The Official 370Z Autocross Thread

pgrmstr · 12-30-2009, 08:52 AM

IIRC correctly, the front struts are about 40% increase in rebound, and the rear is like 140% or something close....so are much stiffer, but as Autox Z states, its all about the spring perch right hide question on whether is legal...

Obviously the tun-ability of an adjustable shock is preferred, but looking for inexpensive alternatives should legal adjustable units not be ready for the season....and perhaps a Nizmo take off strut would offer an interim improvement for us...

boosted180 · 12-30-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Which brings us to the swaybar. This is where I need some help from yall picking the right one. My feel of the car is that it flops around like crazy in quick transitions and the steady state balance is understeer. I know alot of the behavior in transitions is better fixed with improved damping but again probably out of the picture for this year so how big of a bar would you recommend without making the steady-state balance even worse. I know in theory a big bar can help reduce understeer in camber-challenged cars such as ours but traditional knowledge also says that in general the stiffer front end will reduce front end grip, so where's the balance? Any input/experience on this would be greatly appreciated.

I want to show what the 370 is capable of, I may not be the perfect driver for the job, but I know the car can win so please help me out.

from my experience, the sway bars definitely help tremendously with quick transitions/ slaloms. my first auto-x was stock except for eibach springs. the next was with springs, sway bars, and spc front camber arms. i have the hotchkis, but if i had to do it over, i would go with the stillen as i feel the hotchkis are a bit TOO stiff in the front, which induces some understeer. but most of it is dialed out in my car with increased front camber. at this point, it feels just right for track use, but on tight auto-x courses, it still understeers a bit more than i'd like. i'm ok with where it is now as i see much more track time than auto-x.

so to answer your question, i think you'll see a huge difference with the addition of sway bars (i'd recommend the full set of stillen) and added front camber. you will be much quicker through the slaloms and the understeer problem will be mostly mitigated by the increased front camber.

pgrmstr · 12-30-2009, 02:32 PM

we can't mess with camber outside factory adjustments, and all we are allowed from a suspension standpoint is front swaybar and dampers that use factory springs, mounts, height, etc.

so swaybar is a must with camber challenged cars to prevent eating costly hoosiers....although I will likely go with Cusco for the adjustability up front

adjustable dampers - koni is supposedly developing SA units but no word, AST is looking at making some but no word, no idea if SA or DA and cost is unknown

was just looking for options and thought about the Nismo units

pgrmstr · 12-30-2009, 02:34 PM

for the 350z guys with experience, what was your baseline settings for your shocks...front and back?

Ruff · 01-05-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgrmstr

for the 350z guys with experience, what was your baseline settings for your shocks...front and back?

You looking for dyno charts or what? On my car I only had ots Koni's. I ran them about 90 % full stiff (rebound) and 50% rear.

Glenn's car drove and felt far superior to mine (the car I drove at Nationals) but he has custom valved koni da's. The shocks are Carter Thompson's old shocks. Not sure what settings Glenn runs them on.

B1nks · 01-05-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruff

You looking for dyno charts or what? On my car I only had ots Koni's. I ran them about 90 % full stiff (rebound) and 50% rear.

Glenn's car drove and felt far superior to mine (the car I drove at Nationals) but he has custom valved koni da's. The shocks are Carter Thompson's old shocks. Not sure what settings Glenn runs them on.

Curious to know what his settings are..Really looking at getting some sways also. Also the 350z settings won't match up to 370z settings due to less weight in the rear and shorter wheel base. I used a way different compression rebound setting on my 350 than on my 370 to get similar results.

Ruff · 01-05-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1nks

Curious to know what his settings are..Really looking at getting some sways also. Also the 350z settings won't match up to 370z settings due to less weight in the rear and shorter wheel base. I used a way different compression rebound setting on my 350 than on my 370 to get similar results.

You already have double adjustables on your 370?

pgrmstr · 01-12-2010, 07:56 PM

well, so much for any chance of winning a tour event next year....not looking good folks.....

looks like Daddio is gonna come out to play in CS next year. The ONLY bit of light is he's not running a 370z.....but despite whatever perceived advantage we may have over the RX8, ZOK, MSR, etc....is negated with him in the mix. He's truly is amazing...

may have to shift focus to the ProSolo series....which sucks cause there is only one event anywhere near the northeast part of the country....which of course is Daddio's back yard! Damn!

I'm still all in though, but I just increased my tire budget with no hopes of winning contingency tires

AutoX Z · 01-12-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1nks

Curious to know what his settings are..Really looking at getting some sways also. Also the 350z settings won't match up to 370z settings due to less weight in the rear and shorter wheel base. I used a way different compression rebound setting on my 350 than on my 370 to get similar results.

Wait a sec, I just say this. Where are you running in Houston? I haven't seen any other 370Z w/ sport pkg. running the SCCA events.

B1nks · 01-13-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

Wait a sec, I just say this. Where are you running in Houston? I haven't seen any other 370Z w/ sport pkg. running the SCCA events.

What ? I haven't run anything yet because I'm waiting on my LSD and sways ! I really wanna get into this stuff though. Let me know when/where you're running next and I'll come out with my Z !

AutoX Z · 01-13-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1nks

What ? I haven't run anything yet because I'm waiting on my LSD and sways ! I really wanna get into this stuff though. Let me know when/where you're running next and I'll come out with my Z !

Feb. 7 @ Gulf Greyhound Park, info here: Houston Region SCCA

Ruff · 01-13-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1nks

What ? I haven't run anything yet because I'm waiting on my LSD and sways ! I really wanna get into this stuff though. Let me know when/where you're running next and I'll come out with my Z !

You do realize that those mods will bump you into BSP don't you?

Ruff · 01-13-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgrmstr

well, so much for any chance of winning a tour event next year....not looking good folks.....

looks like Daddio is gonna come out to play in CS next year. The ONLY bit of light is he's not running a 370z.....but despite whatever perceived advantage we may have over the RX8, ZOK, MSR, etc....is negated with him in the mix. He's truly is amazing...

may have to shift focus to the ProSolo series....which sucks cause there is only one event anywhere near the northeast part of the country....which of course is Daddio's back yard! Damn!

I'm still all in though, but I just increased my tire budget with no hopes of winning contingency tires

Not only him, but word on the street is Jr. Johnson (Evo school owner) will probably be in a 370Z as well. (Now the first I heard this was first hand from him at the awards banquet at Nats, but I think he was drunk

). Then you also have Beutzer in an MSR, and he'll tear it up. As well as reigning BS champ Heitkotter back, probably in his MR2.

So once again, goodluck all!

ChrisSlicks · 01-13-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruff

Not only him, but word on the street is Jr. Johnson (Evo school owner) will probably be in a 370Z as well. (Now the first I heard this was first hand from him at the awards banquet at Nats, but I think he was drunk

). Then you also have Beutzer in an MSR, and he'll tear it up. As well as reigning BS champ Heitkotter back, probably in his MR2.

So once again, goodluck all!

Mike "Junior" Johnson? He's a cocky SOB but I like him

Very friendly. He helped instruct at our Evo School in 2008, but I don't think he was there this past year. He's a pro with the Corvettes, would be interesting to see him in a 370Z.

pgrmstr · 01-13-2010, 07:44 PM

yup, heard all those names as well as Isley and Fenter...

CS is looking like a very fun class to be in for sure!

That's ok...I've beaten National Champs before

....just not at Nationals

I really hope tire wear doesn't become THE issue that prevents me from getting the needed seat time. I took off last season and the one before that was fairly casual...so I need an EVO school and plenty of seat time, but can't afford to burn through tires every 20 runs...

Just bought a tow vehicle, picking up a trailer soon, and then all the car prep between now and March....maybe its time to look for a quality codriver

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12-30-2009, 08:52 AM	#136 (permalink)
pgrmstr Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 131 Drives: 09 BS 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	IIRC correctly, the front struts are about 40% increase in rebound, and the rear is like 140% or something close....so are much stiffer, but as Autox Z states, its all about the spring perch right hide question on whether is legal... Obviously the tun-ability of an adjustable shock is preferred, but looking for inexpensive alternatives should legal adjustable units not be ready for the season....and perhaps a Nizmo take off strut would offer an interim improvement for us...

12-30-2009, 02:32 PM	#138 (permalink)
pgrmstr Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 131 Drives: 09 BS 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	we can't mess with camber outside factory adjustments, and all we are allowed from a suspension standpoint is front swaybar and dampers that use factory springs, mounts, height, etc. so swaybar is a must with camber challenged cars to prevent eating costly hoosiers....although I will likely go with Cusco for the adjustability up front adjustable dampers - koni is supposedly developing SA units but no word, AST is looking at making some but no word, no idea if SA or DA and cost is unknown was just looking for options and thought about the Nismo units

12-30-2009, 02:34 PM	#139 (permalink)
pgrmstr Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 131 Drives: 09 BS 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	for the 350z guys with experience, what was your baseline settings for your shocks...front and back?

01-12-2010, 07:56 PM	#143 (permalink)
pgrmstr Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 131 Drives: 09 BS 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	well, so much for any chance of winning a tour event next year....not looking good folks..... looks like Daddio is gonna come out to play in CS next year. The ONLY bit of light is he's not running a 370z.....but despite whatever perceived advantage we may have over the RX8, ZOK, MSR, etc....is negated with him in the mix. He's truly is amazing... may have to shift focus to the ProSolo series....which sucks cause there is only one event anywhere near the northeast part of the country....which of course is Daddio's back yard! Damn! I'm still all in though, but I just increased my tire budget with no hopes of winning contingency tires

01-13-2010, 07:44 PM	#150 (permalink)
pgrmstr Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: PA Posts: 131 Drives: 09 BS 370z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	yup, heard all those names as well as Isley and Fenter... CS is looking like a very fun class to be in for sure! That's ok...I've beaten National Champs before ....just not at Nationals I really hope tire wear doesn't become THE issue that prevents me from getting the needed seat time. I took off last season and the one before that was fairly casual...so I need an EVO school and plenty of seat time, but can't afford to burn through tires every 20 runs... Just bought a tow vehicle, picking up a trailer soon, and then all the car prep between now and March....maybe its time to look for a quality codriver