370z.com

Progress Group: New 370Z & G37 Swaybars!

Mike Kojima — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:35:00 GMT

Progress Group: New Nissan 370Z & Infiniti G37 Sway Bar Set

370Z,com Staff Report

The Progress Group, Inc. has developed a new anti-sway bar set for the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37. Details inside...

GReddy releases 370Z Tuner Turbo Kit!

Mike Kojima — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:46:00 GMT

GReddy releases 370Z Tuner Turbo Kit!

MotoIQ Staff Report

Greddy's 370Z Twin-Turbo system boasts an impressive 175 horsepower increase at a mere 6.4psi of boost. Tuner Turbo Kits come standard with high quality components: twin TD06SH-20G turbocharger, heavy duty cast turbo manifolds, Type T external wastegates, Airinx intake system, x-large Type-29 R-Spec intercooler, smooth flowing aluminum piping, and a large capacity cast aluminum oil pan.

Fastbrakes Nissan 370Z Superlight Rotor Upgrade!

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:02:00 GMT

Fastbrakes Nissan 370Z Superlight Rotor Upgrade!

370Z.com Staff Report

Big brake upgrade specialists, Fastbrakes is pleased to announce their upgraded high performance super light two-piece rotor for the Nissan 370Z Sport Models with the Akebono 4 piston caliper. Although the 370Z is blessed with great brakes, they can be made better.

Robispec’s Street Class Time Attack Nissan 370Z, Simple is Better?

Mike Kojima — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:48:00 GMT

Robispec’s Street Class Time Attack Nissan 370Z, Simple is Better?

By Mike Kojima

Robispec is a Southern California tuning shop who’s specially is a rather unusual one. Instead of the typical shop in search of speed via the quest for more and more power, Robispec’s game is increasing lateral G’s, of the cornering kind. The proprietor of Robispec is Robert Fuller or Robi, one of our favorite people. Robi is always willing to lend a hand or give advice to whatever project we have asked him, either formally as our Project EVO IX or by helping us swing wrenches at the track. Robi is on our short list of people we call for help if we have a problem that needs solving.

About six weeks ago we got a call from Robi telling us he would have something special, a Nissan 370Z he was building for the SEMA show and the annual Source Interlink Super Lap Battle. As there has been a lack of serious Nissan 370Z parts development due probably to its sluggish sales, we eagerly awaited checking out what Robi could cook up in short order.

Jim Wolf Technology Oil Pan Spacer for 370Z-VQ37VHR

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Jim Wolf Technology Releases Oil Pan Spacer for 370Z-VQ37VHR

370Z.com staff report

Jim Wolf Technology has released in oil pan spacer for the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 with the VQ37VHR engine. The spacer fits in-between the upper and lower oil pan assembly's giving the sump an additional quart of oil capacity. The oil pump pickup is also lowered

G-Spec Braided Steel Lines for the Nissan 370Z Rock!

Mike Kojima — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:28:00 GMT

G-Spec Braided Steel Brake Lines for the Nissan 370Z Rock!

By Mike Kojima

We recently evaluated a set of G-Spec lines for the Nissan 370Z. The G-Spec lines also fit the Infiniti G37 Sedan and Coupe. We installed them on the Killer B which is starting to become our official 370Z Project demonstrator vehicle. The Killer Bee is a Sport Package 370Z with the standard factory big brakes. Although the Sport Package 370Z has exceptional brakes, some improvement can usually be found by installing braided steel lines. This is because stiff braided steel lines do not expand with pressure like the stock rubber lines

Nitto NT05 Tire Review

Mike Kojima — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:52:00 GMT

Nitto NT05 Tire Review

370Z.com Staff Report

Although the Nitto NT05 was released a few months ago and is now somewhat old news, we would still like to report on it as we were part of the team that help conceptualize the tire from when it was proposed a few years ago. Because of this attraction we are proud to see it on the market. Although Nitto has always had good product in its DOT Race and street tire market classes, Nitto was notably absent in offerings in the highest niche of ultra high performance near race, street legal tires.

Testing JWT’s Nissan 370Z Ultra Light Flywheel

Mike Kojima — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Testing Jim Wolf Technologies Ultra Light Flywheel and Heavy Duty Clutch- Will it Work With SynchroRev? (New Video!) By Mike Kojima

From a performance standpoint, the Nissan 370Z probably is one of the best candidates for performance improvement from a lightweight flywheel because of it's extremely heavy stock clutch and flywheel. The stock flywheel weights a stout 32 lbs, the pressure plate 16 lbs and the clutch disc 3 lbs. That’s 51 lbs of rotating weight that must be spun to speed at the end of the crankshaft! Why is the stock 370Z’s flywheel so weighty? In an effort to reduce NVH (That’s engineers speak for Noise Vibration and Harshness) to extremely low levels, Nissan made the stock flywheel very heavy. The heaviness of the flywheel helps to smooth out power impulses of the VQ37VHR engine.

Stillen's Gen 3 Nissan 370Z Air Intake, Tested!

Mike Kojima — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:49:00 GMT

Stillen's Gen 3 Nissan 370Z Air Intake, Tested!

By Mike Kojima

Our test 370Z is a six-speed manual transmission sports package model equipped with a Stillen cat back exhaust, Stillen high flow cats and a Technosquare ECU reflash. For this test we used the Superflow AutoDyn 30 chassis dyno at Technosquare Inc. As we have explained in previous tests, the AutoDyn 30 is a dyno that uses both inertial and static loading with weighted wheel rollers and an eddy current power absorber. This is a very different method of measuring power from the common Dynojet dyno which is purely an inertial dyno.

From our sister site www.motoiq,com

Build Your Own 370Z Part 3:THe Body Kit!

Charlie Barnes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:46:00 GMT

Build Your Own 370Z Part 3!

By Charlie Barnes

After sketching up the body kit, I traced it up with the PENTOOL in Adobe Illustrator. As you can see, the body kit has raised wheel wells compared to the stock ones. This was necessary to give it a more JGTC look suggested my Nissan Genius Mike Kojima. I also added a splitter and wide flared fenders for that awesome wide wheel look. Louvers for the front fender flairs added a nice touch as well. Now that we have the design, I saved it and opened it up in Adobe Photoshop.

We Launch a new online tunerzine motoIQ.com

Mike Kojima — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:51:00 GMT

We Launch MotoIQ, The high signal to noise ratio on-line tuner magazine!

I am excited to announce that our sister site www.motoIQ.com is live! motoIQ is the merge of magazine quality journalism with the nimbleness of the internet. Check out our in depth tech, interesting features and stories from the tuner world like you used to read in Sport Compact Car and Turbo, the stuff that you miss reading and can't find. Best of all its free with no subscription cost. If you are interested in the 370Z you will love motoIQ! Sign up today

Hope to see you there!

-Mike Kojima Editor motoIQ.com/370Z.com

http://www.motoiq.com/Home/tabid/37/Default.aspx

Nissan 370Z 6-Speed Manual Transmission Performance parts Dyno Test

Mike Kojima — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:17:00 GMT

Nissan 370Z 6-Speed Manual Transmission Parts Dyno Test, We Test Stillen's Exhaust System and High Flow Cats With Technosquare's ECU Reflash

by Mike Kojima

For our test mule, we used the Killer Bee, the yellow 370Z that was our May feature car. The Killer Bee is a sports package 6-speed manual transmission 370 that was returned to stock for our evaluation. We will be evaluating more parts on the Killer Bee in the near future so stay tuned! In stock trim the Killer Bee slung out 262 whp at 7000 rpm and 210 lb/ft of torque at 4600 rpm. The VQ37VHR engine exhibited the typical wide flat torque curve and nice linear power curve that the VQ37VHR is becoming renowned for.

TeaZer!!!! Part 3 of Creating Your Own 370Z!!!

Charlie Barnes — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:09:00 GMT

TeaZer! Part 3 of "Build Your Own 370Z"

by Charlie Barnes

New! Nissan 370Z Forum Upgraded!

Mike Kojima — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:23:00 GMT

New! 370Z.com Upgrades Forums

370Z.com Staff Report

In response to our uses requests, 370Z.com has upgraded our forums to help build our community of hard core 370Z lovers. To set us apart from the other 370Z forums we will strive to keep our 370Z forum a high signal to noise ratio, friendly place for the 370Z enthusiast. Our highly qualified and experienced staff will work to give the true no BS answers to a lot of the questions 370Z enthusiasts may raise about a myriad of subjects. Unlike the other forums, we have inside technical connections with Nissan, Nissan Motorsports, Nismo and the Nissan Performance aftermarket.

Our upgraded forum now features the same interactive functions as popular forum formats with a much more intuitive, easy to use format. Please feel free join our community and enjoy!

-The 370Z.com staff

Nissan to Launch Hybrid 370Z sports car in 2011!

Mike Kojima — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:47:00 GMT

Nissan to launch hybrid 370Z sports car in 2011? (updated, new info! 5/28/09) by Mike Kojima

The Nissan 370Z hybrid will be powered by a version of the VQ engine displacing 3.7 liters and an electric motor. A hybrid drive system will use two separate clutches, one between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor with another clutch between the electric motor and the drive wheels. This system will optimize performance and efficiency depending on operating conditions. The new hybrid system will also feature a full plug in EV mode for city type conditions where charging stations are available to maximize economy.

Nissan’s 370Z VQ37VHR Cylinder Head and VVEL Continually Variable Cam Timing Technology, Technological Terror or Performance Breakthrough?

Mike Kojima — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:19:00 GMT

Nissan’s 370Z VQ37VHR Cylinder Head and VVEL Continually Variable Cam Timing Technology(NEW VIDEO) by Mike Kojima

The unique VVEL system completely controls the intake valves opening and closing events. The VVEL system is exceedingly complicated using two separate rotating shafts driving links that operate eccentrics activating a valve activating reciprocating rocker arm that takes the place of the traditional cam lobe.

370Z.com feature; The Killer Bee

Jeff Naeyaert — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:35:00 GMT

370Z.com Feature: The KillerBee(NEW VIDEO!) by Jeff Naeyaert

The beginning of a project often begins with a disaster. The owner of this Nissan 370Z was previously into Mitsubishi EVO’s having a nice example of an EVO IX. The EVO was totaled in an unfortunate rear ender leaving our owner with a chance to pursue a new dream with a brand new car. READ ON!

Nissan 370Z Oil Temps, engine rattles, $300 oil, Diff temps and other issues, The Truth!

Mike Kojima — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:31:00 GMT

If you are reading this, you might have read about these things on a forum, you might have heard the rumors or you might have experienced some of these things yourself on your car. There is a lot of misinformation floating around on the net and hopefully this will help answer some of the questions about these incidents.

The Technosquare oil cooler kit is a good part for the 370Z, Stillen, Nissan Motorsports and ARC also make quality kits for the 370Z

One of the main issues is that the Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 with the VQ37VHR engine experiences high oil temperatures. The high engine oil temps can cause the engines ECU to put it into a limp home mode where the engine rpm is limited, first to around 6000 rpm and if you don’t start to behave, a lower limit of about 3500 rpm is engaged until the oil temperatures drop below around 280 degrees and the key is cycled. The VQ37VHR is very prone to suffer from high engine oil temps during any sort of extended high speed driving such as motorsports events, and even non competition events such as track days and Autocrosses. The engine can also suffer from high oil temps even with short burst of full throttle use such as on an engine dyno, drag racing and even bumper to bumper traffic.

This 370Z long lead press car has a hidden oil cooler in the drivers side front wheel well, probably to help keep the engine from going into limp mode during abusive driving

To understand limp mode we must understand what it’s protecting in the engine. The most oil temperature susceptible parts are the engines crank and rod bearings. The engines bearings are made of soft metals, such as aluminum, tin and zinc with other trace alloying agents such as indium which refines the metals grain for better mechanical properties. The reason why soft metals are used is that they offer good embedability. If hard contaminates are present in the engines oil such as casting sand, metallic particles, hard carbon bits and dirt, a soft bearing surface will allow the particles to become embedded into the surface of the bearing where the damage to the bearing and crankshaft can be limited. The contaminating particle will be soaked up by the soft bearing instead of being ground into the hard steel journal surface of the crank with damaging effect.

Soft metals can be used as engine bearings because under normal conditions, the crankshafts journals never touch the bearings surface. Since the liquid oil layer is not compressible, the crank rides on a pressurized hydrodynamic film of oil a few thousands of an inch thick that is maintained on the bearings surface by the engines oil pump. The oil pump must maintain pressure (this varies for as low as 5 psi at hot idle to more than 60 psi at higher rpm) and continually replenish the oil because the oil leaks out at the edges of the bearing and is flung out by the centrifugal pumping action of the rotating rod journals. This circulation is necessary because the shearing action of the oil in the boundary layer between the rotating crank journal and the static bearing surface creates heat and this heat must be dissipated. Most of the heat is removed by the oil as it passes though the interface between the bearing and crank.

The bearings, although soft still have to bear a heavy load because the incompressible liquid oil film transfers the forces acting upon the engines reciprocating parts to the bearings, thus the bearings have to withstand thousands of pounds of force even though direct contact does not happen. The best engine bearing have high embedability with a high load bearing capacity.

Usually everything works fine until a couple of things happen. In the case of modern late model engines, the green movement is to blame for part of the problem. In the last few years, Nissan has worked hard to make their cars green and more recyclable. In an engine traditionally one of the most toxic areas was the bearings. A few years ago, many Nissan bearings were made of trimetal construction using layers of lead, zinc and tin alloys of different percentages. This tri metal construction has been a mainstay of heavy duty bearing construction and composition for decades. The old Nissan bearings were very strong, heat resistant and durable. It’s a little known secret that old L-Series Nissan bearings are so strong and durable that many race engine builders use them, adapting them to other engines. The Infiniti IRL engine used in Indy cars used off the shelf L-Series bearings for this reason.

Discuss on our forum here:

Oil temp overheating and limp mode

http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/aff/7/aft/246/afv/topic/Default.aspx

The $300 oil change

http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/aff/7/aft/279/afv/topic/Default.aspx

Oil temp Issues

http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/aff/7/aft/205/afv/topic/Default.aspx

oil cooler and diff cooler questions

http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/aff/7/aft/332/afv/topic/Default.aspx

Technosquare oil cooler

http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/aff/7/aft/233/afv/topic/Default.aspx

Nissan 370Z Automatic Transmission performance parts Dyno Thrash!

Mike Kojima — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:40:00 GMT

Nissan 370Z Auto Tranny Performance Part Dyno Thrash-a-thon! We Test Stillen's cold air intake, exhaust, Berk high flow cats, Technosquare ECU reflash by Mike Kojima

We strove for accuracy and repeatability in our testing. We did all of our testing during one day. We used standard SAE correction. We thoroughly warmed up the VQ37VHR engine and the drivetrain by driving the car on the dyno at speed for about 10 minutes to warm the engine, transmission and differential oil (this car is equipped with Technosquare’s oil cooler kit) as well.

Nissan's 350 hp Nismo 370Z model due in June!

Sarah Forst — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:40:00 GMT

Nissan's 350 hp Nismo 370Z Model Due in June!

by Sarah Forst

The Nismo 370Z is not only a looker but as you would expect from Nismo, has functional performance improvements over the base 370Z as well. The Nismo 370Z comes with an exclusive, unique and functional body kit that is not available as a Nismo accessory at the dealership. The wind tunnel tuned and racing-inspired body lines are fierce with sculptural fenders, upswept quarter windows, vertical door handles, and aluminum hood, door panels, and hatchback.

Technosquare's Nissan 370Z oil cooler kit solves oil temp issues!

Mike Kojima — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:14:00 GMT

by Mike Kojima

The issue of Nissan 370Z’s running excessively high oil temperatures has been speculated upon since before the cars launch when photos of pre production vehicles fitted with racing style oil coolers started to appear on the internet. These oil coolers with bar and plate heat exchangers, race car AN fittings and braided steel lines were clearly not parts made with production intent. Why did the cars have these coolers, was the question echoed across the web.

We figured that the coolers were just a precaution, installed on press fleet vehicles as cheap insurance against journalistic abuse or for durability in special arrive and drive promotional event use which can be more brutal than racing.

Just a heat machine... The VQ37VHR engine found on the 370Z and the Infiniti G37 runs high oil temperatures. Lots of oil churning caused by its variable cam timing system is the main suspect

Since we have actually started to work on and modify the 370Z we have come to realize that high oil temperatures have the potential to become a problem on these cars. We have recorded oil temperatures of 260 degrees plus on 370Z’s on the dyno, in brisk driving and simply in heavy traffic. Several times we had to stop dyno testing or slow down while driving to allow oil temperatures to drop. This is not race track flogging, a dyno run is a very short burst at wide open throttle through one gear, brisk driving is not an illegal balls out cannonball run, its driving a sports car how it was supposed to be driven and heavy traffic is something any car should be able to deal with easily.

260 degrees is the beginning of the danger zone or about as hot as can be tolerated by an engine without risk. At 260 degrees, oil breaks down rapidly losing its ability to lubricate and forming sludge. At this temperature the engines bearings which are made of soft malleable metal start to soften and lose there load bearing capacity. This is the point where damage can start if the car is driven to the limit.

Technosquare's Nissan 370Z/ Infiniti G37 performance ECU Reflash Released!

Mike Kojima — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:19:00 GMT

Technosquare's Nissan 370Z/Infiniti G37 Performance ECU Reflash Released (NEW VIDEO)! by Mike Kojima

Technosquare changes the factory fuel, timing, rev limit and VVEL/VTC cam control maps to get a respectable gain of 11 whp and 10 lb/ft of torque. The gains are pretty much across the board, starting at 2700 rpm and continuing until the rev limiter stops the fun. The gains are large and consistent through the entire rev range, greatly increasing the area under the power curve.

The History of the Z from 240Z to 370Z

Annie Sam — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:18:00 GMT

The History of the Nissan Z by Annie Sam

When the ten engineers of Nissan gathered together to conceptualize the design of their next sports car line back in early sixties, we wonder if they ever fathomed the idea that their little clay mock up would grow to hold the title of "Best Selling Sports Car Series of All Time". From the first generation Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z to the newest 370Z, the Z car has earned its notoriety in automotive history.

Nissan 370Z Convertible Hits the Street!

Sarah Forst — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:56:00 GMT

Nissan 370Z Convertible Hits the Streets! by Sarah Forst

The Nissan 370Z Roadster also uses the Z Coupe’s multilink 4-wheel independent suspension. This suspension setup is a double wishbone 2-link front and 4-link rear suspension, an improvement over the over-complicated articulated lower multi-link setup in the 350Z. The suspension is lighter and stiffer with forged aluminum arms, lighter stabilizer bar offering a 35% improved leverage ratio, and lightweight rigid rear cradle incorporated as a single piece. The rack and pinion steering design is speed sensitive and includes a solenoid valve that damps unwelcome steering kickback and vibrations. The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is still a standard feature.

We Test Jim Wolf Technologies Nissan 370Z Dual POP Charger!

Mike Kojima — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:56:00 GMT

We Test Jim Wolf Technologies Nissan 370Z Dual Pop Charger (NEW VIDEO)! by Mike Kojima

We used a new six speed sports model Nissan 370Z with a few hundred miles on the odometer as our test subject. Before the installation of the JWT Dual POP, we baselined the car on Technosquare’s AutoDyn 30 Superflow chassis dyno. The Superflow dyno is unique in that it uses both an inertial weighted roller and an eddy current load cell to provide the working load against the engine.