Mozen's Build V 2.0 PICTURE HEAVY!!
 

Hello all, since moving to Germany and getting a pay bump (detailing cars on the side) ive really had some time to work on the Z and refine the project as a whole. Since i never really kept up with my old build thread i finally decided to delete it and start over. Taking a page from Spohn ill try and keep as many of the pics on the front so people dont end up having to dig to far.

Ill start where i started, with a base car. While deployed to Iraq i had been desperately searching for a shop who i could trust and get my Z moving in the right direction. After stumbling over NST i contacted the owner Mike and after a few phone calls to settle my concerns and nerves i pulled the trigger. From there the parts started to roll in. Since i was in Iraq i ended up having everything shipped to Mike and then had my family bring him the car.

Origional build:
ARK Type 1 CBE, AEM CAI, Mishimoto Silicone Red Coolant hoses, BC ERs Re-valved by Scott at Relentless Auto, Forgestar F14s in Gunmetal, gorilla lugs in red, 18x9.5 F and 18x11 R. Akebono 40th Edition Brakes, Project Mu Pads, Racing Brake Slotted Rotors, SS Lines, Whiteline Front and Rear Sways, a Stillen 25 Row Oil cooler Kit and a B&M Short Shifter.



http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...arts-nst-2.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...-jonas-nst.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...c-2010-018.jpghttp://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...moto-hoses.jpg



The end result was awesome. When i returned to Houston on R&R leave from Iraq the car was set up and ready to go! On top of that Mike invited me to join the NST team at XDC Dallas which was an absolute blast.



http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...t-set-mods.jpg



After returning from Iraq i picked up the Amuse R1 Titan Brace Bar and a Crow 5pt Harness in the hopes that it would give me the ability to mount a harness without a full cage. Alas the bar was originally built for a RHD car so when it was flipped for our LHD the mounting holes for the harness ended up pointing straight up...which was useless! (but it was realllly shiny...so i kept it!)



http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...-brace-bar.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...-isntalled.jpg



Since the bar did not end up working out for me, i followed Mikes advice and went with Secret Service Auto for a custom made, full weld, 4 point cage with a harness bar. Needless to say i was not disappointed. These are the guys who do the bulk of the work, or did, on the NST drifting cars. Chris the partner i talked to was down to earth and very happy to see the Z in his shop. While i was it it Mike Bonnai was in the process of parting out his first build and was more than glad to sell me his Carbonetics 1.5way Carbon LSD. So off the car went to SSA for the diff instal and the cage build.



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After the cage i had a stroke of bad luck. On the way up to a Z meet in Dallas i hit an alternator in the left hand lane of I 45 NB...thats right...an alternator. (believe me i had no where to go to avoid it) After $6000 of insurance work later done by Baker Tuning/Baker Nissan North i was again back on the road. At this point ill mention that Baker Nissan not only had me back on the road but managed to get it done under 4 days which is unreal when you think about how long the parts took to get to them and then for them to get the work going. The damage was mostly to the sub-frame of the car but also managed to crack my right rear rim which left me with a lengthy wait for a replacement through Forgestar.



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In the meantime i managed to get some AutoXs in on the Ft. Riley Airfield.



http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...iley-autox.jpg

Saved
 

From Ft. Riley i got posted back to Germany but right before i left i managed to have someone back into my front bumper with a hitch. Since at that point i was not making much money i took the advice of one of my airframe mechanics and attempted to fix the bumper myself. Although i am not ashamed at all of the job i did, i was not satisfied with it and decided to order the Carbon Signal Raptor Front bumper and the CS Replica Amuse Rear bumper. Although i got the rear bumper in time to paint it and get it on the car, the front bumper had delay after delay. In the end i was forced to ship the car without it and then when quoted $1500 to ship it immediately sold it off through the forum.

You can find all the bumper rebuild pictures in my album here: http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...er-repair.html


http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...ons-melted.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...er-sanding.jpg

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Once in Germany i deployed once again to Afghanistan for 10 months which gave me again some time...and money...to think about what i wanted to do. When i came back i decided to pull the trigger on the Zele front bumper, Side Skirts, CF Mirror Covers and CF Lip through a forum sponsor Bulletproof Automotive (370ztune.com) Although shipping was still outrageous.... but to be fair more than 50% cheaper than anyone else would offer.....they managed to find a shipper who would do it for around $600. After a considerable wait time for the authentic parts to come from the land of the rising sun i finally got them and breathed a huge sigh of relief when i installed them on the car. Im telling you, although i loved Carbon Signal's prices there is a night and day difference in the build quality between the replica rear bumper and the authentic front bumper. I will never again buy a replica...ever. If you need something thats the real deal...talk to the370z.com.


http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...per-cf-lip.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...per-cf-lip.jpg



The next problem that i ran into dealt with the Zele bumper. The holes on the sides of the bumper ended up opening right where the Filters sat on the AEM CAI. I found when it was raining heavily and i was on the autobahn in heavy traffic i would experience a bit of stutter when i put stepped on the gas. Although i didnt investigate it much for fear of damaging the engine i swapped out the AEMs with a set of used Stillen Gen 3s which i initially painted myself. While i was at it i added a bunch of Z1 Silicone hoses in red!


http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...painted-pw.jpg


The next thing to go was the ARK exhaust. Although i loved the sound of it the version 1 was really poorly designed and ended up sitting way to low. Although a lot of roads in Germany are good...many are not and i ended up dragging the car over what i felt was half the country. To that end i decided to replace the exhaust with something that is designed with a lower profile in mind. After quite a bit of research i decided to go with Tony and Motordyne Engineerings Shockwave CBE.
The exhaust fit great and although i had a very specific issue with one of the pipes and some clearance (the NISMO diff cover) i honestly cant say ive had a better customer service experience than with i did with Tony. In the end he shipped out for free a new mid pipe and i took my dremel to the leftmost fins on my diff to give enough clearance for the exhaust.

http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...ne-exhaust.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...diff-cover.jpg


Once all this was done i jumped in and decided to put a SPEC Stage 2+ Clutch and Aluminum flywheel combo in (from NST) along with the upgraded CSC and a new clutch master cylinder. Although i had a few questions during the install of this both SPEC and ZSP had fantastic customer support. On top of that the guys at SPEC spoke German which was hilarious until i realized that he wasnt joking. Seriously think about that from my perspective. Im in Germany, dont speak the language, the mechanic whos doing the work has a question i cant answer and when i call SPEC tech support the gentleman on the other end of the line speaks perfect German and has the solution i need. Friggin Win! While doing the SPEC Clutch i also dropped in a Braille 21 lbs CF battery which i also picked up for a steal from NST. Although i did not relocate the battery to the trunk due to the BOSE crap i still have back there i did create my own battery holder out of some aircraft grade aluminum and some countersunk rivets.


http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...pec-clutch.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...cf-battery.jpg

Part 3.
 

That above brings us up to now where ive decided to paint the roll cage with a resin based appliance paint (tough) and repaint the GEN3s i hand painted because the clear coat i used yellowed heavily in the engine heat. Since i didnt want to F up the intakes again i took the car to the same shop who did my front bumper and side skirts and decided while it was there to have them paint the strut brace as well. I will post some pics when the car comes back from the shop tomorrow.


http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...-some-time.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/mozen...coat-white.jpg


I will also add the Z1 LHP struts to the rear hatch and the kit they sell for the hood when i get the car back. More pics to follow!

Held for a further Post.

Glad to see her being built again! How do you like the Spec clutch with the upgraded CSC? How's the pedal feel vs stock?

I'm actually still running your old BC ER's :D

The SPEC Clutch is great however im really thinking of getting the RJM clutch pedal. There are times when i miss the ERs but mostly since the roads here in Germany are half good half terrible im glad i have the BRs.

Got the gen 3 and the strut bar painted along with the Z1 hood struts

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/m...3113549300.jpg

Very nice build

Thanks! Im working away slowly at her. Next up is a TWM Spooky shift knob, Custom Alcantara black/grey with red diamond stitching shift boot and some new custom roll bar covers (to cover up the holes in my interior) to match. Might even get the door cards done while im at it.

outstanding build!

subscribed for updates

I've got a SPEC clutch and flywheel, and came to the same decision on the clutch pedal. That damn clutch is grabby. Still haven't installed the pedal though.

Hah dam well at least im not the only one! How long have you had it for? Any track time yet? Would love to hear how its done for you since i just installed mine.

It's held up to turbo levels of power for >10k miles so far. No track time, since it's the daily driver. I've either got the stage 2+ or 3, can't remember offhand and the lightened steel flywheel. I love everything about it other than the engagement, but that's what the RJM pedal is for once I get the time to install it.

Awesome build. Cant wait for more pics.

I appreciate it Reaper, im not as far along as you are but im pushing.

In other news i bit the bullet. Had to decide between full LTHs or a set of good headers with HF Cats and decided to go with the Stillen Headers and Z1 Cats. Will wrap both with the DEI Black wrap kit when i get them in. This will also require a tune finally so ill drop her off after instal with a German Nissan tuner down the road. Sadly dyno time here in Germany is retarded.