Benihana's 14 Black Nismo Journal

Benihana

Thanks.....

The reason why I titled these posts as I did is that although I used to enjoy Auto-Xing with my miata, the Z is just not cut out for it. I suppose I could do better with stickier tires, the bad habits you pick up throwing a car around on the AX course have to be unlearned on the track. Pitching a car around cones is nothing like being smooth on a track. So, No Mo!

Or we could talk about costs..... AXers say track days are too expensive, but when you consider how much actual seat time you get, 5-6 runs totaling 8-10 minutes all day vs 4 x 20+ minute runs totaling over 80minutes of seat time the cost per smile is clearly in the HPDE column!. So.... No Mo!

Benihana

Although I have done the most necessary items to track my car and am actually learning to drive it with some skill, it might soon be time to take it up a notch.

First, I am about to install a brake cooling kit. I have not experienced any heat issues, ice mode, or fade but why take any chances? So the Stillen kit is going in, just waiting on some ducts to arrive to custom mount up front. I'm not looking to cut holes in my bumper just yet so I figure I will hack up some ducts to fit in the grill opening. I'm pretty sure I can make it happen and since everything will be black and tucked down in there, it really won't be noticed unless you crouch down and look for it, and then you'd say, "Cool, brake cooling ducts!" I will take and post pics of the install when it happens, hopefully this or next week.

The Carbotech xp10/8 setup is great and has performed well for the 3 track days I have done, so I went ahead and ordered up another set. I figure I will do a swap and in the process, compare thicknesses and maybe gauge how many days I should expect to get from them. Plus I will have a spare set with me at the track just in case. Up till now I have been carrying my stockers as spares just to get me home from the track in case I cooked them.

I have been trying to put it off but the thought of a louder and more free flowing exhaust is getting to me. I have been searching for the right combo and have to say it is tough!! Youtube videos are all so different and I don't feel give the correct representation of the cars' sounds as some are done with phones or too far away or in parking garages, etc.

Right now my choices are either a quality resonated test pipe, Berk HFC or Motordyne ART pipes. I want performance, volume and growl without hiss. From what I can tell by videos and reviews, the HFCs won't be loud enough with the Nismo CBE.

If anyone has any recommendations for me that would be great. Thanks in Advance.

PS.< I will probably cross post this last part at some point in a different section of the forums.

Benihana

Somehow I forgot to post that I did the highly recommended Post MAF and Drop in upgrade prior to my last track day. I went with HPS tubes and the Afe super-pro-turbo-dildo filters. The drop ins literally could NOT have been easier and the MAF tubes were pretty straight forward too.

I did not have to disconnect the strut bar, only the engine covers. I did have a little more trouble with the passenger side tube. I didn't experience the kink issue that so many other people have but it was a bit harder to line up and get right. I wound up having to trim the breather tube slightly. The cut had to be a little shorter and slightly off angle to make it work but I don't think it would be noticeable to the untrained eye.

I don't know if I notice any gains, but I haven't done the cats yet so.... I might have preferred the gargly aluminum sound of a different intake but I didn't want to go through the hassles of the Gen3 and I will need all the space I can get up front for my oil and brake cooling components. This is primarily a track/hooligan car for me.