The Official "What Did You Do to Your Z This Weekend" Thread

Nissan 350z / Nissan 370z general community discussion forum
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BusyBadger
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Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. Time to stop driving (as much) and start tweaking (unless you're Kuhan...then it's all out modification!), so let's see what you've been doing lately to make your ride more "you".

Pics encouraged.


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kuhan
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BusyBadger wrote:Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. Time to stop driving (as much) and start tweaking (unless you're Kuhan...then it's all out modification!), so let's see what you've been doing lately to make your ride more "you".

Pics encouraged.
:rotflmao

I take care of my Z as well :bigthumb: . I bought these 5 qt of German Castrol 0W-30 (made in Germany) and K&N HP-1008 oil filter today. Will do an oil change before winter storage.

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BusyBadger
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I've switched over to Castrol from Mobil_1. I've noticed some burn-off of Mobil_1 at higher temps (lower oil pressure led me to check oil levels more frequently during summer) and since I've been running Syntec I haven't noticed the drops I did with Mobil_1. I run 5w30 but I've heard some "friend of a friend" stories with good reviews of 0w30...I'd like to hear your thoughts after you've run it for a while.

As for my weekend work...my decklid wouldn't latch. The latch was stuck in the closed position (I thought it was broken at first) and it wouldn't open back up. An hour later it was working fine after some disassembly, cleaning and re-lubricating.

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kuhan
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I'm currently running German Castrol (GC) 0W-30 for about 3K miles now. The only thing I have noticed is the low pressure readings when idling @ 15 psi, which from what I've read is the norm. Besides that I haven't had any issues. I switched it from Mobil 1 5W-30, which I noticed the oil burn-off issue.

I've read many oil analysis threads and concluded that Mobil 1 0W-40, GC 0W-30 and Amsoil 0W-30 are some of the best oil for our DE and HR motors.

I'm planning to send the used GC oil for analysis over at the Blackstone Lab and see how engine is breaking in.

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kuhan
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Had a shop installed Berk HFCs and Hotchkis sway bars on Saturday.

Did a DIY install for the Stillen G3 intakes and changed the oil on Sunday.

Currently working on installing LEDs on the 08 front reflectors. :dblthumb:

Will get another dyno this coming weekend. :woot:

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Last edited by kuhan on Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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BusyBadger
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Nice nice...did the HFCs trip a CEL?

I'm struggling to find some German Castol where I live, it's available online all over the place but I'd rather not pay shipping. :(

My weekend was highlighted by using a Dremel to take the head off a license plate bolt that had rusted to the nut. I can't believe the nut wasn't nylon in the first place. I had to bust my plate frame and cover to get to it, but it's done. Makes me want to get a custom tag now to somehow make it worth it. :)

I also added direct-wire cord from StealthCords to my Valentine One. It's powered from the rearview mirror and eliminates a dangling cord or, in my case, made me not have to run a long cord from the passenger side outlet around the door jam and across the windscreen and tucked under the headliner. I'll post some pics and do a direct link to StealthCords tomorrow.

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kuhan
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Have had 100 miles without CEL. Where are you located, Badger? Here in Chicago, almost all Autozone shops carry them. I was able to pick them up $6/bottle.

This coming weekend should be a relaxing weekend for me. :)

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BusyBadger
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My local AutoZone just started carrying 0W-30! :)

It's a little over $7 a quart. :( So now my oil changes will be in the neighborhood of $50 when you add the filter, ugh.

Spent a little bit of time this weekend bleeding my brakes after I thought I felt a little mushiness in them. I probably just wanted an excuse to do something, but it can never hurt...unless you're careless enough to get brake fluid on your paint. :biggrin:

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acidjake75
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Installed my brembos.. I love bedding my brakes

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BusyBadger
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I made the jump over to 0W30 Castrol yesterday. After a 30 +/- drive yesterday my observations are that it builds pressure quicker and my oil psi gauge reads a little bit higher than it did with Mobil1 or Castrol Syntc, both were 5W30.

I'll post up some longer duration and longer mileage observations I make them.

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kuhan
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^See if the oil pressure is about 15 psi when idling.

Warmup: 90 psi
driving around 3k rpm: 120 psi
idling: 15 psi

I also sent the used oil to Blackstone Laboratories to get the oil analyzed as well.

*Today will be the last time driving the Z this year. I'm going to wash, clay and wax it and put it in storage until April.

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BusyBadger
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kuhan wrote:^See if the oil pressure is about 15 psi when idling.
Oh no no...I think you have me wrong, I wasn't complaining. :)

After a few changes of Mobil1 after I originally got my Z I thought the oil pressure was a bit lower than it should have been. Having a RevUp I was, of course, concerned. I switched over to Castrol Syntec but the pressure still seemed lower than it should have been (idle psi was probably 10-12) and crusing psi was 50-55 instead of the normal 60 that I was used to seeing when I first got it.

German Castrol has made all the numbers on the money. My normal 6/60/60 observation (6th gear - 60 mph - 60 psi) is back again and idle is right at 15 psi. Winter, well as winter as winter gets here in the mountains of TN, is coming and I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements in cold weather startup.

We're even forecast for snow this weekend (at elevations above 3500 ft.)! I wish I had my Bridgestones mounted up for some winter driving this weekend. I've got two good fronts (RE 960 AS Pole Positions) so I'm picking up a new pair of rears to match. If I didn't have two good fronts already I'd be picking up a set of the new Continental Extreme DWS tires...every test I've seen has them ranked well beyond the next closest competitor. I've got nothing bad to say about the Bridgestones that I run, but I'd love to run the Contis and see just how much better they were. But I don't expect us to get the nearly the snowfall this year that we did last year. Almost made me want to defect to the Mitsubishi and run an Evo last year...board members can buy my loyalty by chipping in for a GTR if they like. ;)

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PalmerWMD
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BusyBadger wrote:I made the jump over to 0W30 Castrol yesterday. After a 30 +/- drive yesterday my observations are ..my oil psi gauge reads a little bit higher than it did with Mobil1 or Castrol Syntc, both were 5W30. .
This makes perfect sense since, as this oil is actually somewhat thicker at hot temps than the competing 5w-30's you mentioned.
A little counter intuitive but true :)

Actually for hot running it is very nearly the same thickness as fresh 0w-40 Mobil 1.
Think of it more as a 0w-35 oil.

Fred..:)

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370Z/28
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Bought it!

Have been drooling over one for some time. It was hard to get rid of my G, but I just wanted more of a sports car. I love this thing. Absolutely love it. Only mod so far is pulling off the dealer logo. :yesnod

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Looking forward to getting to know some of you guys and getting to know more about my Z.

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BusyBadger
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Sweet! I still have problems with some of the design elements on the car, but that position is softening. And there's no arguing with what's "under the wrapper".

Looks like we'll need to be getting you a new NICO-name. Welcome to the Z family! :badger

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370Z/28
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Thanks BB. I am loving every aspect of it right now. After 2 1/2 years of an auto tranny, I'm really having fun with a stick again.

I'll figure out how to change my name. Haven't decided yet what I want it to be. Don't want my G buddies banning me.

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kuhan
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Winter is almost over and so is the time for the Z to get out of hibernation.

For far, these are in store to be installed. :woot:

Ready to install:
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Received the f+r pads a week ago directly from Endless Japan (waited 4 months :tisk: )
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Ordered from ZSpeed
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Ordered a set of new Philips 6000K D2S bulbs
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Blacked out the reflectors + added leds
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370Z/28
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Wow! Looks like you are going to be busy! While you are working on the mechanical aspects, I just bought about $50 worth of Zaino products to get my car looking like my cars are supposed to look. I have a reputation to uphold!!

;)

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370Z/28
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Got a few hours to detail. 2 coats of Zaino, detailed interior, debadged the 370Z emblem. BTW, Nissan did NOT mean for these to come off easy. Sheesh!

Pics are bad. No sun. Drove to work today in the rain. I'll get a better pic when the sun comes out. :frown:

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kuhan
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Last weekend, I got the Endless bbk installed. And installed the led reflectors and the undershroud pan. The undershroud pan is a top notch quality with oem fitment. I bought this for the ease of doing oil changes.

Those Philips bulbs were fake, so I returned them. :tisk:

This coming weekend, I will be replacing the old rusted bolts and nuts in the engine bay with the zinc plated bolts (from Ace Hardware) :chuckle:

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BusyBadger
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Wow...no posts here a a few months. :(

Busy weekend for the Badger...

Had to adjust my clutch engagement point since the Exedy clutch finally broke in

Picked up a new battery (cheapo Energizer - will eventually pick up a Braille) when I had a hesitant start after some shopping

Replaced the latch mechanism after it acted up on me again and didn't want to close...beats cleaning it, even if the piece is more expensive than I think it should be ($200)

Anyone else been doing anything?

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370Z/28
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Too hot here kiddo. :tisk: I haven't even washed mine in a while. I did find out what the clunking in the trunk was. It wasn't my spare, it was the hatch out of alignment. I turned one of those little black things and it doesn't clunk anymore.

Other than that...just driving it and loving every minute of it. :biggrin:

z33r350z
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1994 pathfinder se fully loaded

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last weekend i did lots.
oil change.
hks high power ti
injen long tubes
hellwig swaybars
innovate wideband
blacked out the front reflectors and reverse lights with night shades.
also painted a few emblems just trying some stuff out

then back to the body shop to wait some more for my new rear bumper and spoiler to come in lots of carbon fiber ;)oh and for them to install my super rare front lip ;)

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BusyBadger
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Nothing major this weekend. I did add a CG-Lock to the driver's side seat belt...holds nice and tight in the garage...weather hasn't given me a reason to get out and go for a drive this weekend though. :(

And I got an unexpected "present" in the mail...

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...a Longacre tire pressure gauge I forgot that I ordered! I love the glow-in-the-dark face, makes it easy to read in the garage when the sun isn't blazing in and the pressure release makes it great for getting your psi dialed in exactly the way that you want it. :yesnod

Sunny201
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I put in reverse HIDs :)

350zhurricanegt3
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Adjustable Spoiler & Side Graphics.

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300ZXttZMAN
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350zhurricanegt3 wrote:Adjustable Spoiler & Side Graphics.
:welcome: to nico!!!
_____________

I started taking apart my z for my build (see build thread in signature.)

z33r350z
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made 299.9 hp on my stock block 08 and thats un corrected on a mustang dyno

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300ZXttZMAN
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I dont have a Z33 but i have a Z32 and I am taking my timing cover off to paint it :)

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BusyBadger
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300ZXttZMAN wrote:I dont have a Z33 but i have a Z32 and I am taking my timing cover off to paint it :)
Get it powdercoated you cheapskate. :poke: :)


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