It would seem that with all of the stock parts being fairly strong performance wise that cams might deliver a good bang for the buck performance. Any reasons I wouldn't want to do cams as my first mod?

 

Nothing supporting the cams in the upper end of the power band. I'd wait on the cams and go with some of the basics first, wait for some more ECU options to roll out, then go w/ the cam. Start w/ suspension and tires.. drive train. Try and get the most out of the factory power; then go with intake/exhaust, ecu.. then the cams in my book, but thats just my .02

- Joe

 

To get the most out of cams you would have to include other mods like headers or hi flo cats and maybe an intake. I remember reading a thread about adding the Crawford? headers to a cam setup and the power really came out.

 

Cams wouldn't necessarily be a bad first mod at all. They would be a bad mod if they turned out to be your only mod, but that's another story.

Take a look at some dyno plots for cams. They don't make power over the whole rpm band. I think they lose some low end. Idle and drivability are also compromised depending on how aggressive you go. Good luck.

Dan

 

I think for the 'US spec Z' aftermarket cams would be an OK to good first mod too, as you stock exhasut isnt very restrictive(hence small gains from upgrading exhasust), and the stock intake is quite good as well(hence most intakes not making much if any power).

So you've got air coming in well, and exiting well but I think the plenum might be the one thing that would restrict the air flow, partially resulting in the power drop off up top. So maybe cams and plenum would be good bang for you buck and maybe cats as they are probabally the most restrictive part of the US Z's exhaust.

Just my thoughts.

Nissanperformance mag did:
Pulleys, Flywheel, Cams. They also did exhasut but they didnt get any gains from it so I wouldnt factor that in.