Silver rat look 240z

johnymd

Club Member
Thanks.

I'm now going to drive it for a bit then the next job is the engine bay. While the engines out I'll clean up the usual engine bay clutter and repaint in its original silver. Then replace the engine with a refreshed 2.8. That's probably a couple of months away though as I need to be enjoying the car for what's left of the summer.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Do you not get summer in your part of the country? :)

Anyway, cars back together and I brought it home tonight for a test drive. Brakes need a little attention but it handles and rides very well. Very flat when pushed to the tyre limits round bends. Absorbs bump pretty well and no banging or crashing. It really shows up the poor grip from road tyres. I was hoping to get away with the ditch finders as they were new when I bought the car but they seriously lack grip when pushed.

So to recap the new setup:
All new Urophane bushes.
BC racing coilovers with solid topmount/camber plates (set to factory). 4/5kg
MM front antirollbar. Rear standard UK.
Car lowered to about 2" clearance from tyre to arch both front and back.
 

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jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I'm looking forward to Autumn, thats always nice.
Looks good - could go a little lower?
 

johnymd

Club Member
Could go lower and may still do so. You wind the strut into a sleeve so you retain full suspension travel no mater home much you lower the car. It is actually really low, it just the wheel/tyre diameter is quite a bit smaller than standard.
 

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Do you not get summer in your part of the country? :)

Anyway, cars back together and I brought it home tonight for a test drive. Brakes need a little attention but it handles and rides very well. Very flat when pushed to the tyre limits round bends. Absorbs bump pretty well and no banging or crashing. It really shows up the poor grip from road tyres. I was hoping to get away with the ditch finders as they were new when I bought the car but they seriously lack grip when pushed.

So to recap the new setup:
All new Urophane bushes.
BC racing coilovers with solid topmount/camber plates (set to factory). 4/5kg
MM front antirollbar. Rear standard UK.
Car lowered to about 2" clearance from tyre to arch both front and back.


Looks very clean underneath.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
John, it looks great and is a nice change from what many think is cool.

However if you are needing track tyres on the road slow down or buy more performance focused tyres.

All my running at Le Mans (twice) and Spa (twice) was on road tyres.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
How do you get away with still running it on the US plates?! Ah, just seen it has a UK plate on the back ...
 
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johnymd

Club Member
I have considered ha sing 2 sets of wheels/tyre. One for the road and one for the track but I feel both sets would last too long and be past their best before I wear them out. The ditch finders currently on the car are really not safe enough for any sort of slightly spirited driving. Ok for driving miss daisy or parked up in a field but will be severely lacking in ultimate grip. Even on the road I believe grip is important and not just for performance. Safety is key reason for having good quality grippy tyres and braking distances will certainly be improved with better tyres. With regard to track use, the difference in grip is night and day between road and track oriented tyres. With the silver car being low on power my best option to get my times down would be to improve cornering ability. I don't want to go all out track tyre like the R888r or AR1 so am looking at a more crossover such as NS2. It's all down to personal choice Rob and I'm happy to spend money on a safer more rewarding tyre than another budget ditch finder.

As you notice, the front plate is still the US one which I do sometime swap to match the rear plate.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
........................

However if you are needing track tyres on the road slow down or buy more performance focused tyres.

All my running at Le Mans (twice) and Spa (twice) was on road tyres.

John, I'm not saying use rubbish tyres on the road never have, never will. My 240Z has Continental road tyres on it and it's fine. My old car had Yoko road tyres on it when we were at Spa and LeMans and that was fine - in fact after I sold it the guy who bought it won a speed event in Malta with them still on it.

As my post on the recent Track Tyre Thread - I know track tyres are night and day better when on the limit. There is no way I would corner on the road like I do on a track.

What tyres have you fitted, have you given them time for the releasing agent to wear off?
 

johnymd

Club Member
The tyres fitted to the car are an unknown brand that were put on the car while it was in California. They are new but of poor traction on the road when compared to the ones on the blue car. If I have to stop in an emergency or take avoiding action in the blue car it just react instantly with no noises or drama. The silver car is not so capable with its current tyres so I'm looking for a more performance focused tyre that will also be capable on the occasional track outing.

Sorry, I didn't read your post correctly and it looks like we are both saying the same thing.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Treated her to some new wheels (old wheels I had powder coated) and semi track tyres.
 

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