Progress on my Z
 

Been a lurker for quite some time but rarely actually post.
To begin with, my 03 Touring has been transforming over the year after my accident and is close to becoming my dream Z.

Returning to work from memorial weekend of 2015, I hit a deer in 5am in the morning that ended up totaling it out and while it sucked at first, it really couldn't have worked better in my favor. Fast forward to now, my Z's about to come out of paint within the next few weeks (fingers crossed.) Have a turbo kit currently on the way and new forgestar f14's that are about to be shipped out later this week. All should be coming together at the end of the month.

Might not be the correct place to post but I figured Mods would move or delete if necessary.



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....36efdb7e04.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d4bac3af4e.jpg


And just a teaser of my new custom color going on my z
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d93adfa878.jpg

Looking good.

Any pictures of it before/after the crash so we can see what you have transformed it from?

And what are your plans for it in the end? Daily driver? Weekend car?

The deer caused mostly cosmetic damage along with the radiator and core support. They estimated the damage at 8600 but I was able to replace everything for a fraction of it. I picked up a 2nd job and put in 65+ hours since January and was able to pay 100% of my debts, car, student loans, everything last month.

This is purely just a weekend toy. With the turbonetics kit, I'm shooting for reliable numbers first time around. I'm hoping to reach at least 360+whp on a safe tune, though higher numbers should be attainable with the kit. Last owner put down 365whp on his g35. As far as longevity goes, I know it won't last forever and over the course of next summer, hope to pick up a 2nd vq block to have the bottom end built for a little more power. Once the current one blows, will swap everything over.

Here's some of the pics.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....ce7a0d9680.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d06d568ffe.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d2f0ac65e7.jpg




https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....99d980a8be.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....642cda8cc1.jpg

Way to not give up on it.

Very similar to my brothers car years ago. He hit a deer in the front corner and every body shop wanted the car totaled. So we took it into our hands and got it all back together rather affordably. Its still his daily driver today with an extra 50k miles on it and an extra ~400whp under the hood.

360whp should definitely be obtainable, just make sure you have the appropriate fuel injectors and pump to handle that (Its the only pieces I don't see in your original post).

Thank you, it's been really rewarding getting it all back together. As far as the kit goes, fuel pump, one step colder plugs, and gauges are basically all I need to get it up and running as it comes with 550cc injectors. I'm new to forced induction but have read numerous threads and spoke with people that filled me in a little. I'll still take tips and suggestions as this is my first turbo'd car. The FI for noobs thread helped a lot just getting me in the right general direction for the last 8 months.

If you've gone through that thread then you are in good shape.

You should be set to make the power you're looking for

Just got an update over the weekend, the painter is getting close. Just has to finish the side skirts and front bumper portion and it'll be getting wrapped up. Getting closer.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....eaa377271f.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....0bf93a095f.jpg

Can't wait to get these babies on. 19x9.5 and 19x11 sdc.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....dbbc882f50.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....65e7733e54.jpg

Turbo arrived today. Not sure if anyone is really following along or really cares but I'll continue to post anyways.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....baf05d9088.jpg

Looks like your projects is coming along nicely. keep up the great work.

One week away. Everything is painted and just needs reassembled. I leave for colorado for a vacation this weekend and should be able to pick it up once i return. Project is getting closer.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....cde6b2a5c0.jpg

Lovin' the colors. Looking forward to some pics of Bronze wheels with darker grey exterior....

Thank you. I'm looking forward to it as well. I probably looked through over 90 pages in the bmw forums to see how the color itself would look like. In my mind, the colors I chose "should" look good together, but we'll see next tuesday when I return and pick her up.

worst case....you could always redo the wheels if not enough contrast.....but might be just right!

Eh, I've seen enough pictures of bronze wheels on both black and light silver and love both themes. I can't/won't cover the bronze finish on these.
This 370z is what sold me on the color originally and while I liked the silverstone, I wanted to go custom color since it was all going to be resprayed anyhow. The Graphite Metallic throws alot of shades that I think will go well with the bronze.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....56895619fc.jpg

Goes from as dark as:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....6d27588638.jpg

To as light of a color as this in different lighting: 48 shades of grey
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....4c79849c2e.jpg

Painter sent me this while I was still on vacation. She's dirty, but finally finished. He has a little sanding and buffing in a few spots to do tonight and I get to pick it up before the weekend.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....98f1bc3f4d.jpg

We are here reading! Don't get discouraged of us not posting. Most the time we see builds, read and then don't know what to post then just click the back button

I find myself doing that too. I wasn't sure how active the forum was towards build threads and I usually don't have a response or anything to add on threads I find myself reading and whatnot.

Paint looks great, make your Z look menacing! Good luck and Keep modding!

Got some better angles now. Love how she turned out! Get to pick it up for the first time tonight in 4 months.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....6c6add7be6.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d68fe3e49a.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....54078f4984.jpg

Nice progress... one of the few members here to be running the Greddy Evo 2 exhaust. Is it the TT version?

It's actually a Motordyne Tdx2 exhaust that's installed. The greddy exhaust that came with the turbo kit I will probably end up selling. I'm in love with the motordyne tone though the Greddy was already modified to fit the turbonetics.

What bumper and side rails are those?

When you going to get the F-14s on it???

Should really take it to the next level!!


Congrats

My guess is ...

Front is the V3 nismo/rep bumpber
Side skirt is the vertex/rep

Have it set to have the tires put on the wheels friday.

Astek front bumper with Ings style skirts all from VIS.
Brian McCann from the forums here set me up with the body kit. I've been very pleased with the way it came out.

A night shot from last night. Looks mean with the demon eyes. Can't wait to see the forgestars on there.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....a9ac8c7b17.jpg

Coming along nicely man! I was thinking about starting a build thread for my car as i am now getting ready to install my SC. I will be interested to see how it comes along when you tackle the install!

Another shot. Still haven't gotten over that new car feeling.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....50f92e3133.jpg

Looks great with the new wheel set!

What's the news on the turbo installation?

Everything is in but holding off to install it until snowfall. Here in Nebraska, we're about a month away before we usually start seeing snow and since I literally just picked the z up this last weekend, I'm wanting to have some time with it while it's running. The installation i'm sure will take a few weekends plus whatever time it takes the shop when they go to tune it.

I also plan to have a buddy powder coat the kit's piping the same bronze burst color as the wheels. Would like to have the intercooler anodized black but nowhere local does any of that kind of work. The spearco logo just screams boosted 3 blocks away but it's not like the car really looks stock anymore either. Would just prefer it black somewhat hidden in the bumper mouth.

Should be able to start tearing it down and installing it by the end of next month. Just got to order plugs, fuel pump, and gauges.

See if a shop near you does heat dispersion coating. It's black with some texture. I had a local powercoating shop do my intercooler.

looks nice and mean! Good job on color choice!

Enjoyed this last weekend with some roadtrips on scenic highways and state parks.
Put 400 miles on and getting the last bit of driving in before I start tearing down for the turbo install.
Will be ordering the remainder of the parts needed to get the ball going on the install and shooting to have it tuned by the start of the year.
First challenge, finding a heated garage space to install the kit.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....04bfa3a5ad.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....34d97b1fea.jpg

It came together very nicely!

But straighten your license plate. The crookedness kills part of me

Lol I noticed it this last weekend too.

Finally got around to putting my springs on. Love the drop and the finished look.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....2181612021.jpg

Looks nice! I like the color combo you have going on. Keep up the good work!

Looks Good.....

Suspension set up?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....733dcfb164.jpg

I like where this is going sir. What all do you plan to build your new engine with?

Who makes that bumper and sides?

For now, Tanabe GF210 springs on stock shocks. I do plan to get coilovers but I had already had these sitting in the garage and might as well put them to use. Gave a nice 1" drop all around and still gives me clearance to not scrape over driveways, ect.

Still up in the air on what I all want to do with it but for starters, build the bottom end and probably run Eagle rods and wiseco pistons with arp rod bolts. I'd be perfectly satisfied running 550ish whp and be able to abuse the hell out of it on the track. I thought about either picking up a 2nd vq block this summer and start having it built or just saving and buying a built short block.

Bumper and skirts are both from VIS. Astek and "Ings" style sides

Couple more shots from the other day.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....798c4d66b2.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....b32d47f11b.jpg

Has been slow progress on the Z lately, but got around to cleaning up the turbo and painting the cold side of the piping in my boredom over the holiday weekend. Had a few unexpected expenses come up but getting closer to installing the kit. Biggest challenge right now is finding a heated shop space that I can rent out for a few weeks.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....dabd3c69e6.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....4e0e6866de.jpg

Does Turbonetics still flash the ECU for this kit?

I'm not aware whether they still or not. I bought the kit used and last i knew, they still were. I'm currently tuned with uprev so i'll just be reflashing it and using the gt maf to help dial it in a little more.