Finn's 370 - Drift build
 

Hi all, I wanted to share the progress of my recently acquired 370z as I hopefully turn it into a very reliable and capable drift car. There aren't many 370's being used for drifting yet, and most that are, have been ruined with a V8. This car will be VQ all the way.

I'm not new to drifting. I've been doing it for a few years now. Always just at a grassroots level for fun. We are really spoiled when it comes to drifting here. There are always events happening where the quality of cars is very high and everyone knows one another.

Being from Australia, S chassis cars are everywhere and cheap. My other drift cars have been sr20 powered. A 180sx and an s14. I just sold the S14 after getting to a point where it was extremely reliable and pretty much drove itself. Here's a couple of pics ...

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psbrebmcxw.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psopkmggoh.jpg

I'm hoping I can get the 370 to be just as reliable and easy to drive as the 14. Although it will be down on power by a fair bit. But I'm hoping that will force me to drive harder.

Z's are pretty rare here, and still very expensive. The cheapest 2nd hand ones are around $30000 still. Since I didn't need the car to have registration however, I was able to buy one for $15000 that was written off in a hail storm. It was repaired and looks perfect, however thanks to some silly laws, it can't ever go on the road again.

I was even more lucky as the previous owner had decided to add a full Nismo kit to the car at some point. We don't even have the Nismo's here so it would've been quite expensive.

Here's how it was when I got it...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psvddbjhxz.jpg

It's and 09 in Carbon Silver with 60000km (38000 miles). We don't have base and sport models here, just one model that comes fully loaded. Including GPS. I plan on keeping the full interior and air-conditioning as it is regularly 95 degrees or more at our local track.

I knew right away that I wanted to complete the Nismo look of the car. So I began hunting for the wheels and a wing. I found the wheels in Japan and had them shipped to me. Such a beautiful wheel!
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psuloexlki.jpg

To be continued...

It proved to be a lot harder/expensive to get value genuine Nismo wing, so I decided on the Evo-R high wing. A local guy happened to be selling one and I figured the extra size would suit the car well. Getting the stock wing off was a bit of work. It came off a red car so I just had to get the base painted. Trial fit...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...skkhsglcb.jpeg

While the Z would drift pretty well with very minimal mods, I knew I would want more right away. I had a pretty good plan in my head what I would need so I started shopping. The only things I was able to source locally were a custom twin plate clutch, a Kaaz 2 way diff, MCA Coilovers and the components for a DIY oil cooler kit.

Everything else ended up coming from Z1 motorsports pretty much. I must say I was super impressed with their service. Even if they thought I was trying to scam them, with such a large order to Australia haha.

This was the delivery from Z1...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psa1as3oks.jpg

Radiator, CSC elimination kit, all the SPL arms/bushings/tie rod ends, 4.08 final drive etc

My focus for this car is on keeping it cool and getting it to handle as well as possible, whilst also being extremely low. Engine wise the mods will be AAM intakes (came with the car), catless true dual exhaust (custom made to sit up nice and high for maximum clearance) and a custom tune using UpRev.

All the suspension stuff has been fitted now, apart from the rear subframe and diff bushes.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4tchsvkt.jpg

Mmm SPL (drool)
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psy7wryuqn.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...pszylfmail.jpg

Up front I installed Voodoo 13 offset rack spacers and the SPL tie rod ends. I also cut the lock stops off. Now I have this much lock...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0wj7wqmj.jpg

If I decide I need more than that I'll be modifying the front knuckle/lower arm to suit.

Just remembered, another important addition is the CJ-MOTORSPORTS oil pan which I got from a member on here. The trap doors will be very helpful when going sideways. It's a work of art
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...pseavk42mz.jpg

This weekend I was finally able to get the car back on the ground and set the height.

I'm running 30mm spacers front and rear with the Nismo wheels. Alignment has just been done by eye for now.

I was pretty damn excited to see it on the ground. Absolutely love how it looks. Even though it's really just a lowered Nismo

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psbsnqwaqf.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psww1aooem.jpg

Next I drilled the two extra holes needed to fit the wing. After very carefully measuring of course. I love it even more with the wing on...

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...pslkqnbnzs.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psroequ9g3.jpg

So that's the styling side of things done. But there is a heap to be done before I get to drive it.

Next up is want to get the exhaust built. I've taken the Nismo S-Tune that was on there off to sell it. So it's rather loud right now.

Then the diff will come out to get built and I should probably do the subframe bushes at that point. Not looking forward to that at all.

Then I'll get it back up on my scissor lift and do the oil cooler and radiator. Once that's done is just tune, alignment and lots of driving. Looking forward to it.

Dude that's freaking awesome!! What are you going to do for more power?

Fi? or N/A?

Also god I would KILL to have that S14.. (DROOOLLLL):yum:

Nice build!

Sub'd for progress. Good luck with your build! :tiphat:

Very cool!!! You have nice parts on the car! It must feel super cool knowing you have a super duper rare car out on the track making all that smoke!! You need a nice exhaust to let everything hear here RAOR!!

YzGyz

I'll start off with NA. I want to get the suspension and reliability dialed in before I add FI to the mix. If it does end up FI, it will be getting a modified Boosted Performance kit to suit RHD. I love the idea of a big twin scroll single on e85.

Haha thanks. Yeah that 14 was pretty damn special to me. I still have this pic of it as my wallpaper...

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psifgugfyx.jpg

Yes and no actually. The problem with having a nice car out there is you tend to drive less aggressively which can actually make you more likely to hit something.
It's also a lot more expensive to replace things like doors and quarter panels when you bump into your mates/walls.

BUT....seeing/hearing it on track doing it's thing will more than make up for it!

The company who I got the coilovers from actually have their own VK56 powered 370z drift car. Its a comp car so function is chosen over form. In my opinion it's actually quite ugly. I'll definitely be taking the form over function approach haha. But that doesn't mean it won't do a sweet skid :happydance:

Pic of the Z in question...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psr9jnjzlm.jpg

Wow! 3 side exhaust!

YzGyz

Great pics! Awesome!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

My extra pairs of rear wheels turned up today. I have always found it much easier to have multiple sets of wheels with tyres pre fitted than it is to line up and pay the tyre changer. In the s14 a new pair of tyres only lasted 12 laps so it would've been a lot of standing around. I expect to get a lot more life out of the tyres on the Z though.

I ordered 4 of the Work CR Kiwami Ultimate in 19x11 +18. They will most likely have a 20mm spacer behind them as well. With a 265 tyre stretched on.

The color is Glim Silver, it's really nice.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...pstfn0ohoh.jpg

Excited for more progress! Definitely subbed!

Pic of the Z in question...
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psr9jnjzlm.jpg[/QUOTE]

Does anyone know if there's a video of this Z? I would love to hear that exhaust...:yum:

Here is one from my local track. https://youtu.be/HakRxxvR74I

Just search MCA 370z in YouTube for more

I can't stop starting at it ��

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psfv9owj3g.jpg

Dropping it off for the exhaust next week. Mounted the wing for the final time with a sealant. Pulled the yaw controller out as well as the steering lock fuse.

Also ordered a Nismo shift knob and both the front lower arm SPL bushings.

And tires are being fitted to the Work wheels today.

Sooo jealous of the mod, car and GARAGE! Keep the pics coming!!

Was a beautiful day today so I took some pics outside. The colour is amazing in the sun!
[URL=http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/finnslater/media/370z/20151206_1341592_zpsdom8vjnz.jpg.html]http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psdom8vjnz.jpg[/URLhttp://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...pszvxoxckl.jpghttp://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psvjnt1a7o.jpg

Clutch arrived. Its a bilket twin plste custom built by a local company. I had one of their clutches in my last car and it was excellent.
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4hyombok.jpg

Exhaust is well under way also. It is catless with flex pipes where the cats normally sit. The whole thing will sit higher that the frame rails to protect it from scraping on ripple strips etc. There will be resonators and a single twin entry/exit muffler as some tracks near me have noise restrictions. Can't wait to hear it. Picking it up Monday
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...safdvxeh4.jpeg

Exhaust is finished. Super impressed with the quality. It all sits up above the chassis so no chance of scraping it.
Surprised at how quiet it is with just the one small muffler. It would be quite street able. I didn't want it too loud anyway.
I'll get a sound clip up soon hopefully.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psr2vstjtj.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psywf8neh8.jpg

I got myself an electronic scissor lift for the garage too. Just need to make some ramps so I can actually get the Z over it.
This should make putting the rest of the mods in a lot easier.

To do list over the Christmas break...

Make ramps for lift
Pull diff out and get 2 way/4.08's installed
Install the Radiator
Make oil cooler lines
Fit oil cooler
Swap oil pans
Put braided brake lines in
Roll front guards
Put clutch in with CSC elimination

I also managed to break the power steering somehow. So I need to diagnose that and fix

Fun thread! Sub'd :tup:

Such a sexy S14 :yum:

So I got myself a scissor lift a little while ago. Finally got it setup this weekend :D
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psja5vye07.jpg

I had to make some pretty serious ramps out of timber to get the car up high enough for the lift.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psdrwihljh.jpg

It gives me great access to pretty much everything under the car. Even the gearbox if I really wanted to get it out
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psqh9y48xz.jpg

Very nice...

Well my Christmas holidays came and went with barely a spanner (wrench) turned on the car. A shame as I had plans to get heaps done.

Santa was very nice though. He got me a Nismo shift knob and the Carbon Signal rear diffuser ��

All I managed to install was the CSF radiator. It's a very impressive piece of kit. I was shocked at how thin the factory radiator core is (15mm). I'm a bit nervous that even the CSF at 32mm won't be enough on the hottest days here. My S14 had a 52mm Koyorad and it still got a bit hot on occasion.
Install went smoothly. I used the he Mishimoto YouTube install as a guide.
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psa80isdpd.jpg

Just before Christmas a local guy put some Z1 2 piece rotors up for sale at a great price so I snapped them up.
They are 10 pounds lighter per corner which is what sold me on them. http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...psvzoyz0sz.jpghttp://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3ulobctu.jpg

do the lighter rotors give a noticeable change to the driving/steering characteristics?

ABSOLUTELY! I have them on the front my my Z and if you drive a Z that doesnt have them back to back, you instantly notice the steering weight difference. The cost to rebuild them is also one of the best i've seen for two piece rotors.

Sorry for the thread jack, But keep it up man! I'm interested in seeing the videos of it sliding around!

any updates?

In for updates!!

Hmmm .... I have a sneaky suspicion that it finished up like this ...

Adding photo .... Finn on-sold to KF365 and Keith lost brakes into Turn 1 at 220kph+

Is that this car?

Yes, it is. Back in Keith's shed awaiting major rebuild ... right front and rear corners ripped out, chassis rails a bit bent

Oh crap, loved that car.