I have decided to turn my gutted raced out TT 350Z back into a streetable race car. Why is it so hard? Well, because all of my OEM interior is burried deep in the North Las Vegas city dump lol . The plans are to make the car capable of driving on the streets again without going insane. Right now it has no radio, no interior, the only tires I have for it are Hoosiers, it won't pass smog, and its not registered. I still want it to be mainly a track car, but I also want to be able to take it to work every once in a while. So here are the plans...

Interior:
I have started my search for all of the necessary parts and pieces needed to put my interior back in. This is definately going to be the hardest part of the entire process. I am also going to have my stereo guy re-install a stereo system. Nothing crazy, just the 4 6.5" speakers and a double-din DVD setup. This means that my lower gauge pod will have to come out and I will have to find some other place to mount those gauges. I don't really like the A-Pillar mounts because they obstruct vision while on track, but I may have to do that anyways if I can't find another place for them. Racing seats, harnesses, steering wheel, and roll bar will all stay.

Exterior:
All of the decals will be removed. Thats right, no more sponsors. I will probably put their logos on for larger events just as a thank you, but for around town and at smaller events, my Z will look almost normal . I will also be getting another set of wheels with some street tires. Haven't decided on 18s or 19s yet though. If my 19" Volk GTS that I had on my G35 clear the AP brakes, then I will probably use those. The other thing I will do is probably re-install my OEM hatch because it has the glas in it instead of lexan. This means I won't have to worry about water getting into my car if I hit some rain or get it washed. It also means, I can put the OEM actuators back on so I don't have to hold up the trunk with a 2x4 .

Motor:
Well, this is the easiest fix. Right now, I have a manual boost controller set up for 14psi on 100 octane. I will be adding a Blitz boost controller to the car so I can easily switch between my pump gas tune and my race gas tune. The other thing I will be doing is switching out the exhaust. As much as I absolutely LOVE the SVRTech 3" exhaust, it doesn't give you the option to run cats which pretty much means, I won't be passing SMOG with it. I have one of two choices. Choice one, is getting some HFCs and a new exhaust like the HKS. Choice two is keeping the SVRTech exhaust and buying someones stock exhaust to slap on when I need it to pass SMOG. Don't know which path I will be taking there just yet.


Why am I doing this you ask? Its simple. Sometimes I wake up and I want to drive a fast car to work. It pains me to know that I have a 554whp beast sitting in my garage that I can't just hop in and drive to work every once in a while. Also, I keep getting busier and busier at work which means I am being forced to cut down on my track days, and that means, that I HARDLY get to hear the sound of my JWT turbos spooling since right now, I only drive it on the track.

So if anybody has any advice, or opinions to offer as I embark on this process, please share. Here are a few recent pictures of the car in its full track trim...

 

Don't do the A-pillar. It sucks, bad.

And why are you going to bother with the interior? Just lay in some sound deadening spray and call it a day.

 

Its ugly, and Rick is giving most of it to me for free .

 

I've got a stock exhaust

 

Why are you so difficult, Mike?

- Agreed with the sound deadening material. Screw the ugliness. Looks don't matter since you're the only one driving it.

- Who needs a radio when you have JWT as your DJ?

- Smog... is the JWT kit carb certified? I'm not sure how strict Nevada is with their emission standards. In either case, try to take it to a place where they do smog with the OBDII instead of sticking the sensor in your pipe (I think one of the Firestone places do it... I forget the name right now).

- Street legality - Overall, I'm assuming your vehicle should be street legal (front, side, & rear collision still OEM/intact, your windows are still DOT legal, and of course emissions, as mentioned above)

 

agree with ensmuns, you should not need a different exhaust/cats to pass smog... just fix whatever is causing your engine to to throw CEL codes.

 

just put the door panels back on and lay some floor mats down and call it a day.

 

Well, the first thing is to replace the o2 sensors to see if that takes care of the CEL. If it doesn't, I think the exhaust is my next best bet. It's worth a shot since Kelli still has her stock exhaust I can borrow for a day.

Marcel - The door panels were never taken off

 

Instead of remove, install, remove, and re-install, why don't you try to get a CFM MIL eliminator/O2 sensor cheater (something like this, but for the Z)?

Or try this. It's a write up on everything350z.com about bypassing the catalytic converter.

 

^^^Nice

 

I say leave the car how it is and just get a pair of O2 eliminators to pass smog. If you're just going to drive it to work every now and then, don't worry about a stereo.

 

I have a 45-60 min. drive to work each way...I NEED a stereo to keep me sane.

 

i know a guy who can take care the smog issue for ya... i believe it's $60.

 

PM sent.

 

+1 on that .... i am already worrying about how amd i going to deal with apssing emissions


also mike.. if you happen to find a gauge cluster..used... let me know... i am looking for one

 

^^^ The only ones that I am aware of that manufacturers offer is the A-Pillar one. I have an awesome fiberglass guy I could send you to if you want. Same guy who did mine.