensate.

I disagree. I think the 2k split is perfect. I was cranking down the front to try and compensate for the understeer from not having enough front camber resulting in not enough contact patch and overheating the outside edge of the front tires.

06-03-2009, 09:35 AM	#16 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	I have a couple of questions on how you feel, like, dislike of other stock parts: ~Seats ~Shifter (Not sure you have changed this yet) ~Pedals (Which Z model do you have?) ~Steering wheel __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

06-03-2009, 06:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Boiling power steering fluid I did a track event this past weekend and after a run, had the car cooling with the engine running and hood up. A guy walked past and said my power steering fluid was boiling. Looking at the reservoir, there was quite a bit of centrifugal turbulence but no bubbles. While he claimed it was boiling, my feeling is the fluid viscocity has dropped so that the circulation is much more apparent. Turning off the engine, the movement in the reservoir stops immediately. Also, starting the car when the engine is cold results in a much smaller amount of turbulence in the reservoir. Thus, I'm not sure it's boiling...just lower viscocity leading to more noticeable circulation of fluid.

06-03-2009, 06:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	Just swapped brake pads and tires back to the street setup. The Hawk HP+ pads look fine after the weekend. Wear is still awesome, after three full days on the track I would say there is still 80-90% left. There are no apparent signs of overheating. Everything looks to be in good shape. I durometer tested the NT05 tires when they were brand new, and again just now when I took them off the car after two hard days at the track. Seems as though on average, they got a tiny bit softer after some good heat cycling on the track! The left front remained the same before & after, but this is also the tire that gets the most abuse at Willow Springs so my guess is that the tires get a bit softer with a few heat cycles then start to get harder. This seems to be a very consistent tire though as after two hard days on a really hot track, they are still a bit softer than brand new! I will have to start over when I switch to 18s, but I plan on keeping the next set of tires for a lot longer and will monitor their status more in depth. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

06-04-2009, 05:30 PM	#27 (permalink)
Slow*Jim Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 29 Drives: 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 Rep Power: 16	What settings are you using for the coilovers? __________________ "Racing is life... everything before and after is just waiting." -Steve McQueen

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06-04-2009, 07:27 PM	#29 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	I think the BC setup probably needs stiffer springs in the rear, that's the way this car is designed. By default they give you 2K softer in the rear which is the opposite of the stock configuration, and the Nismo. You were probably cranking up the shock settings in the rear to try and compensate.