Last summer I searched for months to find a 350Z that met my standards and eventually found one at a large dealership in South Georgia. It was a 2004 Touring Edition equipped with the six speed manual transmission with 32k miles on the odometer. The car had one previous owner who had bought the car new from the same dealership that she traded it into for a new Challenger SRT8(this was a multiple manufacture dealership) and it had a perfect Carfax report showing regular oil changes at the dealer. The car was exactly what I was looking for and the perfect track day project for me to get started with HPDE events.

For the past 10 months I have left the car in stock form except for Carbotech brake pads and constant fluid changes using Motul products. Last summer I was able to drive the car 10 days on track and decided instead of tossing aftermarket performance parts at the car to produce faster lap times I wanted to learn the car and become a better driver. I made a promise to myself I was not going to modify the car until I was able to do a 1:39 lap time at Atlanta Motorsports Park, which is a tall order for a noob driver as myself. With some help from my friend Ed, basically calling me a bitch and telling me I needed to man up(is this how all driving instructors operate?!?) I was able to click off a few 1:39.XX lap times during my last event of 2012. This was done with a stock 350Z on all season tires, I was pretty proud of myself.

Now that I had achieved my goal I finally felt as the car being stock was holding me back and it was time to install and aftermarket part or two.

In the past two weeks I have installed the following:

Suspension
-Tein Street Flex Coilovers
-Stillen Sway Bars
-Stillen Rear Camber Kit
-SPC Rear Toe Bolts

Wheels/Tires
-Konig Milligram 18×9.5 +25 x 4
-15mm Z1 Motorsports Spacers/Extended Studs(Rear)
-275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Super Sport x 4

Brakes
-Napa Blank Rotors
-Carbotech XP10 Front/XP8 Rear Brake Pads
-Stoptech Stainless Steel Lines
-Torque RT700 Fluid

Drivetrain
-K&N Drop In Air Filter
-Wrinkle Black Intake Plenum
-Z1 Motorsports Plenum Spacer
-Momentum Performance Cat Delete Y-Pipe
-OEM R35 GT-R Exhaust
-Competition Clutch Stage 2 Clutch and Ultra Lightweight Flywheel
-Motul Fluids

Interior
-Kirk Racing 4 point Roll Bar
-Sparco Pro2000 Seat
-Schroth 6 point Harnesses
-Forged Performance Shift **** Powdercoated Matte Black

Exterior
-Matte Black Center Bumper Section and Roof
-Rolled Rear Fenders
-Chadbee Photography “CB” Decal (Best mod EVER!)

This winter I’d like to get my hands on a set of OEM Brembo brakes and install and aftermarket steering wheel.

I know the car isn’t a huge build but I really am enjoying the car a lot more now and am looking forward to getting it out on track soon. Because I am so happy with the way the car turned out I had to charge up my camera battery and take the car out for some proper photos. Enjoy!

 

Oh and the exhaust video:

 

Sorry about the dual videos there, the coding is not cooperating with me.

 

Nice, did you end up selling the JRZ or you going to use them?

 

I sold the JRZ's. I would have loved to use them...but I had planned on doing full cage/no interior and really sticky tires. They would have been justified then.

For a street car, like this, that sees a track day every two months and uses 300 treadwear tires, I just couldn't justify using them.

Regardless I'm happy with the way the car came out....now I just need some OEM Brembo's and a steering wheel.

 

nice mods man keep it up

 

great work man. I want a 350z to make a project car. Im all about suspension and brakes first before power, love the way you did it.

 

Very nice

 

That exhaust sounds amazing!!! Great job on the Z man

 

Great job, very well modded w a purpose

 

Very nice.. loving the exhaust