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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

What have you done for your Z today?

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Old Feb 26, 2026 | 11:40 AM
  #16841  
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Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
Nice pick-up! Adapters are a must. I forget what wheels you're running, but I am assuming they will clear the BBK. Some 18"s clear. Most 19"s will have no issues.

I would also get some SS brake lines while you're doing the swap. It's pretty straightforward. Here is a good write-up: https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...03-07-g-z.html

#63 is my post in that thread referring to installation of the washers if you go with the Z1 adapter kit.
Oh sweet i will most definitely look at that write-up. thank you. i may go with the Z1 parts and pieces but I also need to look at concept Z. For wheels I am running LE37s 19X9.5 +22 front and 19x10.5 rear +22
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Old Feb 27, 2026 | 05:11 AM
  #16842  
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You should be fine with those wheels and clearance won't be an issue.

I recall a thread from about 10 years ago or so where people were having varying results with clearance on 18" V2 OEM wheels. Some cleared and others did not. I think it depended on what adapter they were using for the fronts. At that time, adapter kits were only available from CZP and Z1.

Ah, found it. https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...-wheels-2.html

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Old Feb 27, 2026 | 06:10 AM
  #16843  
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Originally Posted by heel til i die
you should be fine with those wheels and clearance won't be an issue.

I recall a thread from about 10 years ago or so where people were having varying results with clearance on 18" v2 oem wheels. Some cleared and others did not. I think it depended on what adapter they were using for the fronts. At that time, adapter kits were only available from czp and z1.

Ah, found it. https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...-wheels-2.html
sweet i got some reading to do lol!!
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Old Mar 2, 2026 | 05:00 AM
  #16844  
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(yesterday) Took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and gave her a much needed bath in anticipation of the warmer months...



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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 02:10 PM
  #16845  
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I had a license plate light go out a couple weeks ago. So today, i replaced it with Morimoto LEDs ... cant wait to see how bright and clear they are...
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 06:37 AM
  #16846  
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Took it to Jiffy Lube for a woefully overdue inspection.



Fielded a lot of the typical questions whenever I take it in for an inspection...

What's the fastest you've gone in it?

How many tickets you got?

How long you had it?

What year is it?


It's fine. You guys are probably used to much of the same. One tech said that it didn't look like an '05 which I accepted as a compliment. I did confirm that since she's 20+ years old now, no more emissions testing...

Sounds like trouble to me.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 11:37 AM
  #16847  
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Wow... I cant wait for no more emmisions!!!
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 01:01 PM
  #16848  
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Inspection laws here in NC are wonky. An annual inspection for "safety" items like lights, horn, wipers, etc. is required for all vehicles that are less than 30 years old. Apparently, once it hits 30, nobody cares anymore about safety and you can register it as an "antique auto" making it exempt from safety inspection. Vehicles that are less than 3 years old with less than 70K miles are exempt from emissions testing in the 19 counties that require it. These 19 counties are the most populous or urban areas. But, once it hits 20 years old, no more emissions testing is required anywhere and only safety inspection is necessary. I asked the tech if I could be super obnoxious with test pipes next year and he said go for it. Haha. No.

Recently, they kinda got away with the window tint laws. Legal tint used to be 35% or more VLT. Inspection stations could charge an extra $10 to check the tint. They never did, but they always tacked that on the bill. Now, the legal tint is still 35%, but inspection stations can't fail you for having less VLT than 35%, as long as you roll down your driver's side window when you get stopped. In other words, tint your windows as dark as you want, but just lower them when approached by LEO and you might get a ticket for having them too dark but probably not.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 01:44 PM
  #16849  
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@Heel Til I Die is that a V2 rep front bumper? Which brand? Just curious.

Smog/Inspection laws are like gun laws. Every state seems to have different rules. CA for example...all the major refineries are threatening to close if the changes proposed by C.A.R.B. to the "Cap and Trade" program are pushed forward as they currently stand. It's a complete disaster. The rising prices at the pump could mean a Republican victory for the State Governor's office in the coming election. The champagne socialists in Sac don't seem to realize that their voting base is being hit the hardest by the rising costs of fuel. Not everyone in CA wants an EV, range restrictions/anxiety is a major problem, and most can't afford it. Ok rant over!

I've been taking care of the family fleet lately. Need to do preventative maintenance on the Wife's 08 Acura RDX (New radiator + hoses, + some coolant seals known for leaking at this age). After that I need to do a major 120k service on my 2016 Corolla (new plugs, belt, tensioner, coolant flush, brake flush, new brakes all around, CVT fluid + filter + pan gasket). I'm honestly shocked the OEM brakes have lasted this long, both pads + rotors. But I am starting to notice a subtle vibration under light braking at freeway speeds.

TLDR: I have a power steering pump rebuild coming up for the Z. I'll do a written guide on that in the DIY section. That will probably happen in late spring (April - May).
Cheers!
-Icer
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 03:31 PM
  #16850  
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Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
(yesterday) Took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and gave her a much needed bath in anticipation of the warmer months...


Really like the wheels. I was thinking about the Advan GT Beyond R but you can never go out of style with LMGT4.
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Old Mar 10, 2026 | 04:51 AM
  #16851  
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@icer5160 Sure is! I think it's been about 10 years at this point. OEM had long been discontinued. Getting an authentic bumper seemed next to impossible unless it was used and had been damaged. This rep I got is FRP. I know there are a lot of horror stories about fitment with aftermarket bumpers, but I decided to risk it anyway knowing what I was getting into. I don't think there were a lot of poly V2 bumpers available at that time either. Surprisingly, fitment was spot on. It did not have any pre-drilled holes so I had to drill those and transfer the metal brackets from the OEM bumper at the corners where they mount right inside the fender liner. With my Z being an '05, I just needed to get 06+ fender liners to seal up the gaps in the wheel well with the front bumper. I think it was stupid cheap, too. Maybe somewhere around $200 on Amazon and some brand I had never heard of. Sadly, I cannot find the order since it's associated with an old account I no longer have access to. TBH, I doubt it's probably still available there. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything.
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Old Mar 11, 2026 | 05:52 PM
  #16852  
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At just under 186k miles, I replaced the rear brake pads again this evening. I've been using Bosch Quietcast pads for a while. I only got about to 20k miles out of the last rear pads - that seems too short. But, TBH, I'm not easy on my brakes 😁

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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 02:21 PM
  #16853  
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Oil change day!





Waiting for the pollen to die down before car wash day
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Old Mar 30, 2026 | 06:22 AM
  #16854  
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This past weekend I was able to get my hands on a JWT clutch kit. brand new still in the box from Facebook marketplace. I don't need it right now but.... will have when I am ready to do the clutch.
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Old Apr 1, 2026 | 10:17 PM
  #16855  
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wow im so glad forums are somewhat still alive. owned my 07 HR for about under a year now. really enjoying the car and what it delivers.

recently picked up a set of oem brembos off an 05 z for a really good price.

planning to drop it off to get then powder coated next week once my new seals comes in.

also, if anyone knows where i can purchase the correct dimension brembo decals please let me know. thanks!


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Old Apr 2, 2026 | 05:00 AM
  #16856  
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Nice pick-up. When I refurbished a set of Brembo's, I split them apart, but conventional wisdom is to leave them bolted together for powdercoating. If you decide to split them, definitely don't lose the small rubber o-ring seal that is sandwiched between the two halves!

I don't remember where I got the new decals. Probably off eBay.
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Old Apr 2, 2026 | 12:21 PM
  #16857  
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Yep, Ebay. I purchased high-temp vinyl decals from a small business operating on Ebay. They're holding up great 10 years later. I also struggled to get exact dimensions. Take measurements from the original faded decals prior to sending out for powdercoating. I had mine scaled based on width. When I tried to use both width + height, it completely messed up the ratio of the decals and made them unusable.

The proper decal install method is to apply them to the calipers prior to a final clear coat on the calipers (thus locking in the decals and sealing them from the elements). I did not go this route, I simply stuck the vinyl decals on top of the finished powdercoat. This is a much simpler option. Replacement vinyl decals are cheap and easy to obtain/install should the originals get damaged/weathered.
Cheers!
-Icer
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Old Apr 2, 2026 | 03:02 PM
  #16858  
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Originally Posted by icer5160
Yep, Ebay. I purchased high-temp vinyl decals from a small business operating on Ebay. They're holding up great 10 years later. I also struggled to get exact dimensions. Take measurements from the original faded decals prior to sending out for powdercoating. I had mine scaled based on width. When I tried to use both width + height, it completely messed up the ratio of the decals and made them unusable.

The proper decal install method is to apply them to the calipers prior to a final clear coat on the calipers (thus locking in the decals and sealing them from the elements). I did not go this route, I simply stuck the vinyl decals on top of the finished powdercoat. This is a much simpler option. Replacement vinyl decals are cheap and easy to obtain/install should the originals get damaged/weathered.
Cheers!
-Icer
thanks for the tips. you happen to have the link to the decals you purchases. from my measurements it looks the fronts are about an 8ish cm length and 4ish cm length for the rears. have yet to find a set on ebay that sells them under 2 inches length wise.
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Old Apr 3, 2026 | 05:12 AM
  #16859  
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I went with the same application method as Icer and just put the decals over the final coat after I cleaned the surface really well. I could not find the eBay purchase in my history since it was so long ago. I seem to remember that the front set fit pretty well. I think I had to do some minor trimming of the decal for the rear calipers to make them look correct which involved cutting the decal and decreasing the spacing between the Brembo symbol and the first 'b'.
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Old Apr 3, 2026 | 08:39 PM
  #16860  
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Hi Jon,

The seller I used on ebay was GTVinylz, again I ordered these decals back in 2016 (10 years ago) and the same set is holding up great, haven't had to replace them.
Here's the dimensions used:
Front: 3.5 width x .81 height inch
Rear: 1.75 width x 0.404 height inch

I don't know if the seller is still active or not. I did find the Ebay store, but there's a note showing they are "away" until May 1st 2026. Recent purchase reviews show long delays in getting their orders. Something must have happened.
Cheers!
-Icer
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