Hello I have a 03 350z VQ35DE motor not rev up not HR. Only mods now is a K&N drop in and a Stillen catback exhaust

I Want more power out of the Z -- WHAT Performance MODS will give a gain without breaking the bank? Want to stay under $1k or 1.5k

I know FI i the best for power, but that would be in the future if I did it.

Are the Below good/bad choices? What else?

1-- LMT limpmode or admintuning big intake OR popcharger & Z-tube? Which better?
2-- 5/16 motordyne plenum spacer
3-- TUNE in Socal -- Osiris/nismo knights tune or Church autmotive?
4-- ? Test/mid pipes? ART/Berk? Not worth it? Too loud?
5-- OTHER????

Links:
==POPCHARGER: https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Wolf-P350.../dp/B007VSYNXY
==ZTUBE https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-pro...pe-p-3929.html
==ADMIN INTAKE http://www.administrationtuning.com/...DE-p/mafde.htm
==LMT INTAKE https://www.nedautoparts.com/product...ning-4-intake?
variant=11235362949
==PLENUM SPACER https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-pro...er-p-2854.html

 

If your in California I would think your choices are limited to 50 states legal parts... Aka no test pipes, or even high flow cats that are not going to be legal in that state...

Nothing is going to make a huge difference... But if you have money burning a hole in your pocket get a kinetix manifold... Aka plenum and a pop charger...

 

Driving school. Best mod. Available to swap with any other cars. And under 1k.

 

A tune will be 700 by itself. You will not get anything big with bolt ons.

For perspective, i spent 3400 on bolt ons to get 17 whp.

If you want big power, it will cost you 2 years of your burger flipping salary to pay for it

/thread

 

Get lightweight wheels and extreme summer performance tires.

 

Forget bolt-ons if you're staying NA - not worth it. Sure, change out the exhaust for sound but look more towards weight reduction (lighter wheels/seats/etc.), tires, and suspension.

 

Not to mention, you prob have a high mileage tired motor.

I would do basic maintenance, plugs, coil packs, all new fluids, shocks before i did anything else

 

Everything above.


+1 that.

$1,000 ain't ganna get you much especially N/A.

I agree tho a track ticket and possibly a driving school will make your car 10x faster than anything else you mentioned.

 

Plz stop buying these. Find an 06 airbox or get a CAI. Popchargers make power for the 30 seconds you have the car cold on a dyno.
Buy new tires. Change oil. Change fluids. Change bushings. All this will make you car faster than bolt ons will.

 

I dont think their is much thats going to improve on the stock air box... Just look at it, its probably one of the most non restrictive stock airboxes available in a car... What it does do it muffle the sound of the air getting sucked in...

The pop charger (or any other intake) just adds a little to the fun factor when your sitting in the Costco parking lot waiting for everyone and their sister to push their carts out of your way... You can hit the gas and it sounds like if you dumped the clutch your car would actually move....

And once you get that opportunity to go thats almost what needs to happen.

The new wheels and tires was the best suggestion.

 

1. track time
2. 4.08 gearing

 

Meh on gearing.... i dont like the higher rpm. I would do 3.7 gears to meet in middle though

 

The Administration 3.5" intake
Motordyne 5/16 Plenum Spacer
NWP throttle body


wait for more money after that then get yourself some rpm longtube headers and a tomei single exit

wait some more and get a tune and be happy

 

He would need a tune with intake, plenum, and tb... would be lean

 

I totally appreciate all those advocating for seat time and learning/improving oneself through a pro but honestly, people, it's a lost cause. I've been saying this for 38 years (including the past two years here) and not one person has come back saying "You're right.... I went and WTF....where I been before this?" because apparently most don't believe that a $3500 investment (YES, INVESTMENT) in ones own abilities is better than a bunch of useless hardware upgrades because its "cooler" to tell everyone what you've got under the hood.

All the hardware upgrades in the world don't mean jack without improving the software that runs on it.

 

Glad I don't drive my car on a dyno, in the real world with real airflow you actually have hotter air till you start moving. Once you start moving, you get the same temp air as a stick airbox but with less restriction. Since my car is not raced from a standstill, I like extra power once I'm moving, Popcharger is a great mod

 

he'll be fine, he can't put the 3.5 on without a tune anyway

 

Save your $. There are things you can do for $1k which will make the car perform and feel better. Sway bars, lightweight wheels, good tires, replace worn suspension bushings/shocks, etc. You obviously can't do all that for $1k, but hopefully, you get the idea.

 

This is so true. The only "mods" I've done are the Spec Z sways and the Kinetix arms. I have spent way more money on track time. The money spent on learning to drive is by far the best thing you can put your money towards.

MicVelo is 100% correct. Take that money and spend it on a NASA HPDE or a SCCA PDX weekend. It's the most fun you will have and definitely the best way to spend your money.

 

But does it come with a cool sticker?