I have decided to turn my gutted raced out TT 350Z back into a streetable race car. Why is it so hard? Well, because all of my OEM interior is burried deep in the North Las Vegas city dump lol . The plans are to make the car capable of driving on the streets again without going insane. Right now it has no radio, no interior, the only tires I have for it are Hoosiers, it won't pass smog, and its not registered. I still want it to be mainly a track car, but I also want to be able to take it to work every once in a while. So here are the plans...

Interior:
I have started my search for all of the necessary parts and pieces needed to put my interior back in. This is definately going to be the hardest part of the entire process. I am also going to have my stereo guy re-install a stereo system. Nothing crazy, just the 4 6.5" speakers and a double-din DVD setup. This means that my lower gauge pod will have to come out and I will have to find some other place to mount those gauges. I don't really like the A-Pillar mounts because they obstruct vision while on track, but I may have to do that anyways if I can't find another place for them. Racing seats, harnesses, steering wheel, and roll bar will all stay.

Exterior:
All of the decals will be removed. Thats right, no more sponsors. I will probably put their logos on for larger events just as a thank you, but for around town and at smaller events, my Z will look almost normal . I will also be getting another set of wheels with some street tires. Haven't decided on 18s or 19s yet though. If my 19" Volk GTS that I had on my G35 clear the AP brakes, then I will probably use those. The other thing I will do is probably re-install my OEM hatch because it has the glas in it instead of lexan. This means I won't have to worry about water getting into my car if I hit some rain or get it washed. It also means, I can put the OEM actuators back on so I don't have to hold up the trunk with a 2x4 .

Motor:
Well, this is the easiest fix. Right now, I have a manual boost controller set up for 14psi on 100 octane. I will be adding a Blitz boost controller to the car so I can easily switch between my pump gas tune and my race gas tune. The other thing I will be doing is switching out the exhaust. As much as I absolutely LOVE the SVRTech 3" exhaust, it doesn't give you the option to run cats which pretty much means, I won't be passing SMOG with it. I have one of two choices. Choice one, is getting some HFCs and a new exhaust like the HKS. Choice two is keeping the SVRTech exhaust and buying someones stock exhaust to slap on when I need it to pass SMOG. Don't know which path I will be taking there just yet.


Why am I doing this you ask? Its simple. Sometimes I wake up and I want to drive a fast car to work. It pains me to know that I have a 554whp beast sitting in my garage that I can't just hop in and drive to work every once in a while. Also, I keep getting busier and busier at work which means I am being forced to cut down on my track days, and that means, that I HARDLY get to hear the sound of my JWT turbos spooling since right now, I only drive it on the track.

So if anybody has any advice, or opinions to offer as I embark on this process, please share. Here are a few recent pictures of the car in its full track trim...

 

dooo it...i know i wouldnt be able to to control myself if i had that car in my garage and couldnt drive every day. for the emmisions, i would just keep the SVRT and buy a stocker to put on when you need to that would be the cheapest route. you can get a stock exhaust for nearly free these days

 

^^^Yeah, but I am sure I can sell or trade my SVRTech for a good price as well and then I wouldn't have to store a stock exhaust in my garage.

 

Just drive it like that!! Man thats sick! Middle finger to the law and SMOG!

 

Trust me, it's not fun on the street any longer than 5 min.

 

For the cost wouldnt you just rather buy a new or used z and start from scratch on that.

 

And how in the world would that be more cost effective?

 

Got a handle on a lot of the interior parts from a good friend .

Car is also going down to VRT this Saturday for some last minute prep for the Redline Time Attack on December 3rd!! The car will stay in its current gutted form for the Time Attack, but after that starts the transformation back to streetability.

Next step is to call my stereo guy and start planning on which components and head unit and where to mount the two gauges that are currently mounted where the head unit goes...

 

It's like finding a stripper girlfriend a conservative job on the side.


Goodluck!

 

^^^Thanks for the goodluck!

Does anybody know what size gauges fit in the stock location up on top of the dash? If my current ones fit there, I may just do that. I really don't want to do an a-pillar mount.

 

The easiest way to do this would be just to swap me cars, . Mine still has the interior and I'd be more than happy to trade, haha.

 

SOLD!!!

 

60mm gauges

 

^^^Thanks John!

 

Keep it as is or sell it to some big time Z nut.

If you sell it, buy an '07 or '08 Z when they come out.

Hopefully you have a beater, like an '01 Dodge Viper to drive in the meantime.

 

Yeah, it would take a hefty price for me to sell it. I put a lot of my own work and $$$ into this car and honestly I wouldn't part with it for less than $70k lol. I kind of want to keep it, even after I retire it from racing. It has been in a magazine and had some other cool coverage and it would be cool to keep around for my kids and grandkids one day. Who knows, maybe 30 years down the road, I will put it up on Barret Jackson and somebody from the forums who has gotten successull will remember it and buy it .

No beater Viper though, just a beater G35.

 

So, I don't suppose your plans include selling your black Nismos, aye? (hint hint)

 

Hahaha, nope. Those stay mounted with Hoosiers for the track .

 

Dang, those wheels look like straight seckz on your ride, my friend

 

Quick question....did you have the base of those side mirrors powder coated black? Ive only seen those with silver bases.