Well when you put it like that, I guess Berk did alright. ;)

I am sure we will find out exactly how they do in comparison as soon as the F.I. exhausts start finding their way onto Zs which already have the Berk HFCs.

X-Pipe dyno video is up!

YouTube - Berk Technology Prototype Exhaust #3 Dyno Test

Or, conversely, when someone puts a Berk CBE onto a car with stock cats and does a before/after dyno.

Hmm...at the end of the clip, it says +13whp and +8tq over baseline with stock exhaust. Thing is, that kinda implies that your baseline was completely stock, i.e., you're running stock cats as well, which isn't the case. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, by phrasing it as such, you might be selling yourself short. People won't take into account that you already have HFCs on the car and think "+13whp? Is that it?"

True, I am working on a new video though once they decide which version goes to production. The final Berk cat-back video will have the dyno vids, in car, idle & rev, photos, etc. Then these will be deleted.

Ok, back to the project car as a whole. Now that the exhaust is on and testing is done I have these projects waiting for the car next!

- Unorthodox Racing Crank Pulley
- Blue Batmobil smoked tail light and third brake light overlays
- Those carbon side skirt things from VIP-Status' car
- And a new sub-frame tie brace to try from GTSPEC
- And a Project Kics magnetic drain plug that will hopefully fit in the diff, if not it will go in the engine.

:D

Can't wait to see the final vid

X-Pipe numbers are up at the top of the page lol.

info on the new gtspec frame brace?

Its the 2-Point sub-frame reinforcement brace that goes just behind the ladder brace to further reinforce the front sub-frame. I am pretty sure it will fit since the ladder brace did, but I will try it tomorrow.

http://www.gtspec.com/images/g37f2.jpg

This car is progressing very nicely DDM. I'll for sure be hitting you guys up when I get mine.

Thanks! Got some more exciting stuff coming up.

Here is a bit of an update for everyone...

JWT Inakes are back on the car now that the Berk Cat-Back dyno testing is done.

Going to have a shop with a lift install my crank pulley for me since I can't get enough leverage with a big breaker bar with the car only a foot off the ground. Going to try and make an appointment at the shop I usually dyno at to do that install. They are pretty packed with cars at the moment though but hoping to get it in there this week for a baseline w/the intakes, pulley install, and then another dyno to see if it did anything.

The new GTSPEC 2-Point sub-frame reinforcement brace will get test fit on the car tomorrow.

Also going to try and get the carbon side skirt add-ons from VIP-STATUS on the car tomorrow as well.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT NEWS!
Angry Panda Fabrication is scheduled to get my car in a few weeks for development of a sort of ram air intake system. It will feature bumper inlets like the Mine's ones, but they will extend into the engine bay and connect to an air box with a high flow cone filter inside and a hard pipe all the way up to the throttle bodies. This will mean that all of the air going into your engine is directly from the bumper vents which should mean much cooler intake temps and more power.

Challenge, which makes some awesome parts for the new GTR, S2000, etc. is going to be sending me a set of stainless steel braided brake lines to test soon!

Password:JDM, who also makes some incredible parts will be breaking into the 370Z world with the help of Double Down Motorsports! I have already begun working with them on ideas for parts to develop and I am sure my car will be in and out of their shop for development parts a lot in the coming months. I have always admired the functionality and form of their parts and am excited to work with them to bring the 370Z community some awesome stuff.

The Forgestar 18" wheels are plugging along and they actually came in almost a pound lighter than expected! Those should be coming fairly soon (hopefully) as well.

In other news. I got ripped off by Drift Emporium, the team who runs Kenji Yaminaka's drift car, along with a few other cars in Formula D. When they were out here for the Formula D Vegas event they called in desperate need of an oil cooler. I didn't have any in stock so I dropped everything I was doing and took the Mishimoto cooler off of my 370Z and hand delivered it to them at the track. They tried putting it on the car and it didn't fit but they were going to go to the local parts store to see if they can find the right part to be able to make it fit. So I told them, if it fits, then they can pay me for it, if not, I can take it back from them. Well they got it to fit, used it all weekend and left without paying me. I have left them emails, and tried calling with no luck. I suppose its my fault as I should have taken payment and then refunded it if it didn't fit, but I was trying to be nice. I know what its like to be out of state at a race and in desperate need of a part. Lesson learned. Anyways, now I am left with no oil cooler for the car and no cash to buy another one with at the moment so it looks like I will probably not be going to the Super Lap Battle Qualifier August 1st & 2nd. Thanks Drift Emporium! :mad:

Sell me your Berk exhaust (with xpipe) and I will pay you to get another oil cooler!

wow, I'd be PISSED! have you thought about ordering the stuff modshack used to make his oil cooler? That wasn't too expensive if I recall.

I was kind of waiting on the release of the twin oil cooler setup that Redline Motorsports tested on Travisjb's car. At this point I am looking for the most overkill setup so I don't have to worry about it. My next event will be another 105+ degree event most likely. Plus I kinda like the dual core idea and am hoping I can just run one core in the winter months and two cores in the summer that way I don't have to worry about running too cool in the winter.

ya, it makes sense not to buy something you'll only use for 1 race (but you could then sell it to me, lol). Do they have any forums or anything we can troll until they pay you? :stirthepot:

Not sure lol.

I'd be PISSED.

Send them some anthrax in the mail.

Sorry to hear about the oil cooler mess, that sucks.

I like the look of that new brace, I might grab one soon if it fits... mostly for a little protection for my spaced oil pan in case I flatten the suspension out coming off a little hill :)

Mike sign me up for the new brace. Lol, I've already scrapped off about 1/4 inch of the front of first one! Oops

And sorry to hear about those b'ards taking you on the cooler! Try giving Robert a call tomorrow, perhaps he's ready to start moving the dual core setup.

Thanks guys! I will try the brace today.

Just tried the GTSPEC 2-Point sub-frame reinforcement brace and it doesn't fit. :( There are factory braces that mount to the same point that tie the subframe to the chassis that the G37 does not have. Without those factory braces the GTSPEC brace would bolt right up. I have forwarded the info to GTSPEC so hopefully they will decide to make the necessary changes to the bar to be able to fit.

So I have recently become a Carbotech brake pads dealer and I have decided to try out some of their pads for the track! As you recall, the Hawk HP+ I ran in the first track events couldn't hold up in long braking zones.

After talking with the guys over at Carbotech I have decided to go with their XP10 pads up front and XP8 pads in the rear. The XP10 is a more agressive track compound and the XP8 is more of a street/track compound, but still more agressive than the Hawk HP+.

http://store.doubledownmotorsports.c...5fe7906e4e.jpg

Put on the CF side skirt add-ons from VIP-STATUS' car. They are made by a company called Shine, judging from the stamp on the bottom of them. Not sure I am feeling them to be honest. I think they look MUCH better with the OEM splash guards on the front like on VIP-STATUS' car. Not to mention he also had a front lip and rear accents.

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...370zsides1.jpg

How are they bolted on, seem secure? Splash guards might help blend them in more, but maybe not. Any other angles?

They are just screwed into the bottom of the OEM side skirt with self tapping screws. These were just a one off piece for VIP-STATUS' car. They are not production quality, at least I hope they aren't intended to be production quality. Just for looks. I will keep them on the car for a little while to see if they grow on me and I will take some more photos later.

This is the only other photo I have taken so far.
http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...370zsides2.jpg

I kinda dig'em... i bet they would look even better with the nismo kit on/front and rear lip

It would definitely look better with some accessories on the front and rear. I think I have decided to eventually go with the full Nismo 370Z rear bumper. Still haven't decided on a front treatment yet as aerodynamics is a big focus of mine. Eventually these sides will get replaced by something more aerodynamic as well.

I believe I 'called it' weeks ago about they wouldnt look good alone. Glad you put them on tho for reference. Also, for some reason they looked positioned differently than VIP's car. Maybe its just me, but the front section on their car seems to be tucked in a bit more and flare out as it goes towards the back.

Bomex front lip + those sides + some nice thin rear spats (I think the SLR ones are still to much for those sides) would look smooth.

We'll see...I should have all the above done within the next 3 weeks!

Yes, I did position them a bit differently than VIP-STATUS did. He angled the front of his in more than I did. Good eye. :) If there is any aerodynamic benefit to be had with these though, angling it in towards the front is not going to help. Also, it looks as if they were originally made to fit on the car the way I installed them judging by how they mate up to the OEM side.

They actually almost look like they were retro-fitted from another car that would have had close to the same lenth as the 370z.

Also, you said Shine, as in Shine Street? I remember them making a wing for the wrx. OK stuff...

The length works well on VIP-STATUS' car because he has the OEM splash guards. I believe is is this company. Not the exact same logo but very similar. Shine Auto Project

Went out and took some better photos. The car is filthy because it rained here a few days ago, but oh well. I don't like them in the first pic, they are ok in the second pic, and I love them in the third pic lol.

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...370zsides3.jpg

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...370zsides4.jpg

http://www.doubledownmotorsports.com...370zsides5.jpg

I like them, Nismo rear plus these might be a good combo. So you are saying I cannot buy this item and you have the only one? I do wonder if the tile inward might be a bit better, but without splash guards or anything it would be tough to say, all depends on what else goes on.

My understanding is that Shine hasn't made any more of these yet. You would have to talk to VIP-STATUS to see if they are working on a production version or not.

In these last set of pics, the SS looks pretty nice, even w/o any other accessories. I guess because of your wheel color. They blend in nicely. The other pics you too in your garage (I assume) they were like....eh....alright. Much better in broad day light.

Good job on the pads mike, those are the ones I want and have been campaigning about since day one. Let me know how they work :)

Nice pictures!
Car sounds awesome, looking forward to seeing your mods!

Well for the past two days I have been down in sunny Southern California carting the 370Z around! First stop was yesterday to Berk Technology where some final adjustments were made to the exhaust system so they can get stared on production versions! We also took some launch and drive by videos that I should have up on YouTube Monday or Tuesday.

Today I spent virtually the entire day at Password:JDM. They do some of the best carbon fiber work I have seen to date and have an impressive operation going on. I first walked in to the showroom to see a few JDM styled Civics, but the real fun stuff came when I walked back into the shop area and was bombarded by probably the coolest looking Lamborghini Gallardo I have ever seen. The Mercialago and the R35 GTR were pretty nice too! I took a look at some finished products and they showed me the entire manufacturing process for their carbon stuff which is all done 100% in house from raw materials to packing and shipping. They also have machining tools to make other awesome products like strut tower braces, tow hooks, battery tie downs, shift knobs, etc. While I was there a customer brought in his R35 GTR to get a host of Password:JDM goodies put on including swapping a "competitors" carbon fiber hood for a Password:JDM one. It was incredible to see the differences with the two right next to eachother. The attention to detail that Password:JDM offers is incredible and my favorite part is that everything is real dry carbon and they don't do overlays. Their hoods are 100% dry carbon fiber with a quality and look better than any competitor's products I have seen.

I left my 370Z there with them where they will have their way with it for a month this go round and I am VERY excited to see the finished products. So far they are thinking of doing a handfull of small dress-up stuff first like carbon fiber engine covers, battery covers, brake fluid covers, radiator cooling panel, etc. They will hopefully also do a nice set of front canards for the stock bumper this round as well. I will start a full Password:JDM parts development thread here as soon as they finalize which of the products they will start working on first!

I will pick the car back up from them in a few weeks and proceed to install the crank pulley, new Carbotech brake pads, Challenge stainless steel brake lines, etc. and prep it for the Redline Time Attack at the end of September.