350Butcher

Cheers Harry! Yes pretty close now, got it running yesterday, got to tidy few bits up and refit bodywork then change fluids and I'm done, ready for mapping start of May..........looking forward to the results and the numbers but its been all about how it drives for me really and I'm hoping its quite a different car after. Hopefully it sounds epic while driving better too though!

More the merrier! I'll start a thread in the trackday section and see who's interested. Would be good to see few Zed's on track

It's alive!!

Bookatrack also have the 28th July so you get more than a 24hr breather? It really is such a joke when every 1min they pause the briefing cos they cant shout loud enough to tell me about the low noise limit in place.................and its very clever that their noise measuring gear only detects noise from circuit and not the planes hmmmmm!!

Totally understand that, if you get a taker for the cat or want to split let me know.

Thanks Mark, had a look at Opentrack the problem is they don't have any events at Donington and although I'd be happy to go to Silverstone they are only there in November, so looks like that may not work out unless they are adding to their calender. If there is a date at Donington that works for a good sized group then its probably just as well people book themselves on to it, saves agro from people saying they'll come and then not paying etc we could also probably book 1 garage to 2 or 3 cars and share that cost to help.

Bookatrack probably have the best dates, do a Friday so it's a bit nicer, like the look of July 21st......£325 ouch! How late in July would you be good with Will? I'm also yet to find out what my noise level is gonna be with the new setup, hopefully with 2x centre boxes and big ol back back its still sensible as Donny (despite being under a busy flight path!!) has a tight noise limit at 98dB. I'll find out when I go to Anglesey.........could do without having to have a system made for it to hush it up. Caterhams do seem to hunt in packs so I know what you mean Rob, then again I've had some decent runs trying to hang on to them and tweeked some of my lines for the better in the process so they're not all bad!......they are always indicating which is annoying though.

Must have been a very emotional build but what a great way to keep your good friend Dev riding shot gun with you!

If you wanted to split, I'd take the pipe without cat? My cat is in perfect condition being used 1 day a year but the pipe is looking sad

That would be great if we could. The date will be the hardest to satisfy everyone I'm sure but put it out there and see how many bite suppose. I'd say Donington National has got to be best to go for, not only an awesome circuit but central so will be easier for most regarding travel (I would say that being in Warwick) A caterham free trackday........thats got to be a first

Sorry for steering your post off topic mate.........just thought it good to give you the heads up with the company and my experience from only September! I know getting a good fit in the Zed's is tricky, think it'll require a bit of fabrication to get the seat low and level too to give a decent driving position. Mine are fitted on the bride mounts and they're definitely lower than stock but could still do with going lower. Good luck with it all.

Best track on earth! Every lap is so exciting...........Cadwell is a cracking warm up venue too 7/10th and have maximum fun is the way I go but its very hard to stick too

Cheers..........yeah trying to get on with it.......its just been turned over on the key till oil pressure...... annoying just waiting to collect the inlet manifold this weekend, fit the plugs in and fire it up! Me too, been a long time working on it and really looking forward to driving it again. Funny you say that, I was gonna suggest just that! There seems to be a few of us 350z owners who do track their cars and it would be really good to get a few Z's out on track together. The only time I've seen 350's and 370's at tracks they've been parked up all day while the owners drive some banger that goes slower and handles worse than the car they drove there in........don't understand it, seems like such a shame as the Zed is such a capable and rewarding car on track.......each to their own of course

I got as far as seeing GSM!!!! If you're just going to look/check out then all good but... Their service was appalling when I dealt with them, I enquired about a set of Recaro Speeds with them and they managed to convince me that a set of Cobra seats were just as good and cheaper (there was also a month waiting list for Recaro's as they are only made to order). They arrived and were already falling apart plus you have to cut the seat fabric to expose the mounting holes (which is fine and normal apparently) so when I obviously said they can take them back they dragged their feet never returned 1 phone call or made any effort to help resolve the problem, refused a refund till the seats were back with Cobra but never arranged collection. With my 'Ring trip looming I had to drive the seats to Telford from Warwick and back to drop them off to Cobra myself at my own cost just so they would action the refund and I could order the replacement seats. I rang Demon Tweeks on that Friday (who were super nice and professional) ordered the Recaro's that I wanted in the first place (with no month long waiting) and had them the next day on a Saturday delivery.......what a difference in service! Please don't give the chumps at GSM your money.............hope you get some nice seats sorted though as it makes a huge difference to driving a car and especially on track

Didn't realise they had replaced the 48, the 52 looks like its taken a lot of tech from WRC tarmac tyres so not surprised its good and in all conditions as a result.

Won't be the first start up but once I've finished the cam break in I'll post up a before and after sound vid on idle It's the pull and noise I'm looking forward to from 5-8k rpm!!!

Not a cheap job like building up an N/A engine you mean!! Suppose worst case you can just pallet the stuff to somewhere to get it done. I've driven from Warwick to Surrey just to get my stuff done by people I trust and know do a proper job. Good luck with it all

Bit of an update..... Got the car timed up and I must say the system nissan have with the chain using coloured links lined up with ID marks on the sprockets is a touch of genius! After looking a bit frightening with the 3xchains its so easy and visually so simple to see when everything is in place Then back in with my M6 studding ready to fit the front cover.............load more silicone and slide it back into place Forgot to take many pics after this as I was just cracking on with it but made really good progress. Sump was installed, rocker covers fitted, wiring loom and auxiliarys installed. This then meant the subframe could then get bolted back up and the engine actually sit on its new mounts for the first time! The last part to collect is the intake manifold which I'll have next weekend, so its looking like I might possibly turn the key on it over easter weekend! Not driven the car since getting back from Germany in September so it'll be nice to have it up and running again. This is as it stands.........looking like its got an engine in again

Sounds like it'll be a good job done then and you can enjoy the car again, a spikey poorly running turbo is horrible and so frustrating to drive. Good that the rods are already in there for you! You'de be surprised how far out stuff is once you bolt it all together though, so the crank might be balanced but once you stick the clutch on it it throws it all out getting it done as it will run in the engine fully built up it the only worth while way. I was really shocked how much meat was removed to balance up my Evo crank/ clutch assembly. I know its not local to you but Roland Alsop in Chobham, Surrey is the place I've always had do my machining work and they are top guys here's a link to check out them out, would cost £250 ish+Vat http://www.rolandalsop.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5:hines-dominator-crankshaft-balancing-machine&catid=2:our-workshop-machinery&Itemid=6

No probs. Sounds like a decent build you're doing and well done for being another wanting to stick with N/A! Its hard to not get obsessed with the numbers and I'm sure it will make a good gain but like my build it'll be the way it drives after that'll be most impressive, so much more responsive and more willing to access the power it has that its worth all the work involved.........plus leaving a stock car wondering which way you went of course. It may be on your list anyway but give your crank and clutch assembly to your machinist and get them to balance the whole lot as one, the rods should be fairly well matched in weight from factory so you'll have a nice bottom end (sounds wrong) that's happy at high revs, doesn't cost a fortune but makes a decent difference.

Hi Sam, Just fitting a set of tomei cams to my engine so have just been in the same position. Tomei do only recommend changing springs over 11mm lift probably as stock springs fully compressed height is too high to allow the increased lift. So you could run stock springs with the cams you (and I) have. However I changed my springs for 2 reasons, firstly the increased valve seat pressure is no bad thing and secondly if when you do you build you recut your valve seat you'll reduce valve seat pressure as a result and therefore uprating the springs will maintain where it needs to be. Retainers will be fine to use unless you want to pay £££ for the titanium replacements to save a bit of weight on the valve train. The engine will time up and run fine with the new cams installed and be all good while you run in too. You will only get the benefit of the cams after your remap though but as you've got to run in the engine first at low load and low/medium revs this makes no difference to you. Make sure you post an update on how you get on with your build.

Thanks! It's coming together, can't wait to fire it up and go for a drive now the suns coming out a bit

Yeah there's a ton of info on the net and you've got to sieve through fact and fiction which is not always easy! You might wanna see what results I get first!! But that's why I thought I'd share this build so people can see what I've done and what bits I've used and if it's helpful to others then all the better Never been a mechanic, just a heating engineer!! I've been lucky to have really good people who are now good friends to ask questions to, learn from and get proper sound advise from since my first engine build about 17 years ago!! Just love doing it and all spannering and of course the driving too!! Started with my mk2 Astra GTE with a C20LET turbo full build, dry sumped 275bhp and since the. I've fully rebuilt Evo 5 420bhp Impreza 350bhp (friends car) Civic Vti B16 190bhp (friends car) And now part built 350z ---bhp

Its really up to you, could probably change nothing else other than the obvious gaskets and orings. Not sure if there is a quoted time for changing the chain, sprockets and water pump etc but if its been regularly serviced then I'm guessing they will still be OK but worth checking for signs of wear.............will be pricey if it does all want replacing though! I'd say just get the gaskets changed as they need changing, that gets you up and running again, then when you're ready to do your full build you'll probably want to change everything if its at 100k+ miles

Cheers!! Not sure BC do cams for the HR but didn't really think to look at them anyway. There's a bit more info out there on the tomei cams so it was a bit of a better trodden route........not always the best but you know more what you're gonna get. The tomeis I thought were a better spec than the JWT cams which have less duration and higher lift, which I thought just gives less time to take advantage of the scavenge I'll get from the new manifolds to draw in air/fuel charge in to the cylinders. Looking forward to getting on track with the new mounts in, vibratechics have also made me a one off gearbox mount so hopefully I'll have lots of praise for that and it'll be available to all soon. Hoping to firm it up but without the downside of all the vibration and noise coming in the car from the ones currently available