Kludos' Gunmetal Z Build

[Kludos]

Thought I might start one of these threads. As a bit of background, I've never done up a car so I'm a noob with a lot of this stuff, but I have wrenched a lot on mountain bikes so some of that is transferrable. So far I've done all the work myself (checked by a professional) and it's been great fun so far, and I'm looking forward to learning more from the hugely knowledgable folk on here. I'm going for a OEM+ build so there's nothing mind blowing going on, but I'll explain my thinking and decision making along the way.

I've always loved Nissans, and the 300zx and R32 Skylines were favourites when I was a kid. I never got into doing up cars when I was younger, but after a holiday to Japan and trip to Diakoku with my 10yo son the fire was lit to buy a project car. After looking around at some 90s-00s JDMs I decided I wasn't ready for an older car and instead found this '23 Gunmetal Z with only 4000kms on the clock - serviced multiple times, kept garaged and covered.

I'll detail the build in the thread, but I'll keep this post up to date

New car day:

Current:

• Mishimoto intakes
• Fujitsubo turbo back
• Mishimoto catch can
• MAPerformance catted downpipes
• HKS coilovers
• Work Emotion ZR10 wheels
• GKtech camber arms, adjustable toe buckets, subframe collars
• Ceramic coating
• Flow brackets plinth delete and JDM style plates

Next:
Mishimoto heat exchanger
Sonictune
Some softer coilovers
Tyres

 

[Kludos]

Phase 1: noise and other immediate needs

There were a few things that I wanted to do immediately. First the ugly front plinth needed to go, replaced with a flow brackets plinth delete kit and JDM vanity plates. Next was the ceramic coating to protect the paint, g-techniq all the way (also the face of the wheels).

Finally I had to do something about the vacuum cleaner soundtrack - Dyson 400z is right! I opted for a Fujitsubo catback with Mishimoto intakes. The Fujitsubo is beautifully made and has a lovely note, and while it's not overly loud right now I'm hoping it will strike the sweet spot when the rest of the breathing puzzle is complete. After much deliberation I went with mishimoto intakes because they have the ability to run open for sweet turbo noises, or closed for the coolest air... and I haven't put the lids on yet!

Ugly plinth:

Detail & ceramic coat:

Fujitsubo catback:

Intakes = fiddly:

 

[Kludos]

Phase 2: grip and stance
For coilovers I went with HKS Hipermax R. They are super stiff and have introduced some noise, but they are great for ripping my local backroads. To complete the look while I save/wait for wheels I added some Z1 lowered spacers.

With the stock suspension arms I could only get back to -1.7 rear camber, which was good in corners but pretty loose on power, and it got a bit complicated at this point. With the divorced setup I needed to buy new mid links, but most need a different spring. The alternative was to grind my subframe and put wider Z1 eccentrics in. I looked at Nismo and SPL mid links ($$), but in the end I opted for GKtech adjustable buckets which worked with the HKS spring setup, and I got the matching camber links.

With the final alignment we went to -1.1 rear camber, and dialled in a bit more toe which has given the car a LOT more forward traction. And we dropped it a little more in the rear which improved the ride from having a bit less preload. I also dropped in some GKtech subframe collars in which limits some of the subframe movement under hard acceleration and the whole setup is starting to click now.

No bushings here:

Standard HKS drop without spacers:

Final drop and alignment with spacers fitted

 

[Kludos]

Phase 3: Tune and wheels (in progress)
I'm in a bit of a holding pattern now while I wait for parts and also let the wallet recover from the unplanned spend on a few items.

I have some MAPerformance catted downpipes ready to go in - they were a good price so I grabbed some while they were in stock. I don't fancy doing this job myself so it will be done by Croydon Race Dynamics at the same time as the tune. Before any of that happens I need the Y pipe for the exhaust, which is on boat from Japan and should arrive next month. The silver lining of having to wait is I'll get to hear the difference, first with the Y pipe going on, and then with DPs.

The final piece I have lined up is a set of Work ZR10 wheels, 9.5 front and 10.5 rear. I spent HOURS pouring over the aftermarket wheels thread here before deciding on the style, and I hope they will look amazing.

For rubber I'm still undecided. I never drive this car in the wet so I was thinking of an SS tyre like AD09's, and I want the rubber to look a bit meatier so I'll probably go up to something like a 265 front and 295 rear, but I need to do a lot more research. It's a 3 month wait on the wheels so I have some time to decide.

The real power unlock:

Glim black with machined rim 19x9.5 +23 front / 19x10.5 +15 rear

 

[southboundbear]

I assume, by law, where you live you must have that on the front? Sucks!

 

[haohmaru]

You're staying with the oem swaybar?

 

[southboundbear]

Are you responding to Southbound bear?

 

[haohmaru]

Are you responding to Southbound bear?

@Kludos

 

[Kludos]

I assume, by law, where you live you must have that on the front? Sucks!

Yeah, we love our laws down under. Need a permit to wipe your ass it feels like sometimes.

You're staying with the oem swaybar?

I'm not sure about this one - I'm keen to heard what other people are doing.

It's extremely stiff already so I'm worried I might be taking away grip by making it sit any flatter, but maybe a softer spring and firmer sway bar setup might be a better compromise.

 

[MattJ2020]

Noice.

 

[Kludos]

I just received the front pipe to go with the exhaust. Most brands seem to sell these together, but Fujitsubo offer them separately, and I spent some time waiting for it to arrive.

It's a nice upgrade over the tiny stock part and has changed the note of the whole system to be lower and a little louder. I notice it most on the downshift blips. I was hoping for a bit more volume but I expect the downpipes will be the fix for that.

I wasn't expecting a change in performance but there was a nice little bump in power once I fitted the pipe, while still on the stock tune. Can't wait to get the downpipes in and finally get the tune on.

Cold start:

 

[Kludos]

Had some more goodies arrive.

First up was the mishimoto catch can. I was worried about this install after doing the intakes, but it was super straightforward. The only hiccup was getting the intercooler back on - the video showed them attaching it to the manifold first then the throttle body, but it's impossible to get the throttle body hose on that way. I messed around with it for 30 mins before putting the hose on the throttle body first and then it popped straight in. Scared myself with a CEL when I got it back together, but I just hadn't fully plugged in the sensor.

While I was under there I rattle canned the strut brace to match the brake callipers and I think it looks neat. Will do the dipstick and order some caps next I think.

Next I'm trying some softer springs on the HKS coilovers. I still think they are too stiff in the rear especially, but they are frickin noisy too so I think I'll cut my losses and go to something with rubber mounts. I don't use this car as a daily and it really does rip in the corners so I'm hoping I don't go too far the other way.

Finally I just received the lovely CZP baffled oil pan ready for a change to 5w40 and then today my ZR10s arrived. The bank balance isn't looking too good, but AD09s are on sale so the credit card might have to take one for the team.

 

[Kludos]

I couldn’t find the tyres I wanted in the right size, so I stretched the stock tyres around the ZR10s so I could get them on.

The rears are too stretched for my liking, but I really love the wheels, and I’m surprised the fitment is so good - I thought I’d need spacers for sure. I might still add some once I get the meatier rubber, I think they look pretty nice for now.

I also got these nice photos from a meetup with the local Z club. Nice to connect with some fellow Z owners.

Heat exchanger is on its way and I’ve decided to go with Sonic for the tune. Time to unlock some power!

 

[5amp5on]

Love the way the gunmetal looks like a watery shine in the sunlight.

 

[AlanZ]

Those wheels are