i have to sell it to buy a house and marry my GF :(

Ahh I got ya brotha. Big life changes coming around! Great ones though hoping everything goes well with buying the home and the wedding! You two have a date set yet?

Should try and convince her to let you keep the Z though haha

Hhahaa Thanks bro! we dont have yet the day but we hope later this years :tup: im crossing my fingers to see if she can get a better job soo i can keep the Z :)

BTW i want your CF fenders hahahaa! :p

I'm hoping for the best for you two! Definitely will want to see some pictures from the ceremonies

As for the fenders, Fly 1 Motorsports buddy :tiphat:
If you end up keeping the Z maybe looking into their sales later this year would be a good idea. I got mine on their Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales.

Hahaha count on that bro! :tup:

BTW thanks for the info!

Time for another update: :ugh2:

Well, I've finally been able to install everything that I've been meaning to install and then some. The last two-three months have cost a pretty :twocents: in the upwards of $10k. Between the clutch system with csc elim kit being installed, to having to replace the entire pulley belt system alone with the tension and power steering belt systems; I've finally been able to install the rest of my aesthetics that have been sitting or waiting to get more important items fixed. Plus all the labor cost it has been a tight budgeted last couple of months, but am making it through with that hustle :eekdance:

Here are the results and progress after 1 year and 1 month:

Before:

http://i64.tinypic.com/2enb3gl.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/wcefjd.jpg

http://i68.tinypic.com/9belj5.jpg

After:

http://i65.tinypic.com/14jumu9.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/9rueio.jpg

http://i65.tinypic.com/63w3l4.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/ms2hb7.jpg

http://i68.tinypic.com/zivtzk.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/157omiu.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/35midyb.jpg

Just a couple updates that I will be researching and looking into in general over the next few months. Looking at getting the aerodynamic structuring solid. That way my Z sticks to the ground.

If there is something better I could be looking at in terms of product for part feedback is appreciated! :tiphat:

Man that steering wheel would have looked great on your ride man. :stirthepot:

It would have yeahh haha :rolleyes: But paying rent and being able to have a place another month was great too haha. Was tight on money at the time

I've been looking at doing one of the cheaper ones from Carbon Element, but I realized that if I was going to pay most of it why not go with the same type of one that I had. But since I don't park my Z in a garage and I use it as a DD, the steering wheel would wear out quickly for that kind of money lol. :icon14:

I'm looking at getting things aerodynamically set with the Z now. Canards, splitter, diffuser, probably end up with some sort of GT wing.

Do you know if there is any sort of magnetic or active suspension systems for the 370z?

**UPDATE**

As of right now I have an order in for the R1 Titan shift knob as well as the Top Secret Carbon Fiber B Pillars. Both have been ordered from Bulletproof Automotive and cannot wait until they are in my hands! Will be doing some more research on the Mocal Thermostatic Conversion plate, to eliminate any issues with the Mishimoto Thermostatic Plate.

http://i63.tinypic.com/1z5su8p.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/abnplc.jpg

That didn't take long!

Told ya I was going to pull the trigger haha :stirthepot:

Also decided to get myself into more trouble when looking around on their website lol... by ordering the Top Secret Carbon Fiber B pillars.

Also looking at the Mocal oil cooler thermostatic plate conversion kit. but I need to make sure that the input fittings are the same for the Thermo plate from Mishimoto and Mocal. If so, I'd be able to make the swap. If not I will have to find one with the correct fittings.

Also looking at the Motordyne ART Pipes to slap on as well

Outstanding progress Mr Gavin :tup:

-Clifford :tiphat:

Thank you Mr. Clifford!

We will have to get together at a meet here soon! :tiphat:

Edit- I just realized that I hardly can ready that Lime Green color

Yo buddy as an enthusiast who had the opportunity to meet you in person and all. I gotta say it makes me very happy to see how far you've brought your Z along and the personal touch you're giving it :) though I may not fully agree with your tastes all the time I gotta say your Z is pristine and on point man. Again, I'd like to congratulate you on your Z and your successful installs! Keep it up man, she'll be a beautiful beast very soon, I'm glad I got to meet you and see the development of your ride... Keep it Z birdman! Haha

Yes, I replaced the G with a Z, it's cheesy but Zuck it XD haha

Thank you much and kindly on the compliments Mig! :tiphat:

Its okay on switching out the letters, it was whitty haha! Anyway you Zucker lol... my tastes may not be the same as yours no haha but then again that's why everyone's build is their own. I could also see a discrepancy between our ideas cause you were wanting to raise your Z to be a ralley car and I want that show car haha.

We need to meet up again sometime soon so I can see some of the progress you have made recently too. I don't think you have a build with pictures or anything. If so I am wayyyyyy late on that lol :eekdance:


Thanks again brotha and Zuck it! lol:stirthepot:

***UPDATE***

After talking with John over at Bulletproof Automotive some more regarding the parts I had ordered and upon confirming with Top Secret that the order will be placed and in production; Top Secret is no longer making many of their Carbon Fiber Parts and have discontinued them (even ones that have be re-continued) due to the quality of product not coming out to their standard of quality.

Due to the Top Secret and Zele Carbon Fiber B Pillars being the same price, I just easily switched my order over to Zele. When John confirmed that they had the part in production he let me know and from the invoice sent over by the accounting department, the Zele Carbon Fiber B Pillars are already reading to be shipped from Zele Japan,

Of course the product doesn't look that much different besides any logo embossing, here is the new pic from Bulletproof Automotive on the Zele Carbon Fiber B Pillars

http://i64.tinypic.com/iojbds.jpg

Over the weekend did a wash, wax and shine and was looking good!

http://i64.tinypic.com/28wgmf6.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/whgsuu.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/vebwr7.jpg

http://i68.tinypic.com/28wdzdu.jpg

http://i68.tinypic.com/2yjrbx2.jpg


ALREADY GOT SOMETHING IN THE MAIL!!!!
Got my Powerhouse Amuse R1 Titan Shift knob in the mail on Saturday!!

http://i65.tinypic.com/2cn2iq.jpg

mmmfff :) yes daddy, lol


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WE still need to get together and hang out :tup: :driving:

Almost man almost just a little more and I'll have the clutch installed haha


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ditto................. :shakes head: :mad: :icon14:

I'm sorry to hear about your clutch man but at least you're one step ahead of me haha

Yeah just a couple notes to you about the ACT clutch if you went with the nd2 xtss, like I have, and NOT the hdss...
1. don't high rev downshift
2. don't downshift PERIOD lol, throw it in neutral and coast into a stop
3. Brake pads are cheaper than clutches in parts and labor
4. Learn from my dumbass

:tup::icon18:

Cars lookin good man.

Thanks brotha! :tup:
I'm happy with the way she is turning out too. I have an idea of what I am doing for the entire build now as well.
I am going to probably do the Rowen kit (front and back bumpers and sideskirts with blades) and I'm going to have Bulletproof send it off for paint more than likely as well.
Going to keep my Rae Blue color code and oem paint, will have rock chips fixed on oem paint as well. Rock chip fixes and new paint is going to be color corrected and then the whole car will get ceramic coated to protect the paint. I'm going to keep my hood and fenders most likely and paint them as well, same process. Probably going to go with the Varis CF Hyper Narrow GT wing.

Possibly have a hookup to a photo-shoot with Stance Nation soon too, if it comes through, interested in doing some duo shots? It'd be local places. Sadly will be before I get all those parts above before the photo-shoot, but that is my goal right now.

Just some more pictures before I actually install the shift knob, looking to get to it later today :driving:

http://i67.tinypic.com/20f7qz7.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/16hrqm1.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/11l6dg9.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/1rp2ty.jpg

More to Come after its been installed!

Awe wtf!? Seriously I can't down shift? D: what's the point of having a manual??

You butt! I want mine to come in soooo badly! D: maybe I should start a build thread XD


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You can downshift, but the added stress on the clutch will make it wear A LOT MORE... :icon14:

I'm sure haha! you shoulda a long time ago lol :shakes head::yum::icon14:

Woo! Guess what just came in the mail :) hehe brand new ACT clutch and flywheel combo ;) yeee buddy


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I don't think downshifting with proper rev matching will wear the clutch that much. Never had a problem doing it in any of my cars.

Do you have HIS exact set up?


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No I am running the Specialty Z high 5 clutch but I don't see why a ACT clutch cant be downshifted. If you are rev matching properly there shouldn't be that much stress put on the clutch.

Maybe it's how rigid the pressure plate is? If I remember correctly the pressure plate Mr. Bird got is one level below ACTs strongest/stiff plates. Idk anything about specialty Zs products unfortunately but I am willing to bet that they could be a little different I. Comparison? Just a thought though...


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Yea I am sure they are different but at the end of the day a clutch is a clutch and I don't think down shifting with proper rev matching causes excessive wear. I am sure it causes some, but don't think it would cause the clutch to fail prematurely.

Lmao, both of you are kind of right. Allow me to explain.

This is the clutch I currently have installed that has slipped:
NZ2-XTSS // Advanced Clutch Technology

As you can tell the clutch disc has a small opening for a moderate to heavy pedal effort. This feel was EXTREMELY STIFF when first installed. This made me pretty much relearn how to drive this car which probably damaged the clutch a bit. The new clutch I'm getting has a much more open face of the clutch disc.

Here is where it went wrong:
At the time with installing of the clutch and pressure plate and ACT flywheel, I also installed the Z1 CSC elim kit, which when not adjusted correctly or every couple thousand miles, the tuning fork and throw-out bearing in the clutch system will constantly wear on the clutch causing it to slip.

That is not the main issue, but provides more than normal wear over time. The main issue is that there have been many times I have had to High Rev Downshift where the added stress on the clutch is immense. A lot of times downshifting back into the 5-6k rpm range. Usually due to other drivers around me and traffic. There have been a couple times I can count on one hand that I have burnt up the clutch. Of course I always thought "Why? if my foot is all the way off the clutch" but I figured after hearing about the fork and throw-out bearing it made more sense.

It also doesn't help doing spirited drives through GMR every month as well. Lots of shifting and lots of high rev downshifts after coming out of a turn and going into the next.


So a combination of High Rev Downshifts, fork and bearing wear and having to almost launch when in 1st has made for the Clutch Slip.

This is why my recommendations were:
#1: If you want ANY clutch to last the longest, but especially this one, don't down shift unless you are downshifting only up to 3500 rpm or so. The added stress on the clutch is normal at that point.
#2 : This was more of a joke, although if you think about the cost of a clutch compared to brake pads it is cheaper to buy brake pads while not downshifting to save clutch life.


Since Mig (fairladyz40th) went with the same clutch system I did as I linked above minus the Z1 csc kit, I was just letting him know not to high rev downshift and don't be a dumbass like me and wear out his clutch in 4 months like I did. Otherwise itll be another $1k outa pocket... again like me... :shakeshead: Heck right now I CANNOT get my revs above 3200, otherwise the clutch slips and shoots the revs. It also takes me close to 20 seconds to get going 35mph from a deadstop


After doing more research on the types and differences in the clutch plate, plus researching about the stock pedal vrs rjm v3.1 pedal I went with a new clutch and the rjm v3.1 pedal as well. The stock pedal will cause wear on an aftermarket clutch too.

New purchases due to some clutch issues and research done:

Went with a new clutch and pressure plate since mine is currently slipping (as explained in last post haha) It is the Advanced Clutch Technologies ND2-HDSS. Also have paired it with the RJM Performance V3.1 Clutch pedal Assembly

http://i66.tinypic.com/dpdb39.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/28b6zcg.jpg

UPDATE

Have been talking with Fly 1 Motorsports about a Sponsorship for my Z and will be finalizing everything with Lohit in the next couple of days for the Promo Photoshoot with the Weber Sports Body Kit! :tup:
The Z will be out of commission for a while with parts, paint and labor being done.

Damn she's gonna look amazing