Dembflyr's Journal
 

After over a year of being a member on this site and almost a year of owning my Z, I figured I would start a journal. I have used the journals of others to find just what it is that I want to do to my car so I figured I'd share just what I've done with mine

I never imagined that I would have done as much to my car as I have. And I'm not done yet! :tup: But are we ever really done?

I found my car online in Connecticut. I live in Indiana now but I used to live in CT so I recruited a friend to pick me up and bring me to the dealer.

Purchased 3/31/10

I was so excited that I really didn't give the car a good once over. Don't be like me.

I got about 50 miles away and stopped to buy lunch for my friend and saw this:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...aler-grrrr.jpg

I called the dealer right away and emailed the picture but, long story short, I didn't get anywhere with them. They knew they'd never see me again so customer service wasn't high on their list.

I decided, after some schooling on here, that It was my fault for not checking the car properly before signing the papers. Lesson learned.

I fixed it myself with some touch up:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...d-touch-up.jpg

So, on with the good stuff.....

Here she is after getting her back to Indiana:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure30018-a.jpg

My first mod was Berk high flow cats. I ordered on 4/14/10. I got the cats on 4/21/10. I also ordered the CBE and wound up waiting until August for delivery. But in the end it was well worth it.

That demon bolt was a bitch though:
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...last-bolt.html

Second mod:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...fairlady-z.jpg
My dad had a 1970 240Z and told me all about the Fairlady Z so I had to put this on.

Nismo engine cover:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...-look-good.jpg
Some tape and red paint is all you need!

Cobb Post MAF Tubes:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...-maf-tubes.jpg

My Berk CBE arrived August 2010:

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure19751-a.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...-nice-even.jpg

Love the sound with this exhaust. Looks stock but with HFC's or TP's it's pretty loud under throttle. Nice and quiet at cruise.
I swapped out the Berk HFC's for resonated test pipes over the winter. There was very little change in the sound. Maybe a little louder under throttle but still quiet at highway speeds.

Here is my thread about my powder coated calipers:
http://www.the370z.com/brakes-suspen...ated-mike.html

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure22894-a.jpg

Then, right before I was to put the car away for the winter, my girlfriend backed into it. :shakes head:
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...-into-my-z.jpg

I found a great body shop and it was fixed in about a week.
http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...girlfriend.jpg


I did a little shopping over the winter. Nismo Springs and shocks along with Eibach sway bars and some H&R spacers.

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...like-march.jpg

Added a TWM Type R shift knob in satin finish and dyed my stitching blue.

I came up with a neat solution for making the shift boot fit better with this knob. If you remove the plastic ring that is zip tied to the boot and replace it with a section from the bottom of the thread area of a water bottle, you get a ring that is smaller and will still allow you to zip tie the boot in place. I'll try to post pics when I get back home next week.

Here is the thread about changing the stitching color:http://www.the370z.com/exterior-inte...nough-try.html

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...shift-knob.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...27458-nice.jpg

This is where I got the confidence to do the headlight mod:
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...-blackout.html
I did not like the headlight blackout look but I did want to accent the inside of the housings so I just painted the rings and added the angel eye and landing strip mod.

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...k-together.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ches-great.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure29786-a.jpg

I also added a switch panel inside of the center console to control the headlight LED's

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...itch-panel.jpg

I have done all of these mods myself. I love working on my car even if I am not 100% sure what I am doing. That how you learn!

That is what I have right now. I am planning on getting the GTM stage II supercharger when it is released later this month.

As far a other mods.... Well, you never know. If I see something that I like, I'll do it. Maybe some body mods next year.

Big thanks again to everyone on here for the ideas and support!! :tiphat:

Very nice job with the switch panel man, looks very clean!

Car looks great, and thats a nice little road in the video.

Thanks, It is very important to me to make things look right. I hate it when people take a nice car and hack them.
I worked for many years installing car audio and security. You would be amazed at what some think is a good install.

Thank you too! I think I need some track time now. :D

good build so far!

Damn, I can't believe I actually read through all of that lol.
Great looking Z, although I recommend not doing the led's in the headlight because of the leds wearing out unevenly and it'll look retarded.
Other than that I like what you have done for the cash you spent.
Keep it up.
Oh and btw it's better to keep the engine cover off during the spring/summer time.

Car looks great. I look forward to pictures of the S/C install.

I guess I shouldve started a journal sooner huh? Thanks for checking it out. :tiphat:

I was unsure about the LED's as well but in the end I figured that LED's aren't like regular bulbs and should last a long time. The main thing that I wanted was to paint the rings and my thought was that I might as well do the LED's while I had it apart.
With that said, that is also why I put in the switch panel. I can turn off any part individually.
Unfortunately I already have one out on the angel eye, but I think it is a loose connection. When I take the front end off for the SC I will take it apart and see. If I wind up with more problems from the LED's I'll just leave the switches off.

The headlights look good. I need to work up enough nerve to take mine apart and do some white accents.

nice work!

Looking good dude

switch panel is very creative idea

I also added a rear fog light but every one knows what they look like.

Here is how I wired it.

I put a dual filament socket and bulb. I wanted to have it on as a parking light and wire it to a switch so that it will still be a fog light.

After a little while I also wanted a flashing brake light too.

Here is the schematic:

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...-schematic.jpg

I still haven't added the flashing brake light relay but in theory it will work. This should isolate everything and allow the fog light to flash when stepping on the brake even with the switch for the fog light on.

The other two are in and working perfectly.

Yeah, it took me a while also. But as soon as you get the first one in the oven it gets easier. :D

Hey Dave...Good job with the Jorunal....Car's lookin great...thnx for sharing

Your touch up on the fender turned out great! What kit did you end up using?

I just used the Nissan touch paint from the dealer. The only difference is that I got a special applicator from a local body shop. It looked like a plastic tooth pick with just a few small bristles at the end.

I just put a very small amount on the brush at a time and let it dry completely before adding more.

I have used this technique on rock chips too and it works great.

I installed the third relay today for the fog light and it worked just like I thought it would.

I would like it to flash faster when the brake is on but it is good for now.

Great start. You didn't want to paint the housing on the the lights flat/ matte black? Better yet blue also?

Thanks, hope all is well with you.

I am one of the few that likes the chrome look of the headlights. I felt that the blue rings would be enough.
When I have the shiny chrome tubes going from the intercooler to the manifold they will have some accent pieces when the hood is up. :tup:

Here is how I fixed the shifter boot after the TWM knob install.

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...hift-knob.html

Hmm. I think there are some changes brewing with regards to my forced induction choice.

Stay tuned.....

great journal, the panel switch is a great idea, im gonna have to steal it lol. how did you take the whole center console out to install the toggle switches??

also was is difficult to fit a dual filament socket on the fog light? i want a fog light and brake light also

Thanks.

The center console would be a lot easier to remove if you have already loosened or changed your shift knob. There are two screws on either side on the back of the console and two more under the shifter bezel. I think you have to remove the knee bolsters too but thats only two screws each.

If you want just a fog and flashing brake light then you won't need a dual filament bulb. You can do it with the single filament using two realys, a switch and a flasher.
If you want it like how I did mine then you'll need the dual.

The dual filament socket that I got wasn't a direct fit but just needed slight modifications. I reccomend that you remove the fog light to fit the socket.

If you need a wiring schematic just let me know, I'd be glad to help.

I'm anxiously waiting for a tracking number from Sam. :eekdance:

I'm not even sure it'll ship this week but there is always hope.

I added one of these modules from Blinking Smart Products from KAH Technologies to my rear fog light.
It gives six quick flashes and then leaves the light on when you step on the brake.

I also got my tracking number from Sam. My TT kit will be here on Thursday. I hope to be able to start the install next weekend.

This will be another home install. I'll be doing it without removing the engine.
I'll be sure to add pics as I go.

looking forward to the see your pics from the install!! i may TT some time later but will be going for something custom, but we'll see lol

I started my TT install today. http://www.the370z.com/forced-induct...ree-style.html

Im already subd to your TT thread now to this. Nice work, love that you are doing it all yourself. I like my current mods so much more due to the fact I done most of the work myself.

Awesome thread. And useful too - I'll be doing the red stitching today. :) Bit nervous because I have cloth seats, but hopefully it'll be fine. Thanks for the tips!!

Nice thread, nice job on the stitching and headlights. I need some liquid courage to touch my headlights lol

Question on the Nismo springs

I bought some hoping they would give me a 0.4" drop as stated by some members...barely noticable but anything a little bit lower is better...some stated it raised the front...what happened with you?

The headlights are intimidating until you do it. I've had mine apart 4 times now for paint and one led issue.

I didn't notice any change in ride height either way. The ride is much more firm. It takes some getting used to but overall it's a good mod for the money.

Awesome, thanks for the info, I don't mind the stiffer right, that will be great actually.

Spent yesterday and this morning using the Mothers clay bar system and wax.

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure35676-a.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ike-mirror.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/dembf...ure35679-a.jpg

What width spacers did you go with front and rear??? Nice stance!

Looking clean!

I went with 15mm front and 20mm rear. That seems to be the standard sizes and it looks good.

Finally got on a dyno this past weekend.

474 WHP 396 TQ @ 8 PSI


I hope to add a boost controller and an upgraded clutch this winter. At that point I will get back to a dyno and try a pull at about 11 psi. That should break the 500 mark. :D

So my Z has been put away for less than two weeks and I can't stop thinking about what I want to do to it before next spring.

I already have plans for a new clutch and tires but a small incident has caused me to look at a few exterior mods and each one led to another thought.

The day after the dyno event, as I was washing my car, I noticed that the tail pipes were not center. As I went to move the muffler back I also noticed that the bumper was melted. Apparently when they strapped it down they must have pushed the tip into the bumper. I singed a form that released them from responsibility so I have to fix it myself. It's not real noticeable and I can fix it cheap.

So that's where I start to get carried away. Here is what I'm thinking.

I am going fix the melted part and paint the rear diffuser area satin black. I've seen this before on other members cars and I like the look.

But if I paint the rear then I have to paint the front fangs too. Again, seen it before and it looks good.

I've also been thinking about removing the slats in the grill opening. Not sure about this one yet as my intercooler would be more noticeable. I still have to decide to either put mesh in there or powder coat the intercooler.

Then the thought of adding a front lip comes in. I like the Ing's + the best but it's damn pricey for a lip. That and I'm sure that adding a lip will lead to changing the side skirts as well. Not sure if I want to spend that much more on the exterior. I'd rather spend it on performance mods.

The last thing I am thinking about is painting the roof gloss black. I have looked into vinyl wrap but I have no plans to sell the car so I don't care of its reversible. There is also a small blemish in the clear coat on the roof and paint would fix that.

I still have at least 12 weeks to think and save.

I have some changes to the mod list.

I got an opportunity to get in on a new product before it gets released. I am going to have to put the clutch and boost controller on the back burner in order to make room in the budget for this one.

I am going to one of the first to sport the 3" version of the Fast Intentions TDX. :driving:

Should be ready by March.

Yet another reason to dream of spring.

Anyone want a slightly used Berk cat back?