350Z vs. E36 M3 for the track

I have a 350Z and I suggest the E36 M3. You can rip out a lot of stuff and make it pretty light. The 350Z doesn't really have much aftermarket stuff for suspension and the E36 does (a lot of people race the car). For naturally aspirated engine stuff, the M3 has more capability imo, the 350Z is pretty much on max without having to change out pistons. If you plan to go with forced induction, the 350Z the better choice with over 10 different kits (superchargers, twin turbos, and single turbos).

Probably the main reason I suggest the E36 is because a lot of people have and still race them so there are many race-use-only parts for it. For now, the 350Z aftermarket base is mainly show or high horsepower add-ons.

 

What about a Miata or used S2000. The Miata especially can be had for cheap and will be relatively inexpensive to turn into a track beast. Plenty of aftermarket for the Miata, less so for the 2000, but the 2000 is a worthy track car to begin with.

Bill in Brooklyn

 

If you want new get an Elise!! You could get it the way you want, it comes pretty much stripped for the track and I've heard it handles like a go-cart!!

 

Why hard top? Personally, I'd be against the 350Z or the M3 because they'd be pretty expensive to wad up...don't track anything you're not willing total.

 

My old 350z is about 2-3s faster than my bone-stock E46M3 at Motorsport Ranch (local roadcourse). It was a Track model w/ NISMO headers, exhaust, and suspension; I also had an ECU tune that was good for 10ft-lb of tq throughout the entire power band. With this combo, I went from 230rwhp to 250rwhp (peak numbers on a Dynojet, SAE corrected, smoothing factor set to 5).

If you do get one, then you'll quickly realize that:

1- the factory brakes are VERY inadequate (except for the Track model);
2- the factory suspension understeers pretty bad at the limit

I found the NISMO S-Tune suspension the perfect compromise for the street and track, but if you want something w/ more tuneability, then you can opt for the Tein suspension or some Koni S/A or D/A on Eibachs.

The 350z was the hot ticket in Grand-American GS class (the new Mustang is the hot ticket this year). Of course, both have stiff competition since they let the E46M3 into GS.

Having said that, I think the E36M3 would be a better long-term choice. Cheaper, proven longer, more practical, etc.

Michael.

 

Did you keep the factory clutch/flywheel? I know some of the 350Zs that race (specifcally the Performance Nissan ones in the Grand-AM cups) use the Tilton clutch/flywheels. Reduced the rotation mass by about 45 lbs and I was told by them that acceleration improved greatly.

Did you keep the stock VLSD in your Track or did you switch it out to something like the Nismo LSD?

Scotty, if you want to make a good track car out of the 350Z, I suggest getting the Base model. It does not have traction control or VCD (equivalent to DSC on BMWs), which can still interefere even though you switched the button off. The Base doesn't come with an LSD, though, but you can buy a Nismo one for around $900. Brakes will definitely need to be upgraded.

Edit: You can get a used Base model for a fairly good price. I suggest not getting a 2003 model year (mine) because they're known for 3rd gear and 5th gear grinding (synchros are not good). They also had a tire feathering problem where the front tires would wear out every 7,500 miles or so.

 

Mine was a street/track car so the clutch, flywheel, and LSD were still stock. I was going to put in the NISMO clutch and flywheel, but ended up getting the M3 instead.

I know a guy that has a barely streetable Tilton setup on his Track model and he tells me it takes a while to get to used to w/o stalling.

The catch is that the NISMO LSD will not fit in the Base model's pumpkin. I'd step up to the next model, the Enthusiast, if you want a NISMO LSD (the Enthusiast has the VLSD).

I had 19k on mine (pre-order 2003, VIN #885) when I traded it in, half were spent at Motorsport Ranch or Hallett Motor Race Circuit and 0 problems w/ the tranny. Same w/ a Motorsport Ranch buddy of mine that recently traded in his 2003 pre-order Touring for a CTS-V. The catch is to let it fully warm up and don't do any quick shifts and definitely don't overly force it into gear.

Actually, the only thing that remotely irritated me was the grease streaks on the windows and shifting driver seat, but I was more lazy than irritated to take it in for warranty work.

BTW, if you're considering the 350z, then you should also consider the G35 Coupe. Same base chassis, but it's got a longer wheelbase. I don't think it has as much aftermarket as the 350z (at least from NISMO). If Nissan did produce NISMO parts for the G35 coupe, then I probably would have opted for it out of practicality. Then again, if I did that, then I probably would be in an E46M3 now.

Michael.

 

I'm not sure where you heard that because I know of several people that have it on their Base models (they're on my350z.com). AFAIK, the Nismo LSD comes with everything you need to convert the non-LSD Base. This isn't true for all LSD kits since they don't all come with the stub axles.

Luckily, I haven't had the tire or transmission problems either, but I only have 8,000 miles on my 2003 (#14,852). I do have the grease streak problem on the driver side, but I rarely put the windows down so it doesn't bother me. Right now there is a sqeaking sound (metal on metal) coming from the rear area that bothers me a little.

 

I got it from my350z.com, but I haven't been in the loop since I got the M3. I guess my info is antiquated.

The tire feathering will sneak up on you (it did for me) because interior noise gradually increases. I noticed it on mine at 9k miles and figured it started at 6k-ish. I had enough tread to last for 12k before hitting the wear bars, but the tread were chunked (from constant overheating them at 4 HPDE weekends). I wanted to see if S-03's were grippier anyway.

Personally, the whole tire feathering thing was started by somebody that never owned a sports car before. And this same somebody happens to live 10 minutes away from me and we're both members at Motorsport Ranch -- he's happy w/ an STi now (he's actually the camera car filming me at MSR in this video). The last 3 300ZX's I owned had the same issue. New tires every 12k is as normal as a 3k oil change for me. Even w/ the M3, I've got 2 used sets of Continental SportContacts that I've bought from M3 owners because they want Pilot Sports just sitting in the garage. If only 350z owners would sell me their "crappy" RE-040's for dirt cheap when I still had the Z...

Michael.

 

You should have a read of this months EVO magazine - they bought an E36 M3 and are going to try and turn it into an 8min car at the Nurburgring.

Each month they will have an article with the latest mods done to it and such.....next month is reducing weight.