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I've wanted a g35 for a long time now. With as cheap as they've become, and my extremely long commute (4500 miles/month), it was the right time for me to finally get one!
I've owned many nissan's in the past. I'm coming off of a long string of FWD cars that I'm happy to be done with.
This g is here for comfortable commuting, hauling my new family, and hitting the track when time allows!
I was a mechanic for 10 years as well as a nissan and ASE master technician up until about 3 months ago... Moving over to engineering!
Hope to learn a lot from you all, and get some nice basic upgrades done including a manual swap.
Hello and welcome to the community! Congrats on your purchase, it was worth waiting for so long - your ride is really nice! Do you have any plans on it? There are lots of great choices for parts, service and many owners willing to help you. Be sure to reach out if any questions appear.
I am going to start with some maintenance, since the car mostly sat for the last year. As far as upgrades go, these are the one's I have in mind after doing some reading here:
-05+ brakes (for performance and to fix the pulsation)
-350z Springs and struts
-LSD diff
-6 speed swap
-Wider OEM Z or G wheels for summer tires (retire the stockers to snow duty)
Still have a lot of reading to do before tackling the 6 speed swap, I want to make sure everything works as it did stock (lights/cruise/etc.)
Nice, a Master tech I used to work with had an 03 sedan that he put springs/struts/wheels from a 35th anniversary 350z on. It looked wonderful. One of the best combo's if you ask me, and I'll be keeping an eye out!
At this point the 05+ brakes have shot to the top of my list, my rotors are pulsating like crazy and it's gotta get fixed ASAP.
I am going to start with some maintenance, since the car mostly sat for the last year. As far as upgrades go, these are the one's I have in mind after doing some reading here:
-05+ brakes (for performance and to fix the pulsation)
-350z Springs and struts
-LSD diff
-6 speed swap
-Wider OEM Z or G wheels for summer tires (retire the stockers to snow duty)
Still have a lot of reading to do before tackling the 6 speed swap, I want to make sure everything works as it did stock (lights/cruise/etc.)
Welcome to the club, I have a set of 06 G35 calipers (all 4 sides) in storage when you are ready.
Are you also needing the rotors? - I have a used set but they will either need re-surfacing or replacing completely. Trying to find out shipping costs for you, PM me further.
Thanks to Jusseth up there^ I did my first upgrade to the car. Front and rear 05+ brakes!
Stock fronts
05+ fronts
Stock rear
05+ rear (forgot to take a pic before the wheel went back on)
Dramatic difference. It's mostly because my old brakes were warped. The new ones feel like stock brakes at light pedal pressure (duh), if you get on the pedal a little harder you'll definitely notice an improvement in stopping power. Moderate breaking feels more effortless now. So nice having good brakes for my 200+ mile/day commute.
Where these brakes really shine in my opinion is durability. Probably won't have to turn/replace rotors so often. I am also more confident in case of drag racing or auto cross. A track day will probably require some better brake pads and fluid. Running stock pads right now because I read so many mixed reviews on performance pads, haven't made up my mind yet.
One year of ownership update. Here's the car in the exact same spot one year later. Bought with 163,000 miles. Now 199,500 miles. It's been a wonderful car. The only failure was a crack in the original radiator.
Mods complete:
2004 unrevised 350z suspension
05+ brakes front and rear
Z tube
Apexi drop in filter
HR Y-pipe
350z mid pipe
It does sound good. Unfortunately I did the HR y-pipe and the Z midpipe at the same time, so I'm not sure how much each effected the sound.
I can tell you that it makes a sweet sound now. Nice growl, more VQ-like sound. I was expecting it to sound a little bit more like a coupe or a Z, that's what people were saying the midpipe would do. But I have found it to be quite a bit more muffled. The growl is there, but it lacks the "singing" that the Z's muffler has... wish I had a better way to describe.
I'd say with my setup its about 85% volume of a coupe or Z.
