Here is a riddle: why will I accelerate slower if I install modifications that increase horsepower? Answer: my wife notices I am accelerating, screams at me to slow down, and I do. So I need to reduce two kinds of sounds: engine sounds and wife sounds. The only modifications that make sense for me are those that are not going to increase the sound level in the cabin. In fact, I want to reduce the sound level. Can you think of any mods that will work? Any combinations of mods and dynamat that will reduce the sound level when accelerating?

 

reduce sound no. Not to increase sound? Hum... only thing i can think of is NOS! Or turn up the MUSIC volume! :P

 

MarcGee,

Non-sound mods might include...
1 - K&N drop-in filter
2 - Hyper-ground kit - GordGees GroundGear is excellent!
3 - TechnoSquare ECU upgrade (especially AT Sedan)
4 - 350Z Thermostat (AT Sedan only)
5 - One bottle Water Wetter
6 - Engine driven radiator fan changeout

Minimum noise mods...
1 - 350Z Air duct
2 - Resonator changeout (Sedan only)


DaveO
2003 G35 Sedan - DP / Willow / AT / Premium / Sport
350Z Engine Cover, T-Stat & Air Duct / Stillen CAI
GG 7-Wire H-G Kit / TechnoSquare ECU
Street Edge TC / Stillen Exhaust System

 

350EVO...................3.9 final drive...serious increase in accel!

 

Nitrous with a nicely hidden switch. If she finds out just say the car came that way.

 

Just show her the door . Just kidding.
Seriously, you shouldn't be racing with her in the car, if she doesn't like it. Don't try to trick her.

G35 Coupe. Diamond Graphite, Graphite, Premium and wheel and Tire package. Zaino Baby.

 

I do have a sedan. Based on reading posts on this forum, I was thinking that the Borla exhaust for the sedan might not increase the sound level much and that I could counteract the modest increase in sound level by installing dynamat in the trunk.

 

after a year or two, modified exhaust systems will get considerably louder.

btw

pulley
weight reduction
lighter wheels

they don't add any sound.


Friends don't let friends drive stock

 

The funny comment re. GroundingGear™ on the Hyper-Ground Thread is that some complained that with the kit installed, some found that the smoothness made the car TOO quiet, and though the increased throttle response was nice, they had to put in an exhaust or intake to bring back that aggressive sound! May be just the mod you're looking for.

<font color=green>GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=green>

 

1.Drivetrain. If you have the MT, the Nismo lightweight flywheel and clutch. There is one layer of sound damping material (instead of the stock 2 in the G35) and it reduces flywheel weight by 15 lbs down to 23lbs. That is roughly like dumping 300 pounds of car weight. Gets your rpms up quickly. It does not grind and crunch like the 8lb Tilton or 14lb JWT flywheels, but the performance results are very noticeable. Basically, a silent upgrade that is like adding hp.

2.Driving style. This is sensitive, and my comments are well meant to be supportive. Are you sure it is sound, or do you think that even if it was stealth silent she might be anxious about slamming her into a corner and pulling three g's? She is probably not interested in what you can do with the car when she is in it. Not a question of trust or your skill, she just does not like it. Some people hate steel roller coasters too. It is not you, and it is not the car. But it is her and any car under certain conditions perhaps? Again, my car has supercharging, and there is definitely a whine, and inside with the windows up, it is noticeable at idle and low speed, but not at all bad. Zimbo put some audio/video on the board with his Vortech, and if you listen I think you would agree it is not bad. Certainly once you get to 4000 rpm the basic engine roar drowns out any kind of sc noise, except for when you let off the throttle and the blowoff valve shoots air. However, if you step into it hard the whine and vacuum cleaner like inhale jump the noise level. I showed her a couple of times how it worked and why so she would understand what it does, why I like it and am enthusiastic about it, but when she is in the car, I just do not tend to do it. Her comfort as a passenger is paramount. So she is happy that I am happy, and I am happy that I have the car....and to keep it that way I drive very very courteously for her, and she knows that. And everything is cool. When she is not in the car, or I have a fellow enthusiast as a passenger, and the opportunity is appropriate, we take the beast for a walk. Just a thought.

3.Most of the basic exhaust mods, not all, are pretty tame on the sound until you get up to 4000rpm, when they begin to sing with purpose and the additional hp (and heat)is released. The Borla headers and catback on my Gcoupe are barely louder at idle and low speed than the stock. The RT cats give it some Ychromosomes...but still it is nowhere near the zone of obectionable...indeed my girlfriend who is NOT at all into cars, really likes it. I was there for the install and by golly it was hard to pick up significant differences. After a couple thousand miles it is settling in and is richening in sound a tiny bit. But not louder. Once you get into 5000+ rpm however there is some attitude coming and at 6000 there is serious business and everybody around knows.....but all you have to do is not push the rpms and invite the scolding when she is in the car with you. Shift at 3500 instead of 4500 or more. You aren't lugging, but not performance driving either. .

Your love your car and your wife. But if I loved both of them as much as you do...(you would not post the question the way you did if you did not) I would not put them into conflict with each other. (Remember, support for the next step up to a Porsche, for example, could be compromised if she does not like her experience with you and this performance car...protect your future options good man!!) Drive differently when she is in the car, is all you have to do. A Carrera or 4S is a very streetable and civil car if you apply yourself with some discipline and smoothness.

Oh, and by the way. If there is a conflict that is not resolveable, she gets half.

But I do think that you will have to kiss FI goodbye for now.

Good luck.
(I bet she won't get on the back of a motorcycle either)


Cpe 6MT/Aero/Prem/ATI/RT cats/Borla hdrs-catbcks/Nismo flywhl-cltch/TS-ECU/Tein flex EDFC/Stillen sways

 

Most every mod I know of (with the exception of the supercharger whir) doesn't start making an appreciable amount of noise until about 2500 rpms. So just shift early when you're out with your lady.

--Steve

 

show ur wife the trunk...