Diamond in the rough.

SurfDog · 05-18-2013, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

The big one I think you forgot is the fuel starvation issue. This is just absolutely unacceptable to be an issue in a potential race car application where less fuel equals less weight.

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??

JARblue · 05-18-2013, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

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??

Honestly, I never have, despite putting myself at risk nearly every tank. I go way less than 1/4 tank, but I've never had a problem in my DD. I've almost always got a full tank before I go out for spirited driving - you never know where you might end up

Z_ealot · 05-18-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

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??

never had this issue with my Z, but then again i never took it to the track...what most people forget though is that there have been quite a few people over on the FR-S forums complaining about the same fuel starvation issue as well, so it's not a problem limited to just the Z unfortunately.

Ziggyman · 05-18-2013, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

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!

cossie1600 · 05-18-2013, 11:45 AM

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

Footloose301 · 05-18-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

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

( Click to show/hide )

Your picture is too small. Make it larger please.

CDepp · 05-28-2013, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

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

They'll install a tow hitch???

red2010z · 05-18-2013, 01:32 PM

I have never had a issue with fuel starvation and that sucker has read 15 till empty before.

I do agree with the oil cooler issue getting up to 250 here under normal driving conditions.

JARblue · 05-18-2013, 03:47 PM

Footloose301 · 05-18-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

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

6MT · 05-18-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfDog

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.

What have I missed??

means your assessment went a wee bit overboard

VCuomo · 05-28-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

means your assessment went a wee bit overboard

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

SurfDog · 10-09-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

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

Two comments from the OP:

1.kinda true
2. Thank GOD above for that!!!

I did drive a ford probe (total FWD crap!) and a Miata (fun but reeeeeealy slow) for awhile though.

scionide · 05-18-2013, 05:07 PM

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

SurfDog · 05-27-2013, 09:10 AM

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...

05-18-2013, 11:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 31	This can happen to you if you don't keep the car full Footloose301 and ubs234 like this.

05-18-2013, 01:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
red2010z Track Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Texas/North Carolina Age: 40 Posts: 587 Drives: '10 Red B/S/M Rep Power: 14	I have never had a issue with fuel starvation and that sucker has read 15 till empty before. I do agree with the oil cooler issue getting up to 250 here under normal driving conditions. __________________ AGENCY K&N SWIFT CSF EVO-R VOSSEN MICHELIN Z1 JVC ZENCLOSURE JLW3 JVC

05-18-2013, 03:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 44 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684441	__________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

05-27-2013, 09:10 AM	#15 (permalink)
SurfDog A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Colorado (9000 feet) Age: 57 Posts: 1,796 Drives: 09 6mt, 13 Sequoia, Rep Power: 15750	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... __________________ 09 6spd Berk CBE, JWT cams, ZSpeed CSC, Stillen (25 row oil, brake cooling, sways, gen3 CAI), Passport (9500ci), Quaife LSD, Z1 400 hp kit, ss lines, pads, rotors, clutch etc, Phunk's pan and fuel starve fix

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05-18-2013, 05:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
scionide Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: so-cal Posts: 436 Drives: 11 370z PW 6mt Rep Power: 15	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