You mean like this beauty?



Heh heh..... when I heard the new Niz was being built with an automatic, I cringed. But what the hey.... not all old people are like me who still two foot it. HAR HAR!!! Just kidding, iz all good.

Keep on!

Mic

 

Yessir!! Just like that. I think people...um.....forget....that the GTR is an automatic. I found that left foot braking makes for a smoother drive around a road or autocross course and keeps the chassis more stable and settled. Unless you can heel toe, driving a stick shift properly can be awkward. This is coming from a die hard stick shift guy. I.still have my 6sp Maxima if I want to row through gears. I nicely set up auto trans has an advantage over a stick except a really good driver. Anyhow.....

Today I received my knee pad side panels. yes they are fairly different then the 03 to 05 bits. They are a bit tricky to install. The lower dash has to be pulled out in order to access a deeply hidden screw that holds the panels in, in addition to a couple of buttons that just pull out with the panel. It seems fairly clear that the radio needs to be changed as well. This should occur in my car within the next week and hopefully the entire center console project will finally be put to rest. I will post side by side pictures of the two different panels later.

I took a very brisk drive into the mountains. The car handles the road and undulations at high speed very well. I believe I can feel the dampers working in conjunction with the Nismo suspension and I rather enjoy the feeling. I believe the chassis can do with more stiffening due to the convertible configuration. I'm thinking something like a harness bar that links both sides of the car together behind the headrests and the H brace that the Nismo Z has. I also believe some seam welding around the struts should be helpful as well.

 

Pic showing difference between 03-05 and 06+ knee pad panels

Newer one is up top

Pic showing how you pull lower dash panel to access the screw holding in the panel

 

I have an 06+ Bose 6CD radio on its way. Brackets are on their way too. They should be here by Friday. Stealership wanted $100!! I gottem used for $10 shipped.


I got my little light bulb for my shifter which lights up the gears.

 

Ok....so my plan on my car was to make this a Nismo convertible. Any non-Nismo part that I changed had to be a 350z option like headlights or tail lights. Ive been thinking JDM tail but I know a lot of people don't like them. I think they can look nicer when the chrome parts inside are painted black. I like the fact that they are LEDs because the 06 and up tail lights are basically similar to the JDM tails but have a red lense instead of a clear lens. I found a pair of brand new JDM tail lights for a smoking deal. I made a nice little drive down to San Diego and brought home a pair of JDM taillights.

I thought I would put them in as they are and if I decide I really want to crack them open and paint the chrome then I will do that later.

Installation of JDM tail lights:
I opened the trunk and popped how to the bolt covers, 3 on each side, and removed the bolts with a 10 millimeter socket. I pulled the light away from the car and discovered that the nubs that locate the light we're broken off inside the receptacles in the car. I had to do a bit of minor surgery to extract them out of the receptacles so that the nubs on the new tail lights would fit in there. after fiddling around extracting the nubs I discovered that the connector had ridges on it that was opposite of the connector on the tail lights. I only choice appeared to be grinding off the ridges which I did with a soldering iron and a sharp knife. the soldering iron melted the plastic and made it a little bit brittle so that I was able to scrape it off with a knife. Then the connectors hooked up perfectly. I tested the lights to make sure they worked before I bolted them to the car and they did work great. installation was the reverse of removal.

here is the result:






Lights on in daylight:

 

not feeling them..... but it is your car

 

Truth.

It really depends what you like. I think it would probably look better with the chrome pieces black, or maybe a tinted overlay over the whole assembly if you were set on the JDM style.

Personally, I have the 06+ red tails on my '05.

 

From the back I like the way they look. From the side, Im not too sure. They probably would look better with the chrome painted satin black. I would probably paint the area around the LEDs black chrome to keep them reflective. I might tint the reflectors in the front of the lights. They are clearly much brighter than the 05 > tails. It does give the car a bit of a fresher look, even if it isnt your cup o' tea I'll do an MSPaint of painting the chrome and tinting the reflectors and see how that looks. If anyone has opened 350z tails, I'd like to hear from you.

***I did an MSPaint and it looks like it would be best if I did open the tails up, that all the chrome gets painted satin black.***

 

The Z has a stylish taillight that integrates into the bodywork, but still provides a bold slash of color into the side view. Somewhere in the bowels of the DOT there is a standard for the shade of red mandated for use in taillights; whatever it’s called, it’s a beautiful bright red. If your car has intense orange paint unfortunately the red clashes, however for a white or a black car the slash of red is a welcome bit of accessorization.

Next time you’re at a chic gallery opening, take note of the ocean of little black dresses that tend to be perfect for this type of affair. Now look at the girls that catch your eye. Beyond the overtly slutty ones that this forum’s demographic craves, take note of whose look stands out. A bit of bright red accent really makes a little black dress pop. Red lipstick and nails and a red clutch bag and/or red, red, shoes make the boy’s gaze linger.

Predominantly black everything is correct for a hearse and can be adapted for a formal car, but sports cars are meant to be fun and should show it. People who go for the blacked-out, ominous look rarely pull it off and usually just look silly.

 

It's all about the T&A.

 

but who doesnt like *****?

 

You guys are all pigs. You too, Jen, for bringing it all up.

(You might have to think about the hidden innuendo)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA......

This place is far too entertaining for me. I think I better go drive my car to settle down. I got a report due to the big man (actually a woman) this afternoon and you guys are messin' up my already-unlinked-train-of-thought (or in my case, lack thereof.)

Mic

 

Well I must admit that when Jen mentioned "little black dresses" my mind headed in the general direction of the gutter. The red lipstick and the nails sealed the deal..I was offically in the gutter.....ANYWAY....

I'd go drive my car to settle down but A. I walked to work, and B. I left my roof open and it rained a bit which got the seats slightly wet.

Just waitin for my 06+ radio and brackets.....

Is anyone going to the Z meet in Orange, CA on April 26th?

 

A different view of the car:


Radio brackets came in. Still waiting for the 08 CD6 radio on its way. Im not sure how that will help the shift console fit but Ill find out.

I still need to open the tonneau cover and hook up the two connectors and the arms of the top. Im just enjoying the top down too much to risk it.

 

Hey that shot is money deus!!

 

Looks sick from that angle. I like that you're sticking with OEM parts to stay with the whole conversion as opposed to aftermarket parts.

I'm jealous. I wish I could keep my top down all the time this time of year. I just really don't feel like vacuuming out a 2 inch layer of yellow pine tree pollen every couple days.

You could always hook this up (jk):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmdI...ature=youtu.be

 

Thanks guys. I was on a second level office building and happened to glance at the car and thought it looked good. You can look in the car and see the red Nismo seats looking sharp.

I feel fortunate to have found all original OEM parts for the car. The wing had to be a replica since the original ABS plastic wing could not be modified easily to fit the trunk. Im going to look at some OEM Nismo rims locally. Some have damage and the seller wants too much for them. I figure market rate is about $1800 in nice condition with decent tires. I think he wants about $1200 and two of the wheels are pretty damaged. Ill look at them and talk to some wheel repair places and see what they think.

I just vacuumed the car out the other day and then parked it under a tree to keep the sun off, and the tree dropped a bunch of stuff in the car, so Ill have to vacuum it again.

That convertible top controller is pretty cool!!

 

1800 is way too much for oem nismos. I got mine gor 900 plus shipping With some curb rashes but in exellent condition. Keep looking you'll eventually find the right price. I'm wet sanding/ polishing them as we speak. They are looking like new.

 

Where did you find yours? Did they have good tires on them? Wanna sell em?

 

no I'm not I just got them for my z lol. Check out the nismo wheel thread I think someone posted a website a while ago where they sell the nismo wheels like 300 a piece. I got mine at the 350z fb page. I posted a WTB post and I got a reply shortly after.