Hocus's Fairlady Z
 

I've always been a fan of the JDM life. EVO, SUPRA, SKYLINE, and of course, the Fairlady Z. I don't know what made me love the Z more. The aesthetics or maybe playing so much Wangan Midnight Max Tune:happydance: in my youth, but I think it goes back to my friends always rocking the 240sx and 300z. I'm grateful for my little Trucky I've had forever (4-cylinder Ranger <3 ). I had that truck since 2006 and we been through a lot together, I will miss you Trucky. T^T haha. Anyways, lo and behold I got lucky one day while browsing around for a car. A slightly used 2016 370z for sale!! I took the chance and got myself my first real performance car! When I picked her up she already had some little aftermarkets done on her; K&N Instakes, spoiler and shifter knob. (Also, background story a little funny too). I couldn't believe I had a car that I've always wanted!!

Of course, the mod bug didn't take long for it to kick in and I was looking for parts, upgrades, the works! I wanted "That car". I'll be honest, I'm a YouTube mechanic. I have very little experience with working on cars, hell I looked up how to do an oil change and took the longest time for something so simple. But the feeling of accomplishment was amazing! I told myself that I will turn my own wrench for this car. No shops or dealerships.

And so without further ado, here is the progress of My Fairlady.


[MOD LIST]
Nismo Carbon Shifter
NS Seibon Carbon Spoiler
K&N Typhoon
Z1 Motorsports 25 Row Oil Cooler
Fly1 Motorsports Super Street Carbon Hood
Z1 Hood Struts
Z Radiator Cap
Z1 Silicone Tubing Set
Ark-Grip Cat-Back Exhaust Kit
Berk High Airflow Cats
EVO-R Carbon handles
Akebono Big Brake Kit with StopTech pads
ZSpeed Undershround
Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
Fly1 Amuse Kit
PasswordJDM Carbon Radiator Cover

[FUTURE UPGRADES PENDING]
Status Racing Seats
Amuse Rear Strut
Status Racing Harness

[Day one]
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...00598-day1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...-beach-day.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...pportunity.jpg
I live in Hawaii by the way. Weather can be unforgiving on cars here. Sea spray, random rain, sun and of course...SAND.
Here is what's under the hood at the time I bought her.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...00574-day3.jpg And inside http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...00575-day2.jpg

[RESERVED FOR FUTURE EDITS AND PICTURES]

First upgrade I did was getting an oil cooler installed. Hawaii and this engine have one thing in common...its hot! I heard about some of the problems with the engine getting hot; but after 2012, Nissan included a cooling method to help with high oil temps. Well, I went ahead and bought the 25 row Z1 Oil Cooler.

http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...oil-cooler.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...ting-bench.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...er-install.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...oil-cooler.jpg


I thought "yea that outta do it...but it only helps when you have forward motion. Which lead to my next upgrade. I figured ventilation would be the best thing. I was looking at cutting the stock hood and giving it vents but like most people, I was feeling lazy. I went with the Fly1 Motorsports Street Hood with the Z1 hood struts. Came out great!
[Before]
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0-oem-hood.jpg
[After]
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...-fly1-hood.jpg

Next up was exhaust. I love how the VQ has a deep purring sound when running. Fortunately, I found the Ark kit on sale at the time and went with it. Totally worth it! Sounds great and gets me attention!
[WHATS IN THE BOX!!!???]
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...-whats-box.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0570-yasss.jpg
Removal of the OEM kit.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...ything-off.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...omplete-dd.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...00571-ark3.jpg

When I bought the car, I noticed the previous owner Plastic Dipped the door handles. Looked cool, until they started peeling/fading. Well, I found the EVO-R carbon handles and thought that would be dope. I didn't know how much of a hassell it was to get anything from them. After many spammed emails and forums PMs I got the part i ordered. :D
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...or-handles.jpg

Now, at the time I didn't think about doing the cat converters when I installed the catback exhaust. I learned how after months of driving can make it a pain in the butt to take off (all the salt water in the air here T^T )
The forms general conspicuous was to install Berk HFC. :D It was during this process, I learned about the mythical "Demon Bolt"....F$#% That bolt! I keep it with me in the car to remind me how much of a pain in the *** this car can be haha T-T
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0582-berk2.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0585-berk5.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0583-berk3.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0586-berk6.jpg

That damn bolt man. so much oil and socket extensions just for ONE BOLT! Hearing that "snap" as the breaker bar finally gets the twist. Awesome!

I kept looking for my next upgrade and I wanted to get rid of the stock brake set. I wanted something that would help with future performance upgrades and I figured getting the Big Boii Brake Kit would help. I wasn't dropping money into Brembo or Wilwood when the Akebono do just as well. Thanks ConceptZ for helping get the calipers powered coated :D :D :D
Not going to lie,this project scared me I didn't know much about bleeding the lines and thought the pads were suppose to sit a certain way. Thankfully digging the right channels on youtube helped, though I wasted time at the shop one weekend to get no progress.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...7-dsc04566.jpg
Goofing around at the shop =3=
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...591-gooofy.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...9-dsc04570.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...0-dsc04571.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...ear-brakes.jpg

One of the coolest things to happen was meeting up with the VQ Inc group out here. Started with meeting the club president one day while admiring his 350z. I started going to groups, meeting people and eventually getting my place with the group. I look forward to entering shows with them in the future. ^^
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...100594-vq2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...100595-vq1.jpg
Putting the Letterman on.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...100596-vq3.jpg

Squad Rolls deep:happydance:
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...602-squad1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...603-squad2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...604-squad3.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...-roll-deep.jpg
Just an FYI, that 300zx has a RB26 swap. Super dope!

Nice write up! The Z is looking good!

Nice Job!!! Keep it going!!:tup:

Thanks for the love fam. Haha, will have to go back edit that first post though.

So I got around to trying to install the Amuse Kit from Fly1 the other day. I had some time and figured I try to see what i can do. I learned I need a 1/2in drill bit and a dremel. Will try to get it to fit better next time. But here is the Front bumper going up! Hope to continue this section more later, but work is going to be getting more time constraining and personal life.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...662-amuse1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...663-amuse2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...664-amuse3.jpg

No work on the car this week. Too much going on with work. We had a 4th of July show where I'm at and I got to enter the show (＾▽＾) I wasn't going to participate in the judging. Here's a picture. I got quite a few comments about the brakes though. (Will add some of the group if you are all interested)
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...show-shine.jpg

I saw that Password JDM was having a sale and I wanted to get some more Carbon aesthetics in the engine bay, but Holy Cow! Either I don't know what I'm doing or this fitment is just bad. I feel I shouldn't have to cut the part or into my car just to get this to fit properly. Will be returning this one. (I looked around on forums but don't see real answers on how to get it to fit, some are just lucky and others I can't ask, due to not logining over a year+) Kinda disappointed in this :(

The middle section doesn't fit at all. I have to cut that thick plastic up front, which I feel I shouldn't have to.
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...e100657-pw.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...100658-pw1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/hocus...100661-pw4.jpg

I bought the same part.No way it would fit.No cut out for windsheid washer fluid.Ect,Ect.I did use it but cut off most of the top half.

I had made a lot of CF stuff but takes a lot of time making mock up,molds,trimming ,clearing and sanding.
Wanted to get car done.I had started to make one but wanted to finish car quicker.
Part did not fit.Was disapointed. Pic of how I trimed out.
I'm with you,should not have to cut.

Appreciate the inputs man. I got in contact with them and they swear it should fit with slight adjustments. I'm trying one more time before I request a refund. Also, love your build man. I wish to get to that level of work on my car in the future. Novice here, but i want to turn my own wrench as best I can. !!

I didn't know anyone ran underglow anymore...I hadn't seen it done in years!! Build is awesome bro!!! Kutgw!! :tup: