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Hi everyone! My name is Zoe and I bought a 2003 350z a little over a year ago to learn how to drift. It had good bones and was already prettttty modified. I enjoy having a build thread for my other project cars I own so I wanted to make one for the Z also. I imagine not everyone here is keen to drifting but thats okay, this thread is mostly for me.
Im going to catch this thread up from the past year of events in individual posts. This main post Ill keep updated on the current build.
2003 350Z
I bought it with these mods:
Suspension:
ISR Pro Performance True Type Coilovers
Gktech Super
Lock Control Arms
V1 Angle Kit
Forward Offset Rack Spacers
Extended Tie Rods
Tie And Camber Lock Out Kit
Voodoo13 Toe Arms
No brand Adj Cambers Arms
Engine:
Up Rev Engine Management
Z1 Plenum Spacers
LMT 4" Intake
Drivetrain:
3.5 Final Drive Welded
Whiteline Diff Bushing Kit
Interior:
Full interior
Nardi steering wheel
Current Complete Mod List:
Suspension:
ISR Pro Performance True Type Coilovers
Gktech
Super Lock Control Arms
V1 Angle Kit
Forward Offset Rack Spacers
Extended Tie Rods
Tie And Camber Lock Out Kit
Voodoo13 Toe Arms
No brand Adj Cambers Arms
GKTech Outer tie rods
Engine:
Up Rev Engine Management
Z1 Plenum Spacers
LMT 4" Intake
Drivetrain:
3.5 Final Drive Welded
Whiteline Diff Bushing Kit
GKTech Rear Diff Brace
Exterior:
Xprite Throwback Series Underglow kit
Clear front side markers
BRAUM Tow Strap
Wheels:
4/22/24 Rosenstein CR 18x9.5 +38
10/11/24 GKTech 1" Wheel spacers front/rear
10/26/24 GKTech 66.1 to 73 hub centric rings
Interior
Removed all interior from seats back
Keys Racing Drift Type Steering Wheel
BRAUM VENOM-R Fixed Back Bucket Seat (Driver)
BRAUM Elite Series Sport Reclinable Seat (Passenger
BRAUM White 5-point harnesses
BRAUM Dual Lock Sliders
BRAUM White Harness Bar
Blox Shift ****
Last edited by ZigZag03; Feb 22, 2025 at 06:58 PM.
Reason: updated photos
When I got the car it sat for about a half year as I gathered parts for it. Once I started installing parts and aligning it I realized it really need a more thorough look over. Some issues found..
I got all that fixed/replaced/tightened and started hitting up events!
Definitely still have a lot to learn! There was an event on the kart track in January that I went to but after one session out the car started blowing the ecm fuse. I lose throttle on track and the car shut off. Its definitely a short and a bunch of guys tried to help diag it at the event so I could get back out. We got it started a couple times but ultimately it kept blowing immediately so I didnt get to run the event.
Ive fixed a lot of wiring since the event but unfortunately haven't found the short causing the issue. I dropped it off at my local jdm shop for them to work their magic and get a fresh set of eyes on it. Hopefully I can make the next event which is on the main track and should help me get more comfortable pushing the car!
I actually just got the car picked up today from the shop I took it to. They popped a fuse in it and put a jump pack on it (it was very dead by this point) and the car started right up for them without blowing the fuse, which is crazy to me.
They think the battery could have shifted and grounded on the hood. I had just an aftermarket tie down on it but have the proper tie down installed now. They also replaced the battery terminal wiring clamps as the fusible link holder wasn't getting a great connection. In addition, the underglow I installed was connected to the battery so they disconnected that. I need to do some testing with the underflow and get an in line fuse which I don't currently have and that will rule that out for future.
It drives and I did a couple donuts both directions with no issues so I took it home. Seems to be good to go. Unfortunately can't make this next main track event but theres a skid pad event mid march Im planning on.
With just getting the Z back yesterday I got all the salt washed off that had been sitting on it since the event last month. Took it down the street to grab a couple photos. Yes its rough, its a work in progress, im cleaning up a little bit here and there as I can afford things.
Update: Turns out my electrical issue is not fixed. I took the car to the first Salt City Drift event of the year and had the same issue as the last kart track event earlier this year. My next step it to replace the whole engine harness.
Just have take it to someone that specializes in electrical to find the issues. Wiring/electrical can be difficult to diagnose. On a side note... looking good out there on the track. Good luck
Well it only took 4 long months but my electrical issue is now confirmed fix! For anyone interested here is the thread outlining the entire process - ECM Fuse Popping Thread
This past weekend was one of Utahs largest car events called Import Spring Showoff, its a giant car show with drifting and other activities throughout the day. The drift event is one of our few two day events we have here in SLC. After getting the car back from the electrical issue repaired the weekend before I got to work last week with wrapping up some small things like swapping coolant to water, removing old tech decals, installing tow hook strap, fixed underglow, ect.
The drift event was amazingggg! My first run on day 1 the steering felt like it was grabbing so a friend should me how to adjust me toe on the go and it felt much better after that. Did a couple more runs throughout the day but toward the end of the day I started to feel messy, whether from being tired or my setup being off. Finished off the night with some epic tandem ride alongs!
Day 2 was the best myself as a driver and the car have ever felt! A friend helped me play around with some different tire sizes and pressures which obviously made a huge difference and by mid day I was linking the whole track, which was my first time accomplishing! I ended up running out of tire and heading out early, which was fine, it was super windy and hot both days and I was exhausted lol. Next event is an all ladies Summer Vibes event at PPIR June 7/8, wish I had some more practice time before that but glad I got at lease one local event before heading out there!
Popped my tire pop cherry on wheels that weren't mine lol
And unloading after a long weekend!
Last edited by ZigZag03; May 13, 2025 at 07:06 PM.
Earlier this month I packed some clothes, threw a handful of tires in my truck bed, and loaded up the Z on a trailer I rented from a friend and started on a 1,245 mile (total miles roundtrip) road trip from Salt Lake City, UT to Denver, CO. The driver out was smooth and easy. I arrived in Denver and hung out with family for a couple days before continuing my trip down south to Pikes Peak International Raceway.
June 7th and 8th was a 2-day all female event. The first day was festival style with drifting, drift competition, drag racing, car show, vendors, awards, grip laps, smores, and more and the second day with only drifting with some drift games. I pull up to PPIR just past 9am on Saturday and pit with the Wyslide crew.
All day Saturday was a blast and I was mainly focused on linking the track and filling the corners and got pressured in to driving the drift competition which was fun. It was the first time I had tandemed and made it past the first round so I was happy! This was also the first event I tried Iron Mans and also a 245/40 instead of a 45 and they felt great all day!
Day 2 I focused more on filling out the corners and started trying some flick entries. Toward the end of the day I tried sticker front tires and put my only good tires which were 45s on the rear and could not get the car to stay sideways. I ended up going off with my wheel fully turned and unfortunately bent the GKTech LCA on the passenger front. That was my weekend but thankfully I got to drive almost the entire weekend with no issues. I got another control arm and also a new crank sensor as we were having some starting issues due to that and Im planning on hitting another event in two weeks as long as we dont find something else bent this weekend when I go to fix it.
We confirmed we needed to start with replacing the passenger LCA on the Z as that was the only part we could see a slight bend in. I sourced a used one locally, GKTech V1. We got that installed along with front lower ball joints, top off coolant, top off engine oil, plug PCV on the back of the motor (the hose that goes to the stock intake), 4WA, better attached the exhaust in the middle of the car and test drove!
A week later I drove the Silverado from Salt Lake to Cheyenne to pick up the Z and towed it up to Sturgis in SD for the SD 2 day drift event.
The event was amazing! There were so many amenities, on site full gas station, two seperate track layouts, constant shade via the dome, and cabins you can rent that featured a shower, beds, fridge, microwave, heat and a/c! The event itself was well organized, including a 24 car competition, and everyone was extremely nice and respectful.
The Z felt great once I started to get the hang of the track layout, however it started puking engine oil out. We found the leak coming from the spark plug oil tubes. The spark plug holes were completely flooded and oil coming out the tops and running down the manifolds. The RTV used to as a gasket when I had the valve cover gaskets done in May did not hold very long. We tried a few temporary fixes just to get some more laps this weekend but none of them were holding. Im thinking of trying these seals out since my car has the upgraded aluminum valve covers, does anyone have experience with these? https://conceptzperformance.com/czp-...ts_p_75266.php
No, it was my first time to PPIR! The track layout was a lot of fun and it was also the first all female event Ive been to which was awesome to see.
Keep in touch with Courtney - she is doing some big stuff for the ladies drift program! Happy you were able to attend and enjoy PPIR!
I run those the CZP aluminum valve covers on my g35 and I like them. I have not had to replace spark plug seals yet but it was a big reason I went with them.
Keep in touch with Courtney - she is doing some big stuff for the ladies drift program! Happy you were able to attend and enjoy PPIR!
I run those the CZP aluminum valve covers on my g35 and I like them. I have not had to replace spark plug seals yet but it was a big reason I went with them.
Yeah Courtney is awesome and a great leader to have in the female automotive community! I bought the seals to try and will be doing a test event on 8/15 so Ill post up here how they hold up after that!
A few photos came in from the last drift event in South Dakota that I wanted to share! Next update will come mid August, I bought the CZP spark plug tube seals and will be doing a test day to make sure they hold up and no other issues arise before a larger event at the end of August.
Update: Forgot to post from last month. I went out to WY, installed the CZP spark plug tube seals, and took the Z for a test day on August 15th at IMI Motorsports Complex in CO. The car did great all day until the end of the day and the tubes started to puddle again. This issue started whenever I removed the breather filter on the rear pcv port, so we decided to keep my current oil catch can set up as it is because when we tried connecting that port into that catch can we had issues. Instead, we now have added a second catch can that goes from that rear pcv port to the second catch can and we have a breather filter on the out side of the catch can. The next event I hit was Drift Buffet Bros Before Pros in SLC UT, the tubes did puddle once but I think it was because I got the car too hot because my coolant overflow also overflowed at the same time. Once we got that cleaned up the tubes didnt puddle again the rest of the day so I thinkkkk we have it fixed with this second catch can setup. Idk why we couldnt get it set up to work without it, no one else I know or have seen runs two catch cans but it seems to be working for my car. My next event is next weekend, Im heading back to Sturgis, SD for their two day event. So well further test and make sure the crank case pressure issue is actually fixed and I also started having this new issue at the Bros event where my radio cuts out during drifting at some point and it causes my aux/phone attachment to put the volume at 0 and I like having music going during drifting so I want to fix that lol.
Two photos from Bros Before Pros from my friend Chen Media. I have wanted to drive the go kart track at SLC since I started drifting so I was superrrr excited to finally get on it. A lot of the corners were squared off so it was definitely more technical than I was expecting but it was overall a great day!
Ill get some engine bay photos tomorrow and how I have the catch cans routed.
Zig Drift Build
