Semtex's Monterey Blue 370Z
 

Here is my 370Z, purchased on Jan. 9 of 2009. As you can see, it is Monterey Blue. It's a Touring, 6MT, with the Sport Package, and no Nav.

Here are some pics I took the day after purchase:

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...sed-1-9-09.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...cture909-a.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...cture912-a.jpg

More pics can be found in this album: Nissan 370Z Forum - semtex's Album: My 'Burka Blue' 370Z

I also posted a thread with my initial impressions:
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ownership.html

Oh btw, my name in real life is Ben.

Wheel locks
 

One of the first things I did after getting my Z was track down some wheel locks, as the car didn't come with any. Indeed, I even tried to purchase a set from the parts dept., and they didn't have any that fit the 19" Rays wheels that are part of the Sport Pkg.

There's a thread on this topic, if you want more details: http://www.the370z.com/wheels-tires/...els-locks.html

But I'll go ahead and give you the net of things. The regular McGard locks that the Nissan parts dept. will tell you fit all Nissans won't work, because the lug nuts aren't the regular cone style that come with most Nissans -- they're shank style. Here's a pic comparing a regular Nissan lug nut on the left, and the Z's lug nut on the right. The contact point is the washer, so you need shank style wheel locks that also have this design.

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...s-p1000610.jpg

On the advice a friend who works in the wheel business, I ordered a set of McGard #21153 locks, and they work perfectly.

This first pic shows the wheel lock on the right:
http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...s-p1000622.jpg

And here are some pics with the locks mounted:
http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...s-p1000613.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...s-p1000618.jpg

Update: Since this was originally posted, Nissan now has proper locks for the Z in the same shape/size as the stock lug nuts. I recommend getting those instead of the 21153s pictured above.

ClearBra
 

The next thing I did was have ClearBra Xpel film installed onto the front bumper, hood, mirrors, fenders, and rocker panels. Not much to tell here, so here are a few pics. Oh, there's a thread on this as well: http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...rotection.html

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/n...n-p1000600.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/n...n-p1000602.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/n...n-p1000603.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/n...n-p1000604.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/n...n-p1000606.jpg

Chip repair
 

As luck would have it, I got a nasty chip in a spot that wasn't protected by ClearBra. I used a product called Dr. Color Chip to repair it and it worked pretty well. You can read all about it here: Nasty chip in my paint!

Before:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000631.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000628.jpg

After:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000717.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000718.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000719.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/P1000709.jpg

Radar detector hardwire and Blinder laser jammer installation
 

My next project was to hardwire my radar detector and install a Blinder Extreme laser jammer. I detailed all the steps in this DIY thread here: Blinder installation and radar detector hardwire

But here are some pics of the results:

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/d...e-p1000689.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/d...e-p1000694.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/d...e-p1000692.jpg

Wheel spacers
 

I tried installing a set of Ichiba 15mm wheel spacers to push the wheels out to the fenders more. It didn't work out too well and ended up being a no-go. The spacers went on just fine; the problem was with the wheels. This is all detailed in this thread here: http://www.the370z.com/wheels-tires/...s-stock-z.html

Here are the spacers:

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...z-p1000643.jpg

Mounted:

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...z-p1000649.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...z-p1000650.jpg

The stock studs are supposed to fit into the little gaps between the mounting holes of the wheel:

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...z-p1000651.jpg

But the gaps aren't cut large enough:

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/w...z-p1000652.jpg

And that means that you can't mount the wheels back onto the car properly once the spacers are mounted to the wheel hub.

Coming soon!
 

I have the new Stillen cat-back exhaust on order, as well as the Berk Hi-Flow cats. Both are supposed to arrive on Thursday 3/5. I'll be installing them on Friday, and will post pics as well as video/sound clips.

man ur good. I bought my Z on Jan 8th and still havent done anything besides put 3100 miles on it. Got the Berk test pipes coming in next week, gonna keep stock exhaust, and maybe pop in the stillen G3 intake, depending on how good the results are. other than that I will just do the stereo w/ subs and thats it. Congrats. your car looks great.

Looking nice. :tup: Can't wait to see a review on your experience with the Stillen/Berk combo.

Looking forward to the review!!

Awesome Semtex, good first few mods!

Stillen Exhaust with Berk HFCs
 

The Stillen/Berk combo has been installed, and the results are awesome! I did a full write-up separately, so I won't bother repeating myself here. Here's a link to the full write-up: http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...berk-hfcs.html

Here's one of the vids:

Sounds great!

^^ Yes, great indeed. :tup:

Once again, awesome!

More sound clips
 

Launch



Drive-By



SynchroRev-Match



Extended Drive



Discussion Thread: http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...berk-hfcs.html

Edited by AK

hey Nice sound clips. car sounds GREAT!

Nice clips! Thanks

Car sounds pretty good!

Sounds great!!! Thanks for sharing.

sounds awesome!! wish we had nice empty roads like that over here!

Sounds awesome!

I love that blue more and more.

My custom Booby-Ball shift knob
 

My next 'mod'. The result of boredom, and a warped mind.

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/e...w-img_2290.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/e...w-img_2292.jpg



Thread: http://www.the370z.com/exterior-inte...ibly-nsfw.html

That has to be my hands down favorite mod EVER! Who needs a WB & TT when you have a boobie to play with ALL THE TIME!!:drool:

omg that custom shift knob is soo funny! imagine going to pick up your date and how she would react. she will know what you are thinking about LOL

she'd wanna touch it.

You nutter!

Thanks for the guided tour of your home area - it's absolutely NOTHING like I thought Atlanta Georgia would be - very picturesque.

Your exhaust made my computer desk rattle - sounds good - just right for the Z.

Excellent videos mate - thanks again.

Ahhhh... Monterery Blue. I have to see this colour in person. Looks so different in different pics. Sometimes it looks like pastel blue, sometimes bright medium blue. So confusing. Really nice car... and shift knob. =P

The color actually changes slightly depending on the lighting conditions, that's why there's so much variation from picture to picture.

Dyno results for mods thus far
 

Finally got around to doing a dyno. Here's the dyno sheet, and I made a new video as well.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...yno_032109.jpg



Next up is installing the Stillen G3 intakes. I'll try to dyno after that as well.

Note: If you wish to discuss these results, please post to the discussion thread here -> http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...berk-hfcs.html

Stillen G3 Intakes
 

Finished installing the Stillen G3 intakes last night. Initial impressions are positive. For full review and discussion, please see this thread: http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...eview-etc.html

Here are some pics from the installation. I plan to get the car dyno'd again some time next week.

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...ia-removed.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...e-unbolted.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...les-easier.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...ture1667-a.jpg

when the dealer finally calls me in and i get my 370 my would have a similra set up as yours(minus the B@@b shift knob lol
but i would follw in your steps great job and thanks
keep us updated :D

Dyno results from Stillen G3 intakes
 

Before: Max = 291.7whp. My only mods were the Stillen cat-back exhaust and the Berk HFCs.

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...1467494cd8.jpg

After: Max = 306.4whp.

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...re-14-7whp.jpg

Net gain = 14.7whp.

DynoJet results, for comparison: Max = 321.3whp

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...d-321-3-dj.jpg

Video:

YouTube - 370Z Comparative Dyno Results



Discussion thread: http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...eview-etc.html

Very nice man, congratulations!

so will the nissan parts dept's regular wheel locks work for the base wheels? if not then does urs work for base? plz lemme know. thanks

Any A/F ratio info from before and after the intakes?

Awesome that on a lower reading dyno you hit over 300whp with intake, cat-back, and HFC's.

Thanks for getting all this info out there for everyone.

I have no idea re. the base wheels. If your lug nuts are regular cone tipped then they should work just fine.

Didn't have A/F hooked up.

Found this pic. Made me LOL!

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...re1782-lol.jpg

Awesome.

My relaxing Sunday morning drive
 

Going out to have a little fun. (And I confirmed a suspicion I've had about one the 370Z's official specs while I was at it.)



Thread: http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-p...ing-drive.html

What a bad azz video!! Great job. With the mods you have now compared to stock did it take awhile to get to the question you asked? Or was it Damn already...