Stevet10
Member
Hi all, been working on my 350Z for a few months now so thought I would start documenting what I'm up to as some might find it useful and hopefully it will motivate me to keep doing stuff!
I've also made a few youtube videos so feel free to check it out and subscribe: www.youtube.com/user/stevet114
Bit of background:
Bought my R34 GTT in January 2017 which opened my eyes to the "JDM" scene. And it was from here that I decided I wanted to try drifting (but not in the Skyline... yet). To start with I bought a manual Mercedes C230 kompressor just because it was local and welded. It was also terrible. So I got rid and then went to a good old E46 missile for a few months to try and learn the basics. I live about 1hr from a real 'grassroots' drift event that happens 5 times a year on what is a very old runway near Honiton. It's close, cheap and not too serious so I did 3 days there in the BMW. Then one night after a few beers (oh drunk eBay-ing) I found a low milage cat-c 350Z a couple hours away and now that I was a professional I thought I must have it.
Luckily it was a good runner, well looked after, no rust, all straight, just a big dent on the passenger rear quarter (annoyingly that's one big panel on the 350 that goes right into the door close so not easily replaced).
So I actually did one day with the car 100% stock - suspension was too soft and unsurprisingly the LSD on a 13 year old car was not so limited any more. But the increase in power from the E46 was like night and day.
Get to work:
First job was to wld the diff then to sort the ride height and stiffness so I sold the E46 and used the money to buy the Tein Street Basis Z Coilovers. I went midrange to start with because I'm not DK but I had heard good things about the Teins. Here's a before and after (yes lower is always cooler):
Then drilled some holes for scene points..
Next job was the JapSpeed rack spacers to try and improve the lock. Currently there are not many angle kit options for the 350Z apart from Wisefab and PBM so before spending the big bucks the spacers will have to do. Lock did increase a bit but the 350Z is short and very tail happy so could still do with more.
I think I did two more days with with the car like this:
This is currently full lock, so not too bad.
Wish I hadn't put that spoiler on
Had some alignment and camber issues on the second day so got a set of the Driftworks front camber arms and chucked these on along with some 20mm spacers all round:
Plan for next year is to get to some real drift days like Pembrey as I really want to drift a proper track and not just around cones. Goal is to think about entering something like Drift Cup in the not too distant future but will see how 2019 goes.
Future plans for the car include a hydro maybe then wisefab and wide body at some point. Also considering the Kaaz LSD but open to advice on that if anyone has experience?
And here's a photo of my R34 because I like it:
Thanks for reading, more coming soon!
I've also made a few youtube videos so feel free to check it out and subscribe: www.youtube.com/user/stevet114
Bit of background:
Bought my R34 GTT in January 2017 which opened my eyes to the "JDM" scene. And it was from here that I decided I wanted to try drifting (but not in the Skyline... yet). To start with I bought a manual Mercedes C230 kompressor just because it was local and welded. It was also terrible. So I got rid and then went to a good old E46 missile for a few months to try and learn the basics. I live about 1hr from a real 'grassroots' drift event that happens 5 times a year on what is a very old runway near Honiton. It's close, cheap and not too serious so I did 3 days there in the BMW. Then one night after a few beers (oh drunk eBay-ing) I found a low milage cat-c 350Z a couple hours away and now that I was a professional I thought I must have it.
Luckily it was a good runner, well looked after, no rust, all straight, just a big dent on the passenger rear quarter (annoyingly that's one big panel on the 350 that goes right into the door close so not easily replaced).
So I actually did one day with the car 100% stock - suspension was too soft and unsurprisingly the LSD on a 13 year old car was not so limited any more. But the increase in power from the E46 was like night and day.
Get to work:
First job was to wld the diff then to sort the ride height and stiffness so I sold the E46 and used the money to buy the Tein Street Basis Z Coilovers. I went midrange to start with because I'm not DK but I had heard good things about the Teins. Here's a before and after (yes lower is always cooler):
Then drilled some holes for scene points..
Next job was the JapSpeed rack spacers to try and improve the lock. Currently there are not many angle kit options for the 350Z apart from Wisefab and PBM so before spending the big bucks the spacers will have to do. Lock did increase a bit but the 350Z is short and very tail happy so could still do with more.
I think I did two more days with with the car like this:
This is currently full lock, so not too bad.
Wish I hadn't put that spoiler on
Had some alignment and camber issues on the second day so got a set of the Driftworks front camber arms and chucked these on along with some 20mm spacers all round:
Plan for next year is to get to some real drift days like Pembrey as I really want to drift a proper track and not just around cones. Goal is to think about entering something like Drift Cup in the not too distant future but will see how 2019 goes.
Future plans for the car include a hydro maybe then wisefab and wide body at some point. Also considering the Kaaz LSD but open to advice on that if anyone has experience?
And here's a photo of my R34 because I like it:
Thanks for reading, more coming soon!
300zx and Skyline r32 GT-R.