Cooling overhaul project

[NocturnalEmber]

For those of us that aren't mechanics modifying metal and/or mounts isn't quite appealing. Z1 has a habit of assuming all of their customers are mechanics. As to their quality control, so far so good, except their aluminum oil pan also uses aluminum threads which I happened to sheer off with 25ft/lbs of torque. Luckily I had a 25mm M12x1.25 zinc bolt to replace the oil drain plug. At least they sent me a new one which I will eventually install a helicoil made of steel.

I'm not a mechanic by occupation, but as a hobby on my own cars. Cutting/grinding metal out of a 50-60,000 car is not something I'm about to do. From an engineering/design standpoint to me it just comes across as lazy.

I do accept that in very limited situations that is probably necessary, but I think for the majority of situations its possible to design a product properly that is a bolt on solution without those caveats that require me removing metal from my car to accommodate their poor design decisions.

A good reference for a well designed product is the corksport turbo kit for the 3rd generation Mazda 3's. That kit ran about $5,000~ OTD, but it was a complete bolt on solution with a cast manifold, absolutely no hacking or modifying anything, all bolted up perfectly and zero issues. Granted the install took me a few days taking my time, but at no point did I ever have to do any fabrication whatsoever.

But back to the point; I just feel Z1 tends to take shortcuts with their product designs. I think someone on here mentioned the Concept Z Performance undertray doesn't require any modification at all. Prime example.

 

[5thZ]

For those of us that aren't mechanics modifying metal and/or mounts isn't quite appealing. Z1 has a habit of assuming all of their customers are mechanics. As to their quality control, so far so good, except their aluminum oil pan also uses aluminum threads which I happened to sheer off with 25ft/lbs of torque. Luckily I had a 25mm M12x1.25 zinc bolt to replace the oil drain plug. At least they sent me a new one which I will eventually install a helicoil made of steel.

Wow their oil pan was like that? And you were using a properly set torque wrench? Geeze man... Guess I'm going to use CZP's pan

 

[VR30Infection]

The z1 looks like it is putting the air filters up front as well so they are getting fresh air so 2 extra pipes have to make their way through. The Greddy has “hot air” intakes in the engine compartment. That’s probably why there is more trimming on the Z1 kit. The cost difference is crazy between the two. Greddy is $3965 vs $2849 including blow off valves on the z1 kit. ?. Only $2249 for an apples to apples comparison. (Stock valves)

 

[Thefunk]

Wow their oil pan was like that? And you were using a properly set torque wrench? Geeze man... Guess I'm going to use CZP's pan

According to Google, 23-27ft/lbs is for the oil drain plug, but that doesn't consider the aluminum threads on Z1's pan. Maybe it's a different spec, if it were Z1 would have mentioned that and not send me a new pan.?

 

[Thefunk]

I'm not a mechanic by occupation, but as a hobby on my own cars. Cutting/grinding metal out of a 50-60,000 car is not something I'm about to do. From an engineering/design standpoint to me it just comes across as lazy.

I do accept that in very limited situations that is probably necessary, but I think for the majority of situations its possible to design a product properly that is a bolt on solution without those caveats that require me removing metal from my car to accommodate their poor design decisions.

A good reference for a well designed product is the corksport turbo kit for the 3rd generation Mazda 3's. That kit ran about $5,000~ OTD, but it was a complete bolt on solution with a cast manifold, absolutely no hacking or modifying anything, all bolted up perfectly and zero issues. Granted the install took me a few days taking my time, but at no point did I ever have to do any fabrication whatsoever.

But back to the point; I just feel Z1 tends to take shortcuts with their product designs. I think someone on here mentioned the Concept Z Performance undertray doesn't require any modification at all. Prime example.

Z1 also seems like it's more of a media/entertainment/showbiz company like that Donut YT company. Yeah they're mechanics and can build and work on cars but...

 

[5thZ]

Z1 also seems like it's more of a media/entertainment/showbiz company like that Donut YT company. Yeah they're mechanics and can build and work on cars but...

They used to be hardcore enthusiasts and would spend time with you on the phone or in person talking about super in depth knowledge on topics but now more than half the time I get someone who literally doesn't know anything. Their parts were chinesium when they started making them but they are getting better.

Things changed when they got bought out

 

[NocturnalEmber]

They used to be hardcore enthusiasts and would spend time with you on the phone or in person talking about super in depth knowledge on topics but now more than half the time I get someone who literally doesn't know anything. Their parts were chinesium when they started making them but they are getting better.

Things changed when they got bought out

Well a buyout would explain a lot. Who bought them out?

 

[5thZ]

Well a buyout would explain a lot. Who bought them out?

I forgot tbh.

Anyways, in case anyone wants to hack up their car a bit the Z1 kit is on sale

 

[NocturnalEmber]

I forgot tbh.

Anyways, in case anyone wants to hack up their car a bit the Z1 kit is on sale

I also just noticed comparing the two, Greddy's kit is entirely hard piping, whereas the Z1 uses a lot of hardened silicone. Seeing a lot of quality shortcuts here. Either way though, removing metal from my near $60,000 car with 12,000 miles on it is not my idea of a good time.

 

[VR30Infection]

Dang. I want to hack up my car. But I’m waiting on stupid Ca to figure out their smog law crap. We actually might loose CARB requirement on performance parts like most of the actual American states!

 

[5thZ]

Dang. I want to hack up my car. But I’m waiting on stupid Ca to figure out their smog law crap. We actually might loose CARB requirement on performance parts like most of the actual American states!

Imagine not registering in Cali ? ?

 

[VR30Infection]

Imagine not registering in Cali ? ?

Yeah it will be a thing of beauty! However they won’t ship non CARB parts to me. I would have to ship to a buddy out of state and then pay for more shipping

 

[5thZ]

Yeah it will be a thing of beauty! However they won’t ship non CARB parts to me. I would have to ship to a buddy out of state and then pay for more shipping

?

 

[Thefunk]

I also just noticed comparing the two, Greddy's kit is entirely hard piping, whereas the Z1 uses a lot of hardened silicone. Seeing a lot of quality shortcuts here. Either way though, removing metal from my near $60,000 car with 12,000 miles on it is not my idea of a good time.

I agree. At the moment the most practical cooling upgrades will be larger heat exchanger and oil cooler. I've also been using mobil1 high heat protection and have noticed slightly lower overall oil temps using 0w20. I also have the aluminum oil pan.

 

[VR30Z6spd]

not sure if it was mentioned, but getting a tune will help alot for cooling. i activate the water pump earlier and radiator fans much earlier than stock