i have seen many threads recommending upgrades of one part or another...could any members provide a list of essential upgrades a stock zed owner should consider to have many more years of hassle free driving...i'm not talking about performance upgrades or styling as i find the stock set up great :dance: ...just pro-active replacement of stock bits Nissan never made that well in the first

 

thanks in advance

Bigger oil cooler on Jap Autos

Decent spark plugs

Tyres

Smithy hard rad pipe kit

Grounding kit ;)

Skyline brakes

 

I'm sure theres loads more

Grounding kit ;)

 

HEY! Anybody notice that sneaky free plug? ;)

Bigger Rad

Bigger Oil Cooler

Smithies Fuel line. (cuts out a few conection that tend to leak over time)

Grounding Kit

BRAKES

Oil Temp, Water Temp & Boost preasure guage

Define decent spark plugs? The ONLY plugs that should be run in a stock Z are...... STOCK PLUGS :D

Apexi Intake :D

Define decent spark plugs? The ONLY plugs that should be run in a stock Z are...... STOCK PLUGS :D

 

or coppers :hyper: :rofl:

ZFR7F-11B's Andy :hyper: lol

If you want to keep your Z standard then you just need to keep it as it is. but make sure you do regular services every 3000 miles. Change the cambelt every 60k miles.

 

Stock brakes are not that bad if they are working 100% correctly and you have decent pads in them. If you have crap pads, lipped or warped discs, air in the system or leaky piston seals then yes the brakes are a little poor. However if all the above are ok, then they aren't really that bad.

 

The important thing is, what do you want form your car ?.

What things don't you like about the car or want to imporve ?. The answer to this question will enable us to point you in the right direction as to what you need to change etc ?.

in answer and thanks to the above...i run a jap auto tt so i can see the point of the autobox cooler...leaving the tyres plugs and brakes out for the moment is there agreement on the other bits listed...?

Apexi Intake...?

Bigger Rad.....if so what type?

Smithies Fuel line

Grounding Kit

Oil Temp, Water Temp & Boost pressure guage...if so what type?

Smithy hard rad pipe kit

 

cheers again

forgot to add i got a blitz timer/reader already...and the car is great as standard performance looks wise..not wanting for anymore power etc

in answer and thanks to the above...i run a jap auto tt so i can see the point of the autobox cooler...leaving the tyres plugs and brakes out for the moment is there agreement on the other bits listed...?

Apexi Intake...?

Bigger Rad.....if so what type?

Smithies Fuel line

Grounding Kit

Oil Temp, Water Temp & Boost pressure guage...if so what type?

Smithy hard rad pipe kit

 

cheers again

 

Apexi intake will let the car breath better but this usually goes hand in hand with an aftermarket derestriced exhaust. I wouldn't worry about that at the moment.

 

The bigger rad is only worth it if you are looking at raising the BHP o the car, this will improve engine cooling but then you wil probably also be looking at bigger intercoolers etc.

 

Smithy's fuel lines are more bling than any major benefits they are braided stainless steel so are tougher but again not really required for a stock 300zx.

 

Grounding kit. You probably don't need one. To find out if you need one start the engine and connet a jump lead to the negative terminal of the battery, touch the other end of the jump lead onto the plenum, then onto a bolt on the body work (inside the engine bay). If the engine tone changes at all then yes go for a grounding kit, otherwise it's not required.

 

If you are staying at stock boost (9 psi) then you won't need an after market gauge, It's only worth getting aftermarket gauges if your current gauges are reading incorrectly. The only one that usually goes wrong is the oil pressure gauge, however if you don't want additional gauges you can just replace the send unit to fix this problem.

 

Smithy hard rad pipe kit, agina not really needed if you want to keep it stock, however if you need to change your hoses due to swelling etc, then these are the ones to go for at they are Stainless Steel and will not swell with excess heat.

forgot to add i got a blitz timer/reader already...and the car is great as standard performance looks wise..not wanting for anymore power etc

 

There is a debate about turbo times and what their uses are.

 

Turbo timers are great for keeping the engine running and not going into positive boost to let the turbo's cool down, but there is one thing better than a turbo timer and that's to do the last few miles of your journey without going above 0 psi. I would still use your turbo timer but to sustain the turbo life, keep the last few miles in - boost ;).

thanks for that SMW1....:)

Best single thing I did was to change the brake fluid. Brakes got a lot better after this, and its very cheap anbd very easy.

Best also to change the coil pack connectors, injector connectors and temp sensor connector as these will no doubt be brittle.

 

Ivan

IMHO six best mods;

 

Induction kit

Better flowing zorst

New Chip

Uprated boost (say 12psi if you want it too last)

Boost guage

Atleast UK spec oil cooler

 

Thats a good start and will make your car a lot more responive than stock and give it a nice little increase in BHP.

 

As others say keep it serviced every 6k or 6 months whichever comes first (6months for me)

 

After that you can go onto bigger tubbies, upping boost pressure to around 16psi (or equivilent flow compared to stock tubbies) Which the engine can take.

 

Then into new IC's, rad, pistons, the full package.

 

Don't forget the key thing tho, make sure your car is serviced, well maintained and running well before you start playing with boost etc and modding. Sort out any running issues you think you may have first.

 

Having said that my car was running mint, then 16psi came along and after a few months spoilt the whole smooth running relationship I had with me car!!

To me the biggest problems are handling and brakes, so:

Skyline Brakes

Remove Hicas

Change speedo converter for UK clocks.

Change shocks / springs

Full poly bush kit

 

Will at least then have a stable base to put more power onto.

To me the biggest problems are handling and brakes, so:

Skyline Brakes

Remove Hicas

Change speedo converter for UK clocks.

Change shocks / springs

Full poly bush kit

 

Will at least then have a stable base to put more power onto.

 

Good point lol :D

 

Although I must say I found the stock brakes when they were on OK at first, they stopped pretty well if in good nick with good pads, but the brembos, well they are in a dif league ;)

essential upgrades? buy a celica gt4!!!!!!! ;)

essential upgrades? buy a celica gt4!!!!!!!

 

Wouldn't that be a down-grade? ;)

 

:D

Actually just had a thought most essential mods;

 

If you havnt already, get rid of them horrible grey plastic light inserts and the grey plastic in the middle of the front bumper ;)

essential upgrades? buy a celica gt4!!!!!!! ;)

 

Nono, an RX-8! ;)

 

Anyway, my two cents for Mr Pier...

 

Standard brakes are fine IF they are in good nick. I've always had standard calipers. I did have slotted discs aon the second car and that helped fade if driving hard and even then only really noticed on descents / passes. (Pedal feel was a lot better thanks to braided hoses.)

 

I'd consider Smithy's fuel lines and a new fuel filter an essential upgrade - improved mine no end.

 

Boost gauge a waste of time if you're running stock - you've plenty of slack in the system anyway. However, the stock temp gauge doesn't tell you anything useful until it's too late - if an aftermarket gauge lets you stop the car before overheating ONCE it's more than paid for itself IMHO.

 

Remember DOT and coolant have a limited lifespan - so change and bleed all your fluids! (Brakes / clutch / cooling / PAS)

 

Keep a careful eye on oil level / condition / smell.

 

And to paraphrase from a book I've got kicking about somewhere...

 

It's nearly always cheaper and more effective to improve the driver once the car is up to a certain standard, and you can expect at least 50% improvement. So get yerself down to rally school soonest, join the IAM, get a DVD or three...

 

Good question in the first place, by the way!

gotta have traction control. the racelogic system is just sooooooooooooo much fun!!!! :D

1st essential mod you'le ever need ..............large overdraft, cos these cars are addictive once you start spending lmfao

1st essential mod you'le ever need ..............large overdraft, cos these cars are addictive once you start spending lmfao

:D

 

Lmao yeh mod your bank account before anything else cause you'll need it