Nissan 370z Tuning

"Eeeee Zeeee Tiger"

The 370z is a good car tuning project to play with. Nissan took all the best bits of the 350z, improved the weak spots and produced the stunning 370z. 

Criticisms of it's earlier brother includes a lack of low down power which has been addressed to a large degree in the 370z.

TorqueCars particularly like the automatic throttle blip when you change down, making you look like a driving pro. 

Improving the handling should be your first priority in your 370z tuning project. The standard handling is pretty good but aftermarket suspension kits will tighten things up just a little more.

TorqueCars would recommend a maximum drop of 20mm on the 370z. You'll risk rubbing on those lovely flared arches if you go lower than this and it would be shame to compromise the great setup of this car. (You should always get the camber reset to zero or slight negative camber as the car is lowered.) Always get adjustable shocks to allow you to set the car up for your preferred driving style.

Top end power should be your overall aim on the 370z with a nice fat peak torque band. The new engine is a real stormer but some still find it a little Torque shy lower down the rev range. Thankfully there are a number of impressive turbo conversion kits coming on to the market including a twin turbo 370z kit and a range of supercharger kits. 

Nissan 370z Tuning modifications.

Beware of high oil temperatures, these engines can run pretty hot on track days and we suggest you keep an eye on the oil temps. If you suffer from high temperatures then you will need to get an oil cooler fitted.

We also note that the engines NEED high octane fuel. If you put low octane in them you will suffer from a risk of detonation and premature wear. If there is no choice and you have to use low octane fuel then keep the engine speeds down to minimise the risk of damage.

There are two (at the time of writing) engine options on the 370z, the VQ35DE and the VQ35HR. The latter engine is much stronger and better for tuning up coping with upto 450hp with few issues, the former is safe to around 400hp. 

A fast road cam with a duration of around 265 degrees will be one of the best power mods you can do mechanically to your engine (other than adding forced induction). You will need to ensure that the engine is not starved of fuel so will need to uprate the fuelling. 

To get sufficient fuel you may need to uprate the injectors on your engine. When increasing your fuelling with bigger injectors you will also need to get a bigger fuel pump to supply it.

Nissan 370z Intake and Exhaust Tuning.

Breathing mods are usually next up. For the 370z engine, if power is what you seek go with a washable panel air filter. If you want induction roar then get an induction kit with a cold air feed. 

Do not go with the biggest exhaust you can find this will slow up the exhaust flow rate - the best for power gains are usually between 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

Getting the head ported and polished will further help more air into each cylinder but Nissan have already done a great job on the 370z head. To get any improvement then you need to hand the job over to a professional with a flow bench. A 3 angle valve job will have an impact on performance as will porting and polishing the head and balancing and blueprinting. 

Your clutch can seriously let you down if it starts to slip, especially if it is getting on a bit and the standard clutches are only ever good for power gains of upto 40%. Fit an uprated clutch to avoid power losses through the transmission.

Nissan 370z Wheel modifications.

The benefits of alloy wheels include a lower unsprung weight and more efficient brake cooling. Large 370z alloy wheels can decrease performance. If you get big alloy wheels you will be changing your final drive ratio. Although some people have gone larger we would stick to a 17 inch rim size as the maximum with low profile tyres.

For more information on Tuning your car please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss 370z options in more detail with our 370z owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased Nissan tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification