$2500 - What mods should I buy?
 

I just bought my Z at the end of Sept. I've only put about 600 miles on it. I just sold an extra set of wheels I had and have some spending $$.

I'm interested in some performance mods and have $2500 to spend.

I already have a Borla CBE with drop in K&N's. I plan on buying the Stillen gen 3 intakes (unless there's a better one out there). What would you spend the $2500 on?

Hey Lava

Thats a good some of money for initial mods. It depends on what you really plan to do for your Z. With me I started with intakes, full exhaust and wheels. That alone would be quick for your 2.5k might not even enough.

Then went on suspension upgrades, aerokits, racing seats, clutch kits, brake upgrades...Oh goodness you need more than 2.5k

Thats the world of modding anyways. I hate being filthy broke!

What are you going to do with the car? Drop ins work pretty well when compared to the cost of full intakes.

I'd recommend an oil cooler no matter what. If your'e going to track it or drive it not like a pinto, I'd say decent brake fluid, transmission fluid, and diff fluid. Probably not the sexiest response but realistic. Nice tires are about $1000 and improve pretty much everything a car does on the road.

STILLEN Intake ~500
SWIFT Springs ~320


After that you have some money left over, may want to get it tuned

May want to upgrade struts to match the springs, and throw in adjustable camber/caster pieces and an alignment with that, without a decent alignment new suspension isn't going to be worth near what you payed for. It builds up quick :tup:

I do agree with you on this man but OP has only 600miles on those fluids, I find it a waste of money at this short of a mile run with the Z. Maybe to get the best out of those OeM fluids is to upgrade it somewhere 25k. Again fluid upgrade is one of the best investment in the future.:

Good recommendation from Read T if you do want it changed now.

The oil cooler is a must!

Haha...with all the recommendation given you will be at negative 2.5k now!:tup:

But all of them are good!

If you have time to do it yourself, more money for actual parts. Clutch/flywheel combo with tilton slave plus oil cooler. The other is on suspension. OR just keep the money and not be broke like the rest of us.

My Z is a second car and I live in a part of the Country where twisties are pretty much non existent. I do plan on doing some track days but the majority of use will be on the streets which are straight as an arrow here. So I figure making the car faster will net the most fun.

I like the stock Ray's so I don't plan on buying rims, and really don't think I need coilovers. I do want lowering springs to fix the ridiculous amount of wheel gap and the minor benefit in handling they'll provide.

My car only has 10,000 miles so it doesn't need tires yet, I will upgrade them once these wear out.

As far as fluids go It has the GTR spec brake fluid.
ReadT What do you recommend for the tranny and diff?

Sport seats are something I'd like to do down the road, the stock seats are nothing to write home about. Some Recaors would be great. As far as brakes go I have the sport pkg so for my needs they should be more than adequate?

as far as areo kits. I already bought an Evo-r lip and carbon fiber fang cover and plan on buying CF side blades but not with this $2500

Do I need camber kits if I just get lowering springs?

Please add links or brand names of the parts/fluids you recommend.

Thx
Greg

I'll be doing the work my self.

I like the idea of an oil cooler, links or brand plz.
I will most likely wait for Clutch/flywheel combo since I have such low mileage and it's such an involved install.
More info on tilton slave plz.

Ok for fluids and oil coolers try Z1!

I recommend use redline 5w 30 synthetic oil for your engine.
Redline MT-85 for manual tranny and redline differential fluid.
Read T can recommend other brand. Motul is also a good brand.
Z1 oil coolers is more than adequate it has the setrab core.

Oils & Lubricants


Z1 Motorsports 370Z/G37 Oil Cooler Kit

Thanks Zoren... I do like Motul products, I used them in my track bike.

What about the Motordyne or Z1 intake manifolds or manifold spacers, HFC or test pipes and is a tune required to run aftermarket intake manifold?
And

A tune will bring the best out of your mods.
I do have a motordyne manifold planning to have a tune after install.
As this already kinda changes the internal airflow of the Z.

So I think a tune is needed.

exhaust/LSD/springs

Yea, is it safe to run without a tune for a while? The only tuner in my area charges $800 + the uprev, so if possible I'd like to wait until after I buy more mods


sport already has a LSD, thx though:tiphat:... they make a huge difference

Tires front sway double din clearbra

It has a viscous LSD, not a real one.

If it's my money, I'd suggest an oil cooler, sway bars, springs and camber kit f&r. Then add your choice of cat back.

Oil cooler, tune and a 75 shot of nitrous should suck up that $2500.00 in no time at all, plus for straight line speed this will be your best bang for the buck.

[QUOTE=LAVA;3074426]Yea, is it safe to run without a tune for a while? The only tuner in my area charges $800 + the uprev, so if possible I'd like to wait until after I buy more mods

So far I do have all the bolt on intakes,HFC and full Exhaust minus the motordyne 370. Im running without a tune for 27k miles now.

But once I install the manifold i'll go for the tune with it.

Its wise to get all your bolt ons in place then have a tune.

Btw I run a stillen light weight pulley as well.

I would really research on your options when it comes to tuning. Cost all depends on what route you go. You don't nessessarily have to take it to a tuner.
Enjoy whatever mods you go with.:tup:

Our Z's csc is susceptible to failure. The Tilton slave is among a few upgrades out there. This plus a clutch/flywheel set can be had for about 1400 at Specialty Z.

There are other options out there than the Specialty Z that are just as good and cost less. Look at Zspeed. It's what I would have done if I had to do it all over again.

those bolt on's don't demand a tune, your stock ecu will be fine and can adjust... especially if you want to do more then wait until your bolt ons are complete. (ie no point in CBE, tune, intakes tune)

why not save that money? must it be spent? if so then what are you looking for in your upgrade? speed? handling? both?

or maybe even invest into a track driving school to learn more.

if you plan on taking your car to the track, on top of fluids you'll need to change your pads and possibly a break cooling kit.

long tube headers ~$1300
tune ~$500
oil cooler ~$400
springs ~$300

TOTAL = ~$2500

you will then have added power, handling, & made some stuff more reliable

Or go with a custom intake manifold, 09+ maxima throttle bodies, and custom 3 inch intakes. 2,500 will make for a good start

Get a 34 row oil cooler and a tune... if you get any other breather mods, get the tune after those are installed. Consider Ecutek over Uprev.

Lots of cosmetic or performance options with the remaining $1000-$1500. Lots of good ideas have been mentioned. Rotors and brake pads are good upgrades - the sport caliper are solid for anything other than full on racing. Do your research and tailor your choices to your usage for the car :driving:

FI exhaust, Gen 3 intakes and UPREV tune w $200 to spare.


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I have a 25r z1 oil cooler and run redline fluids, and PFC clutch/brake fluid. If you track it you will probably spend ~500 on registration for a weekend, ~200 for pads, ~200 for rotors.

GTR fluid is good, but I wouldn't track on it. Plus before you go to any track you'll want to change for fresh fluid anyways.

This suggestion is way better I think. But that's if he can find a tuner for that price. OP is being gouged on the price of a tune. 8 bills plus uprev he says.

Do a full aero kit or do suspension or wheels and tires. Either way stick to one area or your car is going to stay feeling stocking even though you just through a good amount of cash into it

Wow! You guys are weird. The OP has straight roads to drive and he wants to spend $2500 so he could go faster by mere seconds. He wants to spend $2500 when the car as is is new and wonderful. Is there no one in his life (Mom, Dad, siblings, GF or BF) that he could surprise with a great gift?

If no, how about himself, how about 15 -30 hot babes For personal oil changes?

A decent sound system, and the hot babes oil change thingy!!!

Track days.

Ignore everything and everyone else until you buy an oil cooler kit from Z1 motorsports.

This is the link.

You really dont need a oil cooler, unless your sitting in traffic or driving the piss out your car on the reg. I drove 7 hours to the keys in my Z without a oil cooler and my temps never went above 230. But an oil cooler would be your best buy.

It seems like some poster in here don't bother reading anything but the tread title. :rolleyes:

I used to have my motorcycle road race license and have around 40 track days under my belt so I imagine that will help some when it comes to track days. One of my buddies is an accomplished Ford spec racer/instructor so I'll get him to coach me on a couple track days.

I already have a sound system in the works, so I don't need to use any of this money towards that.

So far I'm thinking oil cooler, springs, f&r camber arms, possibly LTH's and HFC's or test pipes.

Add drop in filters to that list and your looking pretty good

I already have a set waiting to drop in when I install my exhaust.

I would like to add the m370 intake mani and plenum spacer to the list though

Don't forget sway bars. They're the best bang for the buck mod out there.

recommendations?