370z common problems for tracking the car help!

[pyrrhus17]

So does anybody here track their 370z and what problems do they have,
so far I have heard of brake freeze link brakes needing more air cooling , oil temps needing a cooler ,fuel cuts out on sharp right hand turns (cj mototsports is working on this one ) www.cj-motorsports.com . here's the car and driver article on the brakes
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q2/z_meets_wall_we_investigate_why_the_nismo_z_s_brak es_failed_at_lightning_lap-feature

anyway are there any more defects with this car ? and or mods that it needs before heading to the track ?

[NismoZ_840]

Oil cooler is pretty much mandatory, 25 rows or more, or you'll hit limp mode quickly. Not sure what/if the fix is for the brake/ice mode issue but you can find out more on "the 370Z" site. Bring a 5 gal gas container or two if you don't get the fuel starvation figured out. Also, replace your brake fluid w/ something high temp like ATE Superblue, high temp brake pads (not sure how well the stock pads hold up to track abuse), and of course sticky street or race tires. If you can fit 18" wheels on, that can decrease your tire cost by 50% but not sure if those will fit over the Akebonos.

[pyrrhus17]

Yes that helps alot lets me know I am on the right path . Some have suggested cooling the brakes (diy air ducting them ) and the gas pedal delay being fixed by shutting off the VDC , not sure about that one . I emailed cjmotor sports and they are supposed to be coming out with a fix for the right hand fuel starvation issue ,they sell upgraded fuel pump fixes aswell. thanks for the suggestions about the brakes ! I gotta start a track fund ! :D .and a tool fund (I have none !) Now I have to find a place to work on my car ! :D Good thing I have all winter :eek:

[dkmura]

I don't have a 370Z, but have worked on a T2 370Z that my buddy races. The problem with the front brakes is twofold: 1) Underbody airflow is so effective that almost no air gets to the front calipers; 2) Nissan addressed 350Z complaints about squealing brakes by originally equipping the Z34 with a softer pad that was more prone to glazing under hard braking. On this second issue, Nissan has a TSB out for '09 models with the sports brake package. They'll replace the older pads with a different compound that will hold up better under repeated hard braking. Do you have the sport brakes on your 370Z?

Ultimately, channeling some cool air back to the brake calipers itself (as I've done with Nissan Sport Project 350Z T2) will help a lot. But it's hard to channel much air through the 370Z bumper. I'd also second the suggestion to go with an upgraded brake fluid with a higher dry boiling point, like ATE Super Blue or 200.

Of course, using an oil cooler will help immensely, but I wouldn't let it stop me from taking it out to track events like the one the ZCCC is hosting the second week in September. The sessions are shorter (and you can also sit out a few if you wish), so the chance for overheating is less. You can also watch the water temp and back off the revs to prevent limp mode from occurring, but this isn't always easy to do, particularly for a noobie. But track time is so precious that I wouldn't wait another year to get out there!

[supunna_picta]

I have a stock 2011 coupe/tour/sport which I tracked with the ZCCC earlier this summer and will be at the September 10th track day. With my car, bone stock, I didn't have any brake or fuel starvation issues but the oil temps were definitely a problem on every session, within the 2nd or 3rd lap. I have tracked/auto-crossed other cars so I was pushing the Z by 3rd session out.

If you have never tracked a car, or the Z you should go, run in Novice and not worry about all of the preparations beyond safety. You shouldn't be pushing your car to those limits and instead focus on learning the track, an advanced driver will be riding with you, and can be with you at your request for remaining sessions. Be mentally prepared for the oil temp issue (like I was) and back off when the cut off hits (at 6000rpms).

Given that... for the next track day I ordered the 25 Row cooler from Z1 and will be installing it in in the next few days.

I am going to upgrade the brake fluid as well but nothing else at this point. If you run an older 370 then pads/fluid would be a smart consideration

Fuel: even when down to about 1/4th tank I didn't have fuel issues by days end. I am willing to bet that it's mostly an issue once you run stiffer suspension and race tires. On OEM setup you probably won't have trouble but if you've upgraded/run race rubber you may have issues once pushing the car hard enough.

What color is your Z? Come over and say hi, I'm in the red one. There was one silver w/stillen SC and other mods and maybe a convertible at the last event.

[pyrrhus17]

I have 2011 coupe/tour/sport black cherry sounds cool . total newbie driver to sports cars that is (Xterra 2007) I was thinking of the next size up for an oil cooler .i gotta save the money (first mod is wax and wash stuff haha) . is ZCCC the colorado z club ? I am going to a nasa track event SAT. I will see if we can make it out to the 10th event ! thanks for the invite.

[pyrrhus17]

I have 2011 coupe/tour/sport black cherry, sounds cool . total newbie driver to sports cars that is (Xterra 2007) I was thinking of the next size up for an oil cooler .i gotta save the money (first mod is wax and wash stuff haha) . is ZCCC the colorado z club ? I am going to a nasa track event SAT. I will see if we can make it out to the 10th event ! thanks for the invite.

[NismoZ_840]

^Agree w/ Supunna, brakes and brake fluid are quick, relatively cheap, easy improvements and enhance safety. Oil temps will cut back on your ability to drive flat out, but you can still have a great time at the track learning the line and other skills by short shifting (ie. not go to redline everytime). I think the fuel starvation is infrequent and not a huge deal if you're not competing. Plus you can always keep the tank mostly full to help prevent.

BTW here is a great write up on Oil cooler install for the 370Z. I do highly recommend going with thread fittings vs. the push on socketless variety. Way too many instances of those hoses popping off at the track w/ scary and metal bending consequences. It's worth the extra hassle to use the threaded fittings. I just got done replacing the push on ones w/ the threaded version.

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-do-yourself/4616-modshack-diy-oil-cooler-scratch-built-install-lottsa-pics.html

One other suggestion, route the hose on the driver side (vs passenger in the link above). There's more room there than w/ the windshield fluid reservior. You can route the hoses much easier and have the sandwich plate at 3 oclock so it wraps around the oil pan vs. stick down and be a potential clearance issue. This approach works best on the 350Z too (I just changed mine to this method), but you have to protect the radiator hose from potential chaffing.

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-do-yourself/4616-modshack-diy-oil-cooler-scratch-built-install-lottsa-pics-17.html#post1265225

[NismoZ_840]

@pyrrhus17, see you at HPR this weekend! Stop on by for a ride if you like, I'm in the silver 350Z Nismo.

[pyrrhus17]

I saw you on the track just missed you when you came in Nice ride I checked it out .I parked right by you . How was the oil temp It was hot as #$*& out there ! How big is your oil cooler ? are your brakes vented ?