best mods for a limited budget

ImportConvert · 08-15-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucelidat

So I am looking for some easy inexpensive mods for the most speed gains. I don't care about being loud unless it helps with speed, so only loud enough for speed improvements but not extra loud just to be loud. My budget is only around 1k.
I have read on the forums that HFCs are the best bang for my buck. Please let me know if any of your suggestions need other parts as well to implement them. I am a complete newbie to this.
I am thinking of looking into some driving schools also.

Thanks!

Clear Bra. It's the only mod that is likely to pay you back in full for doing it. Especially good idea with Nissan's ultra-thin paint. If you're serious about driving your car to its potential, learn how it feels stock, first, and after you become adept at handling it stock, the first mods will be obvious. Through it all, the clear-bra will have your back.

brucelidat · 08-15-2011, 11:30 AM

can anyone recommend a good driving school/program in southern california?

DJ-of-E · 08-15-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Clear Bra. It's the only mod that is likely to pay you back in full for doing it. Especially good idea with Nissan's ultra-thin paint. If you're serious about driving your car to its potential, learn how it feels stock, first, and after you become adept at handling it stock, the first mods will be obvious. Through it all, the clear-bra will have your back.

Best advise so far.

Heck, I took my car to auto-x last weekend and with the right tires, it ran pretty darn well (even with the body roll).

Afterwards, honestly...the best mod is to save up and replace those darn oem tires. The Z, itself, is already a head turner. No need to make it into "head turner + BLAARRGHH."

If you're limited on funds, especially when you live in California, then you still have like 6 years to think about it if you REALLy want to spend that $1000 only to take it off for the PITA SMOG check.

As for racing school, they're really expensive, but if you take things to heart and not be a slacker-know-it-all, then I suggest this.

http://www.raceschool.com/

Drex · 08-15-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Clear Bra. It's the only mod that is likely to pay you back in full for doing it. Especially good idea with Nissan's ultra-thin paint. If you're serious about driving your car to its potential, learn how it feels stock, first, and after you become adept at handling it stock, the first mods will be obvious. Through it all, the clear-bra will have your back.

i really really wish i had gotten the clear bra when i got my car. 3-4 months in and its got rock chips all over the front end.

brucelidat · 08-15-2011, 01:23 PM

any tire suggestions when it comes time to replace my stock ones? (won't be soon, still breaking it in, only 3rd week of ownership)

brucelidat · 08-15-2011, 01:27 PM

If you're limited on funds, especially when you live in California, then you still have like 6 years to think about it if you REALLy want to spend that $1000 only to take it off for the PITA SMOG check.

Can you elaborate on this? I've never modded a car so am not familiar with this. Will the intake and TPs or HFCs mail me when it's smog check time? And is 6 years when i start needing to be tested?

shadoquad · 08-15-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucelidat

If you're limited on funds, especially when you live in California, then you still have like 6 years to think about it if you REALLy want to spend that $1000 only to take it off for the PITA SMOG check.

Can you elaborate on this? I've never modded a car so am not familiar with this. Will the intake and TPs or HFCs mail me when it's smog check time? And is 6 years when i start needing to be tested?

I'm not sure about Cali with their CAFE standards, but putting hi-flow cats or test pipes on your car could cause you to fail an emissions test. Especially test pipes, since that's just straight pipe with no cats.

Guard Dad · 08-15-2011, 01:59 PM

Test pipes can generate a check engine light because the ECU can't locate the cats. Test pipes will flunk the smog inspection, which I think is at 6 years.

High flow cats might be OK as far as the ECU is concerned but may or may not pass the inspection.

It's a violation to replace a functioning cat in California but people do it anyway. Be aware that cat replacement can be difficult. some of the bolts are hard to access and they tend to break off.

Intake mods can cause you to flunk the test but they are easy to reverse so lots of folks do them anyway, I like the Stillen G3.

The NST underdrive pulley is cheap horsepower but none of the pulleys that I've seen so far have harmonic balancers (lots of discussion if it's even needed on the Z) so I haven't pulled the trigger on a pulley, yet.

A used cat-back exhaust is good horsepower but check for sound clips as some owners have had issues with resonance or exhaust rasp with some combinations of cat-backs and test pipes/high flow cats.

If you do all three you will probably need a custom tune which is 400-600 bucks but it's worth another 5-10 horsepower.

I'd suggest a Stillen G3 intake and a cat-back exhaust, minimal headaches and about 30 HP.

brucelidat · 08-15-2011, 03:16 PM

any recommendations for the cat back exhaust? I saw a Stillen dual exhaust, but it was $1600

shadoquad · 08-15-2011, 03:19 PM

A lot of people I know like the Berk, F.I., Invidia, and a few others.

Here's a pretty good rundown.

the370z.com's Exhaust Quick Reference Guide

slumpey · 08-15-2011, 03:21 PM

In the same boat...

How about better springs (Swift Spec-R Springs 370Z 08+) to replace the stock springs?
Do you also have to replace the stock coilovers as well?

How much does it cost to have springs installed?

ZeeingAround · 08-15-2011, 07:20 PM

CNT exhaust and HFC. Should be able to sneak in some good performance <1K. The Clear bra was some good advice though. You can pretend it makes the car faster.

There are several ways to get past the emmisions test, but that is not a subject for this thread.

hdskull · 08-15-2011, 08:34 PM

You can get Berk HFC or Stillen Gen 3 + Top speed Pro1 Exhaust and Y-pipe for around 1k.

brucelidat · 08-15-2011, 08:48 PM

Any thoughts from anyone on the Topspeed Pro-1 exhaust and y pipe? I have mainly heard people mention Berk and Stillen so any feedback or opinions on this one would be appreciated.

hdskull · 08-16-2011, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucelidat

Any thoughts from anyone on the Topspeed Pro-1 exhaust and y pipe? I have mainly heard people mention Berk and Stillen so any feedback or opinions on this one would be appreciated.

My cheapo set up sounds like a million bucks lol

Top Speed Exhaust Review

08-15-2011, 01:59 PM	#23 (permalink)
Guard Dad Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Orange County, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2010 370Z Silver A7 Rep Power: 14	Test pipes can generate a check engine light because the ECU can't locate the cats. Test pipes will flunk the smog inspection, which I think is at 6 years. High flow cats might be OK as far as the ECU is concerned but may or may not pass the inspection. It's a violation to replace a functioning cat in California but people do it anyway. Be aware that cat replacement can be difficult. some of the bolts are hard to access and they tend to break off. Intake mods can cause you to flunk the test but they are easy to reverse so lots of folks do them anyway, I like the Stillen G3. The NST underdrive pulley is cheap horsepower but none of the pulleys that I've seen so far have harmonic balancers (lots of discussion if it's even needed on the Z) so I haven't pulled the trigger on a pulley, yet. A used cat-back exhaust is good horsepower but check for sound clips as some owners have had issues with resonance or exhaust rasp with some combinations of cat-backs and test pipes/high flow cats. If you do all three you will probably need a custom tune which is 400-600 bucks but it's worth another 5-10 horsepower. I'd suggest a Stillen G3 intake and a cat-back exhaust, minimal headaches and about 30 HP. Last edited by Guard Dad; 08-15-2011 at 02:02 PM.

08-15-2011, 03:21 PM	#26 (permalink)
slumpey Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: USA Posts: 80 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370Z 7AT Rep Power: 13	In the same boat... How about better springs (Swift Spec-R Springs 370Z 08+) to replace the stock springs? Do you also have to replace the stock coilovers as well? How much does it cost to have springs installed? Last edited by slumpey; 08-15-2011 at 03:26 PM.

08-15-2011, 07:20 PM	#27 (permalink)
ZeeingAround A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 6,365 Drives: 3500 NVP 370Z-sold! Rep Power: 86623	CNT exhaust and HFC. Should be able to sneak in some good performance <1K. The Clear bra was some good advice though. You can pretend it makes the car faster. There are several ways to get past the emmisions test, but that is not a subject for this thread. __________________ Get some roosters for eggs and Bulls for milk . Then you will see that gender matters. Especially at milking time.

08-15-2011, 08:34 PM	#28 (permalink)
hdskull Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 680 Drives: '10 Black 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 16	You can get Berk HFC or Stillen Gen 3 + Top speed Pro1 Exhaust and Y-pipe for around 1k. __________________ ^ Kenwood DDX616 \| Polk DB6501 \| Llumar 23% tint \| STi-R Clear Lens SSR Type-F \| F.I. 18" CF \| Stillen Gen 3 \| KW V3

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08-15-2011, 11:30 AM	#17 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 30	can anyone recommend a good driving school/program in southern california?

08-15-2011, 01:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 30	any tire suggestions when it comes time to replace my stock ones? (won't be soon, still breaking it in, only 3rd week of ownership)

08-15-2011, 01:27 PM	#21 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 30	If you're limited on funds, especially when you live in California, then you still have like 6 years to think about it if you REALLy want to spend that $1000 only to take it off for the PITA SMOG check. Can you elaborate on this? I've never modded a car so am not familiar with this. Will the intake and TPs or HFCs mail me when it's smog check time? And is 6 years when i start needing to be tested?

08-15-2011, 03:16 PM	#24 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 30	any recommendations for the cat back exhaust? I saw a Stillen dual exhaust, but it was $1600

08-15-2011, 03:19 PM	#25 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	A lot of people I know like the Berk, F.I., Invidia, and a few others. Here's a pretty good rundown. the370z.com's Exhaust Quick Reference Guide

08-15-2011, 08:48 PM	#29 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 30	Any thoughts from anyone on the Topspeed Pro-1 exhaust and y pipe? I have mainly heard people mention Berk and Stillen so any feedback or opinions on this one would be appreciated.