New 370z owner! Need some expert advice

[370ZYZFR1]

Guys,

I am new to this forum and just purchased a 370z. I had a g35 coupe that I recently sold in which was bone stock. Loved the car, now it is time for a real sports car! Just bought a 2009 black 370z auto (wanted manual) for 23k with 12k miles Got a good deal.

I have done tons of research on this website and others and have found this website has a lot more members who know what they are talking about.

I have raced motorcycles before (street bikes) and have done all the mods myself, however, cars are different. After researching different posts on here, etc.. I have few questions about the potential mods for my car. Before I get into it, here are my goals for modding:
1. No actual engine or suspension mods needed, not going to track the car.
2. I would like to gain extra HP
3. I absolutely do not want a set up that is too loud or gives a drone sound on the interstate

I have been working with someone at Concept Performance and they have answered some questions for me. I want some feedback from you based on my current selections. Let me know what you think.

Mods I think I will go with:
1. Injen SP1989P Cold Air Intake - I want as much HP as possible but still easy to install.

2. Stillen 508385C Ceramic Coated Headers. Want to try to avoid significant heat to engine. They said these help that…?

3. Motordyne VQHRART Advanced Resonance Art test Pipes.

4. Akrapovic Titanium Evolution Exhaust – seems a bit on the muted side, but excellent build? Listened to clips and sounds good. Anything else to suggest for a system?

Again, I don’t want anything really loud. Questions are:

What do you think of this list?
Any suggestions for anything different to fairly easily increase HP
And with the Test Pipes, does the Advanced Resonance ART test pipes cut down on the sound? Do test pipes in general increase sound considerably?

I have akrapovic on my motorcycle and they make the absolute best motorcycle exhaust systems you can buy.

Any other suggestions? Will any of these aforementioned mods affect engine life?

Thanks for all your help guys. Great Forum.

[Chuck33079]

Stillen headers don't make power. The 370 has a good set of headers already. Test pipes are loud. If noise is a concern, get high flow cats instead.

Honestly, any shop that recommends Stillen headers is a shop I would avoid. Plus, the OEM headers have plenty of heat shielding.

[Spikuh]

My experience with test pipes, which are the Motordyne v2 ones, is they did not really increase the overall loudness of the car much unless it is really cold outside. If I had to try and give an estimate...I would say....mayyyybe 10% - 15% increase on regular days.

For myself, switching the exhaust did more for loudness than test pipes did.

[EDIT] Just figured out a better way to describe my experience. Post test pipe installation, it is not any harder for me to have a conversation in the car at a normal speaking level.

[Boomer370]

Hey OP,

Congrats on your purchase.

With the mods you are listing you won't see too much of an HP gain, a little jump here and there, butt dyno will feel it, but no significant jump in numbers on paper.

With bikes, little additions and bolt-ons has a significant larger impact. Not so with cars unfortunately (at least with 370).

[4r3s]

ditch the headers, gains haven't been proven worth it.

I'd personally ditch the test pipes in favor of a good high flow cat if you're concerned about sound.

The rest of your plan looks good but I have no experience with that particular exhaust so I can't say if its going to drone on you or not.

probably should get the car retuned after you do those performance mods to get the most out of them as well.

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by 370ZYZFR1

( Click to show/hide )

Guys,

I am new to this forum and just purchased a 370z. I had a g35 coupe that I recently sold in which was bone stock. Loved the car, now it is time for a real sports car! Just bought a 2009 black 370z auto (wanted manual) for 23k with 12k miles Got a good deal.

I have done tons of research on this website and others and have found this website has a lot more members who know what they are talking about.

I have raced motorcycles before (street bikes) and have done all the mods myself, however, cars are different. After researching different posts on here, etc.. I have few questions about the potential mods for my car.

Before I get into it, here are my goals for modding:
1. No actual engine or suspension mods needed, not going to track the car.
2. I would like to gain extra HP
3. I absolutely do not want a set up that is too loud or gives a drone sound on the interstate

1. Fair enough, but you may want to look into a small oil cooler, perhaps a 19 row depending on local ambient temps and if you push the car a little bit for the added cooling.

2. Any exhaust mod is going to gain extra HP, and a tune after you're done modding will give you an extra few plus make the system run a lot smoother.

3. Then you'll want to stay away from long tube headers and non resonated test pipes or exhausts.

I have been working with someone at Concept Performance and they have answered some questions for me. I want some feedback from you based on my current selections. Let me know what you think.

Do you mean Concept Z Performance?

Mods I think I will go with:
1. Injen SP1989P Cold Air Intake - I want as much HP as possible but still easy to install.

These will require the removal of the front bumper for the install, and the replacement of your OEM washer fluid reservoir with one they supply. It's a bit messy. Also you will need to remove the bumper to clean the filters periodically. If you are alright with all of this, then no worries. But if you want easy to install, they may be a bit much.

You could look into the Stillen Gen II Intakes, or the R2C Intakes which stay in the engine bay if you want the polished metal look. Honestly, the car already comes with a "cold air intake" practically so if you're looking to save costs and just improve a piece here and there, look into Z1 Post MAF tubes and Drop In filters. They are the best bang for buck on the intake side.

2. Stillen 508385C Ceramic Coated Headers. Want to try to avoid significant heat to engine. They said these help that…?

These will remove the OEM heat shields that come on the stock headers, so heat transfer will be greater. Though I have the Long Tube Headers without heat shields and have seen no problems due to heat. That being said, the still headers are so close in design to the OEM headers, it is not worth the cost/labor to install them if you're not trying to suck every HP out of the motor you can. The stock headers will suit you fine and your money is better spent on other mods.

3. Motordyne VQHRART Advanced Resonance Art test Pipes.

These are great for giving that hint of rasp you get from Test Pipes (and exhaust smell as well, so that's something to consider), without the drone. You will see an increase in engine volume, but nothing on par with a complete non-resonated system. I am planning to get these myself in the spring.

4. Akrapovic Titanium Evolution Exhaust – seems a bit on the muted side, but excellent build? Listened to clips and sounds good. Anything else to suggest for a system?

Akrapovic is a good name in the motorcycle exhaust world, so I can see why you'd follow them on the Z. The exhaust is super light, being Titanium, however that also comes at a huge price. The system is almost $3000 and thats not including either the rolled titanium or carbon fiber tips which are another $700. If cost is not a problem for you, then by all means get this exhaust. Having heard it in person, I can tell you it will definitely give your Japanese car a European sound. Although I do believe it was a bit raspy, and not the good kind of rasp either. But sound is subjective so take that as you will.

( Click to show/hide )

Again, I don’t want anything really loud. Questions are:

What do you think of this list?
Any suggestions for anything different to fairly easily increase HP
And with the Test Pipes, does the Advanced Resonance ART test pipes cut down on the sound? Do test pipes in general increase sound considerably?

I have akrapovic on my motorcycle and they make the absolute best motorcycle exhaust systems you can buy.

Any other suggestions? Will any of these aforementioned mods affect engine life?

Thanks for all your help guys. Great Forum.

I've put my answers in bold so they follow your questions.

[370ZYZFR1]

Excellent responses. This is why I ask the questions. I do not want to mess with removing bumper for the cold air intake. I will take your advices a go with the others.

Also not doing the headers. Doesn't sound work it.

On so with the test pipes, do I understand this correctly?

1. Most hp gains are straight test pipes but loudest?
2. Second highest gains are resonated test pipes? Benefit being not as loud but still more hp than hfc?
3. Hfc are still upgrade to replacing cat but least amount of hp?

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by 370ZYZFR1

Excellent responses. This is why I ask the questions. I do not want to mess with removing bumper for the cold air intake. I will take your advices a go with the others.

Also not doing the headers. Doesn't sound work it.

On so with the test pipes, do I understand this correctly?

1. Most hp gains are straight test pipes but loudest?
2. Second highest gains are resonated test pipes? Benefit being not as loud but still more hp than hfc?
3. Hfc are still upgrade to replacing cat but least amount of hp?

1. Yes
2. The resonator does not affect HP gains, only sound/rasp.
3. Yes, depending on which brand you go with and what size cell they use (100,200,300), they will have different impacts on HP and smell.

Also, check in your state/county to see if it is legal to not run cats. If you have to do emissions testing, you will have to swap them for the stock cats prior to your inspection. Some HFCs have passed I believe, but I can't remember which ones.

[Infidel]

Your answer is forced induction, it's the only way to real gains. Everything else is chicken scratch especially if you're used to how hard a bike pulls.

Hope you have patience.

[SOUTHZZ]

With a A/T 370,just go with a FI(supercharger is good for A/T).Headers are
a waste.Bling up the plumbing on your intakes with polished tubes.Drop in
K&N's.HFC's are best.In love the Amuse exhaust for the 350.Check on the 370 version.
Your are not gonna get the power increases youthink with the stuff you have listed.
Whats your budget?

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by Infidel

Your answer is forced induction, it's the only way to real gains. Everything else is chicken scratch especially if you're used to how hard a bike pulls.

Hope you have patience.

Originally Posted by SOUTHZZ

With a A/T 370,just go with a FI(supercharger is good for A/T).Headers are
a waste.Bling up the plumbing on your intakes with polished tubes.Drop in
K&N's.HFC's are best.In love the Amuse exhaust for the 350.Check on the 370 version.
Your are not gonna get the power increases youthink with the stuff you have listed.
Whats your budget?

He's already said no engine mods, so FI is out the door right there.

Besides, the AT would need just as much spent on it to handle FI as the motor, not worth the cost.

The Amuse exhaust is way too expensive and doesn't give the best gains. He's not looking for "massive" gains. Probably just more response feel on the ol' butt dyno.

[Bking]

Even after changing the intake, HFC/test pipes, CBE, headers won't increase the horsepower to a significant amount. I say save the money for a set of wheels + spacers, CBE, and maybe some exterior mods like a lip kit. It will make your Z look so much better but with similar performance.

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by Bking

Even after changing the intake, HFC/test pipes, CBE, headers won't increase the horsepower to a significant amount. I say save the money for a set of wheels + spacers, CBE, and maybe some exterior mods like a lip kit. It will make your Z look so much better but with similar performance.

With intake/HFC-TP/CBE and tune, he's probably looking in the realm of 30hp to gain possibly. That's a 10% improvement. Granted, not worth the cost of what it takes to get it on this car, but its still a significant amount.

[Luciano13]

U want to gain the most HP with little work....
Injen CAI + HFC + non res exhaust system + UpRev profession tune
I gained approx 5OHP & 45ftq @wheels with that set up.

[Chuck33079]

Originally Posted by Bking

Even after changing the intake, HFC/test pipes, CBE, headers won't increase the horsepower to a significant amount. I say save the money for a set of wheels + spacers, CBE, and maybe some exterior mods like a lip kit. It will make your Z look so much better but with similar performance.

Going from ~280 to ~320 whp is a significant amount. You'll absolutely feel it. That's a 15% power increase.