350Butcher

Really hoping I can make it down for this one, just for a quick hello though I'm sorry to say as the family are coming round! Always the way!!

Very similar spec engine I'm looking to build for mine! Think I'm a true N/a convert and addict Just listen to it!

That's a bit of a tease! Look forward to hearing the latest

I might’ve spent 1 or 2 ££ on mine too!! Found your build and following it to keep up with your progress

If you're gonna do it you got to do these things properly! So many people try and cut corners/save a few quid here and there when it comes to builds and it never has a happy ending. I can't wait to getting started with my 3.7 n/a build. I know big power numbers are becoming more and more normal but 700Hp!! I just cant imagine my car with double the power and well over double the torque.....have you got a build thread at all or thinking of doing one? Always good to see projects from people doing them properly. @Snjur is your man for all things VQ, turbo'd and producing massive Hp!

Sounds like a result! For what you're gaining I'd say that's worth it. Sorry if the info is already posted but just interested........What stage are you at with your build and what are your goals?

I've just sourced an HR engine for the reason to rebuild it next year and as all previous builds I've done I'll be getting the rotating assembly balanced to inc crankshaft, front pulley, flywheel and clutch cover. Pistons balanced and con-rods balanced end to end also. Given my build is going down the n/a route revs may be higher than you're targeting going down the TT route but I still think it's essential to get this carried out as a small imbalance at low revs will multiply exponentially at hi revs! Leading to a rougher run and increased wear on your bearings etc! Not what you want when you're building from scratch! There is a lot of maths and working out for the machinist where making the counter balancers required for V6 balancing is involved to actually make all this work so they need to be top end. These counter balancers need to be worked out from the piston/rods you're using so if this stage is skipped then just having piston/rod weights matched and crank balanced on its own once all assembled will not give you a rotational assembly that's balanced. Although all this will dynamically balance the engine, V6's will always have an imbalance due to uneven firing order. Luckily Nissan have done a great job of the VQ 60degree V6 for us to start with!! If you'd consider sending your parts to the UK for the work to be carried out I'll send you the details of the machine shop I've used for 14years and they have done VQ DE before too.

6.0ltr being called "small"............only the americans!! Great project........looking forward to following your progress with this!

That's the issue with tourist sessions at the 'Ring.....there is no briefing!! It always amazes me that you're allowed out on the most demanding circuit in the world for your first taste on tracking your car possibly with no briefing or clue what you're doing at all!! Its crazy!! And why I only go there as a proper organised track day with the likes of Destination Nurburgring That said I've been to plenty of track days where you get exactly what you're saying too.........fresh out the briefing and holding people up lap after lap after lap!! Very frustrating!!

Congratulations on sealing the deal Ross! Glad all's going well with the conversion and it's pulling nicely. Regarding chassis set up I would see if you can get the car on a set of corner weights and find out where the car's at and how much weight has been gained over the front. With that info I'm sure a suspension manufacturer could sort out the correct spring rates to make it all work Jerrick @MeisterR would be a good guy to speak with

Its not a difficult job just a big fussy job that requires care, patience and common sense. Sadly they are the hardest things to find in most garages! Parts cost a couple of quid so its 95% labour you're paying for but better to get someone with experience who'll get the job done without issue for you rather than learn the job on your car

The Z is quite the pie eater! You've got the cage bumping up the weight too. When I looked into a bit of weight saving myself I found this firm for the replacement glass http://www.plastics4performance.com/nissan-350z-lexan-full-window-kit.html Installing this minus window motors etc has got to save a fair amount. Sadly a lot of the carbon I looked at available for the 350 was all about the show and not too much about the weight saving! The right bits are out there but you'll need £000's for it. Always good to free up some Hp and its worth the investment for the gains in response and drivability that you'll net from those so don't get too hung up on the numbers. Sounds like you're on the same slippery slope that we're all on here......welcome to the club!

That is spot on. I asked as a lot of people run these tyres too low pressure that I've spoken to or they start at 35psi then never adjust when hot and run 45psi all day sliding all over the place and then say they've "gone off!". For my car 34psi hot is the sweet spot. Geometry obviously plays a huge part of how your tyres heat up across the contact patch also. My cars fully adjustable and running as bias track set up as is possible without losing all its road manners! Its good to see another Z being enjoyed on track, do you have any plans with the car or is it just keep having fun in it as is?

A lot of the DE engined Z's switch to a thicker grade of oil to combat high oil usage as a result of piston ring wear. Don't believe the HR suffers the same issues so it more depends on usage. Millers oils in my opinion would be preferable over the Fuchs and Motul If your car's a daily driver and there's no issues with oil usage I'd go with https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-115228-millers-oils-cfs-5w-40-competition-full-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx If its a weekend fun car used for a bit of spirited driving or if your car does use a little bit of oil I'd go with this https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-115229-millers-oils-cfs-10w-40-competition-full-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx If its a fast road / track car toy I'd use https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-115239-millers-oils-nanodrive-cfs-10w-50-nt-full-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx

Nice car with all the right bits to enjoy some track time. The big Z is such a good track car, its so balanced and once you start to trust it you can start to really push on. It'll never set any records but it'll always put a smile on your face! I'm interested to know what pressures you ran the AD08r's at on the day? I've used them for the last 10years ish from my old Evo 5, DE 350z and now my current HR 350z too.........great tyre!

I read the magazine article before this vid came out. Evo magazine went through a rocky phase but is back on form these days and I really enjoy articles and features like this one. Think the Lotus is doing well just to be in this test and posting a serious time in the process. The GT is a massive disappointment given the promise of a race car on the road which seems to not be in a different class on track while being compromised on the road over the others too plus being massively more expensive.......I'm sure a different circuit would suit the GT better but finding the time its trailing the GT2 RS I doubt it. The AMG is just awesome and would be my pick of the lot too, such a complete car that delivers on every level..........a 700hp GT series Porsche is always gonna be something special and a major target for all manufacturers to aim at! After recently doing Anglesey Coastal circuit (albeit in slippery conditions) seeing that these cars are taking Church (big balls corner) at 82-86mph and heading on up into Rocket at 132-144mph is seriously impressive!! In the Z I was 75 and 110mph in the same points with lap time of 1min24sec.....10-12secs slower than this lot!!!

Definitely not fuel starvation on the road on road tyres no matter how fast or how well you took that corner! High grip, high G and low fuel levels required for that to be a problem. Hope the issue is nothing serious though...........sounds like an odd one.

My very first car in 1998.....a Mk2 Astra 2.0lt 8v GTE...........all 124hp of it!! Note: Colour photography was available at the time but my mate who took the pic was far too arty for that

Its all coming back to me now!! Think the weakness in the 'box is the diff so with the Quaife installed you'll be fixing that...........I ran the Quaife atb diff in my old Mk2 Astra GTE track car and it put 280hp to the ground very effectively!! If you've not driven with one before with fwd they actually pull the car into a tighter line on acceleration through the corner which takes some getting used to but gives great traction on its way out of the corners and you can get on the power so early. Mine did the same with the gear shift becoming stiff, if I recall correctly you remove a rocker arm off the front of the box and open up the pivot point half a mm (to 12.5mm I think) and that sorted it. Be even better if you opened it up further and pressed in a bearing instead of plastic bushing. Power steering boiling over too I remember reading about, wasn't a problem for me on the road but tracking it I think the issue starts. As you say a relocation kit fixes it. Great fun little toy..........enjoy!

It’s what I’ve just ordered myself the 10w50 NT. Little extra protection got to be worth a couple of extra ££. It’s what Millers themselves recommends too. Great stuff, ran my cars on this stuff for years. I change mine every 2 track days.

Vid from the trackday, first 2 laps are as dry as it got the next 2 are greasy but were good fun.........still 90mph through right hander up to Rocket!! Best lap was 1:24.05

Few pics from Anglesey

I do track it but I've also taken it on holidays to the south of France for the last couple of years so everything I've done to it has been with keeping it as a usable road car too..........I've done the solid, stripped out, roll caged, fixed bucket seat bolted to the floor type track car and it's too compromised on the road where I still want it to work so it's been important to keep it sensible........even though the specs look pretty hardcore! You'll enjoy the benefits of swapping the flywheel/clutch! Cheers!! The Z inherent balance and behaviors are all still alive and well in the car its just its ability has been lifted in all areas.....currently every element is as good as the next so there's no weakest link or having to compensate for any weak brakes or gutless engine or anything so I really enjoy getting out and driving it to the best of my ability

Really is a great circuit, the Coastal layout is the one to do too........the GP layout adds nothing that's special or fun while taking out the Corkscrew which is both!! I had 255/275 tyres before (albeit on 19@ wheels) and I much prefer the balance with the 265 rears through the really fast corners, keeps the car very neutral, through low speed tight corners the rear can struggle to keep up with the front though. Damper adjustment can dial that out but can also start to introduce understeer so I tend to leave it as it's how I like it to be honest. I'm sure when the dates are good for me to join you for a drive out you can jump in and have a sample and see what you think. Hard to say........as always though its the chassis and brakes that make the biggest difference's and result in faster lap times. The subframe bushes made big difference over stock mushy items as did the recent SPL bump steer correction tie rod ends I've been banging on about a bit. Ditching the huge, heavy dual mass flywheel helps with engine response quite a lot too. Obviously the big ticket parts like the MCS dampers are superb especially given the spring rates are double what my old Bilsteins were and it gives a more compliant ride when dialed down. The AP brakes are lot more powerful than the stock Brembo's, much more so than I thought they would be to be honest. Even installing bucket seats is a huge mod as you can feel so much more through your bum which enables you to drive and push everything harder. If its just engine mods.......hard to say as I did everything at once and gained around 30Hp in the process. The cams are definitely essential at changing the way it delivers the power now. It pulls so much harder from 3500-4000rpm all the way to 7500rpm rather than falling on its ar*e at 6800ish, but to maximise on the cams I installed the PPE manifolds and had the porting and profiling work done on the heads so I can't really say on one thing alone

Its mad when you write it all out and see how much you’ve done........and spent!!!! At least labour is something I’ve never had to pay for!!! Its ability is in a different league to the standard car and will run with some well driven, serious machinery that costs well over double what the Z was so I’m always happy! Anglesey gave us every weather condition in one day yesterday and the big Z remainder progressive, feelsome, faithful and most importantly great fun to drive through it all!!! Think I’ll hang on to it for many many years to come.