I've never seen an SSM 350z or even heard of somebody building one. Is there a reason people don't do this? Is it too heavy? Cant get it to the 2900lbs? My car is a dedicated AutoX car (STU) and i'm just wondering why I don't see any SSM Z's?

Fasted STU Raw Time at my last event (not me ) was less than a second off of the fastest SSM car's raw time.

 

I have been wondering the same thing. I think it is a cost of entry and there are other platforms that can be built cheaper and easier. Just my guess.

 

For local level...sure!

It is not a competitive platform for SSM. It cannot get anywhere near minimum weight, is wide and gets even more front heavy if you plan to make SSM power. You are going to easily spend $100k to max prep for SSM and still get sliced up by the Miatas, loti and RX7's.

 

Some of the fastest SSM cars are at a 3.5-4.5lbs/hp ratio. Can the Z get close to that and still be balanced?

 

So the Go Big/Go Home class for the Z would be BSP then I guess.

Pro CSP miatas were crushing the SSM corvette by, no joke, 4 seconds BTW; so I get what you mean there.

 

I think it is easy to argue I built the fastest 350z to ever run autox and I was never particularly close to the top 3-5 SSM cars at Nats.

You can't really use locals for comparative purposes. I know it sounds snobish, but you just can't. You need to pool top prep cars and top drivers only for a real comparo.

The car won't be competitive....I would have made the move if it had even a wiff of a chance. Save yourself a mortgage and just buy a miata if you want to run SSM.

 

fixt


I've watched Eric Anderson's SSM miata build from the start, made suggestions near the beginning and it was downhill from there. Hell I even got to drive it a few times. There's no cheap way around making a competitive SSM car, even with a inexpensive platform like the miata unfortunately.

It's also worth mentioning, if a SSM build is complete that just means you've given up! It's an on-going build the whole time.

 

that's all fine and good but for my purposes I only run local events. I don't have the means or time (or skill) to run nationals.

What class did you race in?

 

I'm all for it on a local level!

I ran BSP.

 

I've been running SSM locally all season and vying for 1st in the Kansas City region against and RX7, its come down to the last two events.

 

Oh one thing to note. If you watch PAX closes or care about PAX you are going to be hard pressed to ever make top 10 with the SSM multiplier.

 

um.... whats ssm?

 

Super Street Modified in the SCCA Solo AutoX realm.

 

I care very much about pax. I wasn't planning an SSM build, I'm more than happy in STU, I was juts wondering why I never see SSM Z's.
That being said, I still can't get top 10 Pax. Too many pros in my region. I usually shoot for top 30

 

Namer runs in your region...I would just target being a second off him and you're doing well.

 

Within a second of his pax I hope you mean. Very few people on very lucky days come close to his raw times.

He barely ran yesterday anyway. Just took a few test laps after he took his father-n-law's ECU for some testing for nats this week. Even still, I was 5 seconds off his pax. My car needs more work to be competitive.

I also cant keep up with Barbato. Pro STU, beat Jake in pax.

 

I meant in raw time....

Jake broke the clutch apparently.

 

Really? I didn't see that? I ran 3rd heat too, car was out an about all the way through picking up cones... Where did you hear that?

 

Facetube.

 

I had a halfassed attempt at SSM a few years back (Been a while since I posted here!)

Not worth it. Power to weight is one thing, but the absolute weight is hard to overcome. Wide tires only come in certain sizes and unfortunately a 315 on a 2600lb car gets you further than a Z.

PAX? no chance. It's very unfavorable for the Z.

I remember back before the extreme aero on Jake's car, I actually outran him on a fresh pair of v710's Raw time anyway...