It's been a long time coming, but the full tubeframe 350Z I've been building is nearly complete. We fired the SR20 last week and after solving some ignition and plumbing issues, it looks quite promising. Programming and optimizing the air/fuel mixtures are next on the list for the standalone SDS system. Still have some wheel issues to deal with- extreme offsets with cantilevered race slicks- it's SO much fun! The plan is to debut the racecar at the ZCCC track day held at the State Patrol Training track in Golden in about ten days. It's a relatively cheap and easy way to get some track testing sessions in at a local venue.

I hope to see some other 350Z guys out there. It's only $65 ($75 is non member price) for the entire day. There will be four run groups (novice, intermediate, advanced and expert), so everybody will have a place to run. Come on up even if you just want to watch! My rig will be up there and the shade provided by the trailer & canopy may prove to be a popular hang out. Details are at ZCCC.org, I believe.

 

After this, it's off to the SCCA race wars and the race schedule looks like I'll be running a Double Regional race at Pueblo Motorsports Park on July 2-3 and a Double National at the same track two weeks later. If we're successful in racing and developing the Z, it's off to Road America the weekend of July 22-23 for another National race. Gonna be one HOT summer!

 

Dave: Congrats on car. I'm planning on ZCCC event on the 17th. Can't wait to see the car.
David

 

David: Congrats!!! I be there in sprit wishing you luck. Please post pics of the car and both events!!! Be safe and have fun!!!

 

Nice work, how about some pics. Good luck with your racing.

 

David, awesome!!!!!! I'll have to catch you at PMI. Sounds great and I can't wait to see this thing completed. Do you think you were able to hit that 220 whp mark you were shooting for?
Will

 

what is this about 220 whp? he better have 400 in that thing

 

Awesome! The news we've all been waiting for. Can't wait to see it.

 

Guys, guys... 400 RWHP is unrealistic from a 2 liter, NA motor. Currently, my SR20 is built with N1 pistons which will boost compression slightly. Apart from ARP hardware and some balancing/blueprinting, this is a stock engine. Phase II of development will feature a ported/polished head, C3 cams and JWT valve springs, but that is still a ways off.

Just getting the car out and building reliable systems are the goal at this point. BTW- I am on the way back from Sandia Motorsports Park in Alburquerque, where I ran two races. The 200SX "dog car" ran well, but was easily eclipsed by the Miata ITA racers driven by the local guys. Still, I had some adventures dicing with a EP BMW and ITS Porsche 944. It was a good time in a HOT town!

 

Ahh it is a NA SR now I understand the 200whp. What class did you build the car for.

 

This Z was specifically built around SCCA GT3 class specifications. To my knowledge. it will also be the first time a SR20 will be used in a RWD, drysump GT race application.

 

It's the weekend after the ZCCC track day and one advantage of a tubeframe race Z is that it's relatively easy to tear down and check. With some much appreciated help from GaryM05 and another SCCA friend, we "nut-and-bolted"/cleaned the car, but there was the shadow of bad news. Late in the afternoon, I did a routine check of the billet Peterson drysump 50-micron oil filter. It did it's job: bits of metal schrapnel were caught before they reentered the bloodstream of the engine. Alarming, but not definitive. After cleaning the filter, draining 6 quarts of oil from the drysump tank (and refilling with fresh oil), pulling the valve cover (no problems found), I put everything back together and fired 'er up. The SR20 idled and ran smoothly. I waited until the water temp reached 180 degrees F before shutting her back down. Rechecked the filter once again and once again found little bits of non-ferrous metal. Crap. Now I have to decide whether to pull the motor down and find who is running a machine shop inside or simply roll the dice and race it next weekend. Ain't racin' fun?