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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

good mods for an 03 NA Automatic Z?

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Old 04-12-2011, 05:14 PM
  #41  
phreaktor
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^This is SOUND advice.
Old 04-12-2011, 08:32 PM
  #42  
-TrtleSpeedZ-
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Originally Posted by Entaille
short of FI the only 'performance' mod worth doing on an auto Z is a gear swap to 3.7 - 4.1. you won't really feel anything else unless you are doing a complete engine build.

if I could go back in time I wouldn't have picked up an auto Z at all, but if I was still stuck with that decision, I would have avoided the bolt on N/A mods all together. huge waste of money. I had an intake/plenum/high flow cats/dual exhaust/osiris + dyno tune and my car didn't feel any faster than stock. I gear swapped from 3.3 to 3.5 and damn, THAT was noticeable and more fun to drive.

wheels, suspension/handling, aero and paint. FI or bust.
what makes a gear swap better? and is it better to do instead of a VB upgrade or can i have both.
Old 04-14-2011, 08:49 AM
  #43  
-TrtleSpeedZ-
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any answers for my last question?
Old 04-14-2011, 10:02 AM
  #44  
pcressey
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Originally Posted by -TrtleSpeedZ-
any answers for my last question?
Gear swap is better because it is relatively inexpensive and you will "feel" it more than anything else.

Imagine you are on a bike... from a dead stop you start off in a low gear (they are the bigger gears), you will accelerate much faster than if you started in a higher gear.

Of course the con to gearing your car is you will sacrifice top speed... not that you really need to go 160. If you do a lot of highway traveling you will probably see a drop in gas mileage, as your RPMs will be higher in your final gear.
Old 04-14-2011, 10:03 AM
  #45  
trodis
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Originally Posted by -TrtleSpeedZ-
what makes a gear swap better? and is it better to do instead of a VB upgrade or can i have both.
increase torque multiplication for gears and VB will make your shifts much quicker
Old 04-14-2011, 10:23 AM
  #46  
infamous350
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You do gain with na mods not alot but i went from 248whp to 271whp after a tune of course. and i have Intake , exhaust , test pipes and plenum spacer. I feel like it made a big difference my car is def quicker. GOt a jwt clutch and flywheel at home then i am installing headers and getting it re tuned . I think if you just do bolt ons wiht no tune you probobly wouldnt gain much. I installed everything and got it tuned the next day with uprev

Last edited by infamous350; 04-14-2011 at 10:25 AM.
Old 04-14-2011, 12:06 PM
  #47  
terrasmak
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A 3.5 gearset is really cheap to get (3rd member, bolt in ) and if you look around you may be able to get one for under $1k with a real LSD.

I would do 3.5 or 3.7 gears, 3.9 is a little to much IMO for a street driven AT daily car. Then 3.7 or 3.9 for the 6mt crowd. I went 3.7, someday i want 3.5 and 3.9 all in 3rd members with proper LSD's that i can easily swap depending on the track.
Old 04-16-2011, 06:58 AM
  #48  
reserved
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Give some thought also to some Works Bell paddle shifters. It is probably the mod I have enjoyed more than any other in my 5AT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8buyz...eature=related
Old 05-31-2011, 09:33 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by pcressey
NONE. All mods on NA setups will yield no noticeable horsepower gains. All noticeable gains, or claimed gains are simply known as the placebo effect.

Exceptions would be doing a fully built motor, but then you would be spending $10k plus, so might as well go FI at that point.

Enjoy your car for what it is.
what is a NA setup?
Old 05-31-2011, 11:17 AM
  #50  
superchargedg
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Originally Posted by CleanFairladyZ
what is a NA setup?
naturally aspirated like the factory VQ
Old 05-31-2011, 11:44 AM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by superchargedg
naturally aspirated like the factory VQ
wow im retarted for not making that connection. but then whats FI and HR that i hear all over the place?
Old 05-31-2011, 12:37 PM
  #52  
Corbic
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Originally Posted by pcressey
Enjoy your car for what it is.
A RWD Eclipse.
Old 05-31-2011, 12:41 PM
  #53  
Corbic
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Originally Posted by CleanFairladyZ
wow im retarted for not making that connection. but then whats FI and HR that i hear all over the place?
VQ engines in the 350Z came as.

VQ35DE - refereed to as "DE", they make 287hp.
VQ35DE "Rev Up" known as RU, they make 300hp
VQ35HR - or "High Rev", these make "306hp" in the new system

DE and RU engines put down around 240-245whp while the HR puts down around 275-280whp. HR's also have stronger internals and can handle 500whp unlike their Mini-Van cousins which struggle at 400whp.


FI is Forced Induction, its Turbos and Superchargers as your forcing Air into the car.
Old 05-31-2011, 04:24 PM
  #54  
kswoopz26
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intake/exhaust/VB upgrade/plenum spacers..imo

dont forget about suspension
Old 05-31-2011, 05:49 PM
  #55  
ashram
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I would look at a motordyne 5/16 plenum spacer and art pipes. both these
mods seem to get great reviews from there owners. I had a 5/16 spacer on my 03 de fore about a week, before the car was totalled.

It was the first engine mod i had done to my car and i really enjoyed while it lasted lol. If your looking to go fi and not wanting to spend alot on upgrading the tranny. I would look at a hks stage 0 supercharge. It'll get you about 300 whp and wont put to much strees on your tranny.

Ive seen this kit as low as $3500, I know the whp isn't high compared to other fi kits but again its less stress on your tranny and 300 whp should be plenty of fun fore a daily driver.
Old 05-31-2011, 06:45 PM
  #56  
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turbo/SC
Old 06-02-2011, 12:50 PM
  #57  
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LSD, Gears and a Transgo shift kit, call it a day!!!
Old 06-02-2011, 09:06 PM
  #58  
dfresh713
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Stay away from bolt ons. They are a waste of money and add no perfromance or value to your Z. Also, if you plan on selling your car 9/10 buyers will not be interested in a car with bolt ons.
Old 06-03-2011, 09:55 PM
  #59  
CleanFairladyZ
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Originally Posted by reserved
Give some thought also to some Works Bell paddle shifters. It is probably the mod I have enjoyed more than any other in my 5AT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8buyz...eature=related
That looks awesome. Period. But what happens to the stock sequential shift thats normally there? do you change that too? How much did that run you?
Old 06-04-2011, 08:35 AM
  #60  
z_mini
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is it even possible to SC or Turbo an auto Z ?

Yes it is,

Get paddles shifters, no gain in power but fun to drive. I have them fit with my oem steering wheel.


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