Okay so I am shooting for 300whp by stage 3, thats everything but the supercharger. What do you guys think of this plan? Anything wrong with it, need to be added, or any brands you would change? Particularly, which exhaust should I go with for max power and min noise? Thanks

Crawford V5 Intake Plenum - $395
Crawford Headers - $1150

JWT Billet Camshaft set - $1050
JWT Lightweight Flywheel - $395

UR Racing Pulley set - $350

NGK Iridium plugs - $ 80

EVO/Pro Flow Throttle Body - $ 295.95 / 230

Grounding Kit - $ 90

Injen CAI - $ 240-260

Stillen/Greddy/Borla/HKS Catback Exhaust - $ 1150 / 1025 / 719 / 1470

TS ECU flash - $595





Stage 1

Intake
Cat-Back Exhaust
Grounding Kit
Pulleys
TS ECU Flash

Stage 2

Plenum
Flywheel
Headers
Throttle body
TS ECU update

Stage 3

Cams
TS ECU update

Stage 4

Supercharger

 

cool

FYI, you might get close to 300whp, but probably won't get there or past that until you get a supercharger

 

Good plan. I'd also add Crawford high flow cats in step 1 or 2 since you'll be doing exhaust / header work. Might want to put the APS exhaust on your list for a bit more variety. It's supposed to be good.

 

if you're going to get the s/c then you shouldn't bother with the cai and the pulley set (i believe the pulley set robs boost). also the grounding kit is debatable if it really does anything or not. you should also definitely get a set of test pipes (resonated preferably) or high flow cats (if you have emissions testing), as the cats seem to be the bottleneck in the exhaust system.

 

About the pulleys and intake, I want to do them first because the supercharger is debatable still. I may (hopefully) find that the hp and speed I get from the N/A will be enough to satisfy me. So that's why I put those in there. And a quick question, can I update the TS ECU regularly like I have in those stages, or do I have to keep paying the $595 each time? I hope I can just send it in and say "yo I got these mods too, here is the dyno, update please."

Thanks guys, editing the list right now, keep the comments and suggestions coming!

 

TS won't charge you a full $595 to update your A/F

 

How much do they charge per update? I may put that off until I stage 2 if it is too pricey. I am trying to buy only the best parts, with some but little regard to price. I can wait and save up if that is what it takes for quality. So if you think its wiser that I wait, let me know, I just thought the updates would be cheap enough that I could go ahead and get the chip at stage 1. Thanks again.

 

their site says $150 for a major update

You won't be needing the update until your stage 2 anyway - i mean as far as getting your A/F in check. You'll need to dyno your car beforehand, then asap when you get your ECU back from them to check what your A/F is in your location


you should try to get some sort of handling mods in there sometime - maybe at least some sway bars - they're not too expensive

 

Okay I've decided on Borla True Dual exhaust, and I won't get the TS ECU until stage 2. Now can anyone here compare the EVO throttle body to the Pro Flow? and what about the Crawford plenum vs. Kinetix? Thanks.

 

https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exhaust/114677-kinetix-v5-plenum-cracked.html

crawford or the APS one when it's released seem to be less hassle/worrysome

 

If you get the Crawford plenum, you have to et their or another company's strut bar which is about an extra $180ish I think. I would go with the Kinetix plenum, it looks better and you save some money by not replacing the strut bar. Please folks, lets not go into ANOTHER crawford vs Kinetix debate. I think everyone is sick of it. IMO, the Kinetix V4 or newer plenums are good and reliabel so far. So, if you have the extra cash, get a crawford plenum, if you want to use the extra cash on a mod, get the Kinetix plenum.

You can get the Iridium plugs from Intense Motorsports for $9.95 each, thats where I just bought mine.

Dont waste time with a CAI, just get the JWT Popcharger. They are about $110-120 versus $250ish. Save the cash and get another mod. Oh yeah, none of them really do that much anyway so get whatever is cheapest.

Also, you can get an AAM reflash for around $500 instead of the $600 that TS wants.

I guess if I had it to do all over again, I wouldnt waste time and money on bolt-ons which do little to our cars. I would just spend the money you are going to spend to get 300 HP and get a Vortech SC which should put you around 360-380ish.

I have all the bolt-ons listed in my sig and last night I purchased my gauges, plugs and oil pan spacer for the upcoming Vortech install.

Zach

 

when pricing these things out, you might find out about install costs.

When I price out my mods, I include the aproximate install price - and always round up

so in your case it would read like this including install/tax/shipping/etc:

Crawford V5 Intake Plenum - $400 - (no install fee if you're installing cams or DIY)
Crawford Headers - $1700
JWT Billet Camshaft set - $2000
JWT Lightweight Flywheel - $750
UR Racing Pulley set - $450
NGK Iridium plugs - $ 120
EVO/Pro Flow Throttle Body - $ 300 (no install fee if you're installing cams or DIY)
Grounding Kit - $ 90 - DIY
Injen CAI - $ 240-260 DIY or 100 for install
Stillen/Greddy/Borla/HKS Catback Exhaust - $ 1150 / 1025 / 719 / 1470 - pick one and add about $70
TS ECU flash - $595 plan on adding about $150-200 to pay for overnighting your ECU back and forth a few times until the A/F is right

I agree about getting the JWT intake instead of a CAI. It's more of a hassle to change/clean the filter on a CAI, if you drive thru water, you can potentially screw your engine cause the intake is so low, it gets dirtier, it offers no performance gain over the JWT, it's heavier, and it costs more.

AAM or TS ECU - well that's up for debate

plenum, well that's up for debate. You could just get a spacer and save a lot of money. IMO I wouldn't use the Kinetix with FI - especially since people are saying the V5's are even cracking. I'd rather just not mess with dealing with a plenum that potentially cracks. It's a good plenum, but the crawford/APS isn't all that much more and guarenteed to be rock solid. The APS will potentially be more flexible with adding additional fuel injectors if needed - for high HP cars.

 

Put $90 in your pocket - for gas, food, whatever. Pass on the grounding kit.

 

Please for the love of God tell me you aren't gonna pay somebody to install an upper intake plenum? o.O
(surely you can find a torque wrench to use for 2 minutes)

I think I found enough tools in my neighbor's back yard to install the JWT pop-charger

 

REVISED.... No grounding kit, no pulleys because I want to supercharge, still debating the ECU Flash, and the plenum. If I could get some more advice on those I'd really appreciate it. Oh and also could someone let me know the differences in the two throttle bodies? And whether or not you would go with crawford headers or just something else that's cheaper? I know it has been discussed, I'm only looking for opinions here so that I can put together a nice list before I spend a dollar, something I can do and not look back and say "I wish I saved on this or I wish I spent more on that..." I hope this list will help a lot of other new people out when it's done.


Crawford V5 Intake Plenum - $395 <-- Compatible with supercharger?
Crawford Headers - $1150 <-- Worth it?

JWT Billet Camshaft set - $1050 <-- Any better kits?
JWT Lightweight Flywheel - $395 <--Tilton flywheel/clutch or this?

NGK Iridium plugs - $ 80

EVO/Pro Flow Throttle Body - $ 295.95 / 230 <-- Which of these?

Pop Charger - $109

Borla TD Catback Exhaust - $ 719 <--Cheaper price anywhere?

ECU flash - $? <--AAM or TS?

Supercharger - $? <-- Which systems do you like most?



Stage 1

Intake
Cat-Back Exhaust
Plenum
Throttle body

Stage 2

Flywheel
Clutch
Headers
Cams
ECU Flash

Stage 3

Supercharger

 

Just curious...why are you leaning towards supercharger over something like an APS or Turbonetics single turbo? Price won't be much higher and you'll have more power. Either kit should get you to 400 rwhp fairly easily from what I've read.

A couple things to point out: Turbos replace any headers, but you can use any upper plenum you like. The single turbo kits will use their own high flow cats (if you choose that option), so your current cats get replaced.

I would encourage you to look at a single turbo option for your forced induction. The money you *don't* spend now on headers and high flow cats because you're going turbo later can help offset some of the cost of the turbo kit. Also, you could keep the stock exhaust until you decide which kit you're going to get. I think APS will have their own exhaust to mate up to their single turbo.

Finally, you could just get the "limited spec" TS reflash (to raise your rev limiter) and save some more bucks towards the turbo kit since the APS kit uses a unichip piggyback for tuning. Turbonetics uses a TS reflash which might cost less if you already have a limited spec flash.

 

I have always heard that superchargers are safer (if I'm wrong tell me), and I am not looking to be the fastest Z out there. I REALLY care about having a safe engine, with quality parts that won't die. That's why I'm looking for the sturdiest, least obnoxious sounding, and highest power output combination that I can find. I will definately sacrifice 75 horsepower for added reliability. Once I hit 350+ wheel horsepower, I will be totally satisfied. I also don't want to buy one mod, change it for a better one, then take it off for FI. I did this a lot with my M3 that I just got rid of, and don't want to do it again. I've only had this Z for a few days, so I'm not in a big rush to get it done, I want to take this post as far as it will go until a really nice list is put together, something powerful and safe. And so far it is really making good progress, thank you all very very much.

 

Yes, the Crawford, Kinetix and APS plenums are compatible with all SC EXCEPT the Stillen one. The Stillen SC is a roots type SC. I guess I would probably agree to go with the Crawford or APS plenum over the Kinetix one, but I already have the Kinetix and I am going with the Vortech within a month or so. So we will see how it holds up.

From what I have heard, the Crawford headers are the best on the market so I would say they are well worth it. Like someone said earlier, you should also get a set of high flow cats like the Crawford ones. If doing the headers and catback, you gotta open the rest of it up!!

I think the Proflow TB is cheaper than the 350EVO one but I am not sure. I know more people are running the EVO TB.

As stated before, I am going with the Vortech SC. It is fully tunable. You cant go with the HKS SC because it is not tunable and it wont run right with the mods you plan on doing. I wouldnt go with the Stillen because I have heard their customer service is horrible and its numbers are too low for my liking. The ATI Procharger was what I was originally going to go with but I have heard of several blown engines due to running it. There are also some other issues with the Procharger, do a search.

Zach

 

Yet again, revised. Thanks very much guys this list is really coming along, and I hope it helps a lot of people later who are just starting out. Okay the only questions I have remaining are, which cam set, throttle body, and headers? And where is the best price on the Borla TD? Other than that I have gone from knowing nothing about my new car to having the full plan all written down.

Crawford V5 Intake Plenum - $395
Crawford Headers - $1150

JWT Billet Camshaft set - $1050

Tilton flywheel/clutch set - $? (anyone know the price)

NGK Iridium plugs - $ 80

EVO/Pro Flow Throttle Body - $ 295.95 / 230

Borla Cat-Back Exhaust - $ 650 (speedyperformanceparts.com) $ 720 (zcarparts.com)

High Flow Cats - $? (I want to be street legal)

Pop Charger - $100


Stage 1

Pop Charger (just in there so that my car isnt choking with all these other mods and no intake...it is cheap enough to do without regret)
Cat-Back Exhaust
Plenum
Headers
Throttle body

Stage 3

Flywheel / Clutch
Cams

Stage 4

Vortech Supercharger