Nissan 370Z Forum

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-   -   DDM Project 370Z (http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-gallery/1374-ddm-project-370z.html)

M.Bonanni 03-10-2009 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kustomZ (Post 42099)
Holy shi*!! What's the weight on that battery? I was considering a dry cell.

14 lbs.

Stock one is 35 lbs.

kustomZ 03-10-2009 08:39 PM

I take it those arms allow for more camber adjustment over stock? Do the stock arms have adjustable keys? Sorry for the dumb question, I haven't looked at the suspension yet.

M.Bonanni 03-10-2009 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kustomZ (Post 42104)
I take it those arms allow for more camber adjustment over stock? Do the stock arms have adjustable keys? Sorry for the dumb question, I haven't looked at the suspension yet.

I assume you're talking about the SPL Rear Camber Arms? Yes, they offer much much much more adjustment over stock. +/- 10 degrees over stock actually. The stock arms offer very little adjustment.

kustomZ 03-10-2009 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports (Post 42107)
I assume you're talking about the SPL Rear Camber Arms? Yes, they offer much much much more adjustment over stock. +/- 10 degrees over stock actually. The stock arms offer very little adjustment.

OK, thanks for the info. Wow, that's quite a bit more...

M.Bonanni 03-10-2009 08:51 PM

yes, more than you would probably ever use lol.

kustomZ 03-10-2009 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports (Post 42115)
yes, more than you would probably ever use lol.

I'm sure someone will put them to the test at some point and lay a Z out on shockwaves or cylinders. That's the only time I could see needing that much adjustment.

The shop car is looking great BTW. A ton of changes in a short time!;)

M.Bonanni 03-10-2009 08:55 PM

Thanks, hopefully more to come soon. :)

It needs wheels...bad...

Namir 03-16-2009 11:00 AM

Did you guys end up getting rails for the BRIDES?
I saw a teaser picture a while ago with the passenger seat replaced but if I recall correctly it was only temporary.

M.Bonanni 03-17-2009 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Namir (Post 44211)
Did you guys end up getting rails for the BRIDES?
I saw a teaser picture a while ago with the passenger seat replaced but if I recall correctly it was only temporary.

No, the teaser pic had the rail for a 350Z. We are still waiting on BRIDE Japan to send some to the US. Still no solid confirmation on an arrival date from them.

M.Bonanni 03-20-2009 02:50 PM

In anticipation of the time attack coming up at the end of next week, here is what will be done to the car prior to the race...

- Change transmission fluid
- Change differential fluid
- Drain washer fluid
- Change coolant
- Change brake pads to Hawk HP+
- Corner balance

Starting on the punch list Monday.

M.Bonanni 03-23-2009 03:14 PM

Started today on my prep for the upcoming Redline Time Attack this weekend! Unfortunately, running the 370Z was a last minute decision so I am not able to add a bunch of new parts to the car for the race, but I will do what I can with limited time and resources to give myself any advantage possible!

I started by gutting the trunk are to see how much weight could be saved. I grabbed a screwdriver and a 10mm socket and 10 minutes later, here are the results!

All of this stuff pops in and out with ease and will be put back in after the race...
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep1.jpg

Then I started weighing what was removed. This is the sun shade/privacy thing that stretches out over whatever you're carying in the back. No need for this in time attack! 3 lbs. saved...
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep2.jpg

Now some of the interior plastics. These are the pieces that cover the rear strut towers. 5 lbs. saved and easy access to the rebound adjustment on my BC coilovers!
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep3.jpg

The rest of the trunk area plastic and styrofoam. 10 lbs. saved!
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep4.jpg

Just like on the 350Zs, there is a weight bolted to the hatch...
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep5.jpg

...and it weighs 2 lbs...
http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370ztaprep6.jpg

And the grand total wieght savings for 10 min. worth of work is 20 lbs! I had previously weight the stock BOSE subwoofer, spare tire, and tools and the weight of those totals out to be 50 lbs. So that's a grand total of 70 lbs. weight savings in a matter of 10 min! The best part is, all of this stuff is just as easy to put back as it is to remove.

Now the only possible downside is that this amount of weight reduction is all off the back of the car. I have swapped the OEM battery with a lightweight Odyssey battery to help offset some of that, but I will find out later what the front/rear weight distribution is. Worst case is that I may need to add some weight back to the rear.

I also installed the Hawk HP+ Brake pads. They fit perfectly and the install was incredibly easy thanks to the design of the Akebono calipers. The car is still up in the air on jack stands awaiting more work tomorrow so I haven't driven the car with the pads in yet. I will bed them in later in the week and then provide my on-track impressions and pad wear analysis next week after the time attack.

M.Bonanni 03-24-2009 06:43 PM

Good news! I was able to corner balance the car within a good enough range that I didn't have to add any more weight back to the rear!

Car is now corner balanced to a 50.4% cross weight, 55%/45% front to rear bias, and 51%/49% left to right bias. All with the driver (me) in the car. If I find myself bored enough within the next few days, I may tweak with it a little more to try and get that perfect 50% cross weight.

Total vehicle weight with 1/2 tank of gas, no driver came in at 3230 lbs.

Tomorrow I will set my alignment and cold tire pressure then take a trip to my vinyl guy to get the sponsor logos put on the car.

M.Bonanni 03-25-2009 07:20 PM

Just got back from my vinyl guy. Looks pretty ricey on a stock appearing car, but hey, sponsorships are the backbone of racing. Gotta do what you gotta do...

http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370zdecals.jpg

ssqpolo 03-25-2009 07:45 PM

no! make the stickers go away!! yaaaa gotta do what u gotta do. but DAMMMMMN those are big lol. i woulda tried to just put them on the bottom, like just on the side skirts and maybe some going up the front quarter panel (like where the light up Z emblem is). otherwise, sexy car man.

M.Bonanni 03-25-2009 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssqpolo (Post 47486)
no! make the stickers go away!! yaaaa gotta do what u gotta do. but DAMMMMMN those are big lol. i woulda tried to just put them on the bottom, like just on the side skirts and maybe some going up the front quarter panel (like where the light up Z emblem is). otherwise, sexy car man.

See, although that would look cleaner, I am good to my sponsors. I am one of the few who realize that a logo on a track car is no good if you can't see it from 50' away going 100mph. :) Have you ever seen a professional race car, like a NASCAR or CORR truck or something up close? All of the logos and decals look huge and obnoxious, but when they are on the track, from a spectator or camera's point of view, it looks normal.

For car shows you can get away with much smaller logos and have the same effect.


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