370Z Track Build Potential? - Compete with 911 GT3
 

What are your thoughts on building a 370Z Track car that could compete with a Porsche 911 GT3?

I have been tracking a 370Z since 2014 and ever so slowly modifying my Base Sport with the goal at some point to be primarily a track car.

While my performance modification journey has really just begun...my ultimate question is...do you think the Z has the "mod potential" to run similar lap times as a $130K Porsche GT3?

My primary Track is NCM in Ky...where I am currently running lap times of 2:29.xx. GT3 drivers with similar track experience are running lap times of 2.19.xx. As such, looking to trim 10s off lap times with performance mods.

Thoughts / Experiences?

What generation GT3?

For the Z, are you staying NA? Street trim or gutted interior?

Referring to late model GT3...i.e 2015+

For the Z, looking for potential in "street-able trim"...meaning decent seats, all interior, roll-bar, harnesses, weekend driver.

Power-train....ideally NA, but would entertain FI....but concerned about reliability and heat on track.

Guessing you haven’t seen Kels yet. To answer your question how much time, money, and dedication are you will to pour into your Z.

Keeping it NA you would need to push the motor to the absolute limits and run at least 15:1 compression to make the power

Since I am looking to see what the potential is...I hadn't really considered any time period or financial boundaries. But since you asked, and we should keep it within reason, I would say:

Time - 2 to 5 Years
Budget - 10 to $20K

Here is what started my thinking....
- I paid 31K for a new 2014 Z,
- invested 10K in mods so far (not all performance),
- I could buy $130K Car....or build one one far cheaper that can compete with advanced class stock cars (Porsche, Corvettes, GTR's)
- If someone owns a $130K Porsche GT3...they expect it to perform at a certain level...but when they come across a 370Z that can hang with or beat a high end car...then that get's attention.

It's doable. N/A, you need a motor like Sasha. FI, stage 2.5 TT like Spooler's. Seq tranny. $20,000 coil overs. Gut the car. And lots of face time with the windshield. Better yet. Just buy a GT3. Because you will be in the same area money wise.

Sasha and Shamu's Z's will run with them. Neither one is streetable.

The most expensive part of the equation is addressing the power deficit. To reliably extract enough power to hang with 991 GT3’s lap after lap after lap, your budget isn’t enough for NA, probably too tight for FI.

I always aim at a “lowly” 996 GT3, that’s more fair to my beloved Z lol.

4 wheel steering, PDK, brakes that don’t quit, 9k rev limit motor...come on, that’s a little too much for our car to go up against.

😂, try 5-10x that amount. Unless you’re doing all the tuning and building yourself. Nothing wrong with dreaming

You will end spending that much money as advanced class stock cars. Not to mention the amount of things you will be breaking and the time on the track needed to test out parts. So you’re tiny budget will be soaked up in no time. I know because I’m well past your budget and even with a great driver I couldn’t come close to running with a gt3

They do have the potential to run with a GT3, money is going to be the problem. Dry sump and Bryant racing crank will be a must for reliability. The engine is where all the money will be spent. OS Giken Diff, 10k in suspension parts, Diff cooler, Proper Clutch, Built engine with dry sump. Don't forget all the track days to get the time in the seat. The GT3's are track ready. Jump in them and go. All the development has been done.

Horsepower: 475 hp
Curb weight: 3,153 lbs
For starters is what your trying to beat. Just the HP alone will put you at 10k. If you don't care about your well being or the cars you might get some where in the ball park of your goal for 20k. You can shop around for lots of used parts and refinish them and get safety equipment that just expired to save costs. You really still need at least another 10 to 20k doing slot of work yourself and searching for cheap used parts. And in the end you'll have a painful, loud, sweat box, that needs constant maintenance. While they have an OEM car.


Oh and you'll need a tow vehicle and trailer, so really no you need like 5 to 10 times that budget as stated before.

Well stated. Took Sasha only 12 years.

At this guy's budget of 20k....no chance for the reasons stated above

There is a reason the gt3 costs as much as it does

i think the best course is to make your car track worthy and safe, with reliable, easy and cost effective power from bolt ons

A good intake, exhaust, RFHC or test pipes (or if u got the elbow grease, headers), and a tune from a reputable shop

Cage or harness bar, race seat, helmet
High quality fluids everywhere
oil cooling
dedicated track pads
2 pc rotors all around
brake ducting
track tires (200 tw or stickier) and lightweight wheels
the best coilovers you can afford
SPL adjustable everything
hotchkis front sway, optional rear

thats a safe build, there are blueprints and options for this, nothing exotic needed

then you just invest as much SEAT time as you can and max out your skill
once you are at the point where track instructors can't get any more out of your car

then you decide if you wanna drop the $10k plus needed for a turbo and install, and a complete gutting of your interior to cut weight, including replacing stuff with carbon fiber everywhere
plus aero parts like a front splitter and adjustable wing

basically go up to the point where stuff is reasonably reversible and then max out your skill

for $130k, what other car can you even buy off the lot that's gonna beat a GT3 thats remotely streetable? some variant of a corvette, used maybe?