Planned upgrades; for your consideration

[Bumnah]

So the car is pretty much good to go for track events as is. I've got a lot of room for growth. The only thing holding the car back is me.

BUT I still like modifying it. So I'm planning the following. What do ya'll thank?

Replace high pressure power steering line with an AN fitting setup.
Upgrade to a 350z power steering reservoir.
Install Def's toe bearing. If I can save up the money replace the rest of the bushings in the uprights with bearings as well.
Kuah @ SPL said he should be selling full aluminum bushings for the steering rack. As I'm a fiend for steering feedback I'm looking to upgrade to those as well.
Figured while I was at it, do the SPL fender braces.
I was also hoping to do a Racetech bucket seat, with a harness setup.
Lastly I'm going to take pictures of Andy's half cage, and have MA-motorsports weld one up for me.

I bracing myself constantly on the track. The seat and harness would be nice. Need a harness bar to be legit, so why not just do the half cage too?

The bearing replacement is up in the air still (except for the ones I got from DEF already).

The fender braces I figured would help significantly since that is a pretty weak point in the chassis (aren't they made to collapse easily during an accident?) Does anyone have fender braces on their car? Notice a big difference?

So yeah, critique my list. I'm pretty hell bent on the half cage seat and harness. I'd love to do it all, but in this economy it'll be rough to do any of it.

[KA240SX808]

+1 for PS Line

http://www.240sxforums.com/forums/1422304-post397.html

[McCoy]

The fender braces I figured would help significantly since that is a pretty weak point in the chassis (aren't they made to collapse easily during an accident?) Does anyone have fender braces on their car? Notice a big difference?

I've been curious about this myself. I picked up a set off Epstein and have yet to install them, but am curious how much they actually help, I mean there only held in by a few bolts. I still debate about having my cage builder just make me some fender braces... except using a welder to affix them to the car instead of bolts .

So yeah, critique my list. I'm pretty hell bent on the half cage seat and harness. I'd love to do it all, but in this economy it'll be rough to do any of it.

I know you've heard it already, but if you do one, then you really should do the other at the same time, just so much safer that way. Just the thought of a reclinable seat with a cage or a good seat/harness with a harness bar is scary to think of on track.

[KA240SX808]

I've read a few Fender Brace reviews and they all seem to mention how much tighter the front feels and how the turn in is better. They also mention that it's much more worth than a strut bar, they're all surprised how much flex it has reduced up front.

There's a thread on Nico if you do a quick "240SX Fender Brace Review" search

[McCoy]

I've read a few Fender Brace reviews and they all seem to mention how much tighter the front feels and how the turn in is better. They also mention that it's much more worth than a strut bar, they're all surprised how much flex it has reduced up front.

There's a thread on Nico if you do a quick "240SX Fender Brace Review" search

I agree they help, I'm more curious by how much they help. There is no real good way of testing chassis rigidity in the garage that I know of and the seat of the pants feel is just that. Heck, even with my cage it's hard to tell it's stiffer before/after...

[jmauld]

I agree they help, I'm more curious by how much they help. There is no real good way of testing chassis rigidity in the garage that I know of and the seat of the pants feel is just that. Heck, even with my cage it's hard to tell it's stiffer before/after...

One of the recent mustang rags did a garage based test, where they measured the deflection of the top of the driver's seat to see what difference subframe connectors made. Of course, with a jack as your only means to add force, you are probably missing the primary force that these things supposedly work against.

I am also curious about these things, since I have a lot of reservations about adding dead weight to the front of the car.

[sr20goofus]

not to bash MA, but i can hook you up with the guy who did the front half of my cage after having MA make my roll bar 3 years ago. I wish i had done it all at once, convenience, and with the new guy out in Hagerstown, MD it was super inexpensive and tight to the chassis. Let me know if you are interested. I like MA guys, but they have gone way up in price, when I know saving money and being safe are two very hard things to do at the same time.

[Matt93SE]

My thought with chassis braces and weight is that the weight used to add chassis stiffness greatly outweighs the cost.

These fender braces only weigh a couple/few pounds each. I wouldn't have a problem adding them on my car either.

[jmauld]

These fender braces only weigh a couple/few pounds each. I wouldn't have a problem adding them on my car either.

I don't mind adding them, if they add rigidity.

I added one of the power brace bars between the T/C mounts, and never really felt any difference with it. Last time I saw it, it was being used as a support to hold the transmission in place while I made a mount for it.

[Matt93SE]

I made one for my car out of scrap metal and it made a pretty obvious difference. the other good part about it is I can use it to jack up the car.

[BlackFire240sx]

half cage, seat and harness... you'll be amazed how much better you can drive the car when you don't have to hold yourself in it! lol helps feel and control. ntm the safety factor...

speed, consistency, safety and confidence FTW!!

[2Fass240us]

I can use it to jack up the car.

Damn, I never thought of that.

[2Fass240us]

half cage, seat and harness... you'll be amazed how much better you can drive the car when you don't have to hold yourself in it!

I have shared the same advice. For me it was primarily about safety since I have a family, but the "not having to fight to stay in place" thing was super nice.

[Nissankat]

Upgrade to a 350z power steering reservoir.

What is the story with this? What is the benefit of the 350z reservoir?

[BlackFire240sx]

What is the story with this? What is the benefit of the 350z reservoir?

me says +1