I wouldnt automatically assume you need an ECU reflash. You need to remember that hp numbers can vary as much as 30hp between dyno machines. You could very well take your car to another dyno and get 270hp.

So what's the point?

Well, you needed to dyno your car BEFORE all those mods on THAT SAME MACHINE. You say you got 254hp, but what we dont know is how much of an increase over stock that is. Manual transmission Zs average 236hp, but that is an AVERAGE. Yours could have been 220hp stock, in which case that would be a 34hp increase. Since dyno machines vary so much between machine and machine, the only MEANINGFUL comparison is your own car, stock, on that machine, versus your own car, with mods, on that same machine. Only then you will know the true effect of the mods.

As for ECU reflash, don't assume you are running lean. When you dyno, get an air/fuel ratio reading. If you are running lean, then that is one thing - if you are not, then chances are an ECU reflash is not going to make a dramatic hp increase, especially $600 worth.

 

not sure why you are disappointed, it sounds about right assuming your AFR is where it should be. Some cars are stronger than others- but the only way to really gauge your dyno runs is to plot it against (hopefully) another Z done on that dyno - at least that would let you know where you stand relatively thinking

Again guys, dyno numbers are a pretty meaningless figure as a be all and end all determination about how much power you are making - it is a relative indicator

 

The numbers I'm seeing aren't bad at all. With just the GReddy EVO2 and RT Cats, I pulled a 238.7 RWHP / 233.1 TQ (SAE corrected) on the dyno today. A/F came in at 13.5 across two runs with a sniffer (don't have WB O2). Honestly, with the manufacturers "claimed gains" on these mods, I was hoping for closer to 250 RWHP. The uncorrected number was 246.9, but it was cold, so the baro. pressure was likely up.

 

wait what kind of dyno? 263hp 231tq in 4th gear.... this was on a dynapack. at racetune in hayward, ca...... i lost my print out, but i will get another sheet from him when i come back into town. racetune.net is a place to check...

 

The ONLY mod that will really make a difference, an astonishing improvement is upgrading the Bose or standard factory system . I spent about $3K for my complete upgrade, including hard wired Ipod, and XM. Kept the factory head unit. Bi-amped the six speakers and installed a great sub. in the factory location. The only visible sound system mod are the tweeters mounted at the base of the A pillars. The XM antenna is under the shock tower brace (got that help from this site) Money well spent.
It, the money, will NEVER come back, but cars are toilets for money. This mod adds a huge enjoyment factor to driving this delicious car.
PS: I also added 18” Nismos, the short s2000 antenna, lastly medium tint.

 

Well $h!t...I'll bet that thing just flies! Nice hijack.

 

It looks like Nissan did a great job giving us a very well tuned VQ motor thus less than desired hp gains via mods.....

 

u'll never get huge gains from just boltons, unless u already have f/i or u're runnin a huge engine. sorry, guys, but it just isn't goin to happen.

 

never say never. there is a santa claus, and his middle name is crawford...

 

how do you think I feel. first dyno today with my HKS kit and only put down 267;. I was loosing boost somewere.

 

thats seems right to me. Maybe a little low but that could be a number a factors.

 

i think u r about where you should be with your mods; just be glad u r not in sentry65's sit.
Sentry, have you been dynoing all along after each major mod? Are you lean? seems like sumthin's very wrong with your setup.

 

No kidding... lol

Adam (VandyZ's) car is a pure Crawford example... dyno'd high 230s... made low 260s with a stock y-pipe and exhaust.

People, there is plenty of power to be made!!!!

 

I am running lean. 1st dyno I was detonating. 2nd dyno I was still in the 14-15ish range, but not detonating.

I never did do a base dyno, but there's a lot of fairly stock Z's that have been to the dyno and their numbers are within normal spec,like 230-235rwhp stock with the "normal" kinda lean A/F

I suppose I'm stupid for doing what I did. I had performance nissan put pretty much all of my mods on at once minus the intake and plenum. I was trying to save on install fees. I figured being bolt on parts, it was a shoe in for a decent hp increase and then stopped by technosquare for the flash. Immediatly got a check engine light after the flash and got to AZ, dynoed and I was running from 18 gradually down to 14 at redline for my A/F

I'm asking technosquare to put the stock ECU setting back on and see if I'm running better with the stock ECU. I know my engine started misfiring soon after I had the reflash so I think it's the TS ECU causing my problems at this point. Might be a combo of things though - makes me wish I did put one part on at a time...

 

Sentry,
you should have the fastest na z on this planet, based on your mods, which are a oneofthesedays wish list for me.
what does performance say?
have you talked to crawfordz?
you have the best na mods under the sun including a ts reflash, and you got those numbers? you need an expert to diagnose your problem.
Good luck; i'll be watching this thread.

 

You gained about 20 rwhp considering most stock z's dyno in the 230's. That is about right considering the mods you have done, this car is not going to respond to mods like an 03 cobra. My suggestion is to have fun with it, and dont worry too much about the numbers! My money spent to hp gained ratio is about 188:1; so for every 188 dollars that I have spent, I have gained 1 hp! Definitely not the biggest bang for the buck, but I am having a blast doing it.

 

wow 278 RWHP NA. That's really good.

 

You've gotta take a dyno graph lightly these days.
Also, and ecu reflash may not help as much asyou guys think. There are gains to be had, don't get me wrong, but i think that it's hyped up WAY more than what it really will do.

 

I think I'm a rare example that has actually gotten some gain from just about everything I've added - not huge gains by any means, but overall, everything has been working great together - after an ECU reflash and maybe a 350EVO throttle body, I should be knocking on 270whp (I dynoed 261hp/246tq after my header install with my GReddy exhaust, resonated test pipes - now those have been swapped out with the Injen and high-flow cats, so I'm curious to see how the curves have changed)

Cams are the only other "big" mod I'm considering, but I still haven't decided if it's worth the price of admission...

And it's the funniest thing when I hear people talk about how F/I is the biggest bang for the buck... why don't you ask all those people with blown engines about the only "bang" they got! definitely a risk that many people (myself included) do not want to take... it's easily a $10-12k minimum project to get an F/I system with a fully-built engine (even then, there's no guarantees)

 

I dynoed 224/220 stock btw, so that's a 37HP/26TQ gain over stock with Intake/Plenum/Pulley/Headers/Res-TPs/Exhaust (about $3k+/- invested)