flashburn's 370Z Journal, Project: FlasHBurN Commences!
 

I've been slacking off and wanting to make a journal for a while, so here we go!

Goal:
Ultimately I want to do 3-4 HPDE's a year, along with possibly some AutoX mixed in. I also use this car to commute about 70 miles a day so I want to stay N/A. I'd like to do my first HPDE around the end of this year.

I'm going to keep the list of modifications limited to performance, and not mention any of my aesthetic modifications or audio gear. I solely want this journal to be about my journey into the world of motorsports.


http://www.ericz.net/images/1st-small.png
http://www.ericz.net/images/4th-small.png

Current Modifications:

• Fast Intentions CBE with 18" Carbon Fiber Canisters
• Fast Intentions Non-Resonated HFC's
• K&N Dropin Filters
• (gone) Cobb AccessPort with Canned AAM Tune
• H&R 15mm (front) and 20mm (rear) Wheel Spacers
• Hankook 265/35/19F and 285/35/19R
• SRPracing Pedals (+10whp!)

Future Modifications (Soon!):

• Stillen G3 CAI (Sitting in my house now)
• UpRev Osiris with E-Tune. I'm ditching the Cobb AP under the 100% satisfaction guarantee they have. If they don't want to support the 370Z then I don't want to support them.

Future Modifications (~6 Months):

These are the mods I need to have done before I do my first HPDE.

• Oil Cooler (Not sure on brand/size yet)
• Brake Pads (Dedicated Track Pads)

Future Modifications (~1 Year):

• S.S. Brake Lines, probably these Z1 Braided Stainless Brake Lines
• Motul RBF 600 Brake Fluid (while I'm already replacing the lines)
• Rotors
• Dedicated Track Wheels + Tires. Hoping to snatch up a set of Base 18" Wheels from someone for cheap.
• Sway Bars

Future Modifications (Not Definite/Distant Future):

As always, open to suggestions if you guys think of any other parts I should get.

Photos:

Videos:

I had the exhaust, HFC's, and spacers installed professionally. However, my goal is to do all future mod's (within reason) myself. Currently I do not own too many tools that are required, so I plan on building them up over time. My first mod is going to be the Stillen G3 CAI's that I bought used from another member here. I'm going to be buying a dremel and a torque wrench for that install, I have the other tools needed for this job already.

Anyone have any recommendations for a torque wrench? I really don't want to pay the $80+ Lowes and Home Depot are charging for one. Amazon has a bunch of them ranging from $30 to over $100. Preferably I'd like to spend no more than $50.

Great start. The intakes are really easy to install. Just follow the instructions. The stillen instakes are super easy to install.

Would this be a decent choice for a Torque Wrench?

Amazon.com: Michigan Industrial Tools 1/4" Drive Click Torque Wrench 20 - 200" lb: Home Improvement

I keep seeing all different size drives (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", etc), which should I be looking at? Not even sure what the drive size means.

The drive size is the size sockets that will fit the wrench onto the square part of the wrench. That wrench has a 1/4" square on it, so you will need sockets with a 1/4 square fitting, or an adapter piece.

Ah okay, I had a feeling that was it. I'll check my current sockets, but I'm pretty sure they are 1/4".

Will 20/200ft-lb be a good enough range to do anything I'm going to need to do with my car?

The axel bolt(s) will possibly require more, im not sure about anything else. My suggestion is to go with a smaller range and buy maybe 2 instead of one, it will be more accurate that way.

Not sure exactly where you are looking, but maybe like 25-100, and 80-???

Just figure out what you need for the job, because that 20-200 might be to big to get into certain areas. If it is a cost thing buy the one you need now, if it isnt then break it down so they over lap by about 20ft/lbs.

Its been a while since i have really needed one so i apologize if my numbers are off in advance.

Cool, thanks for the info. So it looks like I need 38ft-lbs for the engine brace, and 80-90ft-lb for the lugs. I'll look for one with a smaller range then. When (if) I need one with more torque I'll buy it then.

Hmm, I can't seem to find one with a smaller range that isn't $90+.

check out Harbor Freight, they've got decent tools at very competitive prices. that's where I got my torque wrench. It's a 1/2 " drive though.

PS--I don't believe the 18" stockers will clear the Akebono brakes, I would just use the stock wheels for the track and pick up some nice ones for the street or get a set of different dedicated track wheels.

Okay, I'll check out Harbor Freight.

I've heard others say that they have used the stock Base wheels with the sports brakes successfully. I'm hoping that this setup would work fine, since people tend to sell the base wheels + tires for around $800 shipped usually.

Wow, the Harbor Freight ones are pretty damn cheap:
$19.99 for 1/4" 20-200ft-lb
1/4" Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench
$24.99 for 1/2" 20-150ft-lb
1/2" Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench

told ya. :tup: that second one you listed is the one I have.

Based on the width of the stock 18's vs. the size tires you want to go with, you MIGHT run into an issue if you want to run wide tires.

Okay, thanks. I'll look into it a bit closer once I get my first HPDE under my belt.

I'm thinking about getting this Floor Jack (and some jack stands) while ordering the torque wrench. How about this one:
2 Ton Low Profile Floor Service Jack

I'm just concerned with any issues using it on the rear jack point with the F.I. CBE.

I'm using the same tq wrench and haven't had issues, though I do not know how accurate it is.

For a floor jack I'm using this unit
3000 Lb. Capacity Aluminum Racing Jack
This jack has been great for me so far. I've used it for about 2-3 yrs. I use it along with a sliced hockey puck to jack up on the pinch welds.

Nice car, hope to join you with the FI 18" soon

It says its accurate within +-4%, so that doesn't seem too bad. It's on sale right now for $9.99. I've never even heard of Harbor Freight until recently, and was surprised to see they have some stores in my area. They seem to sell parts ridiculously cheap. Shipping is really cheap too, I think the estimate was at around $15 for the floor jack, stands, and torque wrench.

You better get that oil cooler asap if you plan on tracking the z!

Yep, as part of my plans I will be getting the oil cooler before tracking it. I'm probably going to pick up the Z1 Track Prep package with the oil cooler, SS brake lines, motul brake fluid, and hawk hp+ pads.

Ugh, well I won't be doing my install this weekend. Harbor Freight is like the slowest shipper ever, its been "Processing" for two days now. Oh well, I'll be ready for next weekend hopefully.

Well I was supposed to get my Uprev Osiris package today. However, the only thing I was sent was a cable, that is obviously used and smells like cigarette smoke, stuffed into an anti-static bag. Oh, and I got a Uprev decal too. :rolleyes:

So I had to send them an email to find out WTF is going on. Not impressed so far. If I don't hear back by tomorrow I'm going to have to give them a call. So annoying.


edit: Turns out that is all they were supposed to send me. Apparently the guy who does the E-Tune's is traveling, so he hasn't gotten a chance to email me the steps for doing the E-Tune or the stock ROM. Doesn't seem like they have the most professional operation going on over there.

Well I did my intakes today. Turned out pretty good, no real problems to speak of.

Took it out for a spin after also applying my base tune from Uprev. Felt a bit peppier than the K&N Dropin's I had in before. I went back and forth between the stock and base tune, and I didn't notice a difference, so I think the only thing they did was remove the speed limiter. I'm going to do data logging for the E-Tune tomorrow or the next day.

Here's few shots I took while I was working:
http://www.ericz.net/images/intakes1.JPG
http://www.ericz.net/images/intakes2.JPG
http://www.ericz.net/images/intakes3.JPG
http://www.ericz.net/images/intakes4.JPG

Oh yeah, and I'll be selling my K&N Drop-in's as soon as I get a picture up. They only have about 5k miles of use. So if anyone is interested, send me a PM.

Woot, got my E-Tune from Uprev the other day. They sent it over much quicker than the website says it should take (6 days versus 14 days). I was able to drive a little aggressively this morning and did notice it being a decent amount more responsive, definitely felt like it was pulling more too. I'll probably get a better chance to test things out on my way home.

Deciding on whether or not I want to do another datalog/e-tune based off of my current tune, but I probably won't for now. I'm going to see if they can look at my datalogs with my current tune to see if they think there would be any room for improvement before doing another tune.

curious, how come selling the drop-ins?

http://www.ericz.net/images/intakes3.JPG

:tup:

Car looks great! You have the same spacer/tire combo I am looking at. Do you have a side shot from the rear to show how far the front and rear tires are spaced out in the fenders? Thanks.

Thanks! :)

I don't have that shot, but I can do one. I want to go out and do some new shots, but I want to time it after I do a good detail. Probably next weekend.

Also I talked with UpRev, they had no problem with taking a look at my datalogs to determine whether or not another e-tune is worth doing right now. Pretty cool that they are willing to do that so I don't "waste" one of my two remaining e-tunes.

Sounds great. :tup: Also, what hankooks are you running? I figured they were the V12's but they don't come in a 265/35/R19, as you are running on the front.

Yeah, I think that is a typo, I'll double check later. I think they are 255/35/19.

Installed my oil cooler last week from Z1. Just about ready for my HPDE in December. Just want to install my SS brakelines and RBF 600 fluid.

I have noticed that around the same time (maybe slightly after), my engine seems to be a bit noisier now. It has pretty loud whine at certain RPM's. It doesn't seem transmission related because it also happens in neutral. I had a Nissan tech look at it, but they couldn't find anything wrong.

Yep, they are 255/35/R19 for the front. I updated my signature to reflect this.

Sweet Car man:tup:

Installed my SS Brake lines from Z1 on Wednesday, along with replacing the brake fluid with RBF600. Things went pretty good, but it took a lot longer than I expected.

Your car begs for some 18" ADV.1 Trak Function with some R compound tires :)

nice build

Thanks! It's nothing too crazy, but it gets the job done for me. I haven't updated my build post, but I've done everything I had listed as wanting to do, except for rotor's and sway's, which I haven't felt I've needed yet. I doubt I'll get rotor's anytime soon, but sway's are still a possibility.