This is a thread worth bumping.
From everything I've read (and I have read EVERYTHING searchable over the past few years), even if you have a large budget for an EPIC FI build, you will still regret the time. It's a big commitment, and you chance ruining something you loved to do-- drive your G!

If your goal is just to cruise around but have fun when needed, stick with something simple on the stock block, like JWT 530bb or stillen SC. Add a transgo kit if you are AT and enjoy. You could pick up the ubiquitous Greddy kit used and have it tuned safely to 400/375ish.

If you are going for big numbers or low ETs you really need to look at a different platform. Such as one with a large displacement engine to boost (corvette, mustang, older muscle cars) or a car set up for turbo from the start- Supra or Evo or STI, DSM,

 

Most folks aren't prepared for the loss in refinement that comes with the exchange of raw power. Rattles, exhaust noise, electrical gremlins, test pipe fumes, scratches in the interior from the multiple people having worked on your car, etc. It takes a lot of patience and $$$ to get it where you envisioned it when you first jumped in. That said, 500-600 whp on any other platform is going to be just as expensive (given the variability in success with any performance mods on any platform).

 

I have no fi experiance but hours upon hours of reading fi, na and every other thread in between.

First learn to drive the vehicle. The first misconception is I need more POWER. What you need to do is learn how to push the limits of the vehicle. Then upgrade the suspension and brakes. Throw some money into the stereo so you truly enjoy it. Tint it and get some nice wheels and do some breather mods/ exhaust. I would stop while you are ahead and attend Auto-x and HPDE events. You will learn how much fun you will have with your vehicles in spirited events and really enjoy tearing the rear end loose.


If you are stubborn and want to go FI. Lets talk numbers you will get 25% return on investment. If you dump in $10k you will get $2500 back out of it ( You need 20k if you plan to go down the FI journey and a BEATER). Yeah maybe 25% is too low and more like 35%-40% but regardless. You will loose money, time, patience, hair, blood and more than you can imagine. You should pick up a daily vehicle, be ready to scour the internet for answers. Make friends with other FI owners and shops that will help you. In the end after spending all that time and money you have to justify it was worth it otherwise you feel like a complete tool for spending all that time and money.

The vq is not the platform for boosted but if you want to pick up a boosted performance kit and a spare stock motor.

My plan with this vehicle is drive it in stock form as long as I can and then pick up a nice vehicle that has a solid platform in the next couple years (cts-v, G8 GXP, G35s HR,). In the mean time I will try to attend events in 2013 and really learn how to push the limits of my vehicle. I am in finance and justifying all this money on a depreciating asset is very hard. I rather pour $20k + $15k (cost of vehicle) = $35k and dump that into a nice vehicle from the factory. Maybe used like 2-3 years old V8 and stick shift.

 

^ If you go FI, it should be for fun. It's pure entertainment, not transportation. There is no cost/benefit ratio. You've got to forget about the money. If you can't do that, then don't do it.

 

LMAO!! Coming from the guy who has his car once again at Dynosty going for even more and more power, not to mention a tranny swap with seemingly bottomless pockets!

You of all people know cost/benifit ratio is all in the eye (and wallet) of the beholder

Can't wait to see your results!

 

Just telling it like it is. On the flip side, there is nothing like that feeling of raw power and the ability to take the car to the edge of traction at will, even when just going in a straight line. So if you can manage it, there's nothing like it. You only live once. Happy boosting.

 

reading through all this contemplating is it worth it and i still don't know if i can pull the trigger. lol
alotta thought is being put into

 

I have a long history of making custom stuff for my Z including two ST kits and one SC kit. They were all a blast to drive but there was always something. Is it worth it? Yes and no. After seven years of heavily nodding my Z I walked away with knowledge and confidence that many don't get at my age.

Now as a G35X owner I have been toying around with the idea of boost but I can't bring myself to do it. One of the previous posts hit it on the head in my opinion. The the thrill of raw power at an instants notice will long be outweighed by being able to just drive your car. What that means is build safe and enjoy the car.

I loved the end product of my 350Z, which was a high compression nitrous fed stroked LS1 at 2,650 lbs. In the end I just continued to miss the ability to drive the thing whenever I wanted. It's for that very reason I will most likely do nothing to my G35x even though I have some crazy ideas...

 

This makes the most sense to me. If your starting a build on a car make a list of performance upgrades. start with the simplest bolt on mods then work your way up to ones that need cust fab... keeping in mind on that list there are things need before things e.g bigger injectors, exaust, ect. before FI. Start adding things on the list one after the other. If cost gets to much or your reach a power that makes you happy then you can stop. The list should start with things like 5/16 spacer, intake, cat back, and end with forged internals and FI. There are a million mods to squeeze power out of any car.

 

The problem with your thinking is you dont need a spacer or intake if your thinking of going FI...so thats money ill spent.

 

EXACTLY! My car has stock intake/exhaust because intake will be useless with FI, and the proper exhaust will be dependant upon teh FI setup and hp goals as well.

 

Just look at my numbers in my sig and learn from my experiance.

If i had an upgraded plenum and exhaust I would be sitting with at least 400 instead of 345.

 

IDK, I threw on a spacer hoping it would help a little before the turbos spooled. Don't know if it actually works but it shouldn't hurt.

 

cosworth plenum, a 2.5in dual exhaust, and uping the boost a few pounds should do it for me to get to 400, but having a stock block is deffinitly not helping me at all.

I am only running 7-8psi max.

 

This is true but my point was there are alot of bolt ons that could satisfy your power needs and that you dont just need to run to FI if you arnt ready to put the money into it. And you dont need the spacer but it wont hurt the fact that is on there if you do boost.