My Journey w/ a 2004 Chrome Silver ZR
#1
My Journey w/ a 2004 Chrome Silver ZR
Me being the age I am, 38, I thought I would surely keep my new Z stocked. I have never own a bone stock car. If you are like me then our cars are an extension of our personality. I have never had any of my cars featured in a magazine. But I always dreamed about being in one. When I was 16, I had a hand me down 1984 Nissan Maxima. Remember when LL Cool J rapped "CAR DRIVE BY WITH A BOOMIN SYSTEM"? I had the 12" subs, 1000 watt amp and everything else was stock. Parent used to hate me. Especially when it was me picking up their daughters. I rattled everything loose in that car. In 1989 I never heard about lowering a car, but with my fu(ked up suspension from the heavy wood box and subs, my car look SLAMMED!!
22 years later, one baby mama, one wife, one fiancee, and whole lot of girlfriends later, I bought a 2004 Chrome Silver 350z Roadster. Seems like all women dont like staying with a man who loves his cars. Why is that???
22 years later, one baby mama, one wife, one fiancee, and whole lot of girlfriends later, I bought a 2004 Chrome Silver 350z Roadster. Seems like all women dont like staying with a man who loves his cars. Why is that???
#2
Here she is. My 2004 Roadster. I never got into naming my cars. I think that is cool how some people can do that. My kids always ask me what I am going to name the car. I didnt like the mud guards. So they were the first to go. I also didnt like the chrome grill. That is taken off too. When the mod itch came, my first instinct was to upgrade performance first. I tought the stock wheels were going to be ok for awhile. THEY ARE LITTLE TINY WHEELS AND TIRES!! I didnt like the way they sunk in. I didnt like knowing that I used to have bigger wheels and tires on my Civic. So, I started shopping.
#3
I had a hard time deciding between these two wheels. Yes I know it is not your $2000 set of wheels, but hey I am not a millionaire. They were cheap, they had the size and offset I was looking for and they are lighter than most wheels you find at discount tire. Ironically I had a typo and found the website www.discounttires.com <--- notice the "S" at the end? It is a totally different site. These wheels were going for $110 each. They were $140 each at nlmotoring and $200 each everywhere else. I took that typo as God really wanted me to have these wheels.
I liked these because they are 21lbs each.
I like these because of the 3" step lip design.
I liked these because they are 21lbs each.
I like these because of the 3" step lip design.
#4
I bought four of the XXR 521 18x10 +25(f) +17(r)w/spacer. Tires are 265/35 (f) 275/35 (r).
I found the tires "USED" with 70% tread. I paid $35 each and paid an extra $10 for them to mount and balance.
Sticks out 8mm
Sticks out 8mm
Needs a Drop
I knew something like this would be the case. I have 2 finger space in the front and 3 fingers space in the rear.
I will have to wait awhile until I save enough money for springs and camber kits.
BTW... I was suprise to find out I didnt have tire pressure sensors in my stock valve stems. I had no low pressure warning light on the dash after mounting new wheels. And my choice in tire size did not mess with my TCS light.
I found the tires "USED" with 70% tread. I paid $35 each and paid an extra $10 for them to mount and balance.
Sticks out 8mm
Sticks out 8mm
Needs a Drop
I knew something like this would be the case. I have 2 finger space in the front and 3 fingers space in the rear.
I will have to wait awhile until I save enough money for springs and camber kits.
BTW... I was suprise to find out I didnt have tire pressure sensors in my stock valve stems. I had no low pressure warning light on the dash after mounting new wheels. And my choice in tire size did not mess with my TCS light.
Last edited by dexrod; 11-12-2012 at 09:46 PM.
#5
Since I cant afford coilovers, I am thinking about getting Tanabe GF210s. They drop the coupe 1" front and 1.2" rear. I am not sure what it would be on a Roadster because of the extra 200lbs. Does anyone have any factual input on this??? Well, if all else fails, I could shave the rear spring mount up to 1/2" to even things up with the front.
Last edited by dexrod; 11-29-2012 at 09:54 AM.
#6
SPC Cambers were recomended to me by other members. SPC #72050 & #72055 should cover the rear. I dont know if I want to get the "A" arm for the front yet. It cost like $400 and I only want to drop the front 1". I know anything over 0.8" will affect the camber settings but how bad could 0.2" be??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Av9f6GOAf20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Av9f6GOAf20
Last edited by dexrod; 11-12-2012 at 07:46 PM.
#7
I just realized its my universal 8mm wheel spacers that is making my Z shake like crazy @80mph. So now I am in the market for a 10mm hubcentric wheel spacer. I should have payed more for the wheel with the +12 offset. So I took these universal sapcer off. My front wheels stick out 8mm more than the rear wheels. It is hard to tell but I know the back sinks in more. It just drives me a little crazy. I could look at it on the bright side. I can drive over 80mph and feel safe about.
NEVER EVER EVER get these from PEP BOYS
NEVER EVER EVER get these from PEP BOYS
Trending Topics
#9
How I use my 3 Car Garage
This 1998 Honda Civic has been stolen, found, rebuilt and totaled in 2006.
This was my FAST & Furious car..lol It even had blue underglow neon lights.
This 1984 Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 has been with me for the past 16 years. She is for sure a keeper.
I did a lift kit, 33" Mud Tires and Custom Roof Rack and Bull Bars. Too bad she only get 8 mpg.
This 2004 Acura TL is a fun sports sedan. I just wish it was a AWD Manual.
She has Fujita Cold Air intake, Greddy Dual Exhaust and Privat Wheels.
This one is my luxury keeper.
#10
#11
1964 Datsun Fairlady Roadster
I just want everyone to know that before the Datsun 240Z in 1969,
there was the Datsun Fairlady Roadster in 1964.
The Datsun Sports (called Datsun Fairlady in the home market), was a series of roadsters produced by Nissan in the 1960s. The series was a predecessor to the Z-car in the Fairlady line, and offered an inexpensive alternative to the British MG and Triumph sports cars.
So when those 350Z Coupe guys knock on you for having a Roadster, you can reply back and say, "Your Great Grand Daddy is a Roadster!!".
there was the Datsun Fairlady Roadster in 1964.
The Datsun Sports (called Datsun Fairlady in the home market), was a series of roadsters produced by Nissan in the 1960s. The series was a predecessor to the Z-car in the Fairlady line, and offered an inexpensive alternative to the British MG and Triumph sports cars.
So when those 350Z Coupe guys knock on you for having a Roadster, you can reply back and say, "Your Great Grand Daddy is a Roadster!!".
Last edited by dexrod; 11-12-2012 at 09:34 PM.
#12
The 240/350Z picture was taken by a friend of mine, Joe. He is the now former owner of the 350 and the 240 is still owned by my friend and club member Scott.
Joe took the picture here in Kansas City in about 2003 or 2004 for a calendar our club used to put out
That picture gets a lot of coverage and I even saw it recently for a product being sold on ebay.
Joe took the picture here in Kansas City in about 2003 or 2004 for a calendar our club used to put out
That picture gets a lot of coverage and I even saw it recently for a product being sold on ebay.
#13
The 240/350Z picture was taken by a friend of mine, Joe. He is the now former owner of the 350 and the 240 is still owned by my friend and club member Scott.
Joe took the picture here in Kansas City in about 2003 or 2004 for a calendar our club used to put out
That picture gets a lot of coverage and I even saw it recently for a product being sold on ebay.
Joe took the picture here in Kansas City in about 2003 or 2004 for a calendar our club used to put out
That picture gets a lot of coverage and I even saw it recently for a product being sold on ebay.
#17
Here she is. My 2004 Roadster. I never got into naming my cars. I think that is cool how some people can do that. My kids always ask me what I am going to name the car. I didnt like the mud guards. So they were the first to go. I also didnt like the chrome grill. That is taken off too. When the mod itch came, my first instinct was to upgrade performance first. I tought the stock wheels were going to be ok for awhile. THEY ARE LITTLE TINY WHEELS AND TIRES!! I didnt like the way they sunk in. I didnt like knowing that I used to have bigger wheels and tires on my Civic. So, I started shopping.
#18
^^NismoZR... You mean to tell me this Nismo V3 Roadster used to look factory..
You my friend, have one of the best Roadsters I have ever seen. I wish I had the '07 hood and headlights.
I feel that the curve of the '07 hood goes best with your Nismo V3 Bumper. Anything else wouldnt be as smooth.
You my friend, have one of the best Roadsters I have ever seen. I wish I had the '07 hood and headlights.
I feel that the curve of the '07 hood goes best with your Nismo V3 Bumper. Anything else wouldnt be as smooth.
#20
DIY: Cutting Rear Springmount aka "the springmount mod"
https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...mount-mod.html
Last Night, for the first time, I bought something from a member in the my350Z forum.
I bought a set of Used Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs. I had to do the whole Pay Pal thing
with sending the money to a person's email address. It was all new to me and it was pretty easy.
So now I wait for our fellow member to ship me the product.
The Eibach Pro Kit is suppose to lower my car 1" front and 1" back.
No matter what kit I get, unless it is coilovers, I wont get rid of that 3 finger gap in the rear.
By doing the combination of Lowering Springs and the Springmount Mod, I should get the results I am looking for.
I should have a 1 finger gap in the front and rear. My car should be completely level.
I should be able to take corners with little or no body roll because of the higher spring rates.
I also know that I need to pick up a set of Adjustable Camber Arms and Toe Bolt. I also need to roll back fenders.
Last Night, for the first time, I bought something from a member in the my350Z forum.
I bought a set of Used Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs. I had to do the whole Pay Pal thing
with sending the money to a person's email address. It was all new to me and it was pretty easy.
So now I wait for our fellow member to ship me the product.
The Eibach Pro Kit is suppose to lower my car 1" front and 1" back.
No matter what kit I get, unless it is coilovers, I wont get rid of that 3 finger gap in the rear.
By doing the combination of Lowering Springs and the Springmount Mod, I should get the results I am looking for.
I should have a 1 finger gap in the front and rear. My car should be completely level.
I should be able to take corners with little or no body roll because of the higher spring rates.
I also know that I need to pick up a set of Adjustable Camber Arms and Toe Bolt. I also need to roll back fenders.