I'm thinking of just buying a used G35 coupe but realized there is a 18 hp difference. I really like the brembo brakes and besides whats the point of more HP if you cant stop Infiniti is still using the same engine so they must have tuned the car differently to get that extra HP (i.e. differnt intake, exhaust, ecu programming) Does anyone know if there is a way to tune the 03/04's like the 05. I realize i can just purchase a injen intake or headers and get more HP but I really would rather get the stock HP. Any help is appericated. Thanks

 

It wasn't just changes to the intake and ECU that Nissan made. They also revised the the block and pistons, and added exhaust valve timing as well. These are not things you can "tune" in to an '04. They also raised the redline of the motor. I suppose you could raise the redline with ECU tuning, but wihtout better breathing on the upper end (plenum, exhaust, etc.) it wouldn't be worth it. Ultimately, however, the performance difference from that 18HP is likely to be negligible on the street, as the 2005 models gained ~80 pounds, making the power/weight ratio almost identical.

 

Do you know where the 80 pounds came from?

 

Not entirely sure. Could be a combination of various interior and engine changes. Could even be more sound deadening, etc. Hard to know for sure.

 

You need to drive both of them a couple of times. The seats are more comfortable in the 05, and it also has the better numbers hp/tq. but the 03/04's have a few small things that are better IMHO than the 05. Just realize that the vq engine has alot to it already and that the subsequent years/changes are probably more for marketing than substance. I think it truly boils down to the deal you can get for either one.

 

Technically the 2003/2004 6MT's have better torque numbers than the 2005's. Also, the 2005's stop just as well w/o the brembo name as the 2003/2004's do with it.

Odds are the 2 vehicles would be dead even given the same driver and the same conditions.

Want to add 40+rwhp to a 2003/2004? Just get these mods...

1. Crawford Headers
2. Crawford Plenum
3. Crawford Cats
* Crawford Oil Cap (doesn't do much for performance but it sure does look cool and it's free with the above mods )
4. Z-tube
5. Exhaust of your choice

The first 4 mods will run you ~$2000 + ~$500 for install. The last mod is a DIY and price depends upon the brand of the exhaust itself.

To my knowledge no one has installed all of the above on a 2005 model G35 yet, so I'm not sure if the gains would be the same with the lower manifold changing and the torque dropped.

 

Nobody likes to hear it, but the Brembos are overrated. The braking coeffecient is virtually the same for the Brembo equipped G vs. the non-Brembos. The stopping distance is basically the same.

The Brembos only dissipate heat better which is good if you are into autoX, but even in autoX many people change out the Brembos to Stoptech, because the Brembos still fade too fast. Ask some of the SCCA guys.

 

Agreed. Most people who bought the 6MT coupe for the Brembos wanted it cause they think the Brembos look good with those big gold calipers. Not too many are thinking "Hmmm... how will these Brembos hold up upon repeated braking if I auto-x or road race my car?" I'm a bit glad that the 6MT sedans did not come with Brembos from the factory which drives up cost. Then when I'm ready for a BBK I have a choice of what I want to use (likely Stoptechs).

 

"Want to add 40+rwhp to a 2003/2004? Just get these mods..." neffster

A succinct and helpful message. I do have a question for neffster on this however:

I like to wring as much hp/tq out of my G sedan as possible without having to upgrade to a $2500 stereo just to drown out the motor.. would you mind describing the decibel increase associated w/ the plenum & headers? ty

 

i would agree that the stopping power of both is around the same.. but driving both (03/04) auto and 6mt with brembos on a regular basis i have found that the pedal feel of the brembo brakes is much better than the stock 03/04 brakes.

 

Definitely not as loud as just the RT Cats and a Borla Exhaust combo. It's also more quiet than just the z-tube AND the JWT Popcharger (above 3500 rpms).

If you keep the stock exhaust (after the y-pipe) and keep the stock airbox the car remains rather quiet. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing, depending on what you're going for.

Initially I wanted a quiet, stock looking beast. Now that the wife rarely rides in the G and the kids like "daddy's cool new rocket" I wouldn't mind it sounding a little louder than it is.