Notices
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

Personalizing a 350Z?

Old Sep 26, 2018 | 07:47 AM
  #41  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Thanks.

I saw the duraflex one on ebay. I didn't considered it because of duraflex bad rep and because they were not really what I was looking for.

About the ings, I would like to try to find something which is more well integrated into the body of the car.

By the way, are these little add ons after the front wheel stock or aftermarket?




I also saw cars which had them at the rear as well, in front of the rear wheels. But now I can't find any photos.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 09:23 AM
  #42  
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
Heel Til I Die
New Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,305
From: Raleigh, NC
Default

The part that you circled is an OEM part. It's a mud guard or mudflap. There's one behind the rear wheel in your picture as well.

It sounds like you're describing the Veilside V1 "underwings."
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 10:23 AM
  #43  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Thanks. So they are mudflaps? And here I was thinking they served some aerodynamic purpose.

But what I was talking about was not the underwings. It was basically like the front mudflap in my picture. But it was in front of the rear wheel. I can't find the picture. But maybe somebody just turned the front mudflaps around and glued them to the rear in front of the rear wheel. I don't know. I thought they were some sort of half skirts. Or maybe there are underwings which look very similar to the OEM mudflap.

And do the underwings serve any real aero purposes?
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 04:19 AM
  #44  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,315
Likes: 3,378
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by Zet3
Thanks. So they are mudflaps? And here I was thinking they served some aerodynamic purpose.

But what I was talking about was not the underwings. It was basically like the front mudflap in my picture. But it was in front of the rear wheel. I can't find the picture. But maybe somebody just turned the front mudflaps around and glued them to the rear in front of the rear wheel. I don't know. I thought they were some sort of half skirts. Or maybe there are underwings which look very similar to the OEM mudflap.

And do the underwings serve any real aero purposes?
Very few body wing/spoiler/lip/sideskirt add-on "aero" is actually aero. There are many components and tweaks that need to be added to them to make them effective or even take away the extra aerodynamic drag that they're actually adding. Got a wind tunnel?

Nissan apparently does (or uses someone's); the Nismo 33 and 34 bodywork actually DOES work. The dinner tray double rear wing and rear fascia work together to slip air over and under the car to produce something like 30+ lbs of rear downforce (versus the stock Z producing nearly 20lbs LIFT....) Combine lift with a bunch of untested FRP or poly add ons producing drag..... ehhh.

But none of that really matters at road speeds other than a possible half a mile less per gallon so just enjoy the "aero body" for what it is, a styling statement.

So you're sure what you saw wasn't the Veilside (or "VS rep" as they're called by everybody who makes them)?

Oddly, these are one of the only "aero" add ons I like. Matter of fact, as I've mentioned (and shown in another thread about my CF rear "Track version" lip), I have (or actually sold off) several add on body pieces that I purchased but just couldn't get myself to install because of a number of reasons: fear of messing up the car's style lines, ruining the aero, paint mismatch, etc.

In coming weeks, going to put it all on - in temporary fashion - for evaluation purposes. F, R, sides for kicks.

This is a member's car that totally inspired me to buy the pieces! (sry110-holler if you want me to take the pic down) This is a MicTopTen car due to its subtlety and well executed body/stance.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 05:38 AM
  #45  
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
Heel Til I Die
New Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,305
From: Raleigh, NC
Default

Similar to the Veilside sides are the Chargespeed side cowls. They "flare" out a little more at the rears than the Veilside which look to be flush with the body.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 07:51 AM
  #46  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Originally Posted by MicVelo
Very few body wing/spoiler/lip/sideskirt add-on "aero" is actually aero. There are many components and tweaks that need to be added to them to make them effective or even take away the extra aerodynamic drag that they're actually adding. Got a wind tunnel?

Nissan apparently does (or uses someone's); the Nismo 33 and 34 bodywork actually DOES work. The dinner tray double rear wing and rear fascia work together to slip air over and under the car to produce something like 30+ lbs of rear downforce (versus the stock Z producing nearly 20lbs LIFT....) Combine lift with a bunch of untested FRP or poly add ons producing drag..... ehhh.

But none of that really matters at road speeds other than a possible half a mile less per gallon so just enjoy the "aero body" for what it is, a styling statement.

So you're sure what you saw wasn't the Veilside (or "VS rep" as they're called by everybody who makes them)?

Oddly, these are one of the only "aero" add ons I like. Matter of fact, as I've mentioned (and shown in another thread about my CF rear "Track version" lip), I have (or actually sold off) several add on body pieces that I purchased but just couldn't get myself to install because of a number of reasons: fear of messing up the car's style lines, ruining the aero, paint mismatch, etc.

In coming weeks, going to put it all on - in temporary fashion - for evaluation purposes. F, R, sides for kicks.

This is a member's car that totally inspired me to buy the pieces! (sry110-holler if you want me to take the pic down) This is a MicTopTen car due to its subtlety and well executed body/stance.

I could swear that what I saw was more like this:





This is photoshoped by the way. But it really looked like just another mudflap in front of the rear wheel. It didn't look at all like these more flush underwings. But now I can't find the picture anymore. I could of course be mistaking. But I have the impression I saw the above or very close to it.

Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 07:54 AM
  #47  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
Similar to the Veilside sides are the Chargespeed side cowls. They "flare" out a little more at the rears than the Veilside which look to be flush with the body.

Hmm, I supposed these could be what I might have seen. Maybe from a different angle it would look close enough to confused me. The only thing is that they were short like the OEM mudflaps instead of extending so much away from the wheel like both these types of underings do. So I'm still thinking this was not it.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 08:12 AM
  #48  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,315
Likes: 3,378
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by Zet3
I could swear that what I saw was more like this:

This is photoshoped by the way. But it really looked like just another mudflap in front of the rear wheel. It didn't look at all like these more flush underwings. But now I can't find the picture anymore. I could of course be mistaking. But I have the impression I saw the above or very close to it.
Well, maybe that owner just wanted to keep mud and rubber off his doors during bitchin’ reverse burnouts.

That stuff is hard to remove.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 09:20 AM
  #49  
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
Heel Til I Die
New Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,305
From: Raleigh, NC
Default

Originally Posted by MicVelo


Well, maybe that owner just wanted to keep mud and rubber off his doors during bitchin’ reverse burnouts.

That stuff is hard to remove.
I heard that if you drive a '61 Ferrari 250GT in reverse, the miles will go down.

Just be sure to not kick the front bumper in a fit of teenage angsty rage.

Sorry... couldn't help myself. Throwback Thursday!
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 12:12 PM
  #50  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,315
Likes: 3,378
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
I heard that if you drive a '61 Ferrari 250GT in reverse, the miles will go down.

Just be sure to not kick the front bumper in a fit of teenage angsty rage.

Sorry... couldn't help myself. Throwback Thursday!

"I am not going to sit on my *** as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to defend it. Right or wrong, I'm going to defend it."
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 03:20 PM
  #51  
dboyzalter's Avatar
dboyzalter
6 inch cawk is my fave!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,556
Likes: 973
From: Mass
Default



my car is basically back in stock form, I like it that way.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 10:05 PM
  #52  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

In my exhaustive search for body kits I found this photo:






It came up with the search 350Z side skirts. Anybody knows which kit is that? This would be perfect. Thanks.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 04:03 PM
  #53  
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
Heel Til I Die
New Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,305
From: Raleigh, NC
Default

To me, that doesn't look like a 350z door since it doesn't taper at the bottom. Are you sure those sides are for a Z33?
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 04:31 PM
  #54  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,315
Likes: 3,378
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by Heel Til I Die
To me, that doesn't look like a 350z door since it doesn't taper at the bottom. Are you sure those sides are for a Z33?
NOT a Z door.



Reply
Old Oct 1, 2018 | 11:59 PM
  #55  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Yes, I see the difference now.

By the way, I'm still going through google images using different combinations of search words and the amount of body kits made for the 350Z is unbelievable! I've been at it for days now during my spare time and I still manage to find new kits I haven't seen. Most of them are ugly or excessive for my tastes. Others seem to try to make the car look like a Porsche or something, which I also don't like. Very few are of good taste for me. But the sheer number of kits available are just crazy. It seems to have no end. Has anybody ever collected all the existing kits in one place or site?

I guess this shows how popular the car is or was. But here you never see one at all. I guess in the U.S. they are common sight? I know that in the UK they are on the rare side too. Not sure Japan.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2018 | 05:10 AM
  #56  
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
Heel Til I Die
New Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,305
From: Raleigh, NC
Default

This site has a lot of them. Not all - but most of the different styles. You just enter the year, make, model: https://www.bodykits.com/c-1234250-b...body-kits.html
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2018 | 01:52 PM
  #57  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Thanks for the link. I had seen that site. It has a lot of repeated kits with different names it seems. Actually this is a recurring theme while searching. The same kits with different names. I guess copies of copies etc. So far I haven't found a kit I like. Some separated parts which could be usable. But no nose I like yet for example. But the kits are either too much or too little. Nothing that makes the car look more classy and more classic or special. It either doesn't do much or goes full on clown shoe. But I'm still looking.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2018 | 04:03 PM
  #58  
MicVelo's Avatar
MicVelo
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
Premier Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,315
Likes: 3,378
From: Northern California
Default

There's always this good old standby....



You did say "rounded" at one point.... this is kinda rounded.

"Bond, James Bond."
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2018 | 12:08 AM
  #59  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Yes, I saw that.

But you know what? If it wasn't for the Aston shaped grill, it's not a bad looking bumper or look. Understated and classy, besides trying to be an Aston. If the grill opening was more circular or less Aston I think it would be a nice look. The problem is trying to pass as something which it isn't. It's the same case with the GT-R bumpers for the 350Z. Kitschy. This particular photo above is very bad though. I saw pictures of people's actual cars with that bumper and it looks better. The problem is the Aston grill. But Aston grill or not, it still looks better than a lot of body kits out there. I would rather have the above Aston bumper than excessive or ricer stuff such as these:


















There are a lot more. But I think I made the point.

And don't even get me started on Lambo doors.

There is also the Rocket Bunny stuff which is way too much for the street. I don't even know why people do it to things like Ferraris and Maseratis.

There are also other kits which seem to try to make the car look like a Porsche:






A ricer "Porsche":



To me this is almost as bad as the Aston bumper. It's not as obvious put pretty clear where the influence comes from.

The 350Z has already enough 911 and Audi TT for my liking. I would rather distance the car from that than bring it closer if I'm to modify it.

Talking about the TT, fat round tackled on wheel arches on the 350Z make it look like a gen 1 Audi TT. The rear is already very round and TT like.

Besides the above Porsche-like kits also look a bit ricer in my opinion. The Stillen (metallic orange one in the middle) is only the skirts that are ricer. The bumper could be OEM. But too Porsche.

Anything which has a solid low racing lip almost scrapping the ground on a street car is too much for me. There is a reason Aston doesn't do it in their normal cars. Neither does Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo etc. It looks cheap, kitschy and tasteless on a street car. When they need the lower lip, for real aerodynamics, they try to understate it as much as they can and keep it classy. So a solid, mono plastic piece scrapping the ground is not my taste. Nothing screams ricer more than a single piece bumper full of wings and holes with a low fat hanging lip. This is the main problem in finding something I like. There are some nice looking bumpers. But the low rent look of the extra low and thick lip scrapping the ground turns me off.

Last edited by Zet3; Oct 3, 2018 at 12:09 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 4, 2018 | 12:32 PM
  #60  
Zet3's Avatar
Zet3
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Default

Good news. Finally found side skirts that I like. And this one is definitely a 350Z.




I wish they were a little more seamless at the top and blended into the body a bit better. But maybe this can be done by a good body shop? Is it a matter of just sanding it down a bit? If they can be made to fit smoothly with the body without the thick seam, I think this will be as close as I can get to what I want.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:41 PM.