New Z owner in search of mod knowledge

MightyBobo

10 front/8 rear is what I run at the track. You can get ABS to kick in if you're really pushing it, but I'd say that's as aggressive as you'd ever want to get with stock rubber...

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I don't own a car anymore.

SS_Firehawk

I do plan on taking up some track days with the Wife as a hobby. Your argument is only valid if it is something you are happy with. I am unhappy with this two step pedal feel. Getting braided lines, new pads, and brake fluid is not what I consider expensive or drastic. I feel the same about the oil cooler as well. My chances of cooking the oil on an errand run are nil, but I am not comfortable seeing my oil hit 250F when I am driving in Las Vegas and it's only 75F outside. Granted I was driving slightly spirited, but who doesn't at one time or another? What happens when temps coming off the road are well over 130+ and it's 110+ outside?

To be honest, the brake fade, oil cooler, and buzzy exhaust note at high RPM almost swayed me into buying a Camaro SS because I knew that car did not have those issues. Granted it has problems of it's own ie: weight & soft suspension. I felt the Z was a better overall as a "sports car". It costs a whole lot less to do what I am doing to my Z as opposed to trying to make the SS handles remotely close to how the Z does.

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cossie1600

I am not done with my testing yet, but my preliminary testing shows the car actually likes more rear brake bias (average of 4 feet quicker or something). I have a set of 8s and 10s and stockers and some el cheapo pads sitting in my garage. I will test them when I get an opportunity.

I love the 10s, but you are right they are too aggressive for street tires. The 8s are good, but I can feel them nearly fading and they don't give you a stiff pedal like the 10s. Regardless, both are noisy....

SS_Firehawk

Soooo.... I think I found a way to get LTH's and cats at the same time. I found Motordyne's XYZ Y pipe with an option to install a cat on it. Now I'm looking for an exhaust that will properly mate to the Y pipe. I found a few to include Tanabe, 5zigen, Stillen (comes with a Y pipe), and Megan. I don't know to much about Megan as a brand other than they were quite inexpensive in comparison to the others. The Y pipe with cat costs about $485-500 with the cat option. PPE LTH's run 1050 with coating, F.I's run 1600ish. Anyone have opinions on this at all or any experience with these products? I understand I won't get a big increase with LTH's, but they do have their own unique sound.

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SS_Firehawk

So I updated another post I made. LTH with HFC + CBE = ? Basically I ordered a $h!t ton of parts. Most have arrived already. Waiting on oil cooler and Y pipe (in transit)

PPE Engineering Ceramic coated headers (delivered)
Motordyne M370 Intake Manifold (delivered)
AEM CAI -grey- (delivered
NST pulley kit -grey- (delivered)
AE Performance Oil Cooler (in transit)
Motordyne XYZ Y pipe with Catalytic converter option (in transit)

Tanabe exhaust is next on the list which I will order in a couple weeks. It will probably be a bit before I do anything else to the vehicle, but I do have plans down the road... I will shift focus to the drivetrain (flywheel, clutch, and diff) as well as getting stainless brake lines, pads, and brake fluid. I think I'll work on any suspension mods last as I think that it's handling is it's best trait. I definitely appreciate the input from you all. I did go against the grain on some things ::coughheaderscough::. The exhaust was the last thing I picked up... but it's all getting put on at the same time. All the feedback helped me prioritize my to do list. That to do list never seems to get smaller or less expensive.

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