Bolt-ons = more HP, What about measurable acceleration improvements?
 

Naturally like the rest of you, I've been very excited to see the great WHP gains achieved by the bolt-ons available thus far. When reading through one thread, someone who had done the headers, intakes, HFCs, and CBE estimated that the total increase in WHP was in the ballpark of 40hp. I know many people have said they feel a difference with their bolt-ons, but has anyone clocked acceleration times to see just what kind of gains this 40-50whp really gets us?

Essentially, these additions get about 20% more whp than stock. If this made the car run a 0-60 in 4.2s or a 12sec quarter mile, I'd be having a garage sale tomorrow to raise the cash to buy the bolt-ons. However, if this makes the car 0.1sec faster, the gain is merely a better exhaust note and the accolades attained by showing off your modded car.

So, anyone have some 0-60 or quarter mile times to document the acceleration gains from the bolt-ons? I'm dying to know what they amount to.

uh, its going to be closer to .1 better hehe. Maybe .2 on a good day.

Knowing HP and weight, the numbers are easily calculated.
...RCZ is right though, It's not much. Use this calculator and plug in 3500 lbs (approx. real weight with a driver) for the weight and target wheel horsepower. The difference from 275 to 300 is less than .4 seconds...

1/4 Mile ET Calculator

This is my concern...why risk warranty issues and CELs (perhaps minor risks, but real none the less) if I'm not really getting more in real world use? Now if I did the bolt-ons and started smoking the corvettes that were passing me on the last HPDE day, I'd be under the car installing them right now :). The exhaust sound with the full kit is still sweet though.

Found a calculator for 0-60 as well. Granted this is a ballpark figure and it uses flywheel HP. 332HP gets you 4.9s, 370 drops it to 4.5s.

Assuming an Expert driver.....:tup:

I agree...You need to make big jumps (turbo or supercharging) to really make signifcant gains..

I suppose the takeaway for me is that one can do the the bolt-ons for a few, varying reasons:

1) slowly add improvement on improvement until the gains are considerable
2) do the bolt-ons because you enjoy the process or aesthetic improvements
3) need the bolt-ons as a primer for other, larger modifications

In the end, a single bolt-on modification alone is really only beneficial if you're changing an aesthetic (exhaust sound) or prepping for some other addition (turbo, etc). If you think just putting on an intake or a HFC alone is going to make your car noticeably faster, you're really just fooling yourself.

I get the feeling that you're new to this. Not a bad thing... that's just what I get from reading the above.

Bolt-ons aren't just for aesthetics. They make a noticeable improvement.

Assuming we can take off .4 seconds in the 1/4 mile (let's say the car goes 13.3 stock) and run a 12.9... you're going to feel the hell out of that. If you can't, something is seriously wrong with your butt dyno.

I remember a simple throttle-body + intake plenum combo I added to my old Mustang. It was only good for a peak 5rwhp, but it sure as hell felt like a ton more. Why? Because I picked up 18 rwhp at 3800 RPM and averaged a 12ish rwhp gain through the mid-range. Huge difference in feel.

I'm certainly new to this...let me be the first to admit it.

You kind of confirmed what I said though. Bolt-on changes alone may just be aesthetic. But in combination, the combined gains can be substantial. To take off 0.4sec, you have to do ALL the bolt-ons. Just doing, say, the HFCs won't amount to much in terms of difference in the numbers but perhaps the butt dyno gain is worth it just for the fun of it.

To add to this, I have the only 370Z in the area that I'm aware of. Thus, I have yet to experience a 370Z with any of these bolt-ons so I surely don't have any grasp of how any of them feel or sound.

Somebody with bolt-ons come on by to give me a ride-along so I can experience what I'm missing with my stock Z. :tup:

... who cares about the 1/4 mile unless you are street light racing. This car was made to go around corners fast! A few 1/10ths of a second per lap on a small track can make a big difference... of course its the driver that can also make the bigger difference than HP in shaving (or adding) those 10ths...

Even without the performance boost the exhaust is a gotta do upgrade - the Z should sound like it looks!

a .5 sec difference is a big gap on the strip
i kinda learned the hardway my first time in the strip with my celica :(

Yeah, half a second is huge.

Rough math here but if you pass the finish line at a constant 105 mph you will have traveled 77 feet from the line in half a second, which is roughly the length of 5.5 370Zs positioned nose-to-tail.

:hello:

Do the HFCs and I bet you're going to realize they aren't just "aesthetic." :stirthepot:

yup lost to a 350 with the celi by like 3 sec and it seemed like he was 30 cars away lol

Well. Maybe I'll just do that...;)

Dude... that's nothing. I ran my then stock Mustang GT against an IHRA "top fuel" style dragster at a T&T. My 13.9 @ 100 was nothing for his 6.xx @ 200 mph test run. :icon18:

Can't believe they let me do that but I will never forget it. So awesome.

Good! Your *** is going to appreciate it. :driving:

:werd: I just got the Berk HFCs installed today as my first mod and can notice a difference already in responsiveness.

Sound is also more aggressive and almost exotic sounding to me.


Anyone have just Berk HFCs and a Stillen G3 CAI? I have heard plenty of clips here with HFCs, full exhaust and CAI but not sure there is one of HFCs and G3...

Besides more power, how should you expect the sound to change with adding the G3 intake to the HFCs. I really don't want it "too" loud. There is a guy in my neighbourhood with a Lambo Gallardo that rips past my condo at 6am on some mornings at WOT and it is super annoying. I don't want to be that guy. :)

there are four areas i've been initially focused on with mine... power, weight, suspension, and more efficient shifting

As for track performance, the most bang for my buck has been in suspension... general rule is tires make the biggest difference, followed by reduced unsrpung weight, then stiffer suspension with flatter cornering (sway bars)... I think I've gotten more time off my track times from suspension work than power/weight... still on stock tires, so it only gets better

Re power and weight... first, 0.5 secs off 0 to 60 is a pretty big deal IMO! I suspect that is about where my car is at... if in addition to adding that much power, you can pull some weight off the car, the difference is unmistakable... I have no problem keeping up with and passing new M3s on the track... I even got by a GTR a couple track days ago... once I have another 200-300 lbs and hopefully another +10-15 hps, this car is going to rip!

I appreciate your skepticism, but I think the gains we've all been making are worth the investment and paying off in real performance

I'm not a track guy, but that is impressive if you are passing M3s. Partly the skill of the driver, no? ;)

I can certainly see that with the bolt on intake and full exhaust that the Z could likely match or slightly beat an M3 in 0-60. Some mags quote the new M3 at 4.3 seconds for 0-60.

not trying to brag, just picking a benchmark that we can all relate to... a little investment, and this car wins

No worries...some of us will only be daily drivers, but will live vicariously through others like you who will do our cars proud on the track!

I'm glad to hear that you guys feel the bolt-ons make a difference. The short of it is that I want to do them. I just can't afford it right now. Perhaps I was just looking to rationalize not doing them so I don't wreck my marriage telling lies and spending cash on car mods that my wife will never understand.

Still, the HFCs may just be coming in the next week or two...now I have to figure out how to piece together that ridiculous ratchet aseembly to break those sticky bolts loose...

Travis, as for passing the M3s...that's great. Did you notice an interval improvement in passing those guys with the bolt-ons, or did your driving improve? I think we underestimate the power of a skilled driver at times. When I did the hotlap in a stock 370Z with a pro race driver, he was smoking cars that I was struggling with. Hell, he could hang with some 500hp vettes that were just zipping past people earlier. Likely just a combination of both a faster car and better driving for you though.

Come on! Isn't there a company in Chicago that wants to test their bolt-ons and use my car as the guinea pig???

not going to tell you what to do, but I'm a big believer in spending within your budget... nothing wrong with waiting a while

I have 4-5 years of track experience, and I learn something every time I visit the track... so yes it is possible I am improving my times some... but we're talking tenths, not seconds

Can you record a sound clip with just the Berks? I’m thinking about going the same path!

http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...data-base.html

It's already been done by those with much better recording devices than I have. Checkout the DDMotorports one through this link.

Here's a nice clean one that isn't in the database (which I shall remedy shortly). This vid is a 2-part vid to show the sound of Berk's prototype CBE (still under development). Part 1 is just the Berk HFCs with the stock exhaust. Part 2 adds the prototype CBE.

YouTube - Berk Technology 370z Dual Exhaust Prototype#1

Just purchased the Berk Test Pipes and a BM short throw shifter. I have to wait for my car to arive from Hawaii to pick it up (July 7 about) but you best believe im going to be in the shop as soon as possible to add both of them. With out a doubt im sure both of the upgrades I am add are going to make a difference. You should definitely do the HFC or test pipe depending on your local laws..