Friday, February 25, 2011

T-minus roughly 48hrs and some change




Oil Change to Mobil 1 10w-30- check
Mobile 1 filter (code M-110)-Check
Install the original air box-Check

I’m ready to run me down some cones!

Roger-Roger!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Senna...The Movie...

Saw this on Monday; Amazing stuff, really pulled on the heart strings. One for my collection, right next Mr McQueen"s Le Mans







Wednesday, February 16, 2011

More Zs & Gs to run against

Looks like a local speed shop specializing in Japanese performance cars will be at the autocross event I'm attending, offering prizes to the top three cars who can beat or come closest to their modified Infinity G35's lap time. What the heck since I'm there I'm going to give it a shot.














Sunday, February 13, 2011

Autocross with Speed Ventures

I'm doing my first autocross session with Speed Ventures on Sunday February 27th.
I opted for Speed Ventures as opposed to an SCCA Solo II event as the idea of working while waiting for my run did not appeal to me. For about the same cost I get unlimited timed runs. I purchased time for an instructor too since I intend to see my lines getting better throughout the day. Here's a listing of my run group. If I can keep up with the Prius, then I think I may have had a good day.
Sunday
Timing AliasCarHPTires
Alexa Apallas2005 Toyota Prius0Street
Bob Gottlieb
Brandon Turner
Chris Aguirre2007 Honda Fit109Street
Club Sport Z2005 Nissan 350Z0Slicks
Daniel Herson2002 Honda S20000Street
Dannie Pinard2010 Chevrolet Camaro400Street
david lowell2004 Mazda MX-5 MazdaSpeed Miata289Street
Doug Hoffman2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe280Street
Drew Dayton 192004 Audi TT225Street
Erik Herson1991 Acura NSX0Street
Fulton Haight1997 BMW M3 E36240Street
Gary Takara
Gene Schneider2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution395Street
Ike2005 Honda S20000Street
Ira Cruz1987 BMW 325is0Slicks
Israel Lopez2008 BMW 328i272Street
Jacob Schiffelbein2003 Honda S20000Street
JASON FLETCHER1986 Mazda RX-70Street
Jeremy Fransen 292010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution0Street
K C
Khiem D2005 Honda S2000237Street
Kyle O'Rourke1997 Honda Prelude0Street
LC1
Mark Ponciano2004 Dodge SRT-40Street
Matt Herson2010 Ford Mustang GT0Street
MORGAN MALOUF1998 BMW M3 Sedan0Street
Nick Schiffelbein2003 Porsche Boxster S0Street
Reza V1989 Honda Civic Si110Street
Richard Lee 122005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution0Street
Robert Lowell2006 Mazda MX-5170Street
S2K_Ryan2003 Honda S20000Street
Scott Du1997 Honda Prelude0Street
SIR EDDIE DUNCAN1965 Factory Five 427SC Cobra300Street
Vereker Tam2000 Honda Prelude658Street
Vince Barbarie2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI300Street
W2010 Mazda MX-5165Race
willi smith1992 Mazda Miata0Street
zack tscharanyan 472005 Infiniti G35 Coupe298Street

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Troubles with blogger

Sorry for the topsey-turvy posts. I believe the issues are fixed now...no I didn't do my brake job in Italy... Thanks all.

I'm Back!


Italy was amazing the food, drink and everything in between. Now in regards to cars, Italy was nowhere close to the UK or US. This could very well be because it was the holidays and like most of you east coasters, I’m sure Italian auto enthusiasts have locked up their beloved hunks of steel away from the elements…I guess. Well either way I did not see any Delta Integrales or Evo 75s tearing up the streets. I heard one late model Ferrari V8 next to the Ponte Vechio and a smattering of older 911s. Anyway here’s some pics:

New VW Scirocco
Vespa

Boring Lancia, plush but...


The Cops love their Land Rovers
Some cool vintage bikes
Police Alfa's on the Ponte Vechio

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Brake Job...Oh joy...


Well as the description of the of the blog states “...I shall share my joys and frustrations with this transformation...” Well here’s a nice dose of frustration for ya!

In early November I decided to proceed with upgrading my brakes.The 350Z is a heavy car and although the Base version I have is the lightest of the various models, it’s still a tad over 3000 lbs. The stock brakes do a wonderful job hauling the car down on canyons and high speed runs but on the track the stock single piston brakes are known to cook. Now a Brembo upgrade from a track model Z would be ideal but at this time I’m not willing to spend the $$$ for this luxury. As luck would have it a fellow Z owner with a 2007 model year; bigger twin piston calipers, was moving to an after market big brake kit and had to unload his stock set up. Enter me with cash in hand and an open weekend at my dads.

Couple of shots from the old man's garage and his project cars


The job seemed simple enough; move from the current 2005 set up to the larger twin piston 2007 set up, the pads looked good so I kept them until I was ready to buy some track/street pads.

Specs 2005 350z brakes:

Front rotor-11.5”

Rear rotor:-11”

Single piston front caliper


Specs 2007 350z brakes

Front rotor-12.5”

Rear rotor-11.5”

Twin piston front caliper

2007 to the left and 2005 to the right



Additionally, I upgraded to stainless steel brake lines from Techna-fit and high temp ATE brake fluid.



A little bit of trimming would be needed on the rear dust shield but apart from that it should have been a simple “plug-and-play” affair…or not.

Well after about four hours of doing the actual swap I was ready to bleed the system and take the Z for a test run. Close to two liters of brake fluid later and nothing; the brake pedal was holding zero pressure and would go straight to the floor. My father, a mechanic with forty-years of experience was baffled too. He was pointing to the brake booster or may be the master cylinder. I was less certain of that, as I had done my research and found that others who had done comparable swaps never had to replace the MC. It was now approaching 10pm on a wet Sunday night and we where both spent. Could it be bum calipers, failing MC and/or booster? May be the stainless steel lines where a wrong fit. I was convinced it was air in the lines and we just hadn't bled the brakes enough. So back to the Z forum I went and I sent out a call for help. “Get a Power Bleeder!” was the uniform reply; Z’s are notorious for being a PINTA when there’s air in the system and the only efficient way to bleed the brakes from any trapped air pockets was with a power bleeder. I ordered a Motive Power Bleeder and 48hrs later we were at it again but this time the brake pedal was starting to hold pressure. The Motive Power Bleeder is a great tool and highly recommended if you’re doing a brake job by yourself. In less than an hour, pressure had built up and the brakes were good to go. Finally!


In the months since, the brakes have worked flawlessly. This past week, due to a lack of time, I dropped off the Z at Precision Z for a brake pad change. Sean and co hooked me up with some Stoptech club pads and gave the Z a once over. The brakes are biting nicely and with the hightemp blue fluid I should be able to hang with the best of them…we’ll see. My first autocross event will be February 27