New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
I'm moving out of the frozen northeast and I'm selling my WRX. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a used 350z. What are some common problems? Or even problems from people modding? I had a highly modded 09 WRX. Looking forward to getting into a rwd car and having some fun...!
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jerryd1987
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:25 am
- Car: 03 350z many mods inc next year
Re: New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
step 1 find a dedicated z forum this site sucks for info on the platform, 2 expect to spend a ton of money we are talking in the area of the supra to modify. i have 25k into mine to make 750 to the wheels(highest dyno so far is 600 ft lbs at 4800 rpms and 587 hp at 5200 at 26 psi boost due to a VERY badly slipping clutch gotta get new one in) but everything is there to make more. thats not even touching suspension, brakes, very little interior and no body work outside of wheels, still no cage, no after market lsd(1k+ for a good one.) no axles(debatable if even worth it) no solid subframe bushings yet and ive done all labor outside engine machine work(blueprinting and assembly was however done by me.). if you fully deck the car out and want to make good power expect to invest a s***.
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BusyBadger
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:20 pm
- Car: '92 Nissan 240SX
'05 Nissan 350Z
'13 Nissan Juke - Contact:
Re: New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
Welcome to NICO! 
Where are you moving from and to?
A lot of the problems you run into on the Z33 are going to be dependent on the year that you buy, off the top of my head the top three '03&'04 are known for 2nd to 3rd gear grinds and power window problems, '05 35th Anniversary & Track models and all '06 models with the 6MT can have excessive oil consumption (due to a cylinder hone issue). Tire feathering was an issue early on but that's been sorted out.
Don't expect to be able to spend a little money and put down big power numbers like you could on the WRX, not being FI from the factory the Z will require more time and work, but will reward you more in the long run thanks to it not being based on an economy platform (like the Impreza) to start with.
Consider your budget and then some (reasonable) goals. If the Z is going to be a weekend toy it's easier to have lofty goals and deal with extended downtime than if it's going to be a DD. I'd also make sure you've got some support, either a good shop or wrench wielding owner, that can help you out in case you run into something you can't solve since you'll be new to the platform. Nice thing is that the VQ is in so many Nissans that there's tons of support for it, and the platform is old enough that there are plenty of parts available and groundwork that has been laid that you won't need to be a pioneer in your modding journey.
Everything you need to know before you modify your 350Z
Jerry, you're still here? You talk about going to a(nother) dedicated forum but you keep dropping by. If you want to stick around you're more than welcome, just learn to play nice. If you feel the site is lacking in information and support you should be a little more proactive in adding information instead of just stopping by for a quick dig and then taking off. Instead of being a critic you should try being part of the solution.
Where are you moving from and to? A lot of the problems you run into on the Z33 are going to be dependent on the year that you buy, off the top of my head the top three '03&'04 are known for 2nd to 3rd gear grinds and power window problems, '05 35th Anniversary & Track models and all '06 models with the 6MT can have excessive oil consumption (due to a cylinder hone issue). Tire feathering was an issue early on but that's been sorted out.
Don't expect to be able to spend a little money and put down big power numbers like you could on the WRX, not being FI from the factory the Z will require more time and work, but will reward you more in the long run thanks to it not being based on an economy platform (like the Impreza) to start with.
Consider your budget and then some (reasonable) goals. If the Z is going to be a weekend toy it's easier to have lofty goals and deal with extended downtime than if it's going to be a DD. I'd also make sure you've got some support, either a good shop or wrench wielding owner, that can help you out in case you run into something you can't solve since you'll be new to the platform. Nice thing is that the VQ is in so many Nissans that there's tons of support for it, and the platform is old enough that there are plenty of parts available and groundwork that has been laid that you won't need to be a pioneer in your modding journey.
Everything you need to know before you modify your 350Z
Jerry, you're still here? You talk about going to a(nother) dedicated forum but you keep dropping by. If you want to stick around you're more than welcome, just learn to play nice. If you feel the site is lacking in information and support you should be a little more proactive in adding information instead of just stopping by for a quick dig and then taking off. Instead of being a critic you should try being part of the solution.
Re: New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
So times I forget,saying highly modded men's different things to different people. To me it meant about $8000 of new and used parts all around. From what I hearing/seeing it seems like you have to build the motor to get action or at least open it up. I realize my approach is a little more juvenile, but I want to be anle to fairly easily take the stuff off in a pinch and sell the car. It's just I tend to move a lot and sometimes shipping isn't an option. I think you were right, I was spoiled w the WRX.
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BusyBadger
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:20 pm
- Car: '92 Nissan 240SX
'05 Nissan 350Z
'13 Nissan Juke - Contact:
Re: New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
Here's a thread from a while ago that you might like...
What would you do with 9K?
I haven't changed my list on there, but with some driveway ramps from Bridjit I'd certainly do some suspension work, probably Bilstein PSS-10's.
What would you do with 9K?
I haven't changed my list on there, but with some driveway ramps from Bridjit I'd certainly do some suspension work, probably Bilstein PSS-10's.
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jerryd1987
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:25 am
- Car: 03 350z many mods inc next year
Re: New to the VQ. Fill me in on the need to knows?
i stop by about once a month mostly active on the other forums but kinda slow since those actually making power are slowing with posting because of people stopping in with the typical "what do i need for this" followed by "i havnt done it but you guys who actually are making power are wrong.", the good thing nico has that the dedicated forums dont is the fsm's for vehicles, very handy right now while im rewiring my car especially with the conversion to cable throttle body and deleting stock ecu(running haltech the old one but its going to be a standalone), nats, traction control, abs, and other useless stuff. hopefully be down to around 2750 lbs soon.
ive tryed to forward people to stuff ive already posted but i always get in trouble for it, kinda unresonable, for me to retype or go through and look for all my posts when they are already available, alot come to me on other forums since i have more miles on my motor then most people(and still under 5k which is sad) even though i built my engine in my driveway, not to mention one of the major turbo kits for the platform is only sold on another forum (boosted performance midmount, my dyno ignore torque since the dj couldnt pick up the ignition signal can see major clutch slippage if you convert to rpm though since im on stock gears and 285/30/18 can see its making 601 ft lbs of torque at 4800 rpms, think its closer to 5k though since im only 20 psi boost at 4800 but 26 at 5k when it slips and drops back to 20.)
ill gladly answer specific questions and people have pm'ed me directly before so i can answer them without my posts getting deleted or changed but people can still get the info they want. also pictures of my car are all over that photobucket account, ignore the name this is far from my first performance car lol.
with that said though my car is VERY extreme vs most and ill never be able to sell it, just check out the pics of behind the drive and passanger seat.
ive tryed to forward people to stuff ive already posted but i always get in trouble for it, kinda unresonable, for me to retype or go through and look for all my posts when they are already available, alot come to me on other forums since i have more miles on my motor then most people(and still under 5k which is sad) even though i built my engine in my driveway, not to mention one of the major turbo kits for the platform is only sold on another forum (boosted performance midmount, my dyno ignore torque since the dj couldnt pick up the ignition signal can see major clutch slippage if you convert to rpm though since im on stock gears and 285/30/18 can see its making 601 ft lbs of torque at 4800 rpms, think its closer to 5k though since im only 20 psi boost at 4800 but 26 at 5k when it slips and drops back to 20.)
ill gladly answer specific questions and people have pm'ed me directly before so i can answer them without my posts getting deleted or changed but people can still get the info they want. also pictures of my car are all over that photobucket account, ignore the name this is far from my first performance car lol.
with that said though my car is VERY extreme vs most and ill never be able to sell it, just check out the pics of behind the drive and passanger seat.