TjLaZer's Monterey Blue Z

Dallaz

Man TJ that thing looks killer! I always thought that wing would complete the look for your car, congratulations. What's next?

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AeroJacket Lip Kit | GTR switch | NISMO S-Knob | Blacked-Out-EVERYTHING| 5% Tint | Carbon Fangs/Upper Trim | VOSSEN CV3's | Painted Headlights | CF Diffuser

iSteve370

Looks sick, MB is the only other color i'd ever get I was going to do this to my sport after looking at all you work but decided to take advantage of the special financing and getting a Nismo. Do you happen to know if the stock Nismo wing and the sport wing use the same bolt holes, I'm probably the only person out the that actually prefers the sport wing.

tjlazer

I think the OEM Nissan wing will fit, or you could get the aftermarket ones on eBay and slap it on your Nismo. I think all the holes will be covered up, the Sport covers more of the hatch.

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

iSteve370

One day I like it and the next I think it takes away from the body kit, it almost pulls all your attention to it. Did you say you ordered your wheel decals online or did you get them from a local shop?

tjlazer

Yeah it does draw all your attention to it doesn't it! Wished Nissan just offered a blue Nismo, would of saved me a lot of $ and work. lol

Got them from Mike the Powdercoater on here.

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

iSteve370

Yeah I would have got one myself. I'll have to hit him up, do you remember the cost by any chance?

tjlazer

Finally had some sun here is WA. Sorry for the crappy video shoot. lol

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

tjlazer

Finally time for some new shoes!! My stock Nismo Yokohamas are due for a replacement. At 25,300 miles the rears are done.

Inner part of tread was bald and fibers showing. (Negative 1.9 camber so no surprise, but they lasted a long time so I am pretty happy)

Surprisingly the fronts are 4/32 so I won't replace them til end of summer.

Got some Bridgstone RE11's for the rear! 285-35-19. Stay tuned for pics and review. I hope they are quieter than the stockers and handle ok on wet Pacific NW roads! (50 and raining today, 3 June 2012. )

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

tjlazer

While I had some time with my front tire install I put the Z on jack stands. (while I took wheels to get tires swapped) Was able to fix the front fender liners to make them fit with the front Nismo bumper. All I had to do was cut a small notch on the end to make them fit over the Nismo corners. This will work ok so you don't need to buy the "Nismo" fender liners. They are just $60 so if you are OCD you can just buy them! (I had them just on the outside of the fender liners as they would not fit properly behind)

While up in the air, time to get the HIDs and parking lights swapped for 6,000K's! (Yes I like to consolodate tasks when doing mods my car!)

Parking lights went in no problem! HID's, not so much.

Popped back the fender liner (which I had to do anyway for the mod above.) And removed the HID covers. Took my time and removed the bulbs. Swapped them over and was done. When I put everything back together I found out later that night and next morning that one bulb was not turning on. I found out that I had to turn off then back on the lights to get it to stay on. Searching the forum I would out others had the same problem. Bad bulb. Since I had bought these online A YEAR AGO I could not return them! So off I go buy another set. Next set came in and they turned out to be a little less white/blue. More like 5,000K. Not happy. Back they go. I had to go through 4 sets of bulbs! One was a SCAM PHILIPS BULB set from fleaBay...

It wouldn't be so bad if it was easy to install the HID bulbs in the 370. But I found out you do not need to remove the front wheels if you put the front end on jack stands. Just turn the wheels all the way to one side to flip back the fender liners. Then you can get access behind. But BE CAREFUL when you unclip the metal retainer as you WILL snap the CHEAP *** NISSAN PLASTIC clips! WTF

OK so I ended up with some HIDs from theretrofitsource. Did not want to spend $300 for real Philips HID bulbs. That's just way too much.

I got the D2S: Morimoto 3Five (35w) for $45 shipped.

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...oducts_id=1250

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

tjlazer

Finally installed my head unit! I put in a Clarion CX501 double din. Along with a Access ACSW module. Install went fine and I was able to get the steering controls working.

I picked this one as it looks very OEMish and has all the latest stuff without a big dumb LCD screen. I think that is overkill in a 2 seater sports car! JMHO!

The clarion CX501 has CD/MP3 playback, Bluetooth streaming audio and hands free calling! Front mount USB and 50 watts a channel tuner. Just want I needed.





Another cool thing is you can customize the coloring so I was able to get it to match the orange dash color perfectly! The color code is R=8 G=2 B=0

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

tjlazer

After a long delay, I decided I wanted to try out the Clutch Helper Spring! After reading all of the great reviews I thought it was time I gave it a try.

From day one, I had noticed the clutch on this car was very tough to get use to, and when I had originally bought the car, I had been stalling it on a regular bases for the first few months! This was very annoying and embarrassing! As if I didn't know how to drive a stick! I in fact had been driving stick for 20 years, and also have a 1990 300ZX Turbo that's manual, so that was definitely not the case!

I found the one that others had been using on eBay for $15 shipped, so I thought I would buy it:

Century Spring Corp (CSC)
Part #: 72577




It's about 25% the spring rate of the OEM spring. You can definately feel the difference. Feels lighter. Makes a difference, and I highly recommend it if you find the stock clutch troublesome.

Installation was a breeze. I had read that some had issues installing it. Even some losing the small C clamp. And issues with not being able to reinstall the rod.

All you need is a flat head screwdriver and needle nose pliers.

Use the needle nose pliers to pull the C clam off. Rotate the C clam if needed so that the C part is facing you. Then use the the pliers to clamp it and pull it straight out towards you. Should pop right off. Next press the clutch in all the way, and use your finger or screwdriver to press the rod in and then as you are wiggling the clutch pull the rod out. Once out set it aside, and then while wiggling clutch pull the spring assembly towards you and it should fall right out. Swap out the spring and reassemble. You will have to press clutch some so rod can get aligned and you can push it in with your fingers or flat head for more pressure. Once on use needle nose to push C clam back on in the reverse way you pulled it out!

Attached Images

spring.jpeg (52.5 KB, 303 views)

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

BrandonSS

Happen to have a picture of what you did? I havent looked too hard at it yet, but I need to tonight so this car can see some driving time. I havent driven it since last Wednesday and I'm sick of driving my XJ!

tjlazer

For those doing the conversion that will be using the stock fender liners and stock engine splash shield, you can just trim the liners a bit for the front Nismo bumper as follows:

Here is what they look like, kind of hard to see but you just cut a small notch so it slips behind the Nismo diffuser. I cut the notch like this |\ on passenger side and reverse on driver side. You'll see what I mean when you look at it.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1372015242.211660.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1372015254.109920.jpg

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

tjlazer

Took a drive up to Mount. Rainier in the Z, it was awesome! 3.5 hours up and 3.5 back. Was a fun drive. Only scraped twice.

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2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

MiStR.NGuYeN

great build man. cant wait to see what you do next :]

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2012 SR Touring/SP/Navi - ValentineOne | Evo-R CarbonFiber Diffuser | Fast Intentions SS 18" Res