need some help on 370z ideas
 

Hi. Newbie on the forum here. I grew up in Japan, dreaming about the fairlady z, so finally, I'm at the point it my life to get me a 370Z. My budget is around 40k. I'm hoping, I can score one for 25k, and spend the rest on the mods.
how far will 15k get me?
Also any recommendations on the tuning shop who is relatively close to Pittsburgh, PA? Less than 200 miles is desirable.
The car will be a weekend car/light duty track car. So, suspension and breaks may be the priority. Good stereo without adding much weight is important to me, too. Stillen Full body kit would be awesome, along with light weight rims. Maybe an exhaust system if there is room in the budget.

A little about me. I used to be a track junkie on 2 wheels, until the injuries kept piling up, and Finally decided to hang it up. I still have a need for speed. Never tracked a 4 wheel other than drag strips, but I'm hoping my motorcycle track background can jumpstart my new adventure.

Thanks for any help!

Shinya
Pittsburgh, PA

Hi, welcome to the forum!

For a tuning shop try R/T Tuning.

Edit- Not sure how far away from Pittsburgh they are, but would be worth the drive.

About 4.5 hours, made the drive a few times, Vince is the only tuner I trusted with my cars.

Where is R/T tuning located?

How far do you think $15k will take me?

It depends on your end goals...do you want stay non-aspirated or go forced induction. If you want to build a track car how serious are you...coil overs and brakes can put you at 10K if go lower high end!

$15k would go pretty far towards a naturally-aspirated track day build.

You should buy a Sport Package equipped 370Z. You can find plenty with relatively low mileage around your target price of $25k. You might even be able to come in under budget depending on how many features you want (i.e. Base vs. Touring).

Add an oil cooler. You'll want one for track use. 25 row or higher.

Upgrade the brake pads to ones suited for track use. Stock won't cut it if you've got any bit of speed in you. Use DOT 4 racing brake fluid. You'll boil stock fluid.

Change the engine oil, transmission, and diff fluids since you don't know the maintenance history.

Check the tires. What the previous owner put on will depend on whether or not you want to run them on the track. Plenty of tire information available here.

Now that you've done all of that basic maintenance and made the car track ready, get out there and get a feel for the car as it is set up from the factory. Depending on your level of experience your first time out may let you know what areas you want to work on the most with your build.

Remember, you can mod all you want, but the most critical piece of the puzzle is you. There is evidence all over enthusiast forums, this one included, where amateur drivers in heavily modified cars are significantly slower around the same track as a professional or experienced driver in a stock car. :tup:

See my for sale thread. I have a lot of the parts you might be interested in available for sale from my z we just parted out and traded in.


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I'd like the idea of adjustable coilovers, that I can adjust between the street and the track mode. To go faster on the track, suspension & brakes are the key anyway on seconds/$ scale. An exhaust and a body kit will be the minimum bling for the street, while putting most of the money into brakes and suspension is the way I'd like to go. But it has to be streetable enough in the summer months of Pittsburgh, PA. Engine mods are secondary.

I just picked up my 370Z in Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago. There is a couple more out there that were pretty good deals, so good luck!

Also, I have Swift lowering springs, and I will say that if I lived around Pittsburgh, I would definitely not want to go any lower than that. Had a few clearance issues on driveways, etc on big hills.

Luckily I live in Illinois, where we don't have hills.

I'd say driver mod is the key on the seconds/$ scale.

Suspension modifications won't do anything for you unless you are able to maximize the use of the stock suspension, which is already very capable. That's why it's important to get out there and get a feel for the car as it is, then you can make better decisions about which way you want to go with the car. Also, reference my point about amateurs in heavily modded cars being significantly slower than experienced drivers in stock, un-modded cars.

Take it slow. Don't be so quick to start changing suspension components... it doesn't always make it better.

need some help on 370z ideas
 

I agree with m4's statements whole heartedly. I modded the hell out of my suspension before track day. Because of it I didn't get to learn the limits that I could push the car to stock. Adding suspension later on after you have seat time is ideal. However #1 you need to add an oil cooler. Mine kept me below 200 on track even in the Vegas heat.


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If you think mods are more important than driver skill, that may explain why you had so many wrecks on your bikes.

suspension front back + front sway-bar rear not needed, brakes, LSD + bushings, exhaust HKS, OS Giken clutch kit n CSC, oil cooler, SPL all kit around and last but no least Volk wheels 255/35/19(20) front (305) 295/30/19(20) rear and toyo racing tiers, GL OP

PS almost forgot the CJ Motorsports fuel starve fix. n brake cooling kit from Stillen.

http://www.the370z.com/370z-sale/965...solid-red.html
Found this in the for sale section. I would try to find one with mods on it already. Save you time and money.