Let's say you have a $40,000 budget to build the fastest Z you can. There are only 3 requirements:

1). The stock Z must be Enthusiast or higher model.
2). Must have side airbags.
3). Must have ATI Procharger.

This car would be primarily a dragster/road car, in that it probably wouldn't see much time in any Autocross events, and wouldn't be tracked very much.

What would you guys do if you had the $40k budget?

Just for clarification --- the cost of the Z needs to be figured in, too.

 

well then, Id go with the enthusiast model. then put in the atiprocharger. thats... 30 for the Z out the door give or take, 5000$ for the procharger, that leaves 5000 for "other". first off Id get new rims, 16" maybe, forged, super light, then toss some drag radials on the back. thats about 2-2500$ there. then swap out the LSD in the back, then start thinking about headers intake and exhaust to finish things off, with about 2500$ left, probably injen or borla exhaust, Injen intake, and maybe borla headers as well. should come in around 40k total. of course assuming instalation is done by you.

 

What ares said but, I would buy a used one so that you have more available mod money.

 

as would I if that is an option, my plan might take you a bit over 40k, hard to figure in tax and instalation costs ect. used would help, definitly on the intake and exhaust atleast.

 

Besides the stuff that ares said also I would beef up the suspension, especially in the back.

 

used enthusiest or higher...

procharger / nismo headers / nismo exaust / straight pipes or high flow cats / crawford plenum...

good luck..

 

Let's assume that I could get an Enthusiast for $28,500 and everything but the Procharger would be self-installed. What then?

 

Oh, and to cut some more cost: What if I just left the Enthusiast 17" wheels on there and slapped on some slicks/radials on the rear? Rims might come later, but I'm trying to make a case to somebody that you can have one hell of a badass Z for $40k as opposed to buying a (new) Z06 for $44k.

edit -- also... is it reasonable to expect 400rwhp with a fully bolt-onned and ProCharged car, with the 7psi pulley?

 

But if you got the Base model, you could put the difference of the price for the Enth into a Nismo Limited Slip and set it to fixed for the drag strips.

 

You would not need the Injen intake with the procharger so you would save that money plus install. I would go with the procharger, Crawford Plenum, Crawford headers, LSD test pipes, Injen dual exhaust for power. Then I would focus on the wheels. The problem with the stock 17s is that the rears are not all that wide at 8"and with the power you would be laying down you want more tire in back for sure. I would go with a set of 17" 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels with at least a 9.5 width in back. Then slap on some Nitto drag radials. Then I would focus on making the car lighter by putting in racing seats, a carbon fiber hood, lighter battery, eliminating the spare, jack and so on ...

 

You gotta get cams and an LSD for a drag car. I agree, you should get a used one on that 40k budget so you can do it right.

However, when you race a car you break ****, better figure in about 4 or 5k for maintenance just to be safe.

 

Why not get a base if it's just for drag?

 

straight up car to beat a Z06? procharger alone might have a shot... it gets about 350 to the wheel, or about 410 at the crank. more than the Z06 I beleive.

but the Z06 has far more torque, basicly implying a flatter torque curve, and also wider tires.

you could go with a drag set of rims for back only, thats wall you need, along with the radials for them, thatd cut cost in half on that.

exhaust test pipes.

as for weight, I dont see any good ways to drop weight, a quality CF hood is not in the budget and more importantly isnt made yet, plus the hood is aluminum as it is, quite light.

if you really wanna drop weight, strip the interior. thats where its at anyway. but thats not real good for an arguement to say strip the interior, the Z06 isnt stripping his...

it can be done tho, no doubt. better choice IMO, that turbo kit, 8000$, thats 36,500 right there(no idea what install would be) so 3500 for other stuff. LSD, exhaust, thats good for a grand Id imagine. 2500 left, 1200 on rear rims and drag radials. 1300 left.

I donno what Id do with the left over. install costs I guess. but thats 400RWHP, maybe more. and enough rubber to stick it to the ground.

 

What about installation for that procharger?

 

tax too...

 

I bet the Z, the procharger, install, tuning andso on, runs almost 40k alone.

 

NITROUS!

 

The car's still gotta be streetable. I don't think weight reduction is going to be a viable option, as far as removing the interior is concerned. I was thinking something along the lines of:

ATI SC
Borla TD
Crawford Plenum/Headers
NISMO Cams
UR Pulleys
Rear Dragracing Rims + Slicks/DRs
And definately the ATI 9psi pulley if/when released.

 

too bad i dont have a link to that pic of the 350 shot nitrus z blowin up....

 

ATI SC
Borla TD
Crawford Plenum/Headers
NISMO Cams
UR Pulleys
Rear Dragracing Rims + Slicks/DRs
And definately the ATI 9psi pulley if/when released.

No way your getting all of that for 40 grand.