Benihana's 14 Black Nismo Journal

Benihana

Here are some pics that the event organizers put up for us. How nice is that?







I still need to edit some video down and decide if I want to post or not. I actually need a new mounting solution for a better view.

carlitos_370z

subscribed!

Benihana

So I registered for a 2 day HPDE event May 9-10 and of course I must add some kind of mod prior, so I went with a set of black HPS post MAF tubes and a pair of aFe dry panel filters. From everything I can tell from past experience and via user reviews I should expect to get a little better airflow.

My only complaint about my Z is that I think the revs should spool up a bit faster sometimes. I figure between this intake mod and a future set of HFCs or TPs I should be about where I need to be.

I wound up getting everything from Amazon for about $200 and 'should' see everything by the weekend, after which I'll post installation info and a review for y'all fine folks.

Benihana

So I did an Auto-Cross day on Saturday on a decommissioned airfield in Devens MA. FWIW I have done many before in am SM Miata I had some years back and ran with mostly a Miata club, so the course was really set up for those cars.

Considering I had what was probably the least prepped car on the field, I did ok finishing about 2/3rds down the list of about 60 cars.

However, those stock Bridgestone Potenza S001 tires pretty much suck for AutoX. The 280 wear rating is just plain too hard to ask that much grip from. I really fought to keep the rears from spinning which slowed me down a lot. Then add in the tight corners this club is known for and, well, hence my not so great times.

I think a set of stickier sneakers could realistically reduce my times 4-6 seconds if not more. My first run was a 1:29.5 and my best run was a 120.4 so I feel good about my progress over the day but the tires certainly fought me the whole day.

If anyone has suggestions for a set of tires I would love to hear about them. And I'd also love to hear from you if you might have wheels and/or tires for sale. I plan to run primarily HPDE events but I can see running a few AX days in between. That way my lady can drive too.

Benihana

So upon the recommendation of my first instructor I did a 2 day event next and I have to say it was well worth it.

I ran with the Porsche club at Thompson Motorsports Park. First a quick plug about Thompson.

I understand that the track was reopened in 2013 after a change in ownership and major rehab. They have a huge new garage/paddock area, a 'pro-shop' of sorts and a great staff. Thompson utilizes about half of an old oval track, but, they added a new road course that dwarfs this small section.



I head heard that it was kinda flat and boring, well, maybe a bit lacking in the elevation change area but I would not consider it boring at all. Especially at my level.

It is mostly a 3rd gear track with a change to 4th wide open down the one main straight. I think I was regularly hitting about 115 before getting on the stop pedal before turn 1.

I am please to say that my Nismo performed beautifully and after my second day I was told that my instructor is recommending me to advance 1 level up form total noob to beginner. I'll take that!

What is also pretty cool is that while I probably had the lowest cost and least prepped car of the weekend, I was constantly surrounded by people asking questions about my car. Telling me how much they like it and how surprised they were with the performance on the track.

I did get the pleasure of passing several boxter/caymans and a couple of 911s.

madwi

Very nice!

Benihana

Thanks.....

The reason why I titled these posts as I did is that although I used to enjoy Auto-Xing with my miata, the Z is just not cut out for it. I suppose I could do better with stickier tires, the bad habits you pick up throwing a car around on the AX course have to be unlearned on the track. Pitching a car around cones is nothing like being smooth on a track. So, No Mo!

Or we could talk about costs..... AXers say track days are too expensive, but when you consider how much actual seat time you get, 5-6 runs totaling 8-10 minutes all day vs 4 x 20+ minute runs totaling over 80minutes of seat time the cost per smile is clearly in the HPDE column!. So.... No Mo!

Benihana

Although I have done the most necessary items to track my car and am actually learning to drive it with some skill, it might soon be time to take it up a notch.

First, I am about to install a brake cooling kit. I have not experienced any heat issues, ice mode, or fade but why take any chances? So the Stillen kit is going in, just waiting on some ducts to arrive to custom mount up front. I'm not looking to cut holes in my bumper just yet so I figure I will hack up some ducts to fit in the grill opening. I'm pretty sure I can make it happen and since everything will be black and tucked down in there, it really won't be noticed unless you crouch down and look for it, and then you'd say, "Cool, brake cooling ducts!" I will take and post pics of the install when it happens, hopefully this or next week.

The Carbotech xp10/8 setup is great and has performed well for the 3 track days I have done, so I went ahead and ordered up another set. I figure I will do a swap and in the process, compare thicknesses and maybe gauge how many days I should expect to get from them. Plus I will have a spare set with me at the track just in case. Up till now I have been carrying my stockers as spares just to get me home from the track in case I cooked them.

I have been trying to put it off but the thought of a louder and more free flowing exhaust is getting to me. I have been searching for the right combo and have to say it is tough!! Youtube videos are all so different and I don't feel give the correct representation of the cars' sounds as some are done with phones or too far away or in parking garages, etc.

Right now my choices are either a quality resonated test pipe, Berk HFC or Motordyne ART pipes. I want performance, volume and growl without hiss. From what I can tell by videos and reviews, the HFCs won't be loud enough with the Nismo CBE.

If anyone has any recommendations for me that would be great. Thanks in Advance.

PS.< I will probably cross post this last part at some point in a different section of the forums.

Benihana

Somehow I forgot to post that I did the highly recommended Post MAF and Drop in upgrade prior to my last track day. I went with HPS tubes and the Afe super-pro-turbo-dildo filters. The drop ins literally could NOT have been easier and the MAF tubes were pretty straight forward too.

I did not have to disconnect the strut bar, only the engine covers. I did have a little more trouble with the passenger side tube. I didn't experience the kink issue that so many other people have but it was a bit harder to line up and get right. I wound up having to trim the breather tube slightly. The cut had to be a little shorter and slightly off angle to make it work but I don't think it would be noticeable to the untrained eye.

I don't know if I notice any gains, but I haven't done the cats yet so.... I might have preferred the gargly aluminum sound of a different intake but I didn't want to go through the hassles of the Gen3 and I will need all the space I can get up front for my oil and brake cooling components. This is primarily a track/hooligan car for me.

HulaGirl

Beautiful car and perfect purchase scenario. Interesting hack of the heated seat switches area.

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~*Hula Girl at Heart*~
Rear Deck Spoiler, Splash Guards, AFE filters, Weathertech Liners, Xpel, Calipers in VHT Bright Blue, Clazzio Seatcovers

Masterbeatty

I went to Thompson last year for opening day SCCA. Beautiful track and garage area. Im sure after a year of racing the pavement is less oily and more grippy.

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2011 MB 6MT
Masterbeatty journal

Benihana

I can't say for sure but would have to agree. There were zero oil issues on the pavement and nobody complained about the grip. I think it is a great track and easy to get to. Oh, and there is only one slight transition in the pavement compared to the 14 off-camber and super bumpy disasters to try and navigate and NHIS.

MB, I am digging your headlight overlays. How tough are they to install?

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Benihana's 14 Nismo Journal

Masterbeatty

Thanks, I heard not bad at all. I had a friend of blue bat do them while I was out to sea. I did the rear tail and third brake light and those were a breeze. If you have done any type of vinyl then it shouldn't be that bad. Two people and a hair dryer makes all the difference in the world.

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2011 MB 6MT
Masterbeatty journal

Benihana

Since I am planning many more HPDE events I wanted to be sure I had the brake cooling issue solved beyond the brake fluid and race pad upgrades. I wanted to Be Sure that I don't overheat the brakes and experience that dreaded Ice-Mode issue. Especially considering that I may be sharing the car for some events in the future.

I ordered another full set of XP10/8 pads front and rear. While I had the car on the lift at my local speed shop I swapped the pads on all 4 corners. After 3 track days and some street use there is hardly any material missing from any of the 4 sets of pads. I was quite surprised. Clearly I can brake harder......

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Benihana's 14 Nismo Journal

Benihana

Instead of cutting the OEM shields I went ahead and purchased the Stillen Brake Cooling Kit from Z1 as I think the angled aperture of the Stillen kit shield is optimal. Not only is it a little cheaper, the hoses are supposedly longer and I didn't have to pay for the non-nismo brackets I could not use.

What we wound up doing was using a set of NACA ducts from Racer Parts Wholesale. NACA Ducts - Small, Black NACA Duct
We trimmed them down to fit in the sides of the Nismo upper opening and attached to the aluminum bumper member with a custom aluminum circular bracket.

I also used a set of the 3 to 2 inch adaptors as getting a 3 inch hose snaked through the chassis would certainly be an issue, as others have noted.
NACA Ducts - 3 to 2 NACA Duct Adapter

I did not use the suggested routing procedure from Stillen nor the Moto IQ Blog but routed it a different way with less cutting and the least amount of sharp bends possible. Additionally, we added a light spring between the shock tube and the flexible duct that sucks the tube up and in when turning lock to lock to minimize the possibility of tire rub down the road.

All in all I think it came out great. The ducts are minimally visible and should take in a good amount of high pressure air. Removing the nose for future work only requires the removal of one easily accessible screw per side.

Sorry for the phone pics, I forgot the real camera. I can supply more detailed pics later if anyone is interested.

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Benihana's 14 Nismo Journal