350Z Shifting Vs. Others Vs. Me?

[zboyz45]

I recently purchased my first Z. Its a 2006 Base.. 6 speed. I love the car and everything is good except for one thing. I have been driving the car for about three weeks now and im still having difficulty smoothly shifting and taking off in first gear. On a usual day there is two manual mustangs and two wrx sitting in my driveway. I have driven all of them on more then one occasion and they all shift very differently from the Z. But I feel as though they are alot easier to shift smoothly in then my Z. I dont know if its me and im just thinking about it to much. Or if maybe something could be wrong with my Z? I know i am good at driving manual cars cause all of the others I have driven i can shift more smooth then a automatic. I dont know why im having this dilemma with my Z. Any Ideas?

[ldstang50]

where does your clutch grab? I know I had a tough time with mine when I got it. The clutch grabbed up top. Jerry (awdjdmtalon) adjusted the clutch for me so it grabbed midway up and solved all my problems.

[marlin29311]

I noticed that about the Z as well when I test drove one - it grabbed way different than my brother's mustang at the time...

I would recommend doing what ldstang said.

[Cesardrgn]

your clutch isn't engaging or releasing as you'd like then you can adjust it

[zboyz45]

I didnt know you could adjust that.. it seems to grab up top like you are saying. It makes it very tricky for me. How do you adjust it any ideas?

[matt_2036]

If you bought your Z used maybe the guy who owned it before had a racing clutch dropped in. I replaced my stock clutch with a JMT clutcha nd fly wheel. While I have gotten use to it, nobody else can really drive it without stalling of dropping the clutch. You might just ahve to get use to it if is a racing clutch.

[my08350z]

i had this problem my first week with my Z this is how i taught my self.. is when i shift id keep the clutch in so id be driving in first and going into 2nd id be cruising at lets say 15 id clutch in rev up to 1500 and slowly let clutch out and i got so used to that way and now its muscle memory and i can do it fast and only give a pinch of gas thru every shift creating perfect shifts and smoothness to all my passangers which is only 1.. cuz its a Z of course

[redsx13]

350's don't have sprung clutch plates, unlike almost all other street cars, making the 350 abnormally hard for beginners to take off in first, rev match, and shift smoothly.

please correct me if im wrong, i have yet to replace my 350s clutch so i don't know for sure, but i vaguely remember hearing this somewhere.

[aris_unlimited]

Jerry (awdjdmtalon) adjusted the clutch for me so it grabbed midway up and solved all my problems.

The service tech manager for my local nissan dealership is a complete jackass. After they installed my clutch/flywheel package I asked to have them adjust the clutch because I didn't like where it released.........he told me you couldn't adjust the clutch on a 350z

[R350Zz33]

its a screw thing you turn to adjust this some people add more material to that part that pushes the clutch switch and other parts to make it engage sooner. i should work for nissan i already know more the the tech guys.

[BusyBadger]

i should work for nissan i already know more the the tech guys.

And I thought "Adventureland" was going to be the biggest comedy event this spring. Your post just saved me two hours of time and ten bucks in my pocket.

Next time you think you're ready to overhaul a transmission, install some new wheel bearings, swap out a clutch & flywheel, or change a final drive, think back to this little thread where you had problems removing a head unit, asking about tools you might need and then proceeded to arguing with someone that was trying to help you?

Perhaps if Nissan techs stuck to eyelid modifications and tail tints you would have a place. BTW, is "screw thing" a technical term?

OP: Practice practice. Adjustment of the clutch engagement point is an option, but practice is still the best option. My Z still doesn't shift nearly as smooth as my 240 does, or rather I don't shift my Z as smooth as the 240. But there's a huge difference in length of ownership and miles driven between the two. Give it time, there will be one day where it all just clicks (or hopefully...doesn't click).

[matt_2036]

its a screw thing you turn to adjust this some people add more material to that part that pushes the clutch switch and other parts to make it engage sooner. i should work for nissan i already know more the the tech guys.

Wow this is funny! Word to the wise to all.....don't take advice from a punk kid, who not only does not own a Z (it's his moms LOL) but the z he does drive (when his mom lets him) is a auto. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

[raremotive]

And I thought "Adventureland" was going to be the biggest comedy event this spring. Your post just saved me two hours of time and ten bucks in my pocket.

Next time you think you're ready to overhaul a transmission, install some new wheel bearings, swap out a clutch & flywheel, or change a final drive, think back to this little thread where you had problems removing a head unit, asking about tools you might need and then proceeded to arguing with someone that was trying to help you?

Perhaps if Nissan techs stuck to eyelid modifications and tail tints you would have a place. BTW, is "screw thing" a technical term?

OP: Practice practice. Adjustment of the clutch engagement point is an option, but practice is still the best option. My Z still doesn't shift nearly as smooth as my 240 does, or rather I don't shift my Z as smooth as the 240. But there's a huge difference in length of ownership and miles driven between the two. Give it time, there will be one day where it all just clicks (or hopefully...doesn't click).

[R350Zz33]

matt the car is mine its my dd. the only cars that are my moms that i drive are a 09 frontier and a scion xd and i only drive theses when i have to pick something up. of help her at one of the houses.

[R350Zz33]

heres the thing i was talkin bout this if if you want to make it engage sooner then the factory offers

http://my350z.com/forum/engine....html

[xjmxstac]

heres the thing i was talkin bout this if if you want to make it engage sooner then the factory offers

http://my350z.com/forum/engine....html

I give you credit for being halfway literate but you did nothing but read someone else's post. Don't take credit for figuring it out.

[R350Zz33]

im not other wise i would have just copy and pasted the info i in no way took credit for it that is just how to further adjust it beyond factory specs. i mean i even when out of the way and found it for the guy and every thing and you still find a way to flame me wtf

[matt_2036]

matt the car is mine its my dd. the only cars that are my moms that i drive are a 09 frontier and a scion xd and i only drive theses when i have to pick something up. of help her at one of the houses.

Oh my bad, so it's in your name, and you purchased it with "your" money than??????

[matt_2036]

im not other wise i would have just copy and pasted the info i in no way took credit for it that is just how to further adjust it beyond factory specs. i mean i even when out of the way and found it for the guy and every thing and you still find a way to flame me wtf

He compliments you for being "halfway literate" and then you use grammar like that. Aren't you still in high school? This stuff should still be fresh in your mind!!!

[xjmxstac]

im not other wise i would have just copy and pasted the info i in no way took credit for it that is just how to further adjust it beyond factory specs. i mean i even when out of the way and found it for the guy and every thing and you still find a way to flame me wtf

Sorry i took the wrong quote. I meant to respond to this:

i should work for nissan i already know more the the tech guys.

You still fail. OP: Like many other things about the 350z, you just have to suck it up until you get used to it. The car is built as it is, live with it. It's the easiest, cheapest solution!

[R350Zz33]

yes matt i did

[dasoupdude]

i should work for nissan i already know more the the tech guys.

We'll begin with easy questions. Try NOT to use google.

How man camshafts does your car have.

And, how many lobes are on your camshafts.

[R350Zz33]

4 and there are 24 lobes 1 per valve 12 intake 12 exhaust how am i doing so far

[matt_2036]

yes matt i did

Money in some way shape or form given to you by your parents. It's hard to have respect for turst fund babies, escpecially when they are as idiotic as you.

[no vtec 4me]

z's fell way differnt shifting than any other car i have driven. i used to drive my buddys alot and could never get it super smooth