2003 350z Weekend/Track Day Progress Thread

[Bumpkin203]

Hello all! My name is Bobby and this is my second 350z. I originally came from the 240sx game but decided to step it up and get into a newer, nicer chassis. My first 350z was a 2003 PPW. I sold that to help my wife get her 07 Jeep SRT8. After a few months of just driving my truck I knew I needed another one. This time I made sure to not settle and get exactly what I wanted within my price range. Thats when we found our Z.

Here she is her first time at the house.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140418_141154_zps05762af0.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140418_141139_zps5323df74.jpg

It has been a few months since getting it and I am still trying to decide what direction I want to go with it.

Cleaned it up a little.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/2003%20350z/IMG_0608_zps815082f3.jpg

Then I decided to pull the trigger on some parts as well as signing up for a track weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park in October.

Enkei RPF1 18x10.5+15 all around.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140428_160241_zps80e18ba6.jpg

Nitto NT05 265/35r18
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140602_230720_zps1acb0ae3.jpg

Fortune Auto 500 Gen 5
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140616_163910_zps2739c4f8.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140619_154359_zps299c4177.jpg

Despite them being OEM type, Im very happy I went with them. Im going for a more functional stance so the fact they don't lay frame in the rear doesn't bother me. They ride just like stock if not better. I will need to raise the front. Put them on the way they came packaged and they were very low.

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/2003%20350z/IMG_0750_zps6c3df6b0.jpg

And the mandatory pic.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140619_183734_zps79aff9d4.jpg

The shopping list is never ending but for now I plan on prepping for the track weekend in October.

As of currently I have already purchased these and am waiting on them to arrive.

Muteki sr35 lugnuts
Z1 brake lines
Hawk HP+ brake pads front and rear

Within the next month I should be ordering all the fluids and getting a professional alignment at Autometrics who specialize in building Porsche track cars.

Since I am only doing one event this year, I plan on staying with the oem brakes before most likely upgrading to the 370z Akebono brake setup.

Once I get the lugs, Ill update with the RPF1s.

And just because I like this picture.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/2003%20350z/IMG_0749_zps012896af.jpg

[nickmat619]

Good luck with the build man! You have yourself a gorgeous car, I can't wait to see what it looks like with those rims on it.

[smokescreen240]

very nice start! welcome my fellow z owner. i'd like to reccmmend before your alignment that at the very least get a rear camber kit from SPC if not from SPL. Once you lower a z, getting them into spec with stock arms won't be very likely. SPC camber arms, and SPC toe bolts and you'll save your tires. I promise.

[Bumpkin203]

Preciate it fellas, I already have the SPL rear camber arms and will be getting the SPL front a arms before I get it aligned. Once I have those, she will be good to go.

[Bumpkin203]

Got some things in that I ordered.

Still waiting on my lug nuts so I can update with the wheels installed.

Hawk HP+ front and rear, Z1 brake lines.

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/IMG_0764_zpsb12d8193.jpg

Also raised the front a little and eliminated some of the rake.

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140621_163730_zpscc6ca6d7.jpg

[charrington_74]

Updates???

[Bumpkin203]

Little bit of an update.

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/2014071795130405_zps769e07ac.jpg

Should have a chance to throw them on by Saturday. Sorry for the crappy cell pic.

[Apex Eight]

I really like the direction you're taking with your Z. It's always refreshing to see someone place function as a top priority amid all of these super slammed cars.

[Bumpkin203]

Thanks Apex, I like the slammed cars but Id just rather not have to deal with the headache it is to drift them.

I threw the wheels on Saturday but only got a quick cell pic so far.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_182837_zps3303089e.jpg

Getting ready for the Drift Basic event in Darlington.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_080915_zps8fb35696.jpg

Couple pics at the event courtesy of Cerulean Blue Photography.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/10527594_10152611252732008_4290364554176557361_n_z ps25ce20fc.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/10568983_10152611252472008_35903174956109503_n_zps 47ce8551.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/10574297_10152610586627008_8782053050169186752_n_z ps1418d55a.jpg
Blew a tire, didn't even realize it had started to wear because it was still wet out but apparently it did. They got a cool shot of it on the bed of my truck next to the minty fresh RPF1.
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/10557368_582120385231035_614785166833200255_n_zps2 5ce20fc.jpg

Thats all I have for now. Next up is cleaning the car up from the event, doing a full fluids flush, and maybe some tie rods for some extra angle.

Side note, I said before I was scheduled for a track day at CMP but had to cancel, so for now I will mainly be doing drift prep and just having fun with the car while modding to my liking.

[Nismo_sam]

Car looks great man, I too am making the move off of drifting a 240 and getting into a Z33 to build as the new drift car.

[smokescreen240]

Looks like you had some fun at the event, but i think yours is a base model w/ open diff...did you weld it or swap for vlsd?

[Bumpkin203]

Car looks great man, I too am making the move off of drifting a 240 and getting into a Z33 to build as the new drift car.
Thanks!, I had 3 s13s before going to z33s. A lot of people would rather have a 240 but for what I do and future plans, I am glad I went with it.

Looks like you had some fun at the event, but i think yours is a base model w/ open diff...did you weld it or swap for vlsd?
Thanks I did have a lot of fun. It's a touring, not a base, so it has the stock vlsd.

101348067

[Bumpkin203]

Finally got some decent pictures cleaned up with the wheels.

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/IMG_2866_zps7e05a0e3.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/IMG_2877_zps626f4d39.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/IMG_2878_zps6323700a.jpg

[supersayianjim]

looks good. plz don't cage this out or slam it into a wall. why didn't you get a staggerd setup??

and does the 13's feel noticeably way lighter than these cars??

[Bumpkin203]

I don't have plans currently to cage it......or putting it into a wall. I went 10.5 all around because I like the ease of rotating and buying tires. Plus the 9.5s were about $30 more per wheel.

The 13s aren't noticeably lighter to me personally, I didn't really notice too much of a difference. Plus the superior ride and handling sealed the deal for me.

[troskinatior]

I feel you bro, just sold my 180sx for pretty much the same exact car (model/color/suspension/ect) The Z is so much better. I was thinking of drifting it next week but I havent installed a lsd yet, how did the vlsd hold up? Would it over heat and act like a open?

[Nismo_sam]

Are you maxed at in the rear for lowness? Just wondering because I felt pretty sure on going FA but want a bit lower than that.

Oh and on a side note it looks like I'll be going to pick up a Z tomorrow!

[Bumpkin203]

I feel you bro, just sold my 180sx for pretty much the same exact car (model/color/suspension/ect) The Z is so much better. I was thinking of drifting it next week but I havent installed a lsd yet, how did the vlsd hold up? Would it over heat and act like a open?
The stock vlsd did awesome, no issues even when the rain dried up.


Are you maxed at in the rear for lowness? Just wondering because I felt pretty sure on going FA but want a bit lower than that.

Oh and on a side note it looks like I'll be going to pick up a Z tomorrow!
Its as low as it will go without pulling the collers and with the regular FA spring.

[Nismo_sam]

Any updates on the car? Would love to see more!

[Bumpkin203]

Well its been a while since I updated. Haven't done much of anything to the car since the last update. Just been driving it and enjoying while saving money instead of spending everything on the car. After my last update I did get some tein tie rods but haven't put them on because I don't have the FUCAs I want yet and don't want to get 2 alignments.

I did strip a lug with my muteki lug nuts at the last drift event so I got a new lug and went with some Project kics R40s in neochrome. Hopefully they won't strip anymore lugs.

Also decided to do a little something that was somewhat cheap(er). Got a Personal steering wheel and NRG QR and short hub.

Ordered a personal pizza
http://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150304_152943_zpst1wqfgqh_97fb41155bc3ddf6433ebc afe8299f40b695ac83.jpg

Installed
http://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150307_171452_zpsnwx3kivr_65f4f0900fc134d046bd60 9f277e7d75a7d23bc1.jpg

And just what the car has been looking like this winter.
http://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150224_141214_zps1mibonve_17d419d49dbd94f623bedc c985820f8170c7f25f.jpg

[Apex Eight]

Glad to see you still have this. Style-wise, it's a lot different than most 350s you see nowadays. Clean and functional. Nice wheel dude

[Bumpkin203]

Glad to see you still have this. Style-wise, it's a lot different than most 350s you see nowadays. Clean and functional. Nice wheel dude
Thanks bud

Not really much of an update but I decided it was time to stop sitting on the parts that I have had for 8 months and get to installing them.

First was the flush of the diff and trans with Redline MT85. Also put Pennzoil Ultra in the VQ. I did not think this was going to be noticeable but I felt like the car was smoother afterword...probably just my head playing tricks on me. After that I swapped out a stripped lug and realized after knocking the lug out of the hub that the brake rotor needed to come off to get to it. That was a task in itself but after some PB Blaster and some light hammer work, I was able to knock it loose. Then came time to flush the brake fluid and throw on some Hawk HP+ pads. I have never been a brake kind of guy so that was a learning experience and I will be learning more tomorrow as I properly lube the brakes (the squealing is horrible). Before doing the brakes I did a lot of research on bleeding them and was a little nervous after seeing quite a few 350z guys having troubles with not being able to get the air completely out. After one failed attempt to test drive after thinking it was good, I gave it another run and the brake pedal pressure is better than before. Guess I did something right haha. So after that was all cleaned up I threw the wheels back on and installed the Project Kics R40 lug nuts.

Also, side note, I purchased my first torque wrench and used it while torqueing the lug nuts. Instantly felt better driving the car while not feeling like my wheels were going to fly off.

Like I said not much of an update but this is a progress thread after all.

Heres some crappy cell pics.

http://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150315_150122_zpsjwvvk1hk_b3b22a175db664fa5a8fb4 422f618d2ca3683922.jpg

http://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150315_154501_zpsxsxod9ib_0a070d42afa12fcc7d4b8c 80fd36d57a5073915a.jpg

http://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150315_154413_zpsuf1rxbcz_10aa8f8477c4e63f14285b 1877b02b8ef75ed124.jpg

http://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20150316_150456_zpsbasui0bv_a16ca95445014fb984f187 4891efea7e3adc4cb5.jpg

[Bumpkin203]

Clean and simple

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/IMG_0840_zpszr6qqmeg.jpg

[bardabe]

Z looks really good, reminds me of my old Z33. good job so far man keep it simple!

[Bumpkin203]

Thanks man

Test fit on the new bumper
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/received_10202817989210378_zpso1cbsuvj.jpeg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/received_10202817990010398_zps5xdy80tn.jpeg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab134/zilvia121/Mobile%20Uploads/received_10202817993290480_zpspdyzbrkp.jpeg