What do you Z guru's recomend for a new track model, with a 6speed? Im thinking of getting one and i would have 3k left after buying it. Im interested in increasing the power, and maybe handling. How are the stock tires? I definetly wanna enjoy the canyon runs like i do in the BMW, so gimme some advice!
Thanks!
-Charlie
'99 323is

 

Get rid of the tires first and get so3's. There are not alot of great performance mods out yet, go for a suspension.

 

It all depends on what you want to do with the car, here are some opinions on different ways to go:

Just Street driving:
Save the money on tires and wait and use the current ones up having fun.
Get a CAI/Exhaust/grounding kit
And wait until ECU is available

Track driving
Change tires S03's/Toyo's/Kumho MX's
Suspension, get sway bars/springs/shocks
If money left over CAI/grounding kit/Exhaust in that order

Autox
Change tires S03's/Toyo's/Kumho MX's even better get a spare set of wheels and put competion R compound on them
That is about it if you will compete with some seriousness as suspension mods and performance mods will bump you up in class into some serious competition, if just for fun then follow the same as track.

 

in a word... nitrous

 

Quick question on Nitrous, I like the idea of 50 to 100 HP increase at a relatively low costs but I am having a hard time picturing when to use it, the SC and TT are obvious as they are always there, but with nitrous when do you use? It seems it would be hard to use on track or Autox but just for 1/4 miles or street racing. Any clarification on my assumptions welcomed.

 

Use it whenever you want. Flick the switch and go town. You know when it's a lot of fun? When you are on the highway and you have someone next to you ***** out and they are equally as fast, maybe even a little faster. Get to 4000rpm, flick the switch, get slammed back into the seat and wave goodbye. DAMN there is nothing better than that!!

 

Since your in Pasadena, have you checked us out? I can probably help get you a little off the MSRP being a 350Z Forum member.

 

Since you're into Canyon runs (like me), go with Suspension, Brakes, and Wheels/Tires.

Suspension, because the stock suspension just po-goes too much.

Brakes, because the stock brakes simply suck. They over-heat pretty easily and can reach temps up to 700 degrees F. (the non-brembos)

Wheels/Tires, because with lighter wheels means less rotating mass, which results in better handling, and tires for the better grip. (lighter wheels also helps you in straight-line speed, obviously, with the less weight.)

Roughly, $3k will get you suspension and brakes. I wouldn't get engine bolt-on mods, like CAI or exhaust, just for the street because you simply don't need it. They'll obviously make your car faster with more HP, but if you're not pushing the car hard, enough to make a difference, I'd go with the better handling and better stopping solutions. But if you want to get a CAI or Exhaust because you love the sound, then that's cool.

Personally, I think the overall satisfaction you get from better handling and better stopping weighs more than getting 10-20HP from engine bolt-ons, just to go faster in a straight line.

 

I think Integrate and Westpak have pretty good advice.

Nitrous sounds interesting, but I like smooth power delivery instead of the instant boost of Nitrous.

So far I have seen very few power mods that actually add power. It seems like most of the intake and exhaust mods primarily change the sound. Maybe a few HP on each, but not much more than that.

I have seen many people, especially raceboy, who was initally a little dissapointed in the Z's handling, strongly priase the Nismo suspension and swaybar kit.

I've AutoX'd my performance model 3 times and not had any significant problems with the stock tires. I also went to Laguna Seca which wore out both the stock tires and brakes, but they performed very well.

Since you are planning on getting the track model, I think you are fine on brakes. I would say spend the money on Nismo S-Tune (or similar) suspension upgrade, and then hang on to the rest in case a nice ECU upgrade appears in the next few months or if we see some definitive dyno's of exhausts and intakes that make a significant difference to the HP.

Also, keep some money stashed away for new tires when your originals wear out.

-D'oh!

(edited for typo's, although I'm sure many still exist)

 

Just to let you know, Nitrous is not allowed under SCCA soloII rules as I understand them. In fact, a 3rd gen rx-7 could not even pass tech without taking out the bottles.

 

Tires, tires, tires ..... can't say it enough.
Don't worry about the stock tires they don't last so get some seat time and have fun burning them up. As mentioned above I have heard great things about the S03's/Toyo's/Kumho MX's but went with the new goodyear f1s and just love them. I tried the Yok AVSs but they were not nearly as good as the Goodyears. I have been to three local autocrosses and the goodyears at the last one really shinned. I just need more seat time myself now.

Save the rest until you have had a chance to let everyone else be your guinea pig ... don't let that cash burn a hole in your pocket ... Save it.

 

thx a lot guys...im actually the one buying it...i asked my friend to post it for me cuz my internet wasn't working at the time. other than wheels, i was thinking to get an intake and an exhaust the Fujistu one. i have been told that the fujistsu one increases by 7 horsepower and somehow weighs less. do you think that this would be a good investment to have. i definately am thinking about suspension and as for intake i would love to have one. haha i like ur suggestion daddy Z about waiting for others to try out the addons before i do. But the Z parts call out to me, im so excited i cant sleep. i cannot even begin to tell u how beautiful it is...wait...u all already kno
any other suggestions or comments? thx

 

thanks guys, as u know, curtis (aznxakuma) is the one getting it, but he dont know **** all about cars Anyway, thanks, i was gonna get a Z for a while, but i think i'll stick w/ the BMW for a while longer. But its good to know the Z is gonna be quite moddable in a few years if u can already do what i wanna do to one for 3k right now... good times, and thanks for the help.
-Charlie