cv129's slow build

cv129

Always wanted to know what the car puts down at the wheels. Curiosity came from my feeling that the car was a bit faster when temperature was cool. I usually drive the car at night or early morning (before and at sunrise) during weekends, so the few occasions when I drove it under the hot sun in the afternoons, I sensed differences.

8/10/13 @ 19xxx miles - Baseline dyno @ Cobb Plano. 10am appointment, about 10:25 when the car was strapped and ready. Ambient temp was high 80's, and slowly getting a hotter as the sun really hit. Car was at full operating temp when the dyno session started (coolant temp at the normal position, oil temp at 180F). Hood was closed during the consecutive runs. Trying to mimic real life day to day condition as much as possible.


3 pulls for $65 in case anybody wonder.



Result = 281whp, 231lb/ft, AWD Mustang Dyno. Bone stock (except for oil cooler and fluids). Yes it has oem style paper air filter still.


Chatting with a MS3 owner while waiting for my appointment, I mentioned that I am using OEM paper air filter, he didn't believe me at first. He started laughing after he asked the second time, and I gave him the same answer, told me "c'mon man at least put a K&N drop-in". Soon after, I bought a slightly used pair from member Riptide67. Very timely and responsible communications from Derek for a smooth transaction.

cv129

Warning: Subjective, noob review coming...

My weekend, very early, morning drive always consist of driving through a section of a freeway.

• Approx 5 miles section of a freeway
• Some elevation changes and consecutive banked curves
• Uneven surface, dips and bumps in the middle of the curves

I want to take this chance to highlight some things I felt with stock tire setup 245/285 Yoko sports vs the 265/285 RE-11.

A quick pic before I started my first morning drive with the new tires.


Stock suspension and tires: pushing the car through the section felt...kinda safe. I felt the stock shocks and dampers did their job in keeping the car from getting too upset, and back end never felt too loose. Up/down movements were controlled at double digits...pushed into the triple digits, things started to feel a bit rough, but still manageable.

Stock suspension, new tires: reduced the stagger, 265F and 285R RE11...the most noticeable change was, through those dips, specifically the moments when the car pushed/settled back down onto the pavement after the initial upward launch (like when the springs are extended and now need to pull back to the original state), that moment where the tires got compressed hard against the pavement, the front felt much more dominant, and the rear would get a little more upset/twisty, and tiny changes in steering input were needed. Tested over the same curves and dips over and over, and concluded that the car was more nervous/less linear (not necessarily a bad thing, every track guy in the 370z community suggests square setup for pretty much spirited driving to autox and tracking, but my need is different, skill level not as high)

So ^ prompted me to really looked forward to the SPL front arms being done and I could finally get my suspension changes underway.

Again, this is purely my impression. Do not blindly take my words. A 280whp 370z is the fastest thing I've ever had.

Rusty

A journal is the best way to keep tabs on your build. As you make changes, list them. After awhile, you'll look back and go WOW! LOL

__________________

浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

cv129

The more interesting stuff here:

11/1/13 - Added another VQ to the family, 2010 G37s AE. Good change from my bare bone Z. Good grunt, more comfortable than the Z, wife loves it.

11/2/13 @ approx 20,500 miles - Dropped off Z at Vorshlag Motorsports.

They specialize in suspension and related fabrications. Some may recognize this name from their camber plates and/or LSx swaps into E36 and Miatas. The owner also runs a TT3 S197 Mustang. However, I think they are largely unknown within the 370z community.

They have posted a detail writeup, link below. It's about 20 miles from where I live and work, and it would be impossible for me to visit during business hours due to traffic, so I'm glad they captured some of the progress.

Wai Wong's Nismo 370Z(ed) - Vorshlag Motorsports BMW (M3, E36, E46, E92), Evo, Mustang, Project Car and Racing Events Gallery.

I gave them as much time freedom as possible, and eventually got the car back after about 7 business days. Quick recap of things done:

• SPL front camber arms
• SPL rear camber arms
• SPL rear toe arms
• SPL toe lockout kit
• JRZ RS1 coilovers
• Strengthen rear shock tower
• Corner balancing and alignment

Some things:

Car ended up 1 inch lower. I initially wanted about 1/2 but we did agreed on ride height would be pending their assessments on shock travels.

I decided to go with stock alignment at this point. Car won't see track duty for another year or so, and based on my previous impression with the new tires setup, plus where and how I drive it, I rather be on the safe side (understeer).

Bought the RS1's back in April when Forged Performance had a special promotion going on, about a 40% discount, that's why I took the plunge. They sat in my bedroom for over 6 months before finally seeing action lol. I didn't want to, nor did I feel the need to, change the suspension on the Z, but the pricing was once in a lifetime deal for me and I couldn't pass it up. And to do it right, I dived further and got the necessary arms.

Would love to get the bushings too, but price (parts and labor) would be a bit much. I'll wait till this car racks up 40 or 50k miles and then revisit. I figure the bushings will be somewhat worn enough to justify a bushing change.