davey_83 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 (edited) Its that time!! Been wanting to post a build thread for ages but my car is anything but a 'build' more of a subtle upgrades diary with way to much cleaning pictures. The below details my last 12 months ish of ownership having bought my 350z in September 2015 up to the current day. For a good couple years being a Nissan man (last 5 cars on the drive have been Nissans) ive wanted a 350z as it seemed a natural progression from my last car Nissan Almera GTi 99' (full bolt on and at the time the most powerful unopen'd SR20DE in the UK) 196bhp *standard is 143bhp. Chicken'd out many times but then i was kinda forced to, so began looking for a 2005 UK model in either black or grey and of course GT spec with full leathers, cruise, BOSE & the option forged RAYS wheels. After agreeing in principle a cash price for a lovely black GT4 and missing out, perhaps for the best i came across this: http://www.parkwaymo...Z/details/1416/ From what i gather this is the sales ad of my car before the owner before me, anyways he traded it into Windmill Autos in Sandy for a BMW 3 series coupe. The first time i saw the car was up on a ramp being fixed, hhhmmmmm maybe not the best first impression but it also gave me a great opportunity to have a good nose underneath. This was the very first picture i took. For the age and mileage i thought it looked very tidy and in good order. The garage were diagnosing an engine oil leak, which was coming from the drivers side rocker cover gasket. From the WMA sales pictures i knew it had the common issue of the oil pressure switch being defective, as the needle was showing at max with the ignition turned on. With the car up on the ramp and with the engine running, the sound of the exhaust system sounded amazing just inches above my head. However it wasn't idling great which i then couldn't stop thinking about once i noticed it. Quick chat to the mechanic working on the car and then i proceeded inside to speak with the chap i spoke with earlier on the phone. Not fixed yet but once down on the floor a road test was next. This was the second 350z i had driven as i went out for a drive in one local to me just to get a flavour for it. With the issues identified and then a price pending them being fixed i left a deposit and sadly had to leave carless. Few days later and the oil leak was fixed and new sensor had arrived, being an easy job to fit i headed out to go collect my car with the dollars. Got there and the gauge was now showing as no oil pressure when running, hhmmmm not good. Garage did an oil change there and then and still no oil pressure but the car drove fine and sounded great albeit with a sometimes odd idle. This being the Saturday of JAE my plan was to go straight to the show in my new car, however it wasn't to be as the car still had issues. For the gauge matter - checking the new part code, they got sent an Air Con pressure senor instead of an oil pressure sensor? That's why the gauge was showing nowt. They ordered a genuine Nissan one even though i advised they could get it £40 cheaper from Clarkmotorsport.co.uk yet this would arrive Tuesday now at best, so again i left carless from another 3hr round trip but it was my own fault as i should have waited for the all clear instead of trying rush matters. Fair play to the garage as they said the car to their knowledge is going to leave without issue as they're putting the gold warranty on the vehicle (which i did have to use twice, more on that later) and makes no sense for it to come back a week later for more repairs - against my better judgement i purchased the 350z and took home a 7k owners handbook and file of paperwork. After JAE 2015 in my 92' Nissan Sunny 1.4 *lots of fun btw, i received the call on the Wednesday to say the car was finally all ready. Prior to leaving empty handed the last time we agreed that the older brother of the family business and another driver would deliver the car to me, which at that point made sense. The following day she was home at long last it seemed, with its new and BEST owner its ever had. The daily/grocery getter for all you classic lovers. My ride overnight went up by 2100cc nor bad. More to come and if you read all that, go to sleep and if you're still reading....................... STOP it. David Edited December 15, 2019 by davey_83 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-blade- Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Aw, the poor Sunny Very clean looking underside on your new Z! Any chance of a couple close pics of the Leon Splitter fitted? i guess it give good ground clearance? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 Aw, the poor Sunny Very clean looking underside on your new Z! Any chance of a couple close pics of the Leon Splitter fitted? i guess it give good ground clearance? ta damn - http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/111701-alternative-front-splitter-cupra-r/ David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 First thing i changed on the car was the awful number plates, for fresh GB ones and i think it makes her look younger oh no, poor sunny pushed forward out the way. Before After ahhhh, the little things hhhhmmmm those curves With the plates showing D V A together with a booty like that, there was one name - hello Davina and if you were still wondering..................... David 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 First time filling up and she's drunk nothing else since *plenty of it mind!! Steering wheel was a ting bit off centre, so that had to be addressed promptly. Took her over to Tyres R Us Birmingham who did a lovely job at a very decent price too, £35 irrc and the N/S track rod needed heat putting on - no charge. OK i now know i have a JAPSPEED exhaust system, fairly new at least. figures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 A Stubby aerial from TarmacSportz of course came next, we all know what that looks like. Used pair of 20mm TarmacSportz, but i wanted them silver to blend in behind the wheels. Surface keyed, masked up, primer then painted. Next up was a bit of adjustment for the common issue of clicking rear axle when pulling away, wanted this doing before the weekend as it was the BHP Breakfast meet over in Telford hosted @ SVM. Combined with spacer install as it just made sense while the wheels were off. 10 months later and it seems to be holding up well While up on axle stands i gave the W brace a good coating of rust converter, which looks to reverse the chemical reaction leaving stolid steel again. Saturday morning at work for a bit of new car parking like a noob yay my stubby ffitted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 (edited) New rear double sided number plate came loose on the one side, so stronger stuff needed. #PhotoOpportunity Following day and its off to my first car meet with the forum. Meet up with my pal Duncan for some 6 cylinder loving, DAMN that M roadster shifts!!! After the show drover over to Shirley retail park for a couple of chip repairs before the winter. Following weekend me and the Mrs drove up to Llandudno for a romantic weekend away, which resulting in.................... Edited March 6, 2018 by davey_83 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 About an hour before the above picture i was in a Maccies waiting for the Mrs to come back from the toilet and took a picture of the interior while the car was on idle. Looking back the voltage display was showing 13.8v which i think is ok. Love Love Love the 350z clocks Anyways the alternator stop doing what it was employed to do and in doing so took out the battery also. Had the car recovered to a Kwik Fit in the town where it stay all night as by this time it was out of hours. Warranty battery and alternator later and she's feeling good again Found out why the idle was off, can you spot the error with whoever fitted the induction kit previously?..... Next up, this.............. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_K Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Looks lovely and clean! A bit of advice surrounding the 'W' brace rust (without wanting to come across like a smart arse). It looks like the stuff you've used is more of a gel that's supposed to dissolve rust and be washed off. What you want is some Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80; it's a 'paint' that converts rust and neutralizes it. It's the best stuff I've used for those kind of treatments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollydykins Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Looking good Dave !! Can't wait to see more ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veilside z Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Lovely progress. Welcome along Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share Posted September 30, 2016 Yeah that gel tbf didnt touch the rust, I've since wire brushed it and hammerite black brush painted it prior to its MOT a couple months ago - much better for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Plenum spacer by Wasso Was like a kid at Xmas, awesome bit of kit and very very well made. Used the Motordyne guide which helped especially with the reassembly torque setting and sequence. Difficulty level 2/5 Strut brace and engine cover off and quick orientation. Very clean underneath for 75k I thought too. Torqued down in order an in stages, using the underside of the brake reservoir cover I placed the bolts down to represent the location of the bolt in situ. This provided a quick reference for fitting the new bolts as I know which length bolts went where at a glance. Run up to a car meet up Nottingham with a couple mates. Who said the VQ35 is bad on juice..... Next came my B&M shift knob out of my last car, works well with the Z33. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Good pal of mine goes for a Bose system with amps and sub it's not very loud. I had been looking into this on and off then decided to take the unit out and perform the Buster stereo mod to increase the sets volume. Now ive since read the reason the new unit is so quiet compared to the standard HU, is that everyone turns down the OE stereo prior to removal and this is wrong as you loose the amps 'gain'. What you need to do in fact is turn the volume up *above half way at least on the OE unit prior to removal and this will then provide the amp with 'gain' ready for the aftermarket head unit?...... Car show miles, MFN May 2016 BHP Breakfast Meet the month before *iirc Then an extender for slick gear changes For that Koenigsegg CCX look and feel LOL Maintenance Now all lovely and clean Dash vent trims before and after with a quick wipe over of the interior. Few days after this arrived..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 (edited) Tarmac Sportz carbon combo, waited and waited in the hope Chris would have another batch TIP - do not use the 3M tape that comes supplied, Unibond no more nails is 100% up for the job. http://www.ebay.co.u...72297739&crdt=0 hhmmmm carbon on the radiator to warm prior to fitting, did it make a difference? i dunno but kinda felt right to do so. hhmmmm think i shot my load to soon, to which placement wasn't right on my part. fixed Out for a drive, mpg still good - maybe i'm not driving hard enough............. This arrived ready for false advertising Shortly after was dent removal time, purchased the car with a few car park dings and an outie on the bonnet. where the kerb dips down huff Just plain annoying right............ but Darren from Dent Devils can make it like it was. dents be gone Although the standard ride height isn't bad, it can be made better - hello Tein springs rears first as the ride height is more offending Still so strange to see front hubs without driveshaft attached. While im at it, some used Tarmac Sportz 15mm's for the front The next day we're off to the second BHP breakfast meet, now held at RSV Graphics and Tints Dudley I got caught down low I was taking this at the time yay carbon b post trims & dent free..................... for now, plus lowered Next mod install to follow shortly, any guesses.................... Edited October 18, 2016 by davey_83 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanT Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Ah man I was enjoying going through that, thread ended too soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fagan Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Ah man I was enjoying going through that, thread ended too soon! I agree! Good read. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly350z Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I didnt realise Chris sold though B pillar trims? I may have to look into them as my carbon onesare peeling! Let me know how you get on with the springs pal, looking tasty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Cheers chap, springs have been on for circa 8 months and are fabulous - just right for a daily driver. Sourced separately from two cars breakers online in an attempt to reduce costs, always a gamble but worked out well in the end *single box as i used it to store the one lamp until i found another. Early model 350z rear connectors needed modifying to accept the facelift lamps, i choose to modify these rather than the lamps. The upgrade also provided an opportunity for cleaning #yuk To this Chrome indicator bulbs while access was granted made sense also. Before After hhhhmmmmm LED's Rear view before and after Looking through the service book, every March is her annual service and even though the supplying garage did an oil change prior to the sale i wanted to of course keep the service history bang up to date. Reading thought prior invoices, the previous owner as part of a major service when he first had the car paid £95 for plugs to be fitted of which £70 were parts. Decent plugs then and only 36 months ago, however then 24 months later had the plugs replaced again - of which each plug was £7 A) cheap nasty plugs for a VQ35 they didnt need changing anyways. So Hybrid P2 service with oil, oil & air filters, plugs and differential oil change (went back to OE airbox at this stage, and came off the following weekend as the engine lost all its growl) yuk!! hhmmmmm fresh as suspected, well not cheap but i only deal in NGK clearly only been in the motor not very many miles either. Also popping a few brave pills i opted to clean out the throttle body, yes i touched the butterfly good job too, yuk!!! clearly this had NEVER been cleaned before. O/S bank All serviced up and looking not very presentable, but i can see to that later. Time for a bath 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Strange, mines an early 350 and the LED rear lamps plugged straight in with no mods to the connector. Looks great by the way 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly350z Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Mine plugged in just fine too 😠Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) hhhmmm sneaky possibly the lamp has been modified previously allowing the early Z33 plug to fit directly. Edited October 20, 2016 by davey_83 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) Maintenance Reading up on the PCV, as these can cause issues when they get gunked up purly over time - so looked to give mine a clean out. Carb cleaner or similar, pliers and a 23mm spanner is all yam need Cleaned inside & out Engine tidy up #yuk, caused by the N/S rocker cover breather hose being left off Much better I didnt know that was just old polish residue Nismo decals *i know And relax A trip over to here was next, prior to my first track session at Silverstone for JapFest Edited October 25, 2016 by davey_83 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargara Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Great choice, I'm there this Saturday getting the Depo headlights fitted *fingers crossed it goes to plan* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 It's the Zed watering hole 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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