Originally Posted by shaun_walsh

This board is littered with VQ35 engines blown up by FI on stock internals, FI will cook your engine, it is just a question of when based on how much boost you run, including mine…Yes, I am rebuilding to continue with FI, but I already have a bunch of sunk cost around FI so that is my rationalization. However, if I had opportunity to do the whole modification process over again. I would tell you if you are not ready to rebuild the internals I would hold off on the FI.

Rebuild 10K + Turbo 10K (Kit, FMIC, Install, Gauges, Controls) + Clutch 2K = 22K

Here is one man’s recommendation….

Phase 1 NA improvements – 2006 Tax Return (most form on the street return)

CAI - AEM
Plenum spacer – 5/16” Kennix or motordyne
Headers - Stillen
Hi Flow cats - Crawford
Exhaust – Borla
ECU and Dyno Tune – best local shop (do a search you can find one on here)

Phase 2 – 2007 Tax Return (most fun on the track return)

Brakes - if you don’t have Brembo’s
Suspension - Nismo s-tune suspension and sways
Wheels and Tires – Wheels are personal taste just make sure they are forged and stable and can handle the stress. Same for tires depends on how you drive.

After that, I think you hit the point of diminishing returns on the Z platform us less you are ready to do a full rebuild. I don’t know how you drive or if you autocross or track you car. If you do street only then don’t go super low profile on the tires, pot holes and stuff will cost you too much money.

If you do track, auto-cross or other performance driving, I personally found that the NA power with great brakes and a better suspension and tires give a much greater cash to fun benefit. I never tracked a car before my Z, and I have to tell you, the best investment I made was getting a track model with the Brembos and a good HPDE teacher. You really don’t know what your car is capable of until you put it in the hands of a great driver and watch and learn. I never knew how vital brakes were to driving fast until I spent time on the track. You will never look at driving the same way.

Confessions from one guy who has spent way too much money on his Z so far, I love my Z and will be the first to admit it cost to much money to compete head to head with other platforms (on raw ¼ mile times and Dyno HP #), but the improvements above, I think, give maximum fun for the money. One thing I have learned from watching the cars that have been built for the time-attack competitions is that good balance and the best driver win over raw power. I would save the extra to by a new GTR when you can.

Originally Posted by doug

alot of mis-information and numbers that don't add up in this post

Originally Posted by youngZ33

shaun_walsh dont you think what your saying is kind of bias?

i've seen many ppl. with just stock + fi kit and they r running for more then 30k+ more

Originally Posted by shaun_walsh

I am curious what you think is not correct about my posting.

Originally Posted by shaun_walsh

I am also sharing that in my opinion he does not have the right budget to attack FI with $5500.

Originally Posted by doug

1) FI doesn't cook the engine.. FI done wrong will cook your engine.. there are safe ways to do FI on a stock block.. many of us have done so succesfully.. just as people have blown built motors also by not taking the proper precaution

2) not sure how you spent 70k on your Z .. i don't even understand how you would spend 30k

Originally Posted by shaun_walsh

• 3K – Stillen Exhaust, Flywheel and install
• 2K – Motodyne spacer, Hi flow cats and install
• 2K – Rip and Replace old engine with new

Originally Posted by shaun_walsh

Well to answer the question of how I, you or anyone could spend that much…and note I don’t take pride in spending this much money, I learned some expensive and painful lessons along the way.

1. Not all the money was spent on FI alone, however 30K has been
a. 12K - Original Kit, install, gauges and management
i. Install and tune done by SP Engineering (good for 100K on stock internals so I believe they did the job right)
b. 10K - SGP Racing Stage 2 Long block
c. 3K – Rip and Replace old engine with new
d. 3K – 550CC injectors, New Oil pump, Oil Cooler and installation
e. 1K – New upgraded radiator and install
f. 1K – shipping engines

2. I have spent ~ 63K total on the car plus the 37K for the car itself.

Here is the background detail on 63K of learning and upgrades:

• 12K - Original Kit, install, gauges and management
o By SP Engineering (good for 100K on stock internals so I believe they did it right on stock internals)
• 3K – Stillen Exhaust, Flywheel and install
• 2K – Motodyne spacer, Hi flow cats and install
• 4K – First set of rims and tires
o (Cool looking, but warped on the track and ate tires)
• 4K – tires lost due to bad rims and pot hole before I figured out it was the rims that was causing my problems. Hence my original comments about forged rims.
• 5K – Nismo S-tune and sway bars and install
• 5K – Second set of forged rims
• 10K - SGP Racing Stage 2 Long block
• 5K – Bodykit, install and paint
• 1K – 2006 Tailights and Nismo caps
• 2K – Rip and Replace old engine with new
• 3K – 550CC injectors, New Oil pump, Oil Cooler installed
• 1K – New radiator and install
• 1K – shipping engines
• 5K – ICE system and install

I agree the FI can be done for a long time on stock internals, but eventually the extra stress takes it toll. As a final note, all of the work on my car has been done by SP Engineering, Performance Nissan in Durate, Stillen or Corner 3 all of which are very reputable folks. Otherwise, I guess all I can say is I have to agree to disagree. I hope the details of this discussion have helped the original poster (Flipknoc), and since he is in So-Cal the can use the same shops if they like. I would recommend them all with a significant bonus recommendation for the guys at Corner 3…they are the best.

Originally Posted by JDMFairladyZ33

BTW post pics of your sunroof please.