Archive of posts with category 'setup'

Why you should autocross

Autocross is an exciting and challenging motorsport that is quickly gaining popularity among car enthusiasts. It is a competitive event where drivers navigate a course that is laid out on...

Race Gear in St. Louis Missouri

Solo Performance Specialties is your one stop shop for all your autocross needs. They have a huge selection of tires, wheels, and suspension parts. They are located in St. Louis,...

One Year Later

I realized a couple of days ago that it had been 12 months since the FR-S met its unfortunate demise.

Parting out the Scion FR-S

The time has finally come, time that I finally have, to try to start getting the 2016 Scion FR-S parted out.

Autocross Crash and Why You Need Autocross Insurance

Hello there, long time no see…. Where has SpecFRS gone? Well here’s the story of how my autocross car came to a very sad demise, and a couple of tips...

2021 Events 1 and 2

So here we are, it’s 2021 already and you’ve hopefully started autocrossing again. We have had the car out to one two events so far.

2020 Season review

2020, the year that most people want to forget. It started out like any other year, a week into it though I was unemployed, getting let go for the first...

2020 Topeka ProSolo Results

Well that was a productive weekend! I left for Topeka Kansas on Friday morning after working for a few hours and stopped on the drive out for a few more...

Exceptional Results in Lincoln Nebraska!

Wow, what a week! Last Wednesday I loaded up the SpecFRS onto a borrowed trailer and left St. Louis the following morning to drive to Lincoln Nebraska for spring Nationals,...

First event in SSC

Today was the first St. Louis Region Solo event in the 2018 series, so it was the first time out in the car, and I must say, it was great...

Autocross alignment in St. Louis Missouri

With the parts installed on the car, it was time to get wheels and tires mounted/balanced and installed. I also needed to get an alignment on the car as I...

FR-S Bolt Pattern 5x100

Somehow a week ago when I ordered wheels for the FR-s I got it in my head that the bolt pattern was 5x114.3, but somehow I got it wrong (they...

Solo Spec Coupe Parts Installation

After a long couple of days working on the FR-S, interspersed with family events and other activities, I finally have the suspension components installed on the FR-S.

350z Setup and Modifications for SCCA Autocross STU class

We’ll try to keep this list updated with current modifications, and a list of past modifications as well as we build and compete our 350z in the SCCA STU autocross...

Autocross 350z Modifications List

I realized recently that I didn’t have an ongoing list of modifications for the 350z. So I figured I should create one. The idea is that this will be continually...

What color should I wrap the 350z? You get to decide!

So I’ve wanted to do this for a while, and now I’m getting ready to pull the trigger.

Naked and famous

So the car is naked, well about as naked as it can be.

SPL control arms in BSP

So I finally heard back from SPL Parts regarding an email I sent a few weeks ago. I emailed them to ask if they could provide me the information on...

El Toro ProSolo Day 1

I just don’t have the energy to do a full writeup for the ProSolo today, and to be honest, it won’t happen Sunday, and likely not Monday either

Listen to the El Toro ProSolo Live

So today I did some testing with UStream and the FM Audio Broadcast at the El Toro ProSolo. I think I managed to come up with a way to broadcast...

Learning how to tune the suspension on a car

Have you ever wanted to learn how to tune the suspension on a car?

San Diego National Tour Autocross Runs

So here we are, one day after the tour and I have all 6 of my runs squared away on video. Now to get them blogged about, in order of...

San Diego National Tour Day 2

I was pretty down today. Going into the first set of runs I had a headache that didn’t seem to want to go away and I wasn’t happy with my...

San Diego National Tour Day 1

I’m worn out, so this will likely not be as long as it should be, but here’s a quick summary of the day today.

San Diego National Tour Practice Day

Today was a practice day at the San Diego National Tour. This morning I took part in the Evolution School advantage program, basically you get a ton of seat time...

GoPro Firmware Upgrade

So if you read my postings a month or two ago you know I had trouble with the GoPro firmware last time around. Ended up bricking the camera and having...

Alignment done, at least for the road trip

So I didn’t figure I was going to have time to do the alignment on the 350z over the next couple of days, and I wasn’t sure that I really...

Lowering the suspension in reverse

So today I went back at the suspension of the car.

The suspension is on!

So after a week of farting around with things the suspension is finally on the car!

Success! The bushings are removed from the upper control arms

Well, it just goes to show you. Having the right tool for a job is the key to getting the job done right.

OEM Bushing Update

Today I went to a machine shop (twice as he wasn’t open the first time) to try to have the bushings pressed out of the OEM upper control arms. Unfortunately...

Suspension, FAIL

No, the suspension didn’t break, but man did Murphy show up in full force today.

Suspension progress, none!

So I didn’t make any progress today, well not much at least. I spent the morning watching the baby while the wife got to get some much needed pampering time....

Weekend plans, suspension install on the Project 350z

It will likely be a full weekend for me, lots of suspension work to do on the car. Though the biggest task might be making room in the garage so...

Suspension plans, sort of

So I wasn’t able to find a part that would make the SPL Upper Control Arms legal for BSP yet, though I am still looking.

The suspension is here! Now to fix it

My birthday gift (early) from my wife showed up today (I have the best wife ever!), a new suspension (well new to me) for the 350z. There’s only one problem...

Top 10 PAX!

So I went to the autocross today, kind of a last minute thing, and boy am I glad I did.

Excellent customer service from GoPro

The night before an autocross, and I’m stoked for tomorrow, even if it rains (as forecasted). I got a replacement GoPro HD camera today in the mail.

350z Traction Control and Square Tires

So I experienced something while driving the 350z yesterday that I haven’t experienced in quite a while. Typically the 350z comes with a staggered tire setup, meaning that the front...

350z Autocross Tire Pressures

So with all the blogging I’ve done over the years I have been unable to find any posts where I mentioned tire pressures!

Weighing the 350z at the Divisional

So there’s been much debate (or really just many people telling me I am crazy) over on SCCAForums in the thread I started to discuss the proposed move of the...

Night before the Project 350z's first divisional

So today was a busy day, I had a lot to catch up on at work, training to provide internally, and a final to take this afternoon. After that I...

San Francisco Region SCCA Boondoggle 2011 Results

So today was the first day for a few things It was my first time running an autocross with the San Francisco Region of the SCCA. I must say things...

My GoPro HD Died

So I ran into a few issues today with my GoPro HD. I was working on the car, and was going to do another time lapse, even picked up a...

Prepping for the 350z Stud Install

I was going to do a blog post on ChrisHammond.com tonight with a video embedded that I took at the NASA Ames Research Center tweetup, but unfortunately the video I...

Nope those lug nuts won't fit

So I ran around Redwood City today over lunch, I needed to find some spacers and lug nuts to go along with the new studs that arrived today from Solo...

350z Tire/Wheel Fitment 18x10 inch 305 V710s

This evening after work I came home and cleared out the garage so that I could get the new wheels test fitted to see what all I was going to...

Wheels for a BSP 350z, ARP Studs, Sway Bars

So now that wheels and tires (used) are taken care of, at least for part of the season, I need to locate some longer/stronger wheel studs for the 350z.

350z BSP Parts Configuration

This post will be a continually updated (on project350z.com) list of parts (to buy) and configuration for the 350z preparation for SCCA Solo’s BSP (B street prepared) Class. If you’re...

Autocross Video from NorCalUFO 1/30/11

Sunday I partook in the NorCalUFO autocross, their second event of the year, my first attending since the baby was born in October. I got to the event and heard...

How do you travel with your video equipment?

So this isn’t the blog post I had intended to write today, but I think it’s a useful one nonetheless.

The 350z goes on a Diet

On Saturday the 350z went on a diet, losing (rough guess here) about 3% of it’s total weight.

Buying an Autocross Helmet

If you’re looking to buy an Autocross Helmet you should check out SoloPerformance.com

350z Trailer Hitch, Take 2

So for my 2003 350z I had a custom trailer hitch built by a friend in St. Louis. It was hefty, mounting with ubolts through the bottom of the bumper...

Injen Super SES Installation on the 350z

If you followed the blog post earlier this week you already know that Injen came through and got me the replacement midpipes for my Super SES Exhaust which I removed...

Injen Customer Service Update! It rocks!

So a while back now I complained that I wasn’t able to get any customer service from Injen Systems on the Super SES exhaust that was on my 350z when...

Race tire mounting in the San Francisco Bay Area (Peninsula)

So as I try to get ready for the 2011 autocross season I stopped into a tire shop the other day, the Les Schwab on El Camino in San Carlos,...

350Z Koni Shock Install

This post was originally posted on Solo2.org in June of 2004, but the site has gone away (it might come back) so the post was lost. I think I’ve corrected...

Look out, Vinyl Boy is back

So it has been over 2 years since I’ve had vinyl on a car, that will be changing in 2011. Look out for the upcoming transformation of the Project 350z!...

Unable to get any customer service from Injen Systems

So I’ve been trying for 4+ months now to get some customer service from Injen Systems for the Super SES Exhaust on my Nissan 350z that has a massive leak...

Buy a motor to build up?

So I am not sure where the 350z is ultimately headed. I think SSM in SCCA Autocross could be fun, though that will take some time and a lot of...

Injen Super SES exhaust removal, OEM 350z exhaust installation

If you’ve followed my struggles here on Project350z.com, you know by now that my 2004 350z came (when I purchased it in January 2010) with an Injen Super SES exhaust...

How do you get better at Autocross?

This is often a question that people will ask when they first start autocrossing, or in my case, when they resume autocrossing after two years of not competing. Additional questions...

Injen Exhaust for a 350z, Still Leaking

So I still have an exhaust leak in the Injen Super SES System on my 2004 Nissan 350z. And I must say, I’m not too happy about it. I blogged...

Our first California Autocross, with video and photos

So today was the first time I’ve ever autocrossed in California, and the first time the car has seen an event since our runs at the Colorado event in January....

Nismo Cold Air Intake for a 350z

So when the Project350z was purchased in Colorado back in January it had a Nismo Cold Air Intake on it. Shortly thereafter I moved to California, and guess what? The...

Where'd the 350z go?

So it’s been a while since I’ve done any updates here on Project350z.com, so here’s a quick update.

On the road again, temporary tag for smog

So this weekend while my beautiful wife was in town (haven’t seen her for three weeks!) I rented a car for the weekend? Why? Well, to be honest, the 350z...

Buying a modded car

Don’t do it! Unless you buy it from a friend and know exactly what they did!

Always good after a wash and a wax

It has been quite a while, over a year, since I really spent some time washing a waxing a vehicle. My how time has flown, last year we spent time...

Dropping Weight in the 350z, for STR (now BSP)

This blog post will be gradually updated over time as I figure out how to drop weight in the 350z prepping it for STR in 2010 BSP for 2011.

Wheels for a 350z in STR

So I’m slowly starting to figure out what I need to do to get the car ready for the 2010 Autocross season. I’ve been looking around, reading the 2010 SCCA...