Not looking to spend alot of money. I decided to go for a few cheap bolt ons. Its my first time actually doing any upgrades other than suspension so I need to know if im wasting my time or not... Im hoping to get maybe ROUGHLY 30hp. I drive a 03 touring.

Intake:
-5/16inch plenum spacer ($100)
-09 Maxima Throttle Body 75mm (~$250 incl adapter)
-The cheapest intake I could find that'll do its job right. ($??)

Exhaust:
-Y-Pipe ($??)
-Hi-flow Catalytic Converters (< $100)

My biggest concern is with the exhaust. How will it perform with only those 2 components replaced? Ive been reading that the y-pipe and cats are really restricting on flow so I want to replace them with hi-flow parts, but will I still get performance gains if the rest of my exhaust remains stock? How many "Dope" and "illest" stickers can I put on my car to help? jk about the last part

Oh yeah and a tune of corse

 

Then dont
Let it be, save your money...
+0hp
+0hp
-3hp
+2hp
+3hp
Not well...
best bet
second best bet...

 

My best hp mods based on my but dyno.
Hks replica true dual. $250
Berk HFC $450.
Lighter wheels.

 

And every two years, get underneath it and swap the out the cats for stock right after re-flashing the ECM back too.

#drivingschool

Seriously, if you think the car is great stock then take it to its potential.

But that's just me.

 

To get 30 hp you will need the spacer, an exhaust, the cats, a y pipe, an intake and a good tune. Chances are, you will be closer to 15 hp increase and need headers and a few other parts.

Btw, hit and mis if you pass smog in Cali with HFC

 

bealljk, what makes you think that plenum spacer and throttle body wont give gains? Tons of people are doing both these mods... Why do you think they redid both those components for the newer version motors?

 

If you have money to spend on the car im sure it will tell you exactly what it wants you to buy for it sooner than later. It is 13 years old with ???k miles probably in it... When was the last time you changed the spark plugs, the battery, the brake pads, the hatch struts, the window motor, etc etc etc... If the car needs new cats get high flow cats, if its time for a new air filter stick a pop charger on... But if it's fine as is and your in a budget I wouldn't bother.

 

Has 153k...Everything you listed has been changed relatively recent except for shocks which I am in the process for planning for. I realize its an old car but a few hundred bucks isnt much and the installs are easy so its worth it to me..

Good lookin out Trav, I will look into which cats will pass smog and such..

 

Don't cheap out on the bolt-ons. You can find some good quality, used HFCs on the cheap if you do your research.
A tune is going to be the biggest help for anything.

 

i agree with Terra, 15 ish is more realistic.... i didnt get 30 on my hr will full bolt ons

 

They make them just for suckers like you. Save your $.

 

They never added volume on the 06' plenum, they changed runner length for more HP on top. HR was only completely reworked for the dual throttle bodies.

Biggest intake bottle neck on the DEs is the bend on the top of the plenum anyhow. You wont gain much until that is dealt with no matter what you do.

 

And hows that working out for them? listening to 'tons' of 350z owners you will almost no-where...

well said...

But Dave - I whole-heartly invite you to prove me stupid...

Step 1. go dyno your car exactly how it sits today
Step 2. Go get your new intake(spacer, throttle body, cone air filter) and re-dyno
Step 3. Compare the two
Step 4. Go get your new exhaust setup and re-dyno
Step 5. Compare the three
Step 6. Go get a tune, re-dyno
Step 7. Compare the four

I'm dead-serious about this - start a build thread and see how it comes out!

 

I gained 30hp from baseline dyno after motordyne 5/16" plenum spacer, pop charger, berk hfc's and borla dual exhaust and a tune from hal@dynosty.

 

i doubt that is a true number, but if you are happy that is all that matters..


dyno dynamics dynos are easily manipulated to show higher number

 

I spent a bunch of money "upgrading" my previous car, a Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS. On went the AEM CAI, the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, the ported throttle and other stuff I can't even remember but was told was "an awesome mod." In the end, nothing really changed about the performance of the car. It was fun before I spent the money and it was just as fun after. In the end, the most I got out of it was the pleasure of working on my own car.

The one mod that actually gave me a significant improvement in ride quality was a new KYB AGX adjustable suspension and some OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels that went an inch wider than stock with some nice Yokohamas on them. The car's handling was NOTICABLY improved after that. If you're going to change anything on a limited budget and you don't want to go FI, start there.

 

I put on the V+ plenum... It gets me to the casino 2 minutes slower now... But I thought it was worth the extra $ over the spacer... I would probably get a velocity manifold if I did it again. It has pretty much bad reviews but looks awesome and will go good with my supercharger once I win this powerball tonight.

 

First mod. Sway bars. I wish I did them from the beginning. I could not believe how much it changed my car.

 

Completely true. I'm not a believer in the big bore throttle body upgrade for this reason.

 

My best hp mods based on my but dyno.