Looking into 350z as a project car
10-22-2008, 06:28 PM
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Looking into 350z as a project car
I've always admired the 350z since it first came out, but never got interested in it because of its heavier weight compare to other cars in its class. Then I stumbled across this thread: https://my350z.com/forum/drift/336340-sr-powered-350z-weight.html
I would definitely use a 350z as my project car if I could get it down to or below the 2800lb mark. I have looked through the pictures of the Z in that thread and taken note of what has been removed, but there are still many things left in question. The original poster stated that it still even kept the weight distribution, but I would like to know how. From the pics I can only tell all the stuff removed from the rear, but I would like to know what could be done to the front to match. Is there anymore info on the weight reduction of this car or any car like it anywhere? Your help is much appreciated.
I would definitely use a 350z as my project car if I could get it down to or below the 2800lb mark. I have looked through the pictures of the Z in that thread and taken note of what has been removed, but there are still many things left in question. The original poster stated that it still even kept the weight distribution, but I would like to know how. From the pics I can only tell all the stuff removed from the rear, but I would like to know what could be done to the front to match. Is there anymore info on the weight reduction of this car or any car like it anywhere? Your help is much appreciated.
10-22-2008, 07:27 PM
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I don't think it would cost that much... I see plenty of cars on craigslist right now for under 13,000. Stripping out the interior + high quality forced induction + nice suspension could be done under 25,000 couldn't it?
10-22-2008, 09:03 PM
#7
350z project car? knock yourself out. I prefer to simply enjoy owning
such a great ride. I think that I would have significantly less fun if I
plowed years of savings therein. As kirk and others know full well,
performance comes at a STEEP price in the 350. Frankly, unless you're
a talented mechanic familiar with Z's (which I am not), you'll also have
to spend significant money with a quality shop to acheive real results.
then - post flics. gl
such a great ride. I think that I would have significantly less fun if I
plowed years of savings therein. As kirk and others know full well,
performance comes at a STEEP price in the 350. Frankly, unless you're
a talented mechanic familiar with Z's (which I am not), you'll also have
to spend significant money with a quality shop to acheive real results.
then - post flics. gl
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10-23-2008, 05:35 AM
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well I can answer some of the responses by clearing up my plan....I don't plan to buy new or used, I prefer to buy something damaged so I can get it the cheapest possible chassis. Having it sit awhile while I build it does not bother me at all. One, I have another car already that I enjoy and gets great gas mileage (chevy aveo). Two, we have plenty garage space. As for mechanical skill, I can hold my own working on cars, but my dad has spent his whole life working as a autobody specialist and mechanic plus has a lot of good friends in the industry so fabricating what is necessary would be easier and cheaper...I by no means think building a car will be cheap but I feel I have an advantage.
Last edited by Lite350z; 10-23-2008 at 05:44 AM.
10-23-2008, 09:54 AM
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Do what makes you happy, you'll enjoy it more in the end. No matter how cheap you go there is always someone who will try and show you how you could've went cheaper. It all depends on what you want and how much cash you have to throw at it.
A lot of 350Z drivers think people with Lamborghinis and such wasted their money since they could've gotten more for cheaper....just like some others think we wasted our money on a Z...it goes down to the rednecks who bought a modded 89' 5.0 Mustang for $2500 that runs 11's in the 1/4...it never ends.
Do what YOU want. Fck everyone else.
A lot of 350Z drivers think people with Lamborghinis and such wasted their money since they could've gotten more for cheaper....just like some others think we wasted our money on a Z...it goes down to the rednecks who bought a modded 89' 5.0 Mustang for $2500 that runs 11's in the 1/4...it never ends.
Do what YOU want. Fck everyone else.
10-23-2008, 10:41 AM
#13
well I can answer some of the responses by clearing up my plan....I don't plan to buy new or used, I prefer to buy something damaged so I can get it the cheapest possible chassis. Having it sit awhile while I build it does not bother me at all. One, I have another car already that I enjoy and gets great gas mileage (chevy aveo). Two, we have plenty garage space. As for mechanical skill, I can hold my own working on cars, but my dad has spent his whole life working as a autobody specialist and mechanic plus has a lot of good friends in the industry so fabricating what is necessary would be easier and cheaper...I by no means think building a car will be cheap but I feel I have an advantage.
You're still looking at $50k for a well-balanced project car.
10-23-2008, 11:20 AM
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LITE350z.......
I read your post's and you seem competent and able.......i say rock on..your goals are definitely reachable....
1. Do you plan on going FI?
2. What is this project car for? Drifting, AutoX, Time Attack...?? I dont think you mentioned why the project car??
I have seen many Z's come from the salvage yard/junk yard get rebuilt and fixed for tracking and daily driving.........very possible... so good luck on finding one and getting a great deal......
my biggest regret is buying my car new..........it would have way more mods if i would have gotten it used like i originally wanted...........(dont ask....)
- J
I read your post's and you seem competent and able.......i say rock on..your goals are definitely reachable....
1. Do you plan on going FI?
2. What is this project car for? Drifting, AutoX, Time Attack...?? I dont think you mentioned why the project car??
I have seen many Z's come from the salvage yard/junk yard get rebuilt and fixed for tracking and daily driving.........very possible... so good luck on finding one and getting a great deal......
my biggest regret is buying my car new..........it would have way more mods if i would have gotten it used like i originally wanted...........(dont ask....)
- J
10-23-2008, 12:43 PM
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LITE350z.......
I read your post's and you seem competent and able.......i say rock on..your goals are definitely reachable....
1. Do you plan on going FI?
2. What is this project car for? Drifting, AutoX, Time Attack...?? I dont think you mentioned why the project car??
I have seen many Z's come from the salvage yard/junk yard get rebuilt and fixed for tracking and daily driving.........very possible... so good luck on finding one and getting a great deal......
my biggest regret is buying my car new..........it would have way more mods if i would have gotten it used like i originally wanted...........(dont ask....)
- J
I read your post's and you seem competent and able.......i say rock on..your goals are definitely reachable....
1. Do you plan on going FI?
2. What is this project car for? Drifting, AutoX, Time Attack...?? I dont think you mentioned why the project car??
I have seen many Z's come from the salvage yard/junk yard get rebuilt and fixed for tracking and daily driving.........very possible... so good luck on finding one and getting a great deal......
my biggest regret is buying my car new..........it would have way more mods if i would have gotten it used like i originally wanted...........(dont ask....)
- J
1. At first no, the plan would be to stay with a relatively stock v6 with the usual bolt-ons and tuning. I am perticularly interested in the newer VQ35HR, but I haven't look into the 'swapability' of it.
2. I would like the car to be able to hold its own in Time Attack and road course events. I want it to be streetable so I can drive it in the spring thru fall time, but doesn't have to be full time daily driver because I have my 32-35 mpg aveo to drive (which is fully paid off in May).
The salvage/ junk yard is were I plan to look for the chassis because it seems to be the cheapest way considering a few things. My dad knows the owners of a few of the local ones. Second, a lot of things are going to be replaced so why pay for something that is going to be replaced. Plus, I hope I can find one with a trashed interior because to meet my goal weight, I doubt there will be much in there. That is another thing about me though. I don't need creature comforts. A stripped interior with the basics is what I would to drive around. To me, it feels like your in tune with everything that is going on, like how you can hear every thing going on with the engine and the car plus feel the imperfections in the road. If any of you have ever been in an early model aveo, you know that its very cheap and bare min. in quality and I like it that way. Road noise does not bother me either. Right now the aveo has the rear seat and most of the plastics in the rear out (no, I was not trying to make it light, but rather took it out to haul somethings and I didn't want to scratch the plastic) and it is so load and you can hear everything outside the car, but doesn't bother me one bit.
Ok I've definitely rambled quite a bit on this post, but I have come here to learn whatever I can about the car before I jump in.I appreciate the responses and hope there will be more. So just toss out some ideas about what can be removed, especially from in front since I pretty much know everything I can take out from the back. Thanks
10-23-2008, 06:40 PM
#18
See thats why I asked in the first place because I wanted to see what I could and had to remove or replace in the Z to get it around 2800lbs. I still have a lot of searching on the forums to do but most of the stuff the search buttons come up with is crap.
Answer
1. At first no, the plan would be to stay with a relatively stock v6 with the usual bolt-ons and tuning. I am perticularly interested in the newer VQ35HR, but I haven't look into the 'swapability' of it.
2. I would like the car to be able to hold its own in Time Attack and road course events. I want it to be streetable so I can drive it in the spring thru fall time, but doesn't have to be full time daily driver because I have my 32-35 mpg aveo to drive (which is fully paid off in May).
The salvage/ junk yard is were I plan to look for the chassis because it seems to be the cheapest way considering a few things. My dad knows the owners of a few of the local ones. Second, a lot of things are going to be replaced so why pay for something that is going to be replaced. Plus, I hope I can find one with a trashed interior because to meet my goal weight, I doubt there will be much in there. That is another thing about me though. I don't need creature comforts. A stripped interior with the basics is what I would to drive around. To me, it feels like your in tune with everything that is going on, like how you can hear every thing going on with the engine and the car plus feel the imperfections in the road. If any of you have ever been in an early model aveo, you know that its very cheap and bare min. in quality and I like it that way. Road noise does not bother me either. Right now the aveo has the rear seat and most of the plastics in the rear out (no, I was not trying to make it light, but rather took it out to haul somethings and I didn't want to scratch the plastic) and it is so load and you can hear everything outside the car, but doesn't bother me one bit.
Ok I've definitely rambled quite a bit on this post, but I have come here to learn whatever I can about the car before I jump in.I appreciate the responses and hope there will be more. So just toss out some ideas about what can be removed, especially from in front since I pretty much know everything I can take out from the back. Thanks
Answer
1. At first no, the plan would be to stay with a relatively stock v6 with the usual bolt-ons and tuning. I am perticularly interested in the newer VQ35HR, but I haven't look into the 'swapability' of it.
2. I would like the car to be able to hold its own in Time Attack and road course events. I want it to be streetable so I can drive it in the spring thru fall time, but doesn't have to be full time daily driver because I have my 32-35 mpg aveo to drive (which is fully paid off in May).
The salvage/ junk yard is were I plan to look for the chassis because it seems to be the cheapest way considering a few things. My dad knows the owners of a few of the local ones. Second, a lot of things are going to be replaced so why pay for something that is going to be replaced. Plus, I hope I can find one with a trashed interior because to meet my goal weight, I doubt there will be much in there. That is another thing about me though. I don't need creature comforts. A stripped interior with the basics is what I would to drive around. To me, it feels like your in tune with everything that is going on, like how you can hear every thing going on with the engine and the car plus feel the imperfections in the road. If any of you have ever been in an early model aveo, you know that its very cheap and bare min. in quality and I like it that way. Road noise does not bother me either. Right now the aveo has the rear seat and most of the plastics in the rear out (no, I was not trying to make it light, but rather took it out to haul somethings and I didn't want to scratch the plastic) and it is so load and you can hear everything outside the car, but doesn't bother me one bit.
Ok I've definitely rambled quite a bit on this post, but I have come here to learn whatever I can about the car before I jump in.I appreciate the responses and hope there will be more. So just toss out some ideas about what can be removed, especially from in front since I pretty much know everything I can take out from the back. Thanks
10-23-2008, 07:17 PM
#19
buy a rebult title for 9 grand, strip interior and sell what you can
10 grand motor/clutch install
10 grand turbo kit/install
another 10 grand for suspension, wheel/ tires, roll cage, seat
what other guestimations should i add
edit forgot brakes,
10 grand motor/clutch install
10 grand turbo kit/install
another 10 grand for suspension, wheel/ tires, roll cage, seat
what other guestimations should i add
edit forgot brakes,
Last edited by Kushtech; 10-23-2008 at 07:22 PM.
10-24-2008, 06:26 AM
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Your not going to find the answer that your looking for. Most of the members that are going to post on your thread has not tried to acheive your goals or has never done what your trying to do. Your going to get a bunch of bs answers.
Im in the same boat as you. I bought my 03 used for 13000. It even has stoptech brakes on it when i bought it. I just bought some 19 work miesters for 2000 brand new. I found a whole suspension coilover tein with camber kit and everything for about 1200 used. next will be fi.
If you look hard enough you will find better deals on the stuff you want. I see TT kits going for 3500. you can build your motor For under 4000.. You get my point that it doesnt take 25000 to build a motor. Just the ones that think the more they pay the better.
With the gutting out Question. All you need to do is gut out what u think needs to be gutted. Once you do that go to a Gas station that has scales and weigh your car. See if its enough and test drive your car. If it feels balanced enough for you then your fine.
Im in the same boat as you. I bought my 03 used for 13000. It even has stoptech brakes on it when i bought it. I just bought some 19 work miesters for 2000 brand new. I found a whole suspension coilover tein with camber kit and everything for about 1200 used. next will be fi.
If you look hard enough you will find better deals on the stuff you want. I see TT kits going for 3500. you can build your motor For under 4000.. You get my point that it doesnt take 25000 to build a motor. Just the ones that think the more they pay the better.
With the gutting out Question. All you need to do is gut out what u think needs to be gutted. Once you do that go to a Gas station that has scales and weigh your car. See if its enough and test drive your car. If it feels balanced enough for you then your fine.