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am i insane?


Guest Anonymous

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Guest Anonymous

Just got back from 'Arizona Z' http://www.arizonazcar.com/strassy.html

 

1250 x 4 for that

 

thats 5,000 dollars, not to be pessimistic but i am 16, and this is my first car, am i nuts? i mean for that kinda of assembly is that really worth that? i dunno i just need some feed back, im really frustrated with the car.

 

-Chase

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i just assumed you already had it..

IMO (biased of course smile.gif i dont think its any nicer than what i do.. and mines a LOT cheaper than that! i actually think my setup is a nicer design (at least the rotor hat) and changing to 5 lug is a MAJOR consideration.........

 

 

 

------------------

Mike

mike@fonebooth.com

http://www.outlaw-brakes

raceparts and brake upgrades.

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Guest Anonymous

How will you be using the car? If its a street car, then I doubt you'll need a full blown road race suspension with tubular A arms etc. IMHO.

 

Lone

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Hrm, my experience with ArizonaZ's fiberglass stuff is documented here already - it was NOT good. Their price on the brakes is pretty shocking too IMO.

 

If that sort of setup, which I too assumed you already had, is what you want you've got options. For instance - Mike's front kit is somehting like $900 for the way I'm going and honestly it's overkill but VERY nice. Then you'll want the rear too - he's still setting this up for me but when done it'll have an E-brake too, solid rotor however (that can be changed). Not sure what it will cost yet but I guaruntee it won't $4K smile.gif

 

Now then, those suspension arms... Another member here is making those too for the front, MikeKelly, and is working on getting the rears up to speed too. I don;t recall costs but I'm sure it won't be as bad as the Arizona stuff adds up to and on the street you may not even "need" it. I'm going with stock stuff myself but to each his own.

 

Lastly, the coilovers. Those run about $400 total for all four corners. You'll have to do some labor and have some welding done but it's doable - I'm doing this too.

 

Bet that all ads up to significantly less than $5K but certainly NOT cheap. You'll need wheels and tires too don't forget....

 

So, you didn't realize when you linked that stuff before that it was that expensive? Those are full on race parts and will improve the car a good bit I'm sure. However, what's your intended use for the car? Daily driver? If so consider that the racing billet type of brake calipers seldom have dust seals and are higher maintenance as a result. Also consider that Heim joints are a wear item and have to be replaced occasionally. There's no give in them either - solid as a rock with all the vibration and noise that entails.

 

Tell us your intended use, your budget (realisticly), and what else you wish to do withto the car. It's quite possible you're overbuilding the suspension and blowing money you could be using elsewhere. (shrug)

 

Hope that helps some!

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First of all, yes, you're nuts if you spend $5k on that hardware.

There are MUCH cheaper ways to make a Z handle and brake.

 

You say you're frustrated with the car. Why? What's wrong with it? How is it behaving that is not to your liking?

 

Zs handle pretty well in good stock condition with some decent tires. There are lots of reasonably priced upgrades you can do.

 

Stock brakes w/ race compound pads and Nissan shoes and fresh fluid also perform very well for me on some pretty brake-intensive tracks. See commentary under this thread: stock power(?) brakes?..with a 350??

 

I've been steadily improving my Z over the past 6 years or so, and have made it into a fairly quick road course time trialing machine (pics here: http://www.zccne.addr.com/members.htm and results here: http://www.comscc.org/~comscc/results/index.htm). I have NEVER come to a point where I felt it was necessary to drop 5 grand on the suspension and brakes. You can make it work just like you want it to for far less.

 

What kind of raceway is it that you'll be "casually" racing at?

 

If you have $5k burning a hole in your pocket, you'd be much better off investing it, donating it to charity, or spending it on loose women and Remy Martin cognac.

 

Or better yet, why not spend it on something that will actually make you FASTER?!

 

Dan Baldwin

'71 240Z 3.1

COMSCC #7 SPB

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Well here are some real numbers on expenses I have had over the last 4 months:

 

Coil over Kit $420 for 280Z models from Ground Control. This includes springs, perches, collars and top cap.

 

Struts - $256 per four of Tokico Premiums

 

Camber plates - Rear pair - $100 used

 

Brakes - Fronts from Mike/Scca - $900 (12.2 inch with outlaw caliper and aluuminum hat)

 

Brakes - Rear Calipers are wilwood and 86 ZX Rotor - $270 including pads.

 

5 lug conversion kit - $165 including front hubs, studs all around, and newer Stub axles

 

CV Axle Conversion - $220 including the adapters and ZX turbo axles

 

5Lug wheels and new tires - $1200 including Cobra R knock offs and 275-40 & 255-40 tires

Made by Bridgestone in a Z (RE730) rating..

 

20 point cage - $200 in matterials and welding supplies...

 

I don't know what laber to install all this would run since I did my own welding and installation. However, adding these parts prices up you can see that this is not a CHEAP proposition if you want something that will be done right and be a serious terror on a road course. BTW, I've owned Zcars for 14 years and this is the first car I have gone all out on... Most fo this stuff isn't "Necessary" to make a good handling car...

 

Mike

 

------------------

http://hometown.aol.com/dat74z/myhomepage/auto.html

"I will not be a spectator in the sport of life!"

mjk

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