I bought this car from an owner who put a lot of love into it, and from there I turned it up to 11. It’s seen a lot of track time.
Identified a few areas for improvment on the car after taking it to the track, first and foremost the KU36 rubber was not really cutting the mustard…next time I’m going to step it up again with some federal RSR’s, whilst they are still just an Ultra high performance street tyre they should last a more than a few laps before going off.
Power was the next problem I was having…being pretty much stock power wise my brother in his red evo 5 was walking away from me on the straights…I set about amending this last friday by fitting the dump pipe, front pipe and race cat I’ve had sitting in my shed for ages now.
On E85 with my 22psi actuator and the uprated fuel system it makes 270kW at the wheels. Crazy power but it gets around 21.4l/100km (10.9MPG).
The difference between wheels that fit well and wheels that don’t can make or break how your Nissan 350z looks. And while shopping for 350z wheels you can be selective about the width and offset of your new rims, it’s not always possible to find the perfect combination to make your new set up sit perfectly.
For this reason, more and more Nissan 350z’s are running wheel spacers, to make sure the wheels fit exactly how they should.
Wheel spacers can help make your car look better by helping you get the perfect 350z wheel fitment. And while the difference would only be felt on the track, they can improve handling too.
They’re also one of the most inexpensive Nissan 350z mods around.
This guide will help you to find the best 350z wheel spacers for your car, based on the size of wheels you’re planning on using, and how flush you want them against your car’s body.
Continue reading “Nissan 350z Wheel Spacers: Good or Bad?”
The sickest daily. People either love or hate the Cube. To go and modify one though, people either love and hate it more!
This was my cheap daily driver for about 2 years. Cheap on fuel, reliable as hell, easy to park and could fit a ton of stuff in the back.
I’ve had cars that are worth 5 times as much, but nobody ever pulled in front of me, and waved me down to stop so they could ask me what it was and where they could buy one.
Test pipes are aftermarket parts that replace the catalytic converters in your Nissan 350z.
Catalytic converters or “cats” can be a drain on power and they can choke your engine. Nissan didn’t put them on the 350z because it improve performance – emissions standards almost worldwide saw them put on the Z33.
Replacing them with test pipes is a good, inexpensive way to bring more airflow, power, and better fuel economy to your 350z.
Test pipes will usually increase your car’s sound, bringing with it a bit of rasp and drone. Sometimes the sound can get so loud that you might find yourself breaking sound ordinance laws. Some 350z owners like this, while other’s don’t.
Since you’re reading this article, we’re guessing you’re part of the crowd looking to remove their 350z’s catalytic converters for good!
If you’re taking your car to the track, or if you love the aggressive sound that test pipes offer, then this is the guide for you. Here we’ll help you find the best 350z test pipes based on price and quality.
Continue reading “The Best Test Pipes for a Nissan 350z”
You may not think about the motor oil that goes into your 350z very often, but it can make a real difference in the way your car performs – today and long into the future.
With the right oil in your Z, your VQ engine will be nicely lubricated and run smoothly.
Quality oil keeps engine heat down, the engine clean, and running it’s best. In many cases, you’ll also see a improvement in fuel efficiency.
If you have old or bad oil in your Z car, from leaving it too long between changes, you’ll run into a heap of problems. Dirt will accumulate in your engine and clog areas that are designed to let clean oil through. Your engine will wear quicker, and engine component failures will happen more often.
If you’re trying to keep your Nissan 350z in tip-top condition, you should run the correct kind of oil, change it when needed, and treat your car better than Nissan intended.
This guide will touch on the correct 350z oil types (depending on climate and what kind of driving you’re doing), and then we’ll show you some of the best oil for your Nissan 350z.
Continue reading “Top Engine Oils for Your Nissan 350z”
After buying a Nissan 350z, an upgrade to aftermarket wheels are on almost every owners list.
It’s not that anything is wrong with the stock 350z rims, it’s just that your needs are different from the next guy. Aftermarket wheels allow you to:
- shave off some weight, which is great for improving performance through better acceleration,
- fine tune your wheel/tire combo, and do things like widen the track of your 350z to improve handling,
- give your car a unique look, make it look awesome and turn some heads.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about 350z wheels, including correct sizes and offsets. Then we’ll run though what we think are the best 350z rims on the market.
We’ll finish up with some recommendations of our favorite cheap 350z wheels, the best lightweight wheels and the ones we think look the best on a Z33.
Continue reading “The Best 350z Rims & Wheels”
The Mazda Miata is one of the most fun cars to drive. We’re not the only ones that think so: it’s the best-selling two-seater convertible in history!
It also won “Car of the Year” from Wheels Magazine in 1989, 2005, and 2016 (the first years of the NA, NC, and ND generations), and it’s made Car and Driver’s annual “10 Best” list 17 times.
But if you’re like us, this sort of greatness is never enough. There are ways to make the Miata even better!
This guide will walk you through (what we think are) the best Mazda Miata mods out there.
Continue reading “Complete Guide to Mazda Miata Modifications & Upgrades”
A short throw shifter helps you to change gears faster than is possible with your OEM Nissan 350z shifter.
This is called “shift throw reduction,” and it’s the main characteristic to remember when shopping for short shifters.
These short shifters move the pivot point higher up the shift rod, which means you move the shifter less distance when changing gears. A Nissan 350z short shifter typically has a height reduction as well, measured in inches, that also helps reduce the shift throw.
Short shifters are one of the more popular 350z modifications for a few reasons:
- They’re affordable. Even the most expensive short shifters are only a few hundred bucks.
- They’re easy to install.
- Unlike some other mods, you will feel the difference straight away when changing gears.
Short shifters give you a better driving experience by allowing you to change gears faster and with less effort.
In this guide we will discuss the best 350z short shifters on the market, in terms of price, construction and effectiveness.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to 350z Short Shifters”
The wheels you use on your Miata, regardless of generation (NA, NB, NC or ND) are crucial to making your car look great and perform well. Large and heavy rims will slow your car down and make it feel sluggish.
Many people complain about the performance of their car after they buy new wheels, because they didn’t know to keep size and weight down. Shaving off weight and keeping your wheels light is crucial for making sure your Miata feels how it should after a wheel upgrade.
We’re here to help, so you don’t make that mistake.
This guide will help you find a set of Miata rims by showing you the ideal size, weight and offset. Then we’ll show you our favorite wheels for a Miata – the ones we think are the best.
Continue reading “Your Guide to Finding the Best Miata Rims”
Lowering springs are made to support the weight of your vehicle and fit in place of the stock/OEM springs. Lowering springs are different than coilovers in that they work with your existing shock absorbers.
You’re not replacing the entire suspension unit like you would when upgrading to coilovers.
Usually no modification is needed to install aftermarket lowering springs. You simply remove the old OEM 350z spring and replace with the new.
This guide will walk you through some things you need to know about lowering springs before buying them, and show you the best 350z lowering springs on the market.
Continue reading “A Closer Look at the Best 350z Lowering Springs”
