WEAK POINTS OF THE Z | TRACK TESTED

Modifying your car by throwing aftermarket parts at it without seeing any change is unrewarding and could be useless. By taking your vehicle to a track, where you can test your skills and your car’s abilities, you can find the weak points to any car. After finding what parts are the first ones to give out or decline in performance, you can then upgrade your car to make it better, stronger, and faster!!
Those are the key fundamentals that every Manufacturer’s test vehicles are made for. After they are engineered, they are built and then put to the test to see what will break. By going to a race track, you can legally and safely push your car to its limits, without the huge risk of doing it on the street. Here is a list of some of the things I want to install on my Z to improve the performance.
Even after throwing money and parts at your car, you may have the best handling, quickest and most agile car on the road, but if you don’t have the skills to control the beast, a much less capable vehicle might get a better lap time. Have you ever heard the saying, “Money doesn’t buy skill”? Well it is true.. You need to practice driving and trying new things to get the quickest lap time possible. If you can match your beast’s performance with a driver mod, you’re going to be killing it out there!!
When we went to Cayuga last year, my quickest lap time in the Accord was 1:29.01. My fastest wet lap time with the Z at Cayuga was 1:31.13 due to the rain, and my fastest dry lap time was 1:26.08. We'll see if we can beat that time after we mod the Z a bit more...
///// LINKS TO PRODUCTS /////
Mishimoto Thermostatic Oil Cooler ▶︎ goo.gl/JSpebd
Mishimoto Engine Coolant Thermostat ▶︎ goo.gl/etB77B
HPS Silicone Coolant Lines ▶︎ goo.gl/SzEw5w
Toyo R888R Tires ▶︎ goo.gl/NRfVqr
Swift Springs Pair (13 kg/mm) ▶︎ goo.gl/r8rDrG
Swift Springs Pair (11 kg/mm) ▶︎ goo.gl/NV6nVC
Hotchkis Upgraded Sway Bar Set ▶︎ goo.gl/JHyHo3
Stillen Power Steering Cooler ▶︎ goo.gl/DgMzhE
Stillen Transmission Cooler ▶︎ goo.gl/Rgb7qv
MA-Motorsport Differential Cooler ▶︎ goo.gl/n357nS
Z1 Motorsport Upgraded Differential Cover ▶︎ goo.gl/Hi9NNo
///// LINKS TO FLUIDS /////
Genuine Nissan Blue Coolant ▶︎ goo.gl/TvuXQq
Genuine Nissan Power Steering Fluid ▶︎ goo.gl/efgWti
Motul RBF660 DOT 4 Brake Fluid ▶︎ goo.gl/ZDLuD4
Motul Gear 300SL 75W90 Synthetic Transmission Oil (2.8L) ▶︎ goo.gl/znEE3a
Motul Gear 300SL 75W90 Synthetic Differential Oil (1.4L) ▶︎ goo.gl/znEE3a
Camera Used for this Video ▶︎ goo.gl/Tnxgj1
Alternative Camera Used for this Video ▶︎ goo.gl/v9TMYF
BECOME ONE OF THE BOYS BY FOLLOWING MY 👇
KZbin Channel ▶︎ / milanmastracci
Instagram ▶︎ / milmast
Facebook Page ▶︎ / milanmastracci
///// YOU CAN SEND ME STUFF HERE 👇 /////
MILAN MASTRACCI
PO BOX 30075 TOWN SQ. PO
FONTHILL, ONTARIO, CANADA
L0S 1E3
If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email at [e-mail]. Be sure to tag me on Instagram @milmast so I can see what you guys are up to as well. Thank you so much for watching!!

[@NVSTRZ34]

Spoken from experience: -Brake fluid and pads -Tires -Oil temps

[@vmoutsop]

When on the track complete your down shifts before the corner and up shifts when you come out of the corner. You upset the weight distribution and can lose the rear end

[@0for30]

+1 that first downshift kind of scared me. Shifting mid corner can effectively be like clutch kicking when trying to keep a drift going. Not something you want to do if you're trying to corner and your tires are already at it's limits

[@milanmastracci]

I noticed that when I was watching my lines and how I was driving. I've gotta say, just having a camera for myself was super helpful!!

[@philippclasen8343]

Sway bar soft in front !!

[@gregleung2689]

Great informative video but I too was shocked at the driving footage near the end! Seems you really know your stuff re: vehicle setup but just echoing comments here re: the perils of shifting mid-corner. Brake / heel toe downshift on the straight *BEFORE* the corner to front-load your car and increase grip on the steering (front) wheels. Then throttle through the corner.

[@speedacademy]

Looks like the mods that you've done already are working well! Couple tweaks and it will be even better. Thanks for coming out to the track day.

[@hkn_r34]

Change the brake fluid to Motul RBF600 and replace the lines to braided stainless. You dont need cooling, but it doesnt hurt

[@nukexD]

Love the track footage! A lot of people are asking for the Mini but being a Z owner myself I prefer the Z stuff ;) Love your tutorials so I know they’ll come in handy when you do upgrade the Z

[@MauriceNL1]

i like how you keep the interior OEM looking, not an ugly shift knob and that things

[@tarek3702]

MauriceNL pretty sure he'll do it down the road. For extra grip and traction

[@Apoplectic_Spock]

Nice driving! Looking forward to future updates on the Z. Now get that Mini track-ready!!! LOL

[@dogboy4912]

Nice note on down shifts, great video as always.

[@robertmoss4815]

love your videos Milan. such depth in information always when it comes to mods, install, price and performance.

[@milanmastracci]

Thanks Robert! I really appreciate that 👊

[@nessuno5403]

Great stuff and presentation. Keep it up!

[@xxhotelcrazyxx]

If you're going to be doing the z1 diff cover, I highly recommend doing whiteline polyurethane differential bushings and z1 subframe collars. It will make the power to the rear-end more linear and eliminate wheel hop. Consider a torque solutions short throw shifter and polyurethane transmission mount to compliment what I mentioned above.

[@Sergiosniper100]

Another Great video!!!👍

[@ndk2k4]

Sway bars honestly were a life-changing upgrade. Beat myself up for not doing it as my first mod. Once you get to power mods, look into Admin Tuning intakes.

[@jjfordingpoursoulstudios8581]

Cool vid! Best part was you saying you wanna get the Mini back together first. LOL Is the machine shop almost done with the Mini motor? Has assembly started yet? Your Z is nice, but it's all about that Mini build for me!

[@Hondacbr600rrish]

Its called entrapment. When the cops are positioned like that 🤙🏽

[@LukePollitt95]

Definitely a guy I’d love to meet, Love your videos!🚗

[@milanmastracci]

Thanks Luke!! 👊

[@oscardeltoro898]

Kind of interesting that folks pushing some serious lap times praise the removal of the rear sway as difficult that it is to understand. Even from factory these cars tend to oversteer tremendously, it seems like a stiffer front and removal of the rear is what works. Look it up, you wont be disappointed.

[@ankurpatkulkar5021]

Welcome to month-end bro... Tickets for everything. :P

[@yasirhq1995]

First love your videos been here since day one!!!

[@milanmastracci]

Thank you Yasir!! 👊

[@redlinenissan372]

that is one thing I noticed in my nissan to is the body roll when turning aggressively so sway bars is a must for me

[@matthewchavez9134]

Look at how smooth you are even on a wet track🔥🚗

[@milanmastracci]

🙌

[@loldude2468]

matthew chavez and a stock car 😯

[@thetraindriver01]

Nice vid Milan, your girlfriend looks pretty laid back about the track racing, I hope she enjoyed it as much as you did 😜😜👍👍👍

[@crazzyzack]

Add water wetter to the coolant it makes quite a difference.

[@rcghalohell]

you can shift a bit faster with that stock flywheel. also you just need better pads, i ran yellowstuff at limerock park, worked great but the only basic upgrades left to throw in for my 2012 sport package are a clutch flywheel setup, and tires... i really need tires so im goin with much wider and better compound

[@xMattJew]

Man this makes me wanna track my car!!

[@Broadizzlz]

Sways, medium front and stiffer rear on the settings, dont forget to get adjustable endlinks. for brakes, maybe try 2pc. rotors and SS lines... but then you'll run into issues with the stock ABS system (or find the limits of it), :-/

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

Oil cooler, Suspension and tyres plus brakes on the Z. Lighter more free flowing exhaust and lighter wheels. Job done.

[@swanblake]

Will you be upgrading the rear diff bushings when you do the Z1 finned cover?

[@_slezzyyy5377]

I'm getting the same sway bars as you for my 350z and the exact same tires. 265/35r18 front and 295/30r18 rear.

[@dude31h]

You should buy sway bars to help with keeping your car handling flat

[@jessehill3780]

Looks like your confused on some stuff. You have a manual trans so take that Stillen trans cooler off your list, that is for autos. I don’t hear anyone having power steering overheat on the track, that seems more an issue for auto x people doing a lot of turns without the speed to cool the fluid (personally have not had any power steering issues on track yet). Thermostat and radiator are not really necessary, the cooling system really doesn’t get put to the test until boosted and the hood vents are more effective than anything else. Oil temps will be your number one issue, get the z1 34 row or fast intentions 34 row if you plan to track. Sway bars are a preference and most like the hotchkiss but personally use the stillen as I wanted the adjustability and mine is still a daily driver so I didn’t want the ultra stiff (205% stiffer than stock) front bar with zero tuning options. The ma diff cooler would be a waste if your getting that serious then you are better just getting a clutch type diff, the z1 cover is a nice piece (just installed myself along with their poly bushings) and the cost isn’t extreme so a nice upgrade while your there replacing your shot bushing. To make the z track ready and fix its biggest flaws though would be engine oil cooler, brake pads and fluid (carbotech xp10/xp8), and stainless lines while your there. That will prevent limp mode and keep you safe.

[@tarek3702]

Shared and liked Ur video

[@ProMountainBiker]

Nice ontario plates 👍🏻 didn’t know you lived around here

[@elmoz122]

This video has some good points and some not very good points about modding your z34.

[@andywu8558]

The oil coolers is a good investment.

[@IRON.392]

I'm in durham region. Where did you take your 370 for that drive after the exhaust install?

[@Juiblex100]

Seat time is the best upgrade. Yes the Z needs a few things to get it good. Minimum is Oil cooler, Brake Pads, and fluid change. Better tires (RE71Rs or similar) with a sway bar will get you to 80-90% of the cars abilities with out having to brake the bank. Stiffer springs will ruin ride quality when not on the track, I know. Beyond that spend your money on safety equipment. Which brings up the question what kind of even was that, that does not require a helmet? Learning the rain line is pretty simple too and makes you a lot faster, you can buy yourself a Ferrari's worth of mods and I will still pass it if you don't know how to drive fast. I understand why the police are near the track, I have seen many people do stupid things right outside of events, but I don't understand why they would give tickets for minor infractions.

[@Scalia-ig6qz]

Is that stock sport brakes, or aftermarket? I would say that is important IMO? You can drop a lot of weight from the stock brake system...especially the rotors...the car becomes way more nimble when you shed rotor weight. I like your thinking....first thing IMO...would be get the car ready for handling.....what's the point of air intakes, exaust, or power mods if you can't turn in with stock power? Unless you just drag, but you're going to get smoked by vettes and hellcats!

[@alexsierra8521]

I love your channel and all the 370z videos, I'm learning alot and appreciate the tips on what to fix on the Z first. Great job and stay UP brother!

[@milanmastracci]

Thanks Alex!! Glad you're enjoying them 👊

[@chrislotzkat1066]

Change the Differential oil to Castrol Syntrax Limited Slip 75w 140 its much sicker when it gets hot and helps the vlsd to maintain the locking under high temperatures. I use it in my Miata with a vlsd and I feel the difference.

[@jessehill3780]

Chris Lotzkat the VLSD is a sealed unit with silicon goop used as the friction media. It doesn’t matter what fluid you use in the diff in terms of lock up ability as it is only being used as a lubricant for the ring and pinion.

[@itchyonion3559]

It wouldn’t do anything

[@markoduvall]

I agree, spend your money on the Mini right now. I'm sure your track upgrades will shift to the Mini once it's running. BTW, how long is the machine shop making you wait?

[@milanmastracci]

I literally just got the engine and head back.. FINALLY!!

[@hermonbasil9263]

My advise would be .....do all these things to your mini !! That is the sole purpose ur building it for !! Mini is the track car isnt it ?? Make ur Z a daily driver ....but thn at the end of the day its your car you can whatever that suits your car

[@DouglasBerglund1]

Yeah I definitely agree with this, I believe you will feel more at peace when the Mini is finished instead of "wasting" money on the Z.

[@ST0RY]

Anyone know if the 2014 Nismo Kit will fit on a 2015? I know the 2015+ Nismo Kit, for the most part, is plug and play ... but I dig the previous front bumper more... Just wondering if there's any difference as far as installing it goes...

[@jcasti0791]

Youd probably just have some wires left over due to the DRLs on the 15, but otherwise, fitment should be fine

[@TheTorkerman]

No wonder your brakes are cooked. Step 1 - Improve the driver Step 2 - Improve the car Nice completed video, thanks

[@Edumacation95]

Tutorial on coolant flush pls!

[@BxgoldenB0Y36]

How were the brakes on the track?

[@FirdausAmir]

Get UltraRacing Brace will be nice

[@TxMx214]

The best upgrade available for your car is a driver upgrade, and also you need to boost it in order to be fast.

[@jackiechan_wtf4041]

Did you not listen? Power should be the last thing to do when upgrading a car. Brakes, suspension, and oil cooler are a top priority, THEN you can work on power gain.

[@Zewerr]

I will disagree about what to do first, coils or swaybar. If you end up doing both, get your shocks/springs to do what you want to do first. Then if you need them, use swaybars to support those shocks/springs. Simply adding stiffer swaybars will give you better turn in, but in many cases will reduce overall lateral grip. Your best bet would be to get the right spring rates and damper settings to maintain good roll, then use swaybars to aid the vehicle in maintaining a consistent contact patch through the corner. I just bought a 370z that I'm building to hopefully be a national championship winning autocross car in STU class. Through calculating corner weights and motion ratios, I decided on 17k springs front and 14k on the rear (still waiting on the setup getting built before I can tell if I made the right choice). But, I'm going to wait until I get the coilovers and my alignment dialed in before I decide what I'm going to do with my swaybars. I may end up actually going softer than stock on the rear.

[@josefernandez-xe6se]

What about cold air intakes snorkel type

[@FairladyS130]

Sneaky cops are in every country, a track owner I know complained about the police right near the track and they stopped lurking.

[@xXeliseo486Xx]

speed academy s2000 !!! o_o!!!

[@jafxdwg]

Fight the ticket. Wear a suit and tie to court. Show the Crown respect and good things will happen. I know this to be true. Thank me later. Brakes ? Are you going to try track compound pads ? Most street performance pads seem to suck during racing applications.

[@shawnstoner7867]

I love how many people think cause they went to the track twice n seen their car do something it didn't do on the road n they think it's the end of the car. If your worried bout the oil temp ask some race guys or do the proper research. Run good oil. 240• is pretty normal oil temps for racing. 260 to 270 is the high end and then u have an issue maybe. If u pushed it n just got 240 at end that's not terrible long as u have a good quality oil. Seriously people do some research. Conventional will stand sump temps of 250. Starts breaking down at 275. (Ie not lubricating correctly) Full synthetic will stand well over 300 and some race synthetics up to 350. The oil cooler is not the issue on these cars until u start boosting over 6-8 lbs you do not want your oil under 200° all the time. It's terrible for your engine. Cause build up and moisture deposits that do what engines. Your oil needs to get above 220 to burn that all off. If it never gets above 200 cause u put an unnecessary cooler on it your oil will mix with sulfur deposits creating harmful acids that cause engine wear. For every pound of fuel burned a lb of water vapor is created as a by product of combustion. Again your oil mixes with this vapor over time and if not burned off causes damage. Oil is not your coolant temp people. They should not be the same. I don't know where this false narrative came from that omg 220 230° oil temps are killing your oil and your engine came from but it's not true. More people hurt their engine putting these coolers on stock cars than help. Do your research. Don't go to the track 2 times n think your a racer n u can talk race shit like u have a clue I grew up around racing n the amount of internet racers ruining cars telling people 220° oil is gonna break down n your engine will blow up is absolutely incredible. Look up oil temp break down in engines and look at motor trend if u don't believe me. Then look at all the other actual racers saying same thing as me.

[@kristiantolfree6540]

How were you able to run the track with no helmet and safety gear?

[@MSFerrari248F1]

At 140c aren’t you already hitting limp mode?

[@CyberPun]

You change your gears like a grandma ;)

[@brokejokeratv5851]

They pulled you over at the track or before or after the track

[@milanmastracci]

Literally a couple hundred feet before the track entrance

[@brokejokeratv5851]

@@milanmastracci that sucks man it's like the drag strip then

[@supercooled]

So you got a speeding ticket for 2km//h over?

[@MuLife]

I like your videos , however i dont agree with power being the last thing to do , now that you are going to "dial" in your car for your current power such as your brakes , cooling and other things. All that will have to be upgraded again when you produce more power , so why not start with the power and dial in your car according to how much power you are satisfied with. Thanks.

[@FairladyS130]

If the non power bits are done properly then that's it, nothing more there to be done.

[@jrproductions9191]

What’s up with the Sufi

[@Ali-bz9gd]

Theme of any Z owner : the car is too hot, let's install 7 coolers.

[@milanmastracci]

You're not wrong lol

[@JzLyfe]

Adam lz 350z runs pretty cool and only has 1 oil cooler. He also drifts it which cause way more heat than track runs.

[@k5guy]

Thermostat would change nothing at a track. Once engine is warmed up thermostat stays open. Literally zero difference for a hot engine running on a hot day.

[@Drzdevildog]

Does your car automatically rev match for you when you downshift?

[@swanblake]

It can. It has a toggle switch to turn Rev match on or off. Amazing

[@PR1NCETD0T]

Blake Swan thats if you have the sports gt or nismo Z, for base Z's, you don't have that feature. I got a 2016 base soi dont have it but at least i can learn how to rev match without a computers assistance.

[@Drzdevildog]

Yea I feel like having the car rev match for you takes away the skill of driving manual. I mean in a track, I don't wanna be worrying about heel toeing so I guess it is useful.

[@PR1NCETD0T]

Yehudi Polanco Yehudi Polanco yea on the track if you're going for a time record, or a hot lap but if you're just out there trying to have fun, it's much more rewarding when you do it yourself. If you have the syncro rev match feature, It makes you not want to take it off, i mean, why would you? It perfectly revs for you and it gives longevity for your transmission.

[@jdowg6]

Yo what if I don't have insurance on my car? They'll pull me over?

[@swanblake]

Traffic Cops are the worst kind of spiece. I'm sorry man

[@mamad_vpr]

All that money being wasted and still no helmet. Idk how TMP staff let you in without safety gear.

[@TheRealHeavyG]

That looked like fun. I think the car sounded great too. I wouldn't add anything to make it louder unless you plan on swapping your girlfriend out for a boyfriend :)

[@victorgalindo3320]

Why is there cops a the tracks?

[@gustavocastillo9954]

Get some more bracing!

[@milanmastracci]

I will in due time, but there are other areas of that car that need upgrading before that.

[@ImMrMarsh]

That track is so bad for cops, the opp station down the street doesn't help

[@frazer9]

What did you get ticketed for ..?

[@milanmastracci]

No front plate..

[@dedamile373]

It ruins aerodynamics :D

[@joedapro555]

Such a criminal

[@existentialcrisis_4421]

@@milanmastracci lmfao, thank god in Alberta we don’t have to have front plates. That sucks though man

[@supershark9k708]

Long story short buy the nismo z and avoid the bs of dealing with a lower package z car

[@FairladyS130]

Still needs an oil cooler.

[@itchyonion3559]

Nismo has the same crappy vlsd and overheating issue

[@baileyschuetz9739]

Slam it on tarmacs and daily it

[@milanmastracci]

LOL Why not lift it and put 22's on it?

[@beowolf9991]

Do some more track videos instead of sitting in your garage and talking about it

[@Pendaws]

Ahh, life in Trudeau's Canada, someone has to pay for all the refos.

[@jaged929]

If you were'nt speeding you wouldnt have gotten a ticket.

[@dpmitko]

Lower degree thermostat is a bullshit.

[@dexterity6195]

why did you push your super nice car until 140° oil temps :( your literally destroying it. should have stopped at leasts at 120-125°. Most "good Oils" (10w-60ish) even start to cook up at around 130-135. Hope you had some really good stuff in it, like ROWE 10w-60 or smt......... better change that stuff right away

[@kronikcz]

Get that email tune from Saul @saul_nismo_knights

[@GOFGameplayOnly]

damn ur gd cute AF!

[@jrproductions9191]

Audi***

[@MyBlueZed]

Invest in some lessons at a race school. You’re driving technique needs a lot of work: hand positioning, heel and toe, racing lines etc. Can’t believe they let you on the circuit in shorts, t-shirt and without a helmet. High performance brake fluid is what you need to prevent fade: DOT 5.1 or Super 4.1 Cheers!

[@aram.v]

You need your gf in more of your videos

[@jaybee6280]

cherry picking people who are trying to do what is right is absolutely stupid.

[@reimullalli8078]

First

[@EramElric]

What’s the girls ig tho

[@milanmastracci]

LOL

[@oliviawall8448]

instagram.com/p/BhP6hEugDdb/ 😉

[@thebrls7947]

@@oliviawall8448 lol

[@kranyat2024]

350 power...not 370....

[@Aeneas137]

lose the idiotic music and you'll get more views

[@stevendavis7821]

Lol 140 is “hot” 😂😂😂 That’s not even warmed up for N54’s 😅