I recently bought a 2005 Nissan 350z. I love these cars and managed to get my hands on one with a stillen supercharger. I want to get to some HPDE events and maybe scca. I have other vehicles so I don't mind setting up aggressively. The car has the following:

Stillen supercharger
aEM intake
Berk high flow cats
Nismo exhaust
Shirt shifter

Here Is what I am thinking about starting with. Any suggestions very welcome. Looking to stay on a budget so I'm trying to scour for used performance parts.

Full coil overs.
Wheels and tires- looking at rpf1 or te37 Volks could use advice on tires
Sparco evo seats
Harness bar with sparco harnesses
Either upgrading stock single piston brakes with good pads and rotors or going full big brakes if I can find a good deal.
Mishimoto radiator, fans, shroud, and hoses
Oil cooler

Can anyone help out and let me know what you track guys would recommend??

Thanks

 

Tires: Bridgstone Re11's. Not cheap but sticky and that you want. Brakes: Brembo Never let you down. I'm at 491hp on my car and grip and safety is most important. When I take it on Laguna SECA, where I live approx 8 miles from it is one fun run... Some on here that hit the track a lot up north and will chime in I'm sure on some notes for you.

 

Yea I love the Stillen because of the sound and safe small boost but I will prob ditch it for a TT setup this spring. So for now I just wanna set the car up for the track as far as suspension, safety, tires, etc...I wish I lived close to some good tracks like you but unfortunately I will have to travel a ways.

 

Sell the SC, and use the money for other mods.

Honestly take your car out how it sits right now, plus brake pads. Don't go off throwing 10k in suspension, putting NT01s on, with big aero etc because you'll have no idea what's going on and it's harder to learn that way.


As far as track setup, it all depends on budget, will your budget allow you to get SPL camber adjustments, or only Megan?

Can you afford JRZs or only D specs with swift springs, etc, etc.

Safety wise I'd do a seat, 4 point bar (harness bar is dangerous) a harness, and a HANS.

 

Do you have track experience? Or first time?

 

I have ran some road courses in a few mustangs and integras we have set up and raced shifter karts and had some superbikes on the track before so not my first time. But every car is different so I'm just looking for some good setups that have worked for others in the 350z.

SE5spd:
I am going to get rid of the SC but not until I pick up a TT or vortech kit. I like the FI and don't really need to sell to buy parts so I figured why not leave it on until I decide what route I wanna go after I get some track time in. I just don't like learning by having parts fail so I figured I would set the car up the best I can this year and start with a good platform.

 

Because tracking a FI Z is a headache.

 

If you want to throw money at it... Oil cooler, and brake upgrades.

Spend the rest on seat time. Get to know the car. They are very capable stock.

 

I am looking at oil coolers now and I think I might have a set of brembos lined up if I can get back in town in time to grab them. Prob just going to look at tires now. I have a set of lmgt4 wheels now I will prob use. I have heard a few people say to do wheel studs ASAP if planning on tracking the car.

 

Check this thread out
https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...ack-day-z.html

 

I have only autoXed my Z so far but this is what I have experianced.

Tires: I agree with 2nd post. I'm running RE-11's & love them. I don't DD my Z but I do drive it to car show & cruise ins, 8 / 8 run AutoX events that are 60 miles away, and 2 ZdayZ about 1,000+ miles per trip on this set of tires. Rears are close to needing to be replaced but Ive been very happy with them.

Brakes: I was running Slotted Rotor, Hawk HP Plus pads and SS lines. They seemed to do Ok until I put the RE-11 tires on. It became far more difficult to brake hard enough to engage the ABS. I priced a number of BBK and found the best deal for me was Akabono BBK with DBA 2 piece rotors from Z1motorsports. Optioned out with Hawk HP Plus pads, Motul Fluid, and SS brake lines still only cost me $2,500. Thats cheaper than most front only BBKs.

Suspension: Control arms, bushings, Swaybars, & endlinks will probably cost you more than the coils themselves.

I would say good wheel & tire setup is the best place to start. I dropped my lap times the most as soon as I put tires on there. That & seat time are very important.

 

new to DE, but totally agree stock everything at beginning except brake, maybe cooling. use skinny summer tires (not extreme performance). If you keep pushing the car, you will make more mistakes, but learn much quicker

 

Agreed. Unless you are unusually gifted a stock Z is still going to be fast and fun on most tracks.

If you want to spend money, go for it. But you can have a lot of fun with nothing more than good track pads and good, fresh brake fluid.

I've done 11 track days, all on street tires. I use Carbotech pads (xp10f/xp8r) and they are excellent.

Just bought a set of 265/35/18 Hankook RS-3s for my upcoming trip to VIR. Can't wait.

There is a lot of debate about harness bars. I've read pretty much all there is to read and I'm planning on getting one when I can. The primary safety concern is theoretical and while it may be a real risk, I believe the benefits of a race seat/5 pt harness w/ harness bar outweigh the potential risk. I'd love a roll bar but from what I've seen the loop might cause clearance issues for me due to my height although I've never gotten into a Z with a rollbar installed.

 

Illinois native here!
My name is Adam Rawski,
I see a lot of talk about hitting the race track with your Z's
Well I have something exciting for you all
What if i told you that i can get you racing your Z on the track for CASH prizes?
NASA (nationalautosportassociation) is making this possible with Spec Z
A spec series that is fun and affordable.
Winning drivers can earn $500 a weekend plus tire contingencies from BFGoodrich
I am the series director so i have the hookups with 1/2 off track days and free membership.
You can contact me at: arawski141@gmail.com
Check it out http://www.nasamidwest.com/ http://www.nasagreatlakes.com/

 

I have created a video to promote the Spec Z racing series! If you share it hopefully it will bring more drivers! ENJOY!