I have decided I am going to stay naturally aspirated...looking for the best combinations for a three stage mod plan...

1. Headers, plenum, high flow cats and TD exhaust

2. Flywheel, clutch and maybe LSD

3. Cams and TS ecu.

Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I love my z, looking for more low end torque and growl...and power through midrange...0 to 60 most important to me.

Is my planned approach logical? Did I miss anything? Could I add nitros in the future?

Thanks,
Frit-z

 

just for ease of install if you do it in three stages i would go:

headers, highflow cats, td exhaust

then

Flywheel, clutch and maybe LSD (that way when you hit your final stage you can actually support it)

then

plenum Cams and TS ecu (these last two would def. benifit from an ECU update)


Does that make sense to anyone else?

 

I've been collecting and keeping track of everyone's gains on this board based on their dyno runs and I'd recommend:

1. Crank Pulley, HF cats, Exhaust (~20hp gain through the whole rpm range)

2. Cams & ECU (15-20+)

IMHO, headers aren't really worth it.

 

Headers can be worth it if they are designed properly and it takes a lot of R&D to make that happen. I would suggest this approach:

1. Crank Pulley, Plenum, High Flow cats
2. Headers, exhaust, LSD & Evo final drive
3. Cams, Flywheel, Clutch, ECU

Other thoughts are: tire upgrade in there somewhere, possibly CAI such as Gruppe-M, Evo throttle body, grounding kit, nitrous

 

I would think cams aren't really worth it. It is going to cost around 2 grand in labor to install them, while installing headers will take alot less time (don't know the specifics). I talked to a shop who did cams, and 20 hp for about 3 grand total isn't too terribly cost effective, but if you got deep pockets...

 

well your term of staying NA I dont think is quite descriptive, you are more or less doing only boltons to the engine. not exactly equal mods to FI.

to go NA and be competitive to FI, you need to redo internals, lightweight; balance the engine, raise redline, bore and stroke. that is high end NA mods.

just my thoughts.

 

Increase COMPRESSION RATIOS !!!!

 

I thought that mods without an ECU change were pointless because the Z stock ECU would eventually compensate for the change? Anythng short of FI is useless??? Anyone with insight please chime in because I had decided against the Z and was going to get an S2000 just for this reason...If there is an ECU or piggyback available for the Z (good quality) then I would rather get the Z! No replacement for displacement and I love the TORQE.

 

Im not so sure thats the case... no strong info either way, but I beleive that was something of an excuse we all came up with to rationalize why bolt ons were getting crap for power.

but now there are cars with a few boltons(intake, exhaust plenum test pipes ect) that are showing solid gains of 20hp or more(undeniable gains by any standards of dyno error). without the ECU upgrade. so if it does negate mods, it apparently can only negate to a point, which makes me think it doesnt do it at all.

 

Depends? If you are roadracing at all, the first mod should be the LSD.

 

I have everything you are planning for your N/A car, except the LSD. Question: what is wrong with the stock LSD, and how will an aftermarket one improve performance? Thanks.

P.S. Yes, it's me. Don't need any masters of the obvious pointing it out. Where are my 2 strikes? lol

 

Jim, did you do any dynos w/wideband before requesting the ECU?

 

No, should I. I think I am running lean now. Performance Nissan has a car set up a lot like mine, and TechnoSquare has been tuning the ECU to that car. I think I am going to get flashed with pretty much the same program.

 

i'm waiting on jeff's car to get the tuned TS ecu also. i can pretty much use his ecu program.

 

I'm leaving my office now drive down to TS and get "flashed" Jeff's car is getting the stereo installed now, as I understand it. Mr. Twisted told me that last Sunday at the L.A. meet.

 

Aftermarket LSD's are 100 (not literally) times better than the stock vlsd. It can help a bunch on a road course. As for drag I am not sure of the difference.

 

i'd recommend getting a layout of your A/F before going to TS. They can't really build a custom program without seeing it. You're most likely going to need to go back to get it fixed and I hear they're charging for that now.

 

The advice your getting here is great! The big thing is make a budget and follow it. It's all about having a good time no matter what your mod's or who they come from. The new friends you make from this site and the local events you attend with your fellow Z'ers is the best part. My car is a lot of fun and always brings a smile to my face. Also keep in mind, the more stuff you change out, the more stuff you need to change. One mod will lead to another, then because you you change so much you get tuning issues with the ECU. It never stops........ but for some of us, that's also the fun!!! Enjoy your Z, you can't go wrong on the mod's!!
PS: The DVD/Nav/Stereo from hell is almost done for those of you who care. T/S RE-program next week.

 

If you're gonan install in stages, be financially smart. Install all the stuff that requires the engine to be dismantled (ie cams and headers) @ one time so you save on labor. exhaust and pulleys and plenum are cake.