Scored some forged Rays for the Z

"Z_Stig" (Z_Stig)
02/07/2014 at 11:48 • Filed to: None

F18x8, R18x8.5 18 lbs each :) And I got all 4 for $550! Disregard filthy car.

DISCUSSION (52)

Casper > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:50

Nice deal. I like the look.

MonkeePuzzle > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:51

that's a friggin steal of a deal!

look great on there

Lekker > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:51

Burnt orange and nice Tays. Man those look nice.

Didn't the nismo model come with the rays? My 370 nismo does.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:52

Agreed, those wheels look very nice on that car.

William Byrd > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:54

Outstanding! I had a Z in blue and loved it. Wheels look great.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:54

That is sooooo cheap, I have to start looking on forums with similar bolt patterns and sizes! Also those are forged and weigh 18lbs??? Weds are cast and only weigh 16.4 lbs for 18x8.5!!

EL_ULY > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 11:55

Deal of the year man, whole car is rad

Z_Stig > Lekker
02/07/2014 at 12:00

Thanks. Nismo models also had Rays, but in a 5 spoke design.

Z_Stig > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/07/2014 at 12:04

Yes, they are forged, but still not as light as an 18" RPF1. However, they are OEM and cheaper than some new Enkeis.

I'd rather have a forged wheel over a cast.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:07

6 spokes FTW. Would love some VR.G2's on the Mustang. Would run me around 3 grand new though.....Highly doubt I could find the sizes I want for a Mustang, lol!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:09

True story but weds are top quality stuff they make wheels for race cars!!!

Lekker > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:10

Very nice. What else have you done to it? Is it your DD?

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:14

I have 19" Rays from a G35 on my Mazda6!

Kinja'd!!!

Z_Stig > Lekker
02/07/2014 at 12:14

I made a BBK for it using custom brackets, Wilwood calipers, and StopTech rotors. Looking into a plenum spacer possibly. And yes, it is my DD :)

Z_Stig > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
02/07/2014 at 12:17

I actually think the Mustang and 350Z run the same bolt pattern. 5x114?

Z_Stig > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/07/2014 at 12:19

Very nice! I considered those but cried over the price of tires in that size LOL

Lekker > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:19

Now that you mention it (and that I expand the picture) I can see the Wilwood calipers. That is awesome. I miss my 350 in terms of sound, the exhaust was tuned to sound so much better in the 3.5 VQ's than in the 3.7 in my opinion.

Do you track it? I am using mine for Auto-X. Turns out its not an ideal vehicle due to its weight, ha.

Orange Exige > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:24

Pretty nice wheels for a real good price.

Shoulda got TE37's though! (for 2-3x that price I know! ;)

The only thing I don't like about these wheels you just got are that the spokes are too curved/rounded for me. If they had a flat face they'd be better imo - though they'd end up being pretty similar to TE37's... (maybe that's my point...?)

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:25

Where? How??? My Z is jealous of yours now!

Z_Stig > Lekker
02/07/2014 at 12:27

Yea, I really like the note the VQ35 sings. Forget to add, it also has a Borla true dual exhaust.

I track it, and found the same thing; it is a heavy car LOL. I came from a E36M3 so it took me some time to adjust.

Z_Stig > Orange Exige
02/07/2014 at 12:29

I think that's why Rays did curve the spokes so they didn't look exactly like TE37s.

I'd have to rob a bank to get some coin for the TE37s though! Haha

Z_Stig > CPT Speedbump
02/07/2014 at 12:32

EBay!!! These are pretty damn hard to find now. I see 'em on more Altimas than Zs! LOL

Lekker > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:34

I bet it sings nicely then.

The guy who rode with me to teach me my first time around was driving an e36 as well and he mentioned how noticeable it is. Have you done any suspension work to cope with corners better? Tires? I can see the stock leather seats so there's no need to ask about bucket seats. What all do you have planned for it?

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:36

Really? I'll have to keep a eye out O.o More focused on getting money for a LSD lately (base model doesn't come with one D:)

Z_Stig > CPT Speedbump
02/07/2014 at 12:39

Yes, you're probably better off going with an aftermarket LSD. The stock one is so-so at best :(

Frank Grimes > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:40

Can you find some light miata wheels for cheap? You seem to be good at it.

Echo51 > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:42

Do you feel a difference with lighter wheels on it? Because the alu's i run during the summer are ungodly heavy compared to all the other rims we have in stock...

Z_Stig > Echo51
02/07/2014 at 12:45

I feel a little difference compared to the stock rims (28lbs!) But that's just street driving. I need to get to the track to give a more detailed answer.

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:46

Yeah, I've been looking at aftermarket ones only, unless I hear of a Z in a junkyard and can get a factory one for dirt cheap, not sure if I should go with a 1.5 or a 2 way though

Echo51 > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:48

Little is more, as they say? If only i had more money to spend on a nice set of rims thro, some sexy lightweights would be awesome :)

Z_Stig > CPT Speedbump
02/07/2014 at 12:52

Good question. Isn't 2 way better for drifting?

Newsboy > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 12:53

Kinja'd!!!

Good beading!

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:01

I believe it is

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:01

though im not sure

Z_Stig > Lekker
02/07/2014 at 13:11

I'm researching suspension as that will probably be my next area of improvement. I have Potenza RE-11s on it right now.

I've also been looking for some harness bars. I don't like the Sparco and need more info on the Graffiti Motorsports k bar. My original plan was to turn it into a Track Edition+ kind of model. So wheels, brakes, suspension, maybe a few bolt ons.

Z_Stig > Frank Grimes
02/07/2014 at 13:15

LOL. Check out 949 Racing. Pretty light, and pretty reasonable IIRC. Plus they compete every year at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

Lekker > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:18

How do you like the RE-11s? I am getting a set of those for my next rubber change.

If you are doing auto-x the harness bar, and bucket seat for that matter is a two class bump so that is a no go at the moment for me. You should post videos of track day's if you've got any.

Z_Stig > Lekker
02/07/2014 at 13:25

I've had them for about two weeks now and so far, so good. They are kind of noisy on the freeway, but that doesn't bother me one bit. The last three days we've had some crazy rain and they have been excellent in the wet.

I'll know more in about in month's time at a track day. And I'll definitely be taking video.

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:27

I happened to score mine for $600 with 225/40 and 225/45 Potenzas from someone who was putting 22s on his car.

Then this happened.

Kinja'd!!!

Z_Stig > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/07/2014 at 13:29

That was a steal! How did that happen?

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:34

Absolutely no idea. The first one on the front had blown out a week or so previously and being a starving student I decided it would be a good idea to only purchase one tire.

With camber wear there's no point buying nice tires. Cheapest 19" tires I could find were $160 a pop. :(

Z_Stig > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/07/2014 at 13:36

Yikes. I just paid about 170 a corner for my 18" RE-11s.

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 13:37

My current tires on the front are Toyo Proxes T1 Sports. Love the orange color on your Z. Stock suspension right? Any mods?

Z_Stig > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/07/2014 at 14:10

Thanks! Yea, stock suspension for now. I also have a Wilwood BBK, and a Borla true dual exhaust.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 16:04

Same bolt pattern, yes. The offset on the '05-'09 Mustang is 45mm with stock 8 inch width. I'd run 8 up front and a 9.5" out back. 17 inch. I haven't any idea what the offset is on a Z car.

Z_Stig > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
02/07/2014 at 16:12

+30mm I think

SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 18:01

350Zs are on my short list of cars to look at in the next month, so if you don't mind my asking, how do you like it? How's it to live with, basically?

Z_Stig > SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread
02/07/2014 at 20:39

It's funny; The dealership I got it from had an E46 I was going to see. And I ended up in the Z LOL.

It's a lot more comfortable than my previous car, which was an E36 M3, and soaks up bumps, potholes, etc, very well, so it makes it an excellent daily driver and commuter car. If I drive responsibly the fuel economy is decent as well.

Now coming from the E36 M3, I was spoiled with one of the best handling cars ever made. So it took some getting used to the heavier Z's handling. But the Z still handles very well on a country road or the track. For track use, you'll need to beef up the brakes. They fade pretty easily, so look to hi-temp fluid and very racy brake pads.

Maintenance wise, all I've done since owing it, is oil changes, along with the extra maintenance track work demands. The only thing that broke was the driver's side outside door handle. That was $80 and about 20 minutes to change, so just a very minor job.

The interior is okay, and for being a two-seater sports car, there's quite a bit of storage space in the interior cubby spaces. Mine is a Touring model, so I got heated leather power seats, dynamic stability control, an LSD and 18" wheels originally. My car also was equipped with the optional navigation which really isn't needed these days with smartphones.

If you're planning lots of mods for the future, a base model might be the ticket for you. Just beware it doesn't come with DSC, the LSD, and has cloth seats and 17" rims.

If you're looking to keep it stock, with a reasonably equipped car, the Enthusiast and Touring trim levels are good. Then there's always the Track model, with these wheels and Brembo brakes on all 4 corners.

The Z has been an awesome car to own and live with it, and is keeping me satisfied until I save up enough money to get a 911. :D

Hope that was helpful for you!

SCR - The Soup Of The Day is Bread > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 22:05

Alright thank you, this was great! And yeah if I buy one I plan on keeping it mostly stock, so touring or enthusiast if I can find one in my budget is how I'd prefer to go.

CPT Speedbump > Z_Stig
02/07/2014 at 22:59

How'd you manage to find them in stock dimensions too is beyond me O.o if you see any more deals on Rays do let me know! Will start keeping a eye out though

Z_Stig > CPT Speedbump
02/08/2014 at 01:12

These were stock rims for the 350Z Track Model. But yea, EBay is your best best along with checking out some junkyards.

Hopefully you can get a packaged deal with the diff!

Frank Grimes > Z_Stig
02/08/2014 at 12:36

Yea I looked at those. I think I might pick up some of these but I need to see them on a car.

Kinja'd!!!