That's not really what I mean, exactly. I guess what I'm saying is, the situation some have observed with the M370 is this: Stock tune before, bolt on the M370, stock tune after, got gains. Dyno-tuned before, bolt on the M370, re-Dyno-tune after, no gains. In other words, the M370's gains were entirely overlapped with effective dyno-tuning, making the mod pointless, especially considering a dyno-tune can be had for far less than the cost of a GT-R manifold and custom extra hardware.

If the GT-R manifold conversion makes true flow gains (as opposed to just tricking the stock ECU into leaner conditions at various points in the rev range), you should be able to dyno-tune a stock car w/ UpRev, install the GT-R manifold, and then re-dyno-tune again and still see gains from the new part.

Sorry for seeming negative, I'm really not :). I love the idea of this, and I suspect it's capable of real gains. Just want you to know ahead of time, that's what it's going to take to prove it: either you, or a customer, will have to do that dyno_tune->dyno_test->install_it->dyno_tune->dyno_test process.

no problem, I see your point !

what I will do is test the GTR manifold on my car first for fitment, etc. Then I will dyno my car which has the stock tune on it but already other mods like CAI, catback, NST pulleys and compare before and after installation.

If everything fits and the car runs perfectly with the new manifold I will ask one of my friends who will dyno-tune his car with catback and sport cats next week to stop by and have the GTR manifold installed.

He will then go to the dyno again and measure before re-tune, then re-dyno-tune with the manifold and have another dyno pass.

I hope that is what you are looking for !

Chris

@Chrisw
I apologize for not having at least a ball park figure for you currently but today I don't even have a clue how much the fabrication of the flanges plus welding will cost me, so whatever number I give you now I might regret later.

Plus we have never installed at least the (not build yet) prototype so it is possible that during the installation and testing we discover that additional small parts are needed which I will put in the package to give you a real complete bolt-on solution as good as it can get.

Please bear with me for another couple of days - we are almost there and my plan is that before end of January the final product and installation package is ready to be build with prices and dyno results.

No worries bud! Just wanted to see if anything had been tossed around yet. :tup:

Nice to see that someone who is undertaking this project actually showing Progress. :tup: Can't wait to see the final product. :excited:

only a quick update - I have currently about 25 cnc companies I wait for a price quote for machining the flanges, etc. - hope to start production by end of the week.

meanwhile the fuel rails have arrived - we will start to modify them for the 370Z tomorrow !

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/...20535833_n.jpg

Chris

It's nice to see so much progress.

Yes :)

+1 :tup:

No kidding. It's so nice to see a project go from an idea to reality in such a short period of time.

Seriously, the time from concept to actually holding the prototype in hand is moving remarkably fast. Looking forward to your results/finished product.

thank you for all the warm words again - currently I discover it being real hard to find a company who is willing to make an affordable offer to make the prototype flanges. They simply do not understand that I can and/or will only order quantities after the prototype has been tested and slightly modified for perfect fit and function and that it doesn't make any sense to pay thousands for the first try which may end in the basket for either not being 100% accurate out of the drawing or doesn't bring performance gains in the real world.

But I have dozens of requests still unanswered so I'm hoping to have a good offer soon. I even think about buying my own 5-axis CNC machine ;)

will keep you posted !

Chris

PS: as my car currently has no intake manifold and I'm not willing to install the stock plenum again I definitely WILL find a way to at least built the prototype for myself ;)

Any news? Very interesting thread

Good progress! I'm in for results.

Not trying to be negative, but it's going to be tough to find a shop that will make this prototype for you on a small budget. It's a large business risk for them not knowing if they will get the follow-on orders. The NRE cost for a one off part is mostly what is driving the cost up...that and 5 axis time is never cheap (don't think you actually need 5-axis capability to make this part as a one off). You would be better off if you could find a friend (or someone here on the forum) with access to a machine shop that will do the labor for free/cheap for this prototype. Even better if you have access to MastercamX (or equivalent) and can do the NC programming yourself. For a cheap fit check, you could always invest a few hundred bucks to get a plastic rapid prototype made.

Good luck and hope you are able to get your test part fabbed up soon!

Any luck finding someone to fab up the prototype?

Is this project dead?

I doubt it, but it has probably run into some practical snags on the CNC work from the sound of it.

Chris: have you considered doing initial fitment with something cheaper? e.g. someone may be willing to cut (or 3D-Print) your specs out of plastic for test-fitting and design revision. You might not be able to dyno-test that version, but you could at least get everything lined up so that the first metal version fits correctly and just needs the dyno testing.

Thanks for the updates and glad to hear that your persevering even though no one is responding to you. The 5-axis CNC machine are quite pricy so I could understand why they charge an arm and a leg for any jobs involving it, where I'm from not too many places actually have a 5 axis, wish I could help.