dajw

Dooooooooo it Nic!

Got the car!!!!! It's amazing, of course. The most noticeable thing at the moment is the sheer awesomeness of the exhaust combo: motordyne art pipes and ark grip. It's like Tom Jones with the power of a thunderstorm! Diff and ARBs: immediate thoughts, the car is more 'pointy' than before. Learning to feel this as I drive, seems good. Transmission and map: excellent. We are almost at the smoothness of stock, but with the increased power handling. Slightly sharper response but the jerk-fest of old has been sorted. Some fine tuning required on some strange scenarios. Heat: oil cooler and fan on the HX are fine. Oil temps a little low now if anything. 85 on cruise, 95 on twisty roads. Side effect is increased temps under front of bonnet. That'll need some thought. The outside air temp sensor reports high (30deg on a 16deg day) due to this. Will relocate it probably. Diff: it hasn't spun up one wheel, rather it gets the lower down. Too early to report on all the benefits. Power etc: down to 470 ish bhp and 340 or thereabouts torque. Not noticeably different to before but a better feeling tune. Overall nice and linear tq. Will post up some charts. Josh's car: sex on wheels. Love it. Saw it today. Horsham Dev: fabulous service. Very pleased.

Thanks for the clarification. Makes good sense. I did manage to find an AV policy via Equity Red Star, which was about £50 on top of my base policy. Seems fair enough. They want 7 recent photos of the car and a list of mods.

I've found AF perfectly fine on the broker side, no issues there and the quotes are good but not the cheapest. The agents I've spoken with have all been clear and helpful. On the claims side though, they could use some serious improvement. I described my experiences in the post "rear ended by an old lady" on 3rd Jan this year - passed between seemingly endless parties, all competing over the business of handling my claim. Who to call, who's handling what - it cost a lot of time and phone calls. I don't know how this compares to other brokers or even whole insurers.

Sure thing - happy to help.

I don't know who you spoke to but that's simply not true. We work with around 200 car clubs/forums and modified cars are a regular feature of the business we write. Perhaps your modification results in an increase in bhp of more than 100 over stock? That's a limit we have but to say we don't cover modified vehicles at all is absolutely incorrect. I did wonder. My car at stock baselined at 303 bhp, and finished at 488 bhp on the same dyno. It is probably slightly lower after some additional changes but either way that's 185 bhp over stock. The question didn't come up though — I opened the call to explain that I have a modified 370z and I'm looking for a policy that covers the car, the modifications etc. and was told right away that "we won't cover you" or words to that effect. I did explain that I have an agreed value policy with the other insurer and was looking to compare products and prices as it is good to shop around. I also told her that I found CK via this forum. Oh well! Distance selling regs mean it isn't too late if you can actually offer a quote.

After a long, long wait. A very long wait... I've arranged to pick up my car from H-Dev tomorrow lunchtime. I'll report back on those pipes soon.

I called earlier today to see about a quote, and was told that "we don't cover modified cars". The agent advised that we could go with a book value from Glass' guide, but that's pretty much it. I appreciated the frank honesty though — better know early than waste time gathering information then be told! So I've stayed with Adrian Flux/Equity Red Star on a policy that covers the modifications as well as a small premium on top for an agreed value policy. The price is fair (but not amazing), but I would have liked to be able to shop around more successfully. I couldn't find much on this forum about modified cars so thought I'd share my experience.

Note: the parts that arrived from Z1 Motorsports were a pair of 38220-AR000, rather than the AR010. I can't see any difference between these but word from Horsham Dev is that they fit perfectly. I'll report back in a few weeks once I've driven the car.

Quick update: Everything has arrived, everything is installed correctly (even replaced the dipstick on the supercharger). Will collect the car in a few weeks when I'm back from India.

I've asked for a price and a delivery estimate from a few sources. I think that is perfectly reasonable for a trader, unless I'm missing something peculiar to the car parts world? This is actually the same thing that Z1 told me, but discovered that the part is on back order and not in stock with their supplier. Has your supplier definitely got the part? Thanks. I'll be in touch.

Hot damn Adrian! Way to go FedEx express was USD $71.39 from Z1, or about £47. Not that bad for an urgent request! What's your price on "two sets of half shaft/diff output shaft (Part number: 38220-AR010 for non LSD) one for each side" note, these are the shorter length. Z1 described them thus: OEM 350Z/G35 automatic transmission output shaft(stub axle) (rear) without factory limited slip diff, both sides. Jez has also messaged ZMANALEX for info too, so we are still pursuing this route, but Alex is holding out for measurements which we don't have (and aren't sure what needs to be measured). Nb. the picture I posted of the shaft is apparently a stock image which shows the longer item.

Oh noes Z1 don't actually have the stock, after all. It's on back-order there too. I've been finding out whether ZMANALEX has the part, but he is asking for measurements (which I don't presently have) so that he doesn't send the wrong part. Jez says I need 2x short shafts from a 350z auto, which should fit just fine. I'm able to cancel my order at Z1, if I wish (I've not done this yet). At the worst case, I'll not get my car back till mid May, because the part is on back-order at Nissan UK until May 15th. Does anyone else have any leads on where to source these shafts?

I've written up everything about the diff so far over on the diff post under 370z modifications.

I thought I'd better write up what has happened so far as a summary, as I know a few people are interested in installing a Quaife diff in their cars. The headline is: 350z is fine, 370z is fine if you have the manual. Its a bit more involved if you have a 370z with the 7AT and VLSD. Quaife designed the QDF1xx diffs for the 350z, and they fit the 370z just fine. They make three models for the 350z: 350z manual transmission to replace open diff — QDF11L 350z manual transmission to replace VLSD — QDF13L 350z automatic transmission to replace open diff, which I bought for my 370z 7AT with VLSD — QDF10L There is a fourth variant that is not made, which would fit the automatic transmission with the VLSD. I understand that the manual vs. auto have different crown (ring) gear sizes. The open diff is central, whereas the VLSD is offset so that the diff output shafts are offset and therefore shorter on one side. Got any 350z or a manual 370z? I believe that if you have a manual 370z (6MT) then you’d choose the correct diff according to which diff you have presently. Easy job. Got a 370z auto with VLSD? If you have a 370z 7AT and a VLSD there is a bit more work to do. Quaife are helpful with technical support, and are passionate about their products. Dave there recommended that one shaft is cut down by 1.7" to fit. This was done, but we the shafts slide about with approximately 4mm play, because they don’t clip in properly. Solution: get some half shafts from a 350z to use on my 370z: Why from a 350z? Because the Quaife diff is designed for the 350z. I need two sets of half shaft/diff output shaft (Part number: 38220-AR010 for non LSD) one for each side. My drive shafts will fit to this part, but we need some extra bolts and nuts from Nissan. The 370z diff output shaft has threaded holes, whereas the 350z diff output shaft attaches with nuts and bolts. I’ve ordered the shafts from Z1 Motorsports, and expedited shipping, and Jez at Horsham Developments has ordered the nuts and bolts. My installation: 1 x Quaife QDF10L ATB Differential installed inside the OEM VLSD housing (pumpkin) — £858.00 from Quaife New diff carrier bearings, and seals — OEM Nissan parts (2- Nissan OEM Differential Side Carrier Bearings; 2- Nissan OEM Differential Side Oil Seals; 1- Nissan OEM Inner “Back†Pinion Gear Bearing; 1- Nissan OEM Outer “Front†Pinion Gear Bearing; 1- Nissan OEM Pinion Oil Seal; 1- Nissan OEM Crush Spacer; 1- Permatex Liquid Gasket) — £259.00 from TORQEN Differential oil — I ordered two US Quarts of RED LINE Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 GL5 — £38.25 from Opie Oils Replacement diff output shafts as detailed above (nb. super fast shipping bumping up the cost). — $356.97 (£240 or so before excise duties + VAT) from Z1 Motorsports I have collected a lot of forum posts in my blog, most of which seem to add noise. There is no need to replace the pumpkin, it is important to check the driveline for backlash (runout measurements) and indeed any good installer will do this. The diff should be quiet in operation and because it is a gearset there is no need to run it in. I thoroughly recommend Jez at Horsham Developments for the work. He's done a great job with it all. I hope this is useful to you all

Adrian I've ordered at Z1 motor sports. They had the bits in stock, and I'm keen to get my car back ASAP! Thanks for looking...

Josh Quaife offer a diff QDF11L and QDF13L for the manual with open and VLSD so should be easier.

I've spoken with Jez and confirmed these facts: The issue is that on my car with the VLSD, the shafts are unequal length to accommodate for the fact that the VLSD actually is offset inside the diff carrier (pumpkin). My VLSD has been replaced with the Quaife QDF10L, which assumes equal length shafts, because it is to replace the open diff. I now need to order two sets of that half shaft/diff output shaft (Two of: 38220-AR010 for non LSD) one for each side. My drive shafts will fit to this part, but.... some bolts and nuts are required (which Jez has ordered). This is because the 370z diff output shaft has threaded holes, whereas the 350z diff output shaft attaches with nuts and bolts. So to those who want a Quaife ATB diff (and probably any other after-market LSD) the amount of effort required varies depending on whether your 370z has an open diff or an VLSD from the start. The open diff is less of a ball-ache to replace. Addendum: These diff output shafts are supposed to click into place with a circlip. Jez cut down one of the shafts to accommodate after discussing with Dave at Quaife. It now fits, but doesn't clip so slides in and out by about 4mm play. That's why we need to replace the output shafts. Addendum addendum: Shaft! He said shaft!

Adrian this is the part that Jez called out (number 20). Is this the same thing? http://nissan4u.com/parts/350z/us_z33/2004_1/type_1/power_train/rear_final_drive/illustration_2/

Nic it's a different design for manual: Quaife have separate diffs for the 350z manual with OEM Open diff and for OEM VLSD. You can check which diff you have presently and presumably order the appropriate part. This is not certain, nothing is. So expect a similar experience!

Yes, but apparently need both sides (nearside and offside).

Part numbers for the shafts 2 x 38220-AR010 for non LSD Nissan UK have a fair wait on back order. £211.73+vat and on back order until 13/5/15

Eek! Well if you know of anywhere to look, please let me know.

Awesome! Here's all I have so far: I've asked ZMANALEX via PM at Jez' suggestion for used ones. I found these in the USA: https://www.z1motorsports.com/350_g35/product_info.php?products_id=4623 - he thinks 350z left and right for auto trans and no lsd. I have just asked Jez for the part numbers as he's also calling Nissan for me.

Update from Jez at Horsham who has installed the diff in my 370z 7AT with VLSD housing. (Forgive the keywords, but it's good to be clear for others searching). Quaife advised that one diff output shaft needs to be cut down by 1.7†to fit – this is what we did and it all works, however the shafts do not properly click into the diff centre. They move about by around 4mm. Jez spoke with Dave at Quaife who has advised that we need to obtain both diff output shafts from a 350Z with the auto transmission. These will click into place properly and be retained.