Denver Thread

[HaPpYfAcE]

Originally Posted by Chuy

I think we are done due to the winter, hopefully we pick back up in spring

Yeah, hopefully I can keep from modding for that long.

[SurfDog]

Originally Posted by HaPpYfAcE

Yeah, hopefully I can keep from modding for that long.

Why wait! Winter is a great time to mod! If your car sits in the shop awhile no worries!

if you are reading this forum you have a great start on advice about which mods are great and which are not.

Here are some recommendations to get you started:

Super easy DIY mods:
1.Pull your steering lock fuse Don't wait do this ASAP!!!!
2.remove your hatch weight
3.add some wheel locks (from nissan)
4.put in some stronger hatch springs (nissan Part)
5. put some Dynamat in your hatch area (from cartoys or online)
6. add a filter magnet (old hard drive magnet works)
7. Plastidip!!!!! (emblems, rims, door pulls, fangs... whatever) ... super fun.
8. drop in K/N air filters

More challenging DIY (but still very do-able)
1. Replace your stock brake pads with Hawk performance pads.
2. add Braided steel brake lines. (great return on investment)
3.Wheel spacers (20mm perhaps?)
4.TPMS bomb! (if you have two sets of rims.. one for track?)
5.Tunable clutch pedal

Highly recommended Shop mods.
1. Tint! (a must here in colorado) $200
2. Uprev tune!!!!!! (an absolute must) (but upgrade your intake/cats/exhaust first!) $4-600
3. Upgrade the Differential($1,500 but soooooo worth it)
4. OIL COOLER! (almost mandatory for the track in summer) $600
5. Cats $600
6. Exhaust $500-1500

Some of this stuff is expensive, some totally free! I highly recommend considering the stuff on my DIY list. Pulling the steering lock fuse is pretty much a mandatory to do item (and kinda fun)

Welcome to the community. I will definitely be back to the track come spring (and am doing a few reliability mods to get ready)

Let me know if you have any questions about stuff I've done, I'd love to help you avoid some of my mistakes, and am always up for a "project day" if you want help tweaking your ride with DIY stuff (I am only about a 2 star mechanic, but can usually get it done! most of the stuff I recommend as DIY is super easy) I live in Conifer

Here is my build thread perhaps it will help you with some ideas.
Surfdog's 09 journal

[Chuy]

No comment on these "recommendations".

[SurfDog]

Originally Posted by Chuy

No comment on these "recommendations".

Ouch Chuy!

I was just trying to fan the mod flames a bit...

C'mon! you know you love plastidip!

[HaPpYfAcE]

Thanks for the list. I haven't even bothered doing any research, yet. I guess I will have to take a look.

I'm already looking at catback vids on youtube, lol.

[SurfDog]

Originally Posted by HaPpYfAcE

Thanks for the list. I haven't even bothered doing any research, yet. I guess I will have to take a look.

I'm already looking at catback vids on youtube, lol.

The enthusiasm and expertise for modding the Z in this forum is incredible, and has really been a source of a lot of enjoyment for me. I have never enjoyed a car as much as I enjoy this one partially because it has become such a personal expression of what I think a great car should be. No two Z builds seem to go the same direction. At some point it begins to feel like love, or art.

I can't recommend highly enough rolling up your sleeves and making some small improvements. Pretty soon your cool car will be a personal expression of.. I don't know something poetic!

Go ahead! pull that steering lock fuse. It will start you down a rabbit hole that I think you will be glad you explored.

[SurfDog]

Originally Posted by ajperretta

Just listed my set of blizzaks for sale. They fit the 19" forged rays. I bought the car with them and to my knowledge they only have 1 season of use. I bought new tires immediately and thought I might swap these back on, but i'm selling instead.

Asking 500$. If any of you locals are interested, let me know. Open to offers.

Tempted!

how is the tread looking? I fear my wifes wrath buying more tires though. (ive got 12wheels sitting "taking up all the space" in my storage room already!

[HaPpYfAcE]

Originally Posted by jskracht

I feel like I need to jump in here. Surfdog is definitely an experienced driver and modder, but his 2009 is different from the newer cars.

1. 2011's and above do not have a steering lock fuse to pull.
2. Most 2011's and above do not have hatch weights.
3. The hatch has no need for new springs .
4. The sound deadening is improved over the older cars, once you aren't running the stock Potenza's the noise isn't too bad.

Now as to shop mods, that's all personal preference, but you probably already know the joys and pains of modding your car.

I prefer to spend time driving my Z, for me its better mostly stock.

I hear Surfdog is a beast at the track! Hopefully I can make it out next year! Sorry I kind of disappeared for a while, school and work eat so much of my free time.

Yeah, I did a little research on the steering lock fuse and found that it doesn't apply to mine.

I didn't look for hatch info, so thanks for touching on that.

It is a pretty quiet and smooth ride, but on certain roads, these tires are just too noisy for me. I don't know what I will get when it's time, but I will figure that out when the time comes.

I'm definitely not new to modding. I just don't want to dump a lot of money into the car when it's still so new to me. Once the bug hits, i'm sure i'll change my mind about that, haha.

[SurfDog]

I have put continental DW on and they are waaay better than stock for road noise. Shadezz has them too, maybe he can chime in.

The dynamat went on for two reasons:
1. road noise
2. berk exhaust noise. (I love it, but it was a bit overwhelming before I dynamatted)
Note. I still keep earplugs in my car for long trips even after these improvements.

I have the updated (recall) steering lock installed per dealer TSB.

There is a TSB (similar to a recall but not considered as serious) out for the ESCL on earlier model 370Zs It updates the ESCL to revision D. You can Call your dealer and/or look through the info here: Links to posts about Steering Wheel Lock to see if you are covered under the TSB, though I bet you are already wearing rev D.

Many forum gurus recommend that you disable the ESCL, even if you have a Rev D. (that is the steering lock used on later model 370s... It still occasionally fails according to reports in this forum) I pulled the fuse on mine but there are other methods.

As far as the hatch is concerned, I'm gad they fixed it in your car. It was annoying. Cheers!

Anyhow I was just throwing out some ideas. I look forward to seeing your car and meeting up in person! We have some really cool guys out here, and had a few pretty sweet get-togethers last season.

Our "Road rally" through evergreen and Golden was especially fun!

Shadezz and I started running High Plains raceway last season, here is a link. Post you track Videos here!

[SurfDog]

Originally Posted by jskracht

I feel like I need to jump in here. Surfdog is definitely an experienced driver and modder, but his 2009 is different from the newer cars.

I hear Surfdog is a beast at the track! Hopefully I can make it out next year! Sorry I kind of disappeared for a while, school and work eat so much of my free time.

Thanks! Its nice to hear I'm making an impression at the track! I am strictly amateur though. I'm hoping we can drag you out to the track for some lapping in the spring. I bet you will get a wee bit more motivated to mod a if you do!!!!!

I would love to get together for an afternoon and do some brake upgrades with you guys.

I am still looking for someone brave enough to crack open and paint their headlights with me. I don't want to face it alone but think it is very doable.

I'm thinking matte black or dark grey on my silver Z

[HaPpYfAcE]

out at best buy in the springs.

[Shadezz]

I'm ready for spring to come....I think we should get together in the end of February or March for a meet. I would love to do my headlights Surfdog, but I don't want it to go wrong..not a cheap fix....on another note I'm ready to hit 40k miles

[Shadezz]

And yeah let's hope more join Surfdog and I at high plains raceway this spring...it'll be nice to make a nissan z's noticeable and meet some great people again. Far warning that once you start track days the desire to mod and go faster gets worse....no to order those z1 rotors...

[Chuy]

Lets set something up then. I'm in for February. Start school in March, so nice to be out of the service!

[SurfDog]

My February calender is pretty full, but I could do Feb 9th if we get enough guys together (say 3?)