My Nissan 350z track car.... take 2
Discussion
My first post on PH, Hi all 
Where do I start…. Brief history…. I was hunting around looking for that perfect car to use for track days as I felt my daily (BMW e61 535d) was a tad boring in the corners! I did quite a bit of research and it came down to 4 cars MX5, e46 M3, 350z or another RX8. After many conversations with a friend, my mind was focused on hearing the sound of a v6!! I purchased a Nissan 350z GT (UK Spec) back in May 2017 from a guy in Southampton.
Car was a bargain price but needed some suspension work. After some googling it was pinpointed down to the ‘banana arm’ on the front driver’s side.
Now, I was itching to get to the track to see what the 350z was made of. The nearest track to me is Brands Hatch so it was great to be able to make the short drive for an evening at the track.
Wow, got to say the car performed beautiful besides the scary moment of brake fade with the brake peddle hitting the floor!!! After a cooling lap and this happening a few times. The optimal track laps were 4 with a cooling lap.
After a scary moment at the track. I decided to overhaul the brakes with braided lines and race brake build to ensure brake fade was a thing of the past!
The car completed a number of track days with no issues at all, just the continuous eating of front brake pads everytime!!
Unfortunately, on the final few laps at Brands one evening. The car was totalled ☹
Structurally bent at the front and rear drivers side
Decided to remove all parts from the car and sell on or use as spares for a replacement 350z. So a friend and I started stripping the car
My mates bloody instagram picture covers :P
The car sat on my driveway for about 4 months an finally was collected in December in time for Christmas… the wife was very very happy to see the car had gone!
I decided I could not let this dampen my thoughts and that constant itch I have for the track. So, I made the long long journey to Leeds to collect another 350z.
After having the car for several months, I thought it would be a good idea to give it, its first bath in my ownership
Will post over the next few days details of the 350z modifications and list of jobs to do before track!
Stay tuned!!
Where do I start…. Brief history…. I was hunting around looking for that perfect car to use for track days as I felt my daily (BMW e61 535d) was a tad boring in the corners! I did quite a bit of research and it came down to 4 cars MX5, e46 M3, 350z or another RX8. After many conversations with a friend, my mind was focused on hearing the sound of a v6!! I purchased a Nissan 350z GT (UK Spec) back in May 2017 from a guy in Southampton.
Car was a bargain price but needed some suspension work. After some googling it was pinpointed down to the ‘banana arm’ on the front driver’s side.
Now, I was itching to get to the track to see what the 350z was made of. The nearest track to me is Brands Hatch so it was great to be able to make the short drive for an evening at the track.
Wow, got to say the car performed beautiful besides the scary moment of brake fade with the brake peddle hitting the floor!!! After a cooling lap and this happening a few times. The optimal track laps were 4 with a cooling lap.
After a scary moment at the track. I decided to overhaul the brakes with braided lines and race brake build to ensure brake fade was a thing of the past!
The car completed a number of track days with no issues at all, just the continuous eating of front brake pads everytime!!
Unfortunately, on the final few laps at Brands one evening. The car was totalled ☹
Structurally bent at the front and rear drivers side
Decided to remove all parts from the car and sell on or use as spares for a replacement 350z. So a friend and I started stripping the car
My mates bloody instagram picture covers :P
The car sat on my driveway for about 4 months an finally was collected in December in time for Christmas… the wife was very very happy to see the car had gone!
I decided I could not let this dampen my thoughts and that constant itch I have for the track. So, I made the long long journey to Leeds to collect another 350z.
After having the car for several months, I thought it would be a good idea to give it, its first bath in my ownership
Will post over the next few days details of the 350z modifications and list of jobs to do before track!
Stay tuned!!
Hey hey! Good to have you on board on PH at last!! (lol at Welsh_meat)
Good job i take photo's all the time isn't it!
I like the shot of me 'working on the car' in the front garden.. looks like i actually know what i'm doing!
The first 350Z was awesome on track, i really enjoyed driving that! Shame it was binned but no doubt the second will be even better than the first from what we have learnt. Roll on Brands and Abingdon track days!
Good job i take photo's all the time isn't it!
I like the shot of me 'working on the car' in the front garden.. looks like i actually know what i'm doing!
The first 350Z was awesome on track, i really enjoyed driving that! Shame it was binned but no doubt the second will be even better than the first from what we have learnt. Roll on Brands and Abingdon track days!
Nice to see another Z being used properly on track, shame about the crash but glad to see you'll be back out in one again.
What pads were you using? I'm running StopTech Sports and they're coping well after a couple heavy track days, just need to improve the cooling and unplug the VDC fuse for the next outing.
Look forward to seeing the next update.
What pads were you using? I'm running StopTech Sports and they're coping well after a couple heavy track days, just need to improve the cooling and unplug the VDC fuse for the next outing.
Look forward to seeing the next update.
HeftyDanielson said:
Nice to see another Z being used properly on track, shame about the crash but glad to see you'll be back out in one again.
What pads were you using? I'm running StopTech Sports and they're coping well after a couple heavy track days, just need to improve the cooling and unplug the VDC fuse for the next outing.
Look forward to seeing the next update.
I was using EBC BlueStuff on the front - amazing pads but I was consuming the complete pad in one full track day. May be its my very hard braking at last minute but at £107 I will be changing to a different brand. Very dusty pads!!What pads were you using? I'm running StopTech Sports and they're coping well after a couple heavy track days, just need to improve the cooling and unplug the VDC fuse for the next outing.
Look forward to seeing the next update.
When I brought the car it had a few modifications:
- Powerflow Catback exhaust system
- K&N Typhoon Cold Air Induction Kit
- Wheel Spacers (30mm on back, 25mm on front)
- Air Manifold Plenum Spacer to provide even air across all 6 cylinders
List of jobs to do:
- Service the car
- Test the noise level of the exhaust
- Underseal the car
- Change brake lines to braided brake lines
- Change brake fluid to high temp
- Solid engine mounts
- Bucket seats + rails + harnesses
First on the list was to service the car and find out the DB noise of the exhaust (very very loud, to loud).
Hitting 104 DB on a similar noise test they do at Brands, I knew this would never pass and had to order a new exhaust
I found a secondhand Japspeed K4 cat back system from eBay. Began by heat wrapping the flexi joints on the Y pipe as its common for these to split.
then cleaning the actual exhaust as its seen better days - little TLC brought the exhaust back to its shine!
Fitting /changing the exhaust took about an 1.5 hours. Looks as though the pervious owner had recently taken the exhaust off for some reason.
- Powerflow Catback exhaust system
- K&N Typhoon Cold Air Induction Kit
- Wheel Spacers (30mm on back, 25mm on front)
- Air Manifold Plenum Spacer to provide even air across all 6 cylinders
List of jobs to do:
- Service the car
- Test the noise level of the exhaust
- Underseal the car
- Change brake lines to braided brake lines
- Change brake fluid to high temp
- Solid engine mounts
- Bucket seats + rails + harnesses
First on the list was to service the car and find out the DB noise of the exhaust (very very loud, to loud).
Hitting 104 DB on a similar noise test they do at Brands, I knew this would never pass and had to order a new exhaust
I found a secondhand Japspeed K4 cat back system from eBay. Began by heat wrapping the flexi joints on the Y pipe as its common for these to split.
then cleaning the actual exhaust as its seen better days - little TLC brought the exhaust back to its shine!
Fitting /changing the exhaust took about an 1.5 hours. Looks as though the pervious owner had recently taken the exhaust off for some reason.
MEGA UPDATE -----
Over the past few weeks, I have slowly been making changes to the car ready for track. Aiming to go to Brands Hatch for the 14th May Evening event.
List of jobs to do:
-
- Test the noise level of the exhaust
-
-
-
- Solid engine mounts
-
- (new to the list) braided clutch line and high temp fluid
- (new to the list) noticed when undersealing the car that the engine sump had seen better days and was rotting
I was shocked by the amount of surface rust on the car and doing some research online it seems a common issue that 350z rust - so I am glad I have been able to remove, cure / treat and underseal the car. With the heat and beaitufl sunsine we have had recently the underseal (large paint tin) melted and was a dream to put on (messy but easier):
I travel with work and had a number of parcels delivered... it was like Christmas coming home and unpacking:
Out with the Nissan orange tan seats:
Had to also make resistors for the airbag system as I removed the seats and the seat belts otherwise it would never pass its MOT with the airbag light on:
Out with the Nissan orange tan seats:
Had to also make resistors for the airbag system as I removed the seats and the seat belts otherwise it would never pass its MOT with the airbag light on:
Fitted a new exhaust system the other week an thought to be on the safe side with the noise test at tracks was to fit exhaust bungs
Had to cut the bungs as they were too long as the pipes going into the exhaust trim bend into the backbox - out came the angle grinder
I am not liking the look but hopefully IF I need to reduce the sound slightly it will help:
Had to cut the bungs as they were too long as the pipes going into the exhaust trim bend into the backbox - out came the angle grinder
I am not liking the look but hopefully IF I need to reduce the sound slightly it will help:
I noticed that the sump had seen better days I rubbed it down (very lightly) an put some red oxide paint on it to buy me few more weeks and put my mind at rest
Old sump off and cleaned the surface
It all looks pretty clean inside and the oil looks fine (no metal or other objects to worry about)
New bottom sump ready to fit
My bit for the environment (always despose with your car oil correctly and take to your local dump)
For some reason the car did not come with an undertray (lower engine cover) and luckily I had a spare one from the oil crashed nissan so refitted the undertray and front bumper spoiler (no photos yet)
Have to apologies, that I forget to take photos when working on the car and get carried away and a little excited when fitting new stuff to the car
Old sump off and cleaned the surface
It all looks pretty clean inside and the oil looks fine (no metal or other objects to worry about)
New bottom sump ready to fit
My bit for the environment (always despose with your car oil correctly and take to your local dump)
For some reason the car did not come with an undertray (lower engine cover) and luckily I had a spare one from the oil crashed nissan so refitted the undertray and front bumper spoiler (no photos yet)
Have to apologies, that I forget to take photos when working on the car and get carried away and a little excited when fitting new stuff to the car
Took the 350z to my local tyre place to check a tyre puncture - whilst it was in, I thought it would be good to ask them to put it up on the ramps.
Looks pretty good now after all that work clearing rust and sealing the underbody. Really happy with the result
On the way home, quick bite to eat at my local bakers
I will be at the PH meet tomorrow with the 350z - see you then
Looks pretty good now after all that work clearing rust and sealing the underbody. Really happy with the result
On the way home, quick bite to eat at my local bakers
I will be at the PH meet tomorrow with the 350z - see you then
Went to Brands Hatch last Monday expecting to fail the noise test so did not book a track space. Tested the car locally and it somehow hit 122db anyway... the Marshall gave me the thumbs up as I hit 94DB and passed!! So in true fashion, I could not drive away without taking the car out onto the track. Luckily they still had spaces left for the track evening
Few pictures and a video...
unable to embed the video - can be found at this URL:
https://youtu.be/eKACZGQcPTU
What an evening, it was so good to be back at the track and glad I decided to buy another track car.
The car performed better than expected however the following needs work:
- engine mounts
- gearbox mount
- front brake pads (have a set of BlueStuff in the garage)
Bring on the next track day (plan to be at Abingdon and of course Brands again, as its my local)
Peter
Few pictures and a video...
unable to embed the video - can be found at this URL:
https://youtu.be/eKACZGQcPTU
What an evening, it was so good to be back at the track and glad I decided to buy another track car.
The car performed better than expected however the following needs work:
- engine mounts
- gearbox mount
- front brake pads (have a set of BlueStuff in the garage)
Bring on the next track day (plan to be at Abingdon and of course Brands again, as its my local)
Peter
That's funny as I was there yesterday and my noise test was 94 as well for my car
Welsh_Meat said:
Went to Brands Hatch last Monday expecting to fail the noise test so did not book a track space. Tested the car locally and it somehow hit 122db anyway... the Marshall gave me the thumbs up as I hit 94DB and passed!! So in true fashion, I could not drive away without taking the car out onto the track. Luckily they still had spaces left for the track evening
Few pictures and a video...
unable to embed the video - can be found at this URL:
https://youtu.be/eKACZGQcPTU
What an evening, it was so good to be back at the track and glad I decided to buy another track car.
The car performed better than expected however the following needs work:
- engine mounts
- gearbox mount
- front brake pads (have a set of BlueStuff in the garage)
Bring on the next track day (plan to be at Abingdon and of course Brands again, as its my local)
Peter
Few pictures and a video...
unable to embed the video - can be found at this URL:
https://youtu.be/eKACZGQcPTU
What an evening, it was so good to be back at the track and glad I decided to buy another track car.
The car performed better than expected however the following needs work:
- engine mounts
- gearbox mount
- front brake pads (have a set of BlueStuff in the garage)
Bring on the next track day (plan to be at Abingdon and of course Brands again, as its my local)
Peter
Evoluzione said:
An odd request I know, but i'm looking for a used front disc from one of these if you happen to have one for sale? I need it to model something for a car i'm working on, so it can be worn out/knackered whatever. PM me if so....
Hello Evoluzione, unfortunately, I have sold the brakes off the old 350z a while back and don't have any discs laying around. sorry. I do however, have (all for a 350z GT) steering wheel, heated leather seats (2 sets black and tan leather), complete airbag system and many other parts.
Peter
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