Anyone see this issue yet? The MotoRex 350Z essentially put in a new camshaft ($1100) and a lighter fly wheel and bumped its power up to 350 bhp! 0-60 times were 5.1 seconds, and sub 14s in the quarter.

It was quicker in 0-60 and only 3/10ths slower in the 1/4 than the GReddy TT - which cost $8500 and bumped the power to ~370.

What am I missing here? If this is for real, it seems like the MotoRex camshaft is the way to go - particularly if you are worried about CARB etc. What do you think?

 

so many things wrong here.

first the z is capable of sub 14 second 1/4 mile stock.

new cams and flywheel isn't going to make over 350rwhp.

i bet it has more done to it than just cams and flywheel

 

I have to agree with Mike here. Cams have potential to make 100HP, but you can't run a cam that radical with the stock electronics. Come to think of it, you'll also need a slow burning fuel to handle all that valve overlap, so it'd have to run on alcohol or nitro too. The Greddy twin turbo kit is rumored to make 350 RWHP, but 100HP in forced induction is easier on the electronics than a huge cam.

BTW: lighter flywheels DO NOT make horsepower. It may appear that your car becomes more powerful, but this is only because you've reduced the effective weight of the car, as seen by the crankshaft. It is not power that will show up on a dyno.

 

I'm shocked that you all actually read the 1/4 mile stats of these magazines. I imagine that more of you are engineers and are familiar with standards of testing, and these magazines provide few details on teh constants. Sure there is the temperature, etc, but nothing on the driver, where he/she launched at, etc. Don't be a magazine racer, see through the fog these productions blow upon us...

 

I think JW paid some good money for those reviews. Those mods shouldn't even produce 350 at the crank let alone the wheels!

 

That's why I was so shocked. I expected ~350 hp with FI - that's in line with what I've seen here and in other forums. I figured there must be more to the cams modifications, and wondered if anyone here had any more info.

 

I remember Motor trend tested the Greddy 350Z TT and got 4.6 from 0-60mph, and 12.XX for 1/4 miles. Who knows how and what these magazines test the car?

 

No matter how they tested them (besides launch rpm/ability to get traction), what is significant is comparing the times from car to car. The Stillen and the MotoRex 350Z were both tested by the same driver and same track equipment etc. Also, you can compare the improvement in times vs the stock car.

This reminds me of the dyno testing wars on other threads. What is important is comparing change in hp on a dyno (no matter which one you are using as long as it is the same one). On this Road and track article, you got to see an NA car vs Stillen tested in the same day, same track which gives you a idea of what to expect.

 

I have 3 theories on this article.:

1. Road and Track cant drive worth $hit.

2. These cars were in need of some proper dyno tuning

3. They manipulated the results. I'm betting they tested the stock Z at a sub 14 second time. They then test with the cam and flywheel and only saw minimal improvement. However, 350hp at the wheels is definitely high 12s. Something isn't right. I saw another article where they were getting 12.7 in the 1/4mile @5psi. Something smells funny

 

Well, it appears that the guy says that it is 350 bhp. I would assume that is at the crank, not at the wheels. Road & Track's times are historically slow, so those number maybe close for them at the crank. Should be faster, but they are always a bit slower than the rest.

What should be of interest here is how aggressive is the cam and how they were able to measure 350 hp at the crank.

 

We also experience parasitic loss with a large heavy crank pulley. Are you saying that underdrive pulleys won't show an increase in whp on a dyno??? I disagree.

I agree that they aren't making power, but they are improving the efficiency of power transfer to the road, effectively increasing whp.

 

I have noticed R&T has been having old lady 0-60 and quarter mile times. I am an experienced racer at the drag strip, but come on. If I can run 14 flat in 90 degree 80% humidity weather bone stock those fools should be able to. The car out of the box at optimal elevation, temp, and humidity is completely capable of 13.7 second quarter mile times bone stock. I laugh everytime I read their times.

Those 350z's they tested were garbage. R&T has turned really dissapointing over the past few years.

 

bhp does not equal rwhp
bhp is unrestricted wot hp

 

I agree... R&T has had some very pathetic numbers for the Z. In the 'road test review' section in the back (where they have all of the numbers), they have the roadster as being faster than a track... to see the track at 14.4 (I believe) is pretty sad.

That being said, I still am very impressed by the JW car posting a better 0-60 and a matching 1/4 time to the stillen. Has anyone asked JW to list ALL of the mods on that car?? I just find it hard to believe it was just cams... although someone else on this board did the NISMO cams, exhaust, flywheel and air intake and got 301 RWHP on a dyno.

 

I believe, for the most part, when R&T or C&D 1/4 and 0-60 test their cars, they try to do so in normal driving conditions. I don't believe that they do cluch dumps and power shifts to get their times. Anybody know for sure?

 

The tests were done in the desert in over 100 degree temps... had to be...these numbers suck! The Brembo review makes no sense at all. Who is this writer...he's not a familiar name like Thos Bryant or the older crew. Must be an intern. Why would you ask the reader if $32++ is worth it for a set of brakes... receive little to no improvement over the stock car's brakes and certainly performance and then finish with saying you definitely have to have it....? What tf?

Also...bhp is essentially flywheel horspower guys.

And the track model Z has no different engine characteristics than the other Zs...Sorry. It's a packaging option with regard to suspension, brakes and internal packaging... Motor is ditto to the other 4 models + roadster.

 

I believe that they pull out all of the tricks when they test their cars. They usually list a "street start" or "5-60mph" time where they launch the car more normally from a slight roll, not dumping the clutch. So, I believe that the times they are posting are the absolute best that they could accomplish. Also, I think all magazines now a days correct all road tests to standard atmospheric conditions (ie 0ft elev and 60deg F) so that you can compare any car they have tested to any other. This makes you really wonder why R&T is soooooo slow.

 

You're right, the cars all have the same engine, but the roadster weights about 10% more so should definitely be slower than the coupe

 

Bottom line:

350Z +cams = not 350hp.

 

Umm Flywheels DONT make HP is correct. But it does reduce trans loss hince freeing up some lost ponies = MORE Hp