Ok guys, sorry if I put this in the wrong place... I didnt really know where a general understanding of what's good to do to these cars belonged. Story goes like this: I own a Mustang, and my brother just got an 03 350Z... enthusiast model. I consider myself a car guy when it comes to Mustangs, but have no idea how I can help him out with this car since Im not really in the import scene of the whole car thing. He wants to mod this thing (rightfully so) and I figured Id try to learn a little to help him out. So, what are some good starting power mods and what brands are good brands. I havnt really heard of anything past injen for intakes, and dont even know how good those are so anything you can tell me would be great. Also, maybe some exhaust recommendations? Im assuming some flowmasters wont sound too great on a Z car so what sounds good without that ting sound you hear from every kid on the block with a civic? Magnaflow, dynomax, etc? Do they have that stuff in the import market? Also, past the basic bolt ons, what are some ways to get quicker accelleration/power. Are gear swaps popular with these things? How bout cam/intake/head swaps?

I really know nothing of these cars, so please help me out guys... much appreciated.

 

I would say most common bolt-on mods are JWT popcharger (air intake), plenum spacer (or entire plenum), and full exhaust/headers. Most common exhaust I would say are Nismo, HKS, Greddy, and Borla. The exhaust all depends on how much your looking to spend or what type of sound your looking for.

 

He has been reading on this site a lot... figured Id ask some questions too. I was unaware me wanting to help him out was frowned upon here.


For you guys that have posted so far, thanks. About the plenum spacer... are we talking about a spacer between the upper and lower intakes? If so, do those actually do something on these cars? I know intake spacers on my car are a worthless waste of money Do temps get that hot on these things?

Also, what options are out there in terms of hi-flow cats? Is it better to just go with a catless pipe (no emissions testing) or would a hi-flow cat flow well enough while keeping the sound sounding good?

 

For intake, JWT Popcharger & Motordyne plenum spacer will be the initial mods you'd like to consider. For exhaust, replacing the cats with test pipes and installing an after-market y-pipe will be a good start. These mods will cost you less than $1K and your bro will immediately feel the gains in HP & TQ.

BTW, your bro has good taste in getting himself a Z . . .

 

Id have to agree.. its a sweet car. 2003 enthusiast model with like 24k miles on it. I got to take it on a lil test drive, and that lil sucker pulls great. It had a lot more torque than I would have expected... I wouldnt mind having one for myself

 

race him with your stang and see what happens

 

Haha, id love to sometime granted we stay out of the twisties The stang got rear ended a couple weeks ago so its under the knife right now at a body shop... but when I get it back out Im sure my bro would be up for some friendly competition. Hopefully his rear tires will hold though lol... those little 235s look like bicycle tires sitting next to my 305's :lol:


Nah, Im always up for some competition... I have no problem with Z cars, theyre sweet lil rides.

 

hey we should meet up, i go to Lawrence almost everyday for my KU class. Hard to meet a Z people around here,

If he looking for basic mod, try the Spacer, JWT pop charger, Nismo Cam, maybe an exhaust and a good tuning....should get him atlease 30-40 hp at the crank

 

Well, I dont drive the Z.. its my brothers and he lives in Iowa ( Im here for school as well ). But, Id be happy to meet up sometime... I just like car people in general. If its in the next couple weeks though, ill be in a 3000gt since like I said, the stangs under the knife.

YOu might have seen my mustang around town though...

 

yeah, i saw you quite a bit. You sound like a cool guy, next time i see you i'll wave at ya Wow, a 3000GT and a Mustang, you have quite a bit of nice cars. Yeah, we could meet up sometime....right now school is so freaking busy when i getting toward the end of semester.

hope you get your Mustang fix soon

Oh, yeah here my car pic

 

i see know one aswered your question about the plenum spacer see on the z the front 2 pistons are starved from air it will make a different one of the best mods to do on the z gives you i beilive 10-15hp i beilieve the aam angled one is real good not sure i been wanting to do that mod i only here good things about it i would say he should start with the plenum spacer, jwt pop charger , and some resonated test pipes

 

Tell you brother to sell his soul....cuz when he sees what parts cost for these cars VS a mustang or any other car for that matter...he's gonna sh*t a brick.

 

hahaha that bad huh?

 

Holy run on sentence batman!

 

sweet 5.0 man! i had an 89 vert that i worked on. i had a great time. i also owned a 96 cobra with 30k miles on it and it was laser red. right now i have an 01 GT and my 05 ZR. you are one of the few that have a 5.0 cobra! i would love to get my hands on a 93 cobra! hell, ill take an 03/04 cobra too!

 

Cool man, yeah I wouldnt mind having an 03/04 cobra either. Of course, I eventually want to put a kenne bell twin screw on this mustang, so I think she'll be able to hold her own soon


Thanks for all the help guys, now Ive got a few ideas of what good things to do to these 350z's are.

 

if it is paid for and you can spare another engine if necessary, drop in a DP nitrous set up from NX, easiest way to go fast in a straight line on a low budget. You can smoke just about anything out there with a 125-ish shot (safety and reliability are out of the question though)

 

I was actually wondering about nitrous on these things. Do they have fogger kits for them too or is direct port the way to go? Whats a safe number going the nitrous route on these cars? I know on my car I wont go over a 125 wet shot....

 

The Z loves the juice, stick to a wet shot, 100-125 max and your golden... If you go to the engine tech there is a whole nitrous section with tons of info on kits ect.

Nice 5.0... I love the Z but I miss my ol' 93' coupe, I killed a many LS1 with my little 5.0 and a 125 shot It was a lot faster in a straight line than the Z but it was scary trying to take a turn, or stopping especially with the fats and skinnies