Nissan 370Z Forum - Diamond in the rough.

Nissan 370Z Forum (http://www.the370z.com/)

- Nissan 370Z General Discussions (http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-general-discussions/)

- - Diamond in the rough. (http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-general-discussions/71486-diamond-rough.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600 (Post 2321417)

This can happen to you if you don't keep the car full

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Your picture is too small. Make it larger please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog (Post 2320957)

I consider the Z to be a good car with great potential. My question is what mods MUST be done to fix the factory design defects that make this car mediocre when it could be great.

Below is a list of what I believe to be the basics (or key weaknesses if you will) That MUST be addressed in every 370Z. What Key weaknesses have I missed.

1. Steering lock (duh)
-Needs the steering lock fuse pulled/or voluntary recall at a minimum (duh)

2. no oil cooler
- unforgivable defect but easily retrofitted. (I used stillen 25 row kit)

3. Horrible clutch feel on 6mt
- many solutions from removing the stupid assist spring to a full clutch replace. I went full on with a JWT, but do we all agree the OEM clutch sucks donkey balls and should be considered a must fix or is it just me???

4. Failure prone CSC.
- I did mine when puling apart tyranny to put in JWT. Is it worth swapping before failure?

5. Massive 25 lb Flywheel.
-Is this a poor designby Nissan? I think so!!! I put in a much lighter JWT flywheel and did not notice increase in vibration, but did notice much better throttle response.

6. TUNE!
- why don't they all come engine tuned to NISMO specs. Why do I have to put it up on a dyno (4-600 bucks) to get the same tune a nismo has stock??? That's just stupid marketing bs IMHO. It would cost Nissan nothing to flash all EDCs with the nismo data no?

7. Horrible road noise.
-From day one it has been criticized for road noise by everyone from R&T to my wife. I know sound-proffing is heavy (for you track bubbas), but a little engineering effort to help buffer the howl is definitely needed if you DD (I put some dynamat in key spots, but it still screams on some surfaces)

8. The "sport" VLSD. (let alone the base "open" one!!)
-this thing is terrible. A real locking 1.5 or full 2 way (or at least a helical gear type) is a must unless you only bought the car for looks in which case this thread is wasted on you.

9. hatch springs
-I mean come ON Nissan

10. unnecessary Hatch weight
- so stupid that some have and some dont, even the factory kinda addresses this by only putting them in like half the cars.

I realize this is not a full wish list of things we would all like to do, more a list of the things Nissan should have done at the factory.

Although awesome, I did not include things like:
HFC/CBE
Twin turbo or SC
better sways
better Stereo (though I almost did)
Pilot super sport tires
...Because they are mod/improvements not really design flaw fixes.

So what have I missed. what do you guys think is really broken or just poorly done?

In summary, for a few thousand bucks you can turn a pretty, though unreliable turd into a "real" sports car capable of holding its own against other "real" sports cars.:stirthepot:

What have I missed??

:facepalm:

means your assessment went a wee bit overboard

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue (Post 2321630)

:iagree:

I'm pretty sure that picture just put me over my mobile data limit

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog (Post 2321220)

:iagree: Good one! I have not had starvation but I've considered the thousand dollar fix anyhow (I don't like surprises) have you wound an off-ramp yet and lost power??

This happened to me the other day and freaked me right out. I thought it was the traction control but i wasn't slipping, hell it wasn't even that hairy of an off ramp. I down shifted to 4th at 60 and turned right and WTF! :icon14:

I haven't had it happen on the streets even down to 3 dots. On the track though I made the mistake of letting my tank go down to 1/2. Exiting out of a completely flat right hander, full power in 2nd, then almost redlining 3rd I completely lost power for a solid 2-3 seconds. Happened again the next lap but for even longer so I had to pit :(

Two fixes I understand

1.phunks fuel pump. (Awesome but expensive at 1000 bucks)
2. Fuel cell. (I don't know anyone who has done it on a DD)

Brings the cost of making the Z into a real ( or capable if you prefer) sports car up by another thousand bucks (with non factory/ non-warrantee parts).

So what's the count now? $3-4000? Still an awesome car and its still fun to mod but whew that's not great for a car supposed to be track ready from the box...

If it makes us feel better, an M3 (E36?) owner told me he needed an extra fuel pump too, to fix fuel starvation.

On the streets it is tougher to have happen as going left sends the fuel sloshing back. I don't face many long right handers.

I have a 2013 and honestly I agree with most of your statements but the road noise. I haven't really heard any rattles nor noise while driving. And I drive in CA where roads blow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo! (Post 2321109)

I'd say the diamond could use a little cleaning, but it aint all that rough.

Only real issues for me are the need for better brakes (even the sport brakes are lacking), and better throttle mapping (one of the most basic aspects of the tune that needs work).

Different LSD would cost more; Nismo tune is part of what you pay for in getting the Nismo; oil cooler was finally addressed in '12+.

The other things (e.g., hatch poppers) are pretty minor issues to me. For about the same money it's either a suped-up pony car or a much slower FR-S/BRZ. For me the Z wins every time in terms of the overall package.

Well said. If you want more you pay more. The Z has always been a capable car at a REASONABLE price. If you want Porsche capability and engineering, then the local Porsche dealer will be happy to see you and bill you accordingly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT (Post 2321637)

:facepalm:

means your assessment went a wee bit overboard

:iagree: Sounds like the OP has no real experience with a true "mediocre" car - which makes him very fortunate! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog (Post 2334512)

a car supposed to be track ready from the box...

I wasn't aware that the car was supposed to be track ready out of the box. Has it ever been marketed as such?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600 (Post 2321417)

This can happen to you if you don't keep the car full

http://imageshack.us/a/img710/6766/20120504213738.jpg

They'll install a tow hitch??? :shakes head:

Yes package 576

Just kidding