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Post by luke on Jan 21, 2013 14:41:10 GMT -5
Hey Everybody! I figure I'll keep a journal going on here to track my progress this next year. Updating every so often. Here's just some pics from last year. Currently she's stock, hibernating for the winter:   These were up north of Dubuque from a cruise I went on with a few buddies:   Hoping to get a new exhaust and sways this spring! ;D |
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Post by luke on Jan 21, 2013 16:22:56 GMT -5
Ah, I feel like a noob.... can we move this to the "member's rides" section?
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Post by Jason on Jan 22, 2013 8:52:15 GMT -5
I love the Z! What plans do you have for it?
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Post by luke on Jan 22, 2013 19:21:06 GMT -5
Thanks! Starting out with the exhaust and swaybars this spring, probably an oil cooler too.... then probably start saving my pennies for a supercharger
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Post by luke on Mar 24, 2013 15:03:32 GMT -5
A quick update with the goodies that came in and I installed over the past few weeks with some buddies!  Swift springs, Whiteline Swaybars, spacers and a rear camber kit. I also picked up some Redline and Motul 600. I hear Redline is a favorite for synthetic oils in Z's, and hear nothing but good things. Got the Motordyne exhaust installed first! Went in rather well (I think it took only about 2.5-3 hrs)... sorry for the awkard angle there, and since then the alignment has been fixed   It sure gives the car more life, the stock exhaust note was much to quiet...  Next was the springs/swaybars/rear camber kit. A side note, for those with lower cars, there's no need to buy race ramps or other high-dollar ramps. For about $45 I made myself a set of 4 ramps to get me high enough off the ground to reach my jackpoints. Just remember to put some kind of rubber backing down on the rear ramps.... first time I tried to roll onto them the ramps shot out of the garage about 15ft... while entertaining, I would not like to repeat.... ha. Just buy some of that tray liner matting you put in your toolbox or kitchen drawer. It creates enough friction to get on the ramps.  Springs!  They actually provide for a smoother ride on normal driving, but definitely stiffen up when you turn into corners. Air tools are your friend!! fronts took a while... but the rears were easy. The spacers are great, as long as they're not 15mm bolt-on spacers...  20's went on fine, but there's not enough clearance in the wheel to bolt on the 15mm ones in the front... I have since sold that set and ordered another 20mm set. Here's a shot of the 20mm on front and rear:  So, currently waiting on that second set of 20mm spacers, and I think I'll be done for a while, just in time for the BEAUTIFUL WEATHER to arrive.... eventually, haha ;D Anyone else as excited as I am to do some serious detailing??? I really enjoy that stuff.... |
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Post by Jason on Mar 24, 2013 15:18:17 GMT -5
Nice progress Luke, the car looks great! Can't wait to see it in person.
I have also been excited to do some detailing but mostly because I have been driving my car all winter and it needs it pretty badly.
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Post by luke on Mar 24, 2013 17:15:56 GMT -5
Yeah, for sure! I need to stock up on porter cable pads and whatnot... have you seen this guy's channel?
Probably the best detailing advice ever about anything you'd ever think to ask about detailing... because of him, I'm thinking about getting a foamer for this season...
It would be cool to have a detail day sometime!
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Post by ehlersrs on Mar 24, 2013 22:01:53 GMT -5
Luke,
Your Z looks good and I really like the new exhaust! I sure hope this is the last snow we see this winter season!!
Robert S.
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Post by 240ryan on Mar 25, 2013 9:19:45 GMT -5
I want Those Rims On My 240. Car Looks Very Nice.
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Post by luke on Mar 25, 2013 20:09:53 GMT -5
Thanks Robert! Yeah, it's supposed to start looking nicer here next week hopefully! And thanks Ryan! Guys on the 370 forum sell them from time to time, I could keep my eyes out for ya? The 370 Nismo rims are SUPER CLASSY....
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Post by Jason on Mar 25, 2013 20:46:23 GMT -5
I also love the nismo ones but not sure they would look very good on the G35
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Post by Jason on Mar 25, 2013 22:25:37 GMT -5
Yeah, for sure! I need to stock up on porter cable pads and whatnot... have you seen this guy's channel? Probably the best detailing advice ever about anything you'd ever think to ask about detailing... because of him, I'm thinking about getting a foamer for this season... It would be cool to have a detail day sometime! I'm going to have to look into the foam gun. I never would have thought to use a leaf blower to dry my car.... Interesting. |
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Post by 240ryan on Mar 26, 2013 9:41:41 GMT -5
How Much Do The Rims Usually Go For? I've Seen A 240 With Them, And Yes Very Classy.
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Post by 240ryan on Mar 26, 2013 9:59:06 GMT -5
Here's The Video With The Rims. Looks Like They Maybe 350Z Rims. If Anyone Could Give Me The Exact Rim Name, Or What Car, Year They Come On.
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Post by Jason on Mar 26, 2013 10:43:57 GMT -5
Those appear to the 35th anniversary edition rims from the 2005 350z
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Post by Remus92 on Mar 26, 2013 19:16:25 GMT -5
Awesome! How does it sound?
What is up next?
And nice suggestion for ramps! I will have to make a set so changing my oil is a little easier!
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Post by luke on Mar 26, 2013 20:39:05 GMT -5
Not my car, and this one has resonated test pipes, but you'll get the idea  Yeah, the ramps will get you high enough off the ground to get a jack under it, but not likely enough to crawl under it. I bought 2x10's, made the bottom board 50", the middle 36" and the top block's about 4". Cost around $45 at Lowes total, including screws. And don't forget the material under the rear ramps so they don't slide away I think my mods from here on out will be relatively minor, but I'm thinking about saving for a twin turbo or supercharger for the future ;D |
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Post by 200sxSer on Apr 8, 2013 20:35:19 GMT -5
Were you in CR today?
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Post by luke on Apr 8, 2013 22:24:03 GMT -5
Nope. Unless someone stole my car.... Hmmm..... I should check the garage... Lol Do we have another 370 floating around???  |
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Post by 200sxSer on Apr 9, 2013 15:39:17 GMT -5
Yes. Lol exact same color. Thought maybe it was you haha. He was cruising it around for awhile.
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Post by luke on Apr 9, 2013 17:10:30 GMT -5
Must have been my evil twin, and sounds like he needs to hear about this nifty club we've got going on here....
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Post by Jason on Apr 9, 2013 17:14:32 GMT -5
Must have been my evil twin, and sounds like he needs to hear about this nifty club we've got going on here.... I was passed by a GTR in my way to work this morning and was really hoping he saw the decal on my back window! |
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Post by luke on Apr 9, 2013 17:27:37 GMT -5
Must have been my evil twin, and sounds like he needs to hear about this nifty club we've got going on here.... I was passed by a GTR in my way to work this morning and was really hoping he say the decal on my back window! Nice! Yeah, I'm hoping more people can find out about the club! But we're doing pretty good for just being online so far for the most part! |
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Post by 200sxSer on Apr 9, 2013 17:56:01 GMT -5
Lol well ill have to leave the catching up part to you haha!
Theres a few lowered maximas here that are nice....
I just need to get things going and printed off
Saw a. Yellow kouki. 350z sliick.
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Post by luke on Jul 31, 2013 20:12:03 GMT -5
Some pics from the autocross at Hawkeye Tech a few weeks back!    Awaiting the turbo kit delivery! I hear it's still a few weeks out. Gauges are coming in friday, though... gonna have to figure out where to put 'em all! |
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Post by luke on Oct 17, 2013 22:09:15 GMT -5
It's been a while.... STILL waiting for the kit to come in..... so in the meantime, I'm getting my interior ready for boost. That means swapping the triple gauge cluster over to having boost, oil pressure, and oil temp. I also bought an air-fuel ratio gauge. Since there's only three gauge locations on the dash, I needed to make another one. I present, my custom A-Pillar gauge pod:  I always feel like I learn something new when I do a fiberglassing project... and this one was a goodie... (all done with my dremel and its attachements!) I started by routing out two circles with different inner diameters (due to the "stepped" geometry of the AFR Gauge). I cut those out, sanded them a ton to fit, and then glued them together. I then started test fitting for location on the A-pillar with some good 'ol sticky tack.  I had to fix the glued rings rigidly to the pillar, so after finding the proper location, I drilled a small hole and bolted it together, and stopped it's rotation by applying a little hot glue to the bottom:   When using resin, you need a base cloth of sorts to absorb the resin and let it harden. I used an old undershirt. I cut a piece of cloth and stretched it over the rings into a shape like and hot glued it down. Below is a picture of showing how it sat in the car:  Then add a few coats of resin:   and after it's dry, Bondo the hell out of it! Below is a pic of the ugly plastic filler splayed all over to help smooth out the hard corner that was around the rings:  Then sand, sand, sand, and sand, more bondo and sand.   I used a nice "elastomeric" interior texture paint by SEM that was advised by the guys at the370z.com for my car, and it worked out pretty well!   I still have some final touches for it, need to get some black silicone for the silver OEM bezel that I bought to make it help to look more "stock" n whatnot, but not bad for now I think! Next is fitting/routing/powering my triple gauge cluster swap! That involves a lot if you need to take out the dash (which I do). Thanks for checking out my latest! |
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Post by Jason on Oct 18, 2013 14:12:54 GMT -5
Outstanding work Luke!!! I love it
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Post by 240ryan on Oct 18, 2013 17:22:52 GMT -5
Wow. I am impressed sir. Of course you make it look simple.
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Post by luke on Oct 18, 2013 18:06:22 GMT -5
Ha thanks guys. Yeah it was about 20 man hrs not including drying... Lots of sanding and bondo and sanding haha
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Post by ehlersrs on Oct 19, 2013 9:38:43 GMT -5
Luke, The new gauge pod looks great! I like the seemless integration in the A-pillar trim, so it looks "factory". Have fun taking the dash out! Robert S. |
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