Stillen Headers installed - Review/Pics/Vid/Dyno

wstar · 04-22-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Even if it was from ramping the throttle in, why would it show a loss? The throttle had to be ramped in the last time as well, right? I don't know.

Well, the throttle inputs might not be the same between the runs. I think on my next DD run, I'm going to ask the guy to make sure he drops back under 3K before he floor the throttle and takes the run. It's not a very well-controlled variable, and since most people are just looking for the peak HP number anyways, it doesn't matter to many. It would be nice to hook up OBD-II to the dyno machine and get throttle position mapped onto the graph as well if that were possible.

Quote:

I'll tell you guys my driving impression so far though. I can notice the loss of torque on the low end. I mean, before the dyno, I kinda suspected it, but now I have confirmation. But paradoxically, it feels quicker once I really get into it, which I guess is where the hp gain comes into play.

That's what I've noticed as well, mostly in the form of the car having less "jerk" at low rpms (esp at 3k-ish and below). Looking at my graph here:

The low torque before hitting the peak at 4250 can either be low-rpm torque loss from headers, or it again could be throttle input issues near the start of the run, I'm not really sure. I'm pretty sure everything before 3500 is from lack of WOT though.

Quote:

Sound wise, I'm still undecided as to whether I liked the way my car sounded before the headers vs. after. To be 100% honest, I do not feel that this was money well spent. I'm actually toying with the idea of having my stock headers put back in. But then that's another $750 out of my pocket, right? So I probably won't. Plus you're right about the tune. It'd be premature to rip these out until I see what a tune will do.

I actually like the sound of my full setup most of the time. The only thing that still bugs me (and that the headers undoubtedly exacerbate) is the extreme rasp around the 2500-3000 range even at light throttle. I wish I knew how to fix that with some kind of rubber damper (like the two that are already on there from the stock setup).

semtex · 04-22-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

I actually like the sound of my full setup most of the time. The only thing that still bugs me (and that the headers undoubtedly exacerbate) is the extreme rasp around the 2500-3000 range even at light throttle. I wish I knew how to fix that with some kind of rubber damper (like the two that are already on there from the stock setup).

Hmm...I don't detect any rasp. I wonder if the fact that I had my headers wrapped is making the difference.

wstar · 04-22-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Hmm...I don't detect any rasp. I wonder if the fact that I had my headers wrapped is making the difference.

Could be.

tvfreakazoid · 04-22-2009, 04:34 PM

Can u make a video of how it sounds from the outside!

semtex · 04-22-2009, 04:52 PM

You know what, guys? The loss of low-end torque isn't really as bad as it looks on that graph. Keep in mind that the units on that graph are in Newton Meters (Nm). The gap wouldn't look that bad if it were in ft-lbs. (Sharif said he had an issue with the last firmware upgrade from DD in Australia.)

wstar · 04-22-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvfreakazoid

Can u make a video of how it sounds from the outside!

I think I'm going to do that tonight. I was planning to recheck my header<->cat bolts and front O2s for any new looseness this evening anyways, and get started on some of my misc projects (like washer fluid delete, maybe the TB coolant delete too). After I'm done with that, late tonight when there's not much traffic around, I think I'll find an isolated road where I can leave the camera on the ground and make a few passes at various speeds/rpms/throttles.

RCZ · 04-22-2009, 05:18 PM

hmm what bothers me is that I like the torque. I like that jerk when I punch it in the power band. Are you saying that is gone?

wstar · 04-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

hmm what bothers me is that I like the torque. I like that jerk when I punch it in the power band. Are you saying that is gone?

It's not gone in the power band, we're just debating whether it's gone in the low end.

semtex · 04-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

hmm what bothers me is that I like the torque. I like that jerk when I punch it in the power band. Are you saying that is gone?

No, it's still there. It's just a little . . . 'softened' at lower rpms. It's too bad we don't live in the same city, otherwise I'd just let you drive it.

Btw, I'm about to post a video of the dyno.

RCZ · 04-22-2009, 05:25 PM

Move down here. 305 > ATL

on a more serious note.... I e-mailed Josh about what I was thinking, waiting for a reply.

Oh and good that it isn't gone.

If the gains I can expect from having a full STILLEN setup are the ones advertised on their site. (14.5whp and 10+tq) then I will install... may have to look into wrapping them too. Keeping heat in the headers makes the turbo spool faster!.....err...I switched cars...no longer applies...though it may help with flow.

semtex · 04-22-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

Move down here. 305 > ATL

on a more serious note.... I e-mailed Josh about what I was thinking, waiting for a reply.

Oh and good that it isn't gone.

If the gains I can expect from having a full STILLEN setup are the ones advertised on their site. (14.5whp and 10+tq) then I will install... may have to look into wrapping them too. Keeping heat in the headers makes the turbo spool faster!.....err...I switched cars...no longer applies...though it may help with flow.

Hmm...I'm not sure how they're getting 10+ tq. Well, maybe if the rest of the exhaust is stock? I think that's what RelentlessRY did right? And he said he made tq on the top end but lost a bunch in the mid-range?

semtex · 04-22-2009, 05:43 PM

Alright, here's the video. (I'd better get some rep pts, tvfreakazoid!

I wasn't going to bother doing this until you asked.)

SMJane_Again · 04-22-2009, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the external vids, Semtex! That second graph was about as linear as it gets for whp. Even though the headers aren't quite where you wanted them, what is your impression of your setup as it stands?

S.

NA&CH · 04-22-2009, 06:02 PM

Awesome man. Nice results on Sharif's dyno

Chris

LiquidZ · 04-22-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks for the info. Semtex.

04-22-2009, 04:34 PM	#34 (permalink)
tvfreakazoid A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: kommie kali Posts: 1,238 Drives: 2015 Audi S5; 6spd. Rep Power: 10324	Can u make a video of how it sounds from the outside! __________________ Mudders milk

04-22-2009, 04:52 PM	#35 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 53 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	You know what, guys? The loss of low-end torque isn't really as bad as it looks on that graph. Keep in mind that the units on that graph are in Newton Meters (Nm). The gap wouldn't look that bad if it were in ft-lbs. (Sharif said he had an issue with the last firmware upgrade from DD in Australia.) __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

04-22-2009, 05:25 PM	#40 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	Move down here. 305 > ATL on a more serious note.... I e-mailed Josh about what I was thinking, waiting for a reply. Oh and good that it isn't gone. If the gains I can expect from having a full STILLEN setup are the ones advertised on their site. (14.5whp and 10+tq) then I will install... may have to look into wrapping them too. Keeping heat in the headers makes the turbo spool faster!.....err...I switched cars...no longer applies...though it may help with flow. Last edited by RCZ; 04-22-2009 at 05:27 PM.

04-22-2009, 05:43 PM	#42 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 53 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Alright, here's the video. (I'd better get some rep pts, tvfreakazoid! I wasn't going to bother doing this until you asked.) __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

04-22-2009, 06:02 PM	#43 (permalink)
SMJane_Again Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: COS, CO Posts: 137 Drives: 18 Golf R Rep Power: 16	Thanks for the external vids, Semtex! That second graph was about as linear as it gets for whp. Even though the headers aren't quite where you wanted them, what is your impression of your setup as it stands? S. __________________ ~S.M. "Don't look back. Someone might be gaining on you." -Satchel Paige

04-22-2009, 05:18 PM	#37 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	hmm what bothers me is that I like the torque. I like that jerk when I punch it in the power band. Are you saying that is gone?

04-22-2009, 06:02 PM	#44 (permalink)
NA&CH Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Nipples Florida Posts: 298 Drives: Looking for PW 370 Rep Power: 290	Awesome man. Nice results on Sharif's dyno Chris

04-22-2009, 06:19 PM	#45 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 704	Thanks for the info. Semtex. __________________

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