no biggie, we already have plenty of options for oil cooler kits... from stillen to technosquare to the oem option... and I know of another one in development that will include significantly more cooling capacity... I'll share more on that last option within the next week or two

DIY on the LSD sometime soon? That would be nice.

Nope. I am not even attempting that install. I will have a professional do it :).

Nismo wheel studs are in as are the Hawk HP+ brake pads. Pre race nut & bolt check complete as well. Removal of the spare/tools/plastics, alignment, and re-corner balance tomorrow.

Nismo 60mm wheel studs compared to stock...
http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...heelstuds1.jpg

Nismo 60mm wheel studs installed...
http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...heelstuds2.jpg

Cool Mike. I've never done that, is it hard swaping those bolts?

Also, I see what I believe are the Eibach springs in there. Still using the stock dampers?

No it is fairly easy to swap the studs. You have to remove the rotor, pound the old ones out, then put the new ones in.

I am not running the Eibach springs, they are the springs that came on the BC Racing ER Type coilovers. Usually they are black but since mine was the test fit set they were red for some reason.

If you have access to a press it is easier to remove the whole wheel hub assembly (held in by the one large nut in the middle).

But a big hammer works just as well.

Would any rear toe bolts for the 370Z require drilling on the car or just the SPC ones?

I am not sure. I am not sure of anyone else who makes them for the car though either. Eibach and SPC are the only ones I have seen and Eibach's are made by SPC so its the same part.

UPDATE:

Alignment is done. I don't have adjustable arms on the front so I am stuck at -1.7 deg. camber up front. Set my rear camber to -2.5 via the SPL Parts rear camber arms. Zero toe front and rear. This is just a baseline for the track and I will adjust as necessary throughout the race weekend.

My second set of 19" Forgestars are done and supposed to be shipping today. Unfortunately they ran out of time and couldn't do the neon green pinstripe so they will just be solid Piano Black. Once they are here (hopefully Thurs.) I will get the Nitto NT05 tires mounted.

The Carbonetic 1.5 way limited slip diff will not be installed until after the race unfortunately. Just no time and a scheduling conflict with the shop that will be doing the install. :( Since that will not get done, all I will do back there is swap out the diff fluid.

Re-check corner balance and swap diff fluid tomorrow as well as a wash/wax. New vinyl layout, wheels, tires on Thursday (hopefully).

Also be sure to follow us on Twitter! I will be posting progress on the car throughout the Redline Time Attack weekend!

Mike Bonanni (DDMotorsports) on Twitter

Following!

My second set of Forgesars came in today! This is the set I will be using for the time attack this weekend. I am limited to a 285 width tire in my class so I couldn't go with an 11" rear. This set is 19x9 up front and 19x10 out back. 245/35/19 front, 275/30/19 rear. I went with the stock wheel/tire sizes so I can provide a direct comparison between the Nitto NT05 tire and the stock Bridgestone tire.

Anyways, I got a weight on the 19x10" rear for those wondering. Weighs the same as the 19x9" front at 25 lbs...

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...arf1419x10.jpg

Also, if anyone is interested I will be selling this set of wheels & tires after this weekend since I will be getting my 18" Forgestars fairly soon for track duty.

wow looks nice but those are HEAVY - so its more like a cast wheel less like a forged when it comes to weight...

I don't think thats heavy at all for a 19x10" wheel.

agree, not heavy... stock is heavier... check these out, the lightest are around 26 lbs in this size, and cost a lot more !
Wheels for 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe Sport Package

there are some 19x10.5s that would be more like 23 lbs like the te37, but again 2-3x as much $ to save 2 lbs

18s are it, if you're going for weight !

Enkei RPF1's I would have gotten for a track wheel as those are extremely light. 18's are around 18 lb.

Ok so temporary track wheels/tires are on.

Forgestar F14 19x9" front, 19x10" rear. Piano Black
Nitto NT05 tires, 245/35/19 front, 275/30/19 rear

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com/370zpianof141.jpg

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com/370zpianof142.jpg

And the little bird that tells me about new 370Z products before anyone else knows. :D

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com/bird.jpg

The Forgestars are just beautiful. Loving the piano black.

Looking good! Must be nice having a tire sponser :icon17:

Thanks guys! The pictures don't do the finish of the wheels any justice.

Wow, that looks awesome! :yum:

Wow, those look fantastic.

Thanks guys! They will be for sale next week :D.

Race prep is done! 702Graphics.com took care of the new time attack vinyl layout for the race (although I might remove the mirror stripes) and the car is ready to rock!

http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370zrtaws1.jpg

http://www.ddmtimeattack.com/370zrtaws2.jpg

Looks like she's ready to go.

let 'er rip ! :)

Beautiful! I think the mirrors would work if they were completely green, not just a stripe...

I really like the piano black.

ya, loving the piano black as well, and the sizes I would go with if I got new wheels...PM me a price if you are goign to sell them =)

Thanks everyone!

I haven't come up with a price yet, but I will let you know when I do.

BOOO, I'm american so naturally I want instant gratification! :bowrofl:

good luck with the time attack and let me know when you have a price in mind :tup:

lol will do

oh, and out of curiousity, what are the offsets on those? I'm assuming you asked them to get you the normal offset for Z's like you did on your "show" wheels, but since your show wheels are an inch wider I'd expect different offsets.

Front is the same width and offset, but with the 10" rear the offset is +20.

UPDATE:

Last minute maintenance & prep is done on the 370Z before I head to Willow Springs tonight!

I changed the diff oil and the stock diff is done. The oil had a strong burnt smell, there was a big chunk of metal that came out with the oil, etc. It still drives, but I am fairly sure I am will be running with a non-functioning LSD this weekend. Now I am even more pissed I couldn't get the Carbonetic LSD installed in time. I changed the diff oil to Royal Purple Max Gear and will cross my fingers that the rear end holds together through the weekend. Luckily out of every track I will go to this year with the time attack racing, this is the one which will put the least stress on the LSD.

I put the car on the scales again and luckily didn't need to do any adjustments! Last time it was scaled it weighed in at 3230 lbs. with 1/2 tank of gas. This time it weighed in at 3187 with a 1/4 tank of gas. Cross weight is a perfect 50/50, front to rear is 56.2/43.8, and left to right is 51.5/48.5.

Here are the changes made since the last time attack:
Forgestar F14 wheels 19x9f 19x10r
Nitto NT05 tires 245/35/19f 275/30/19r
Muteki lug nuts
Nismo 60mm wheel studs
GTSPEC 4 point ladder brace
Royal Purple Max Gear Oil

There are also major differences in the tracks though. The first time attack was at Buttonwillow Raceway which is a lower speed more technical track with a lot of turns. That track favors lighter weight more nimble cars.

This race is at "Big Willow" which has far less turns, a lot of which are big sweepers. The speeds are also MUCH higher favoring the higher horsepower, big aero cars. With 300whp and the stock aerodynamics this track is definitely not ideal for my 370Z. It will however be a good test for the Mishimoto oil cooler. The temperatures will be about 25-30 degrees higher than they were at Buttonwillow and the amount of time spent at full throttle in the upper revs will also GREATLY increase compared to Buttonwillow. This will be the ultimate test for that oil cooler.

Again, I will doing live updates on the progress of the car and other headlines from the races live all weekend long on Twitter so follow me!

Mike Bonanni (DDMotorsports) on Twitter

Sounds like a blast! Have a great weekend. I tested the Nittos Nt-05 last week at thunderbolt. Held up pretty good for a street tire.

Damn, sucks to hear about the stock LSD, hope that isn't going to be a common problem for casual track Z owners!! I figure the hardcore track owners will upgrade anyway!

Good luck and have fun!

Ouch. Yeah, that is a bummer about the diff.

Can't wait to hear the reports on the weekend though...

Yeah not a good thing to find the day before a race weekend. Guess its my fault for procrastinating on swapping the fluid. Oh well. Car feels fine driving around the street, but I am sure I will feel the effects on the track. I am bringing the Carbonetic LSD with me in case someone at the track has the proper equipment and time to swap it for me :).

Isn't there like a 100 mile break-in period?

The stock diff is crap, just overheats so quickly with so little effort, I'm not surprised you killed it after a couple of track events. I get about 2-3 auto-cross runs and it turns into an open diff. I either need a powered diff cooler or just shell out for a real LSD.