The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Where does it say in the rules you have to use stock alignment settings? It says you can only adjust it using stock capabilities but you can make it whatever you want.

And yes the Z doesn't really stand a chance in bsp against the boost buggies.

In stock you can make it whatever you want within the stock capabilities, but for prepared you are allowed to add camber devices. I read the following the rules but I think I misinterpreted. You are correct that in Prepared you can go outside of factory specifications using the methods spelled out in section 15.8.

From the 2009 Solo Rules section 15.1 F.
"F. On all forms of suspension, camber/caster adjustment within
factory specifications may be achieved by the use of shims or
eccentric bushings. The intent of this allowance is to permit cars
to be restored to within factory-allowed specification ranges, not
to provide an additional method beyond those permitted in Section
15.8 to obtain alignment settings beyond the factory specifications."

As for the boost buggies, I think we can beat them but it will take some work.

[boosted180]

how much toe are you running in the rear?

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I wanted something aggressive, but still streetable. Normally -1.5 degrees is considered the max for street, but I set the front toe to 0.0 and set some more camber. These camber arms are set up to be almost all negative, as my mechanic said when we were installing them, "There's an oh my god amount more left there". I think I could hit 5 degrees pretty easily. Usually in auto-x the more camber you can get the better but it can start to hurt your straight line braking performance. The turn-in is very nice and hard now so I'm leaving it this way for a while.

[AutoX Z]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

In stock you can make it whatever you want within the stock capabilities, but for prepared you are allowed to add camber devices. I read the following the rules but I think I misinterpreted. You are correct that in Prepared you can go outside of factory specifications using the methods spelled out in section 15.8.

From the 2009 Solo Rules section 15.1 F.
"F. On all forms of suspension, camber/caster adjustment within
factory specifications may be achieved by the use of shims or
eccentric bushings. The intent of this allowance is to permit cars
to be restored to within factory-allowed specification ranges, not
to provide an additional method beyond those permitted in Section
15.8 to obtain alignment settings beyond the factory specifications."

As for the boost buggies, I think we can beat them but it will take some work.

Yea the way I read that rule it allows you to shim the suspension ONLY if you're trying to get it back to the stock range because something else you did got it out of whack, like over-lowering. It still allows the use of crash bolts, camber plates, adjustable arms, etc. to do whatever you want but you can't use shims for the same purpose as all those other allowed items.

[IMWEZL]

Yeah BSP here in Hawaii is a no go for me. There's a family lead by Curtis Lee...that man has some insane skills. I think they just competed in the Nationals this week. Great guy, gave me a lot of tips after he drove my car. It helps that he also has a 370Z but he races his 240Z in BSP.

[ChrisSlicks]

Another Auto-x on Saturday, this one was wet the whole day. It made for some challenging driving conditions as there were different levels of grip on different parts of the course.

The car did great though, and I not only won my class, I pulled out my first FTD ever. The top 3 was tightly contended but in the end I was able to stop hitting cones and lay down some fast times.

[boardkat]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Yea the way I read that rule it allows you to shim the suspension ONLY if you're trying to get it back to the stock range because something else you did got it out of whack, like over-lowering. It still allows the use of crash bolts, camber plates, adjustable arms, etc. to do whatever you want but you can't use shims for the same purpose as all those other allowed items.

the way the rule is officially interpreted in stock classes depends on the car and what the FSM/TSB's say. i don't have the helm's for the 370Z yet, and i haven't been monitoring the TSB's, but if there is an allowance for shims to get camber/caster back within spec, then it would be legal. usually, it just says replace suspension parts, unfortunately. all moot if nissan had put eccentric bolts up front to dial in something b/w -1.5 and -2.0 for camber

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by boardkat

the way the rule is officially interpreted in stock classes depends on the car and what the FSM/TSB's say. i don't have the helm's for the 370Z yet, and i haven't been monitoring the TSB's, but if there is an allowance for shims to get camber/caster back within spec, then it would be legal. usually, it just says replace suspension parts, unfortunately. all moot if nissan had put eccentric bolts up front to dial in something b/w -1.5 and -2.0 for camber

The FSM states the the front camber is not adjustable, if it is out of spec then basically they want you to replace parts because something must be bent. There are no eccentric bolts in front, only in the rear.

This is basically the only reason that the 370Z is in B stock and not A stock.

[boardkat]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The FSM states the the front camber is not adjustable, if it is out of spec then basically they want you to replace parts because something must be bent. There are no eccentric bolts in front, only in the rear.

This is basically the only reason that the 370Z is in B stock and not A stock.

well, that and the VLSD of course
i know what a 350Z handles like under power on corner exit... an exercise in patience and precision, that's for sure!!

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by boardkat

well, that and the VLSD of course
i know what a 350Z handles like under power on corner exit... an exercise in patience and precision, that's for sure!!

I've had no problems with the VLSD at the auto-x. It gives you another way to rotate the car that can come in very handy, certainly far better than an open diff, and better than a BMW electronic (fake) diff. It's not a Torsen, but at the auto-x I don't think it would make enough of a difference. In the wet it was a challenge in precise throttle control on corner exit, squeezing on the power too early was costly.

[boardkat]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I've had no problems with the VLSD at the auto-x. It gives you another way to rotate the car that can come in very handy, certainly far better than an open diff, and better than a BMW electronic (fake) diff. It's not a Torsen, but at the auto-x I don't think it would make enough of a difference. In the wet it was a challenge in precise throttle control on corner exit, squeezing on the power too early was costly.

are you running A6's, or a sticky street compound (i seem to recall you saying you were running 275/305 re-11's)? it's the former i'm most interested in. the 350Z went from frustrating with *much* patience required on re-01r's, to manageable and fun as hell on V710's. and the guy who's car i've run said the A6's were even better, when he had a chance for a fly 'n drive with somebody else in lincoln last week. so if you're running streets and having fun in a 370Z.....

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I've had no problems with the VLSD at the auto-x. It gives you another way to rotate the car that can come in very handy, certainly far better than an open diff, and better than a BMW electronic (fake) diff. It's not a Torsen, but at the auto-x I don't think it would make enough of a difference. In the wet it was a challenge in precise throttle control on corner exit, squeezing on the power too early was costly.

Come to nats or even a tour and say that...

I'm the said 350z boardkat is referring to. I would love to drive someone's 370 but I guess it will have to wait until someone local buys one.

In a 350Z, the stock vlsd is junk for auto-x, street tires or r-comps. And the lack of camber is junk to. Fix one or both, and no doubt in my mind would I have easily trophied (i blew my trophy because the damn hoosiers would overheat on the nastly west course and I couldn't keep the car tidy, and coned each run).

I can't imagine the 370 is going to much better in terms of front camber and quality vlsd (if you can even call a vlsd a quality diff)

[ChrisSlicks]

Originally Posted by Ruff

Come to nats or even a tour and say that...

I'm the said 350z boardkat is referring to. I would love to drive someone's 370 but I guess it will have to wait until someone local buys one.

In a 350Z, the stock vlsd is junk for auto-x, street tires or r-comps. And the lack of camber is junk to. Fix one or both, and no doubt in my mind would I have easily trophied (i blew my trophy because the damn hoosiers would overheat on the nastly west course and I couldn't keep the car tidy, and coned each run).

I can't imagine the 370 is going to much better in terms of front camber and quality vlsd (if you can even call a vlsd a quality diff)

The diff seems better to what was in the 350Z and the G35 if you ask me. It is much more eager to lock up rather than spin the inside wheel like the previous revision did. Not saying it is top notch, and I have no idea what it will be like on r-comps as I haven't got there yet.

The car is downright brilliant with the camber issues fixed, it's just sad that doing so takes it out of stock class. The stock alignment was right around -1.0 up front with no adjustment available.

I'll be getting some V710's for our long courses, not sure yet if I will get A6's as that will depend on whether I want to go back to SCCA.

[Ruff]

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The diff seems better to what was in the 350Z and the G35 if you ask me. It is much more eager to lock up rather than spin the inside wheel like the previous revision did. Not saying it is top notch, and I have no idea what it will be like on r-comps as I haven't got there yet.

The car is downright brilliant with the camber issues fixed, it's just sad that doing so takes it out of stock class. The stock alignment was right around -1.0 up front with no adjustment available.

I'll be getting some V710's for our long courses, not sure yet if I will get A6's as that will depend on whether I want to go back to SCCA.

Good to hear about the diff, hopefully it is a better unit.

No doubt in my mind would adjustable a-arms significally help a Z, it's just a shame Nissan couldn't put some camber adjustment in the car stock.

Got 18" wheels for the v710s? No 19"s yet...

[AutoX Z]

I'm so tempted to get some A6's but I just cant justify the 3 grand it would take to get an extra set of stock wheels and the tires. Also as it is right now I'm winning BS by over a second consistently and PAXing top 10. Maybe next year for divisionals...

[boardkat]

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

I'm so tempted to get some A6's but I just cant justify the 3 grand it would take to get an extra set of stock wheels and the tires.

don't do it!! if you're just running locally and don't know what you're missing, you'll save yourself a tonne of cash in the long run!!!
.. and with vorshlag so damn close....... one conversation with terry and you'll be trying to figure out how to come up with *another* 3k+ for a set of AST 5200's