makeing your automatic faster
#1
08-28-2004 | 08:43 PM
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Florida
makeing your automatic faster
Back to Projects Click image for larger view and thumbnails
Borla Exhaust
Image 1 of 14
Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe
- Exhaust Headers Trans Cooler Torque Converter Cold Air Intake Brakes Suspension Drop Springs Swaybars Throttle Body Grounding Kit Aluminum Pulleys
California is unquestionably the Mecca of the automotive scene. All of the big name tuners have facilities there and they develop then ship parts out to enthusiasts all over the world. The problem then becomes finding a good shop with skilled mechanics plus state of the art tools and equipment with which to do a quality installation. Louisiana is not only geographically distant from Cali, but also tends to get overlooked as an area where not only are imports popular but also the classic muscle cars of the ‘60’s & early ‘70’s. Fortunately, I have found probably the premier shop in Cenla at Select Motors located on Highway 165 in Ball, Louisiana, the owners of Select Motors have established a first-rate business centered around their love of automobiles. Not only do they specialize in locating and restoring muscle cars from the domestic “Big Three” manufacturers, they have one of the most advanced shops in the area. The Select mechanics (artists) can install virtually anything and even possess excellent fabrication skills, should the need arise. Having laid my installation fears to rest, let’s get started with the fun!
I chose the Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe as my project car for several reasons. It has already won numerous (& well deserved, I might add) automotive magazine awards. These include being named Motor Trend’s 2003 Car of the Year and also a repeat winner of Car & Drivers 10 Best Cars 2002-03. In its stock form it is capable of sub 6 second 0-60 mph times, and when equipped with the optional Brembo brake package, hauls itself down from that same 60 mph in 112’. Most owners would be content with these figures; however, for the true enthusiast such as myself, it’s simply an attractive starting point for building a serious sports coupe!
The natural starting point for this project would be a the potent VQ35 V-6 engine. It displaces 3.5 liters & is rated at 287 HP in the coupe – OK for some but there’s plenty of untapped potential in it. The basics require getting more air in & out through simple bolt-ons. An AEM cold air intake (CAI) was installed in front of a modified (oversized) throttle body. The OEM intake plenum has an unusual slope to it so Crawford Performance in Tennessee has developed a modified version which allows for more even airflow to all cylinders. These modifications take care of basic breathing restrictions. To remove the spent gases, Borla products were called upon due to their reputation and research. A set of stainless steel headers was wrapped in thermal barrier tape & installed upstream to a pair of Random Technologies High Flow catalytic converters. The exhaust then flows through a Borla true dual cat-back system & out a pair of 4” chrome tips. A Stillen 8 wire grounding kit helps assure good feedback to the TechnoSquare reflashed factory ECU (mapped for more aggressive fuel & spark curves). Finally, to help the VQ35 rev easier, a 3 piece set of Unorthodox Racing aluminum pulleys was bolted on.
Now that we had more power, we needed to get it to ground. Since my G35 was equipped with an automatic transmission, installing a higher stall speed torque converter was a no-brainer. Here is where Select Motors really went above & beyond. Since there are no aftermarket performance converters available at this time, Select simply removed my converter & had it shipped to Level 10 Transmission for modification. When it was returned later in the week, the stall speed had been raised to 3000 RPMs & Level 10 had suggested modifying the valve body to give more control over the shift points & to allow the transmission to handle more power. Once re-installed in the Infiniti, a 18,000 GVW transmission cooler was bolted in place to assist the factory radiator with cooling capability. While the car was out-of-service, Select turned their attention to the suspension improvements I wanted. A set of adjustable Eibach sway bars was installed (front & rear) to permit tuning the car for personal driving preferences (in my case, a slight bit of over steer). To improve both the looks and handling performance, Tein H-Tech drop springs lowered the center of gravity approximately .75” on all 4 corners.
Lastly, if you make a car “go” faster, you need to make it “whoa” better! A 6 piston caliper Wilwood front big brake kit with 14.25” vented & slotted rotors found a home behind the front 18”X8.5” iForged Evolution alloy wheels. The keep the braking system balanced, a 4 piston Wilwood kit (with similar rotors) hides behind the 18”x8.5” rear Evolutions. Motul brake fluid was substituted for the OEM due to its ability to handle heat better & Goodridge stainless steel brake lines made sure that pedal feel would be consistently firm.
At the time of this letter my G had only 500 miles, after speaking with Keith, we’ve decided to let the motor break-in a little more before doing any more modifications. The G handles like a slot car with negligible body roll (& slight over steer as I requested). Without a Dyno sheet it’s difficult to guess the power improvement; however, the ‘butt’ dyno would say well over 300 HP & responsiveness to throttle input is instantaneous. I’m not afraid to really push things as the Wilwoods have proven their worth time & again. For reference, G-Tech Pro 0-60 runs of 5.8 seconds were done before any moods. These runs also include a best quarter mile time of 13.9 @ 102 MPH. After mod times are now consistent 5.2’s & 13.2 @ 107 MPH not quiet Z06 & M3 Racing territory, but future plans call for a Stillen Stage 3 supercharger with intercooler & a Gilken or NISMO LSD to deal with traction issues. These will be more involved installations, but I have the utmost confidence in Keith, David & the rest of the gang at Select Motors. I’ll report back when these improvements occur. Until then, I invite everyone to visit Select Motors & see firsthand the quality of their work!
© 2004, Select® Motor Co., Inc
Borla Exhaust
Image 1 of 14
Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe
- Exhaust Headers Trans Cooler Torque Converter Cold Air Intake Brakes Suspension Drop Springs Swaybars Throttle Body Grounding Kit Aluminum Pulleys
California is unquestionably the Mecca of the automotive scene. All of the big name tuners have facilities there and they develop then ship parts out to enthusiasts all over the world. The problem then becomes finding a good shop with skilled mechanics plus state of the art tools and equipment with which to do a quality installation. Louisiana is not only geographically distant from Cali, but also tends to get overlooked as an area where not only are imports popular but also the classic muscle cars of the ‘60’s & early ‘70’s. Fortunately, I have found probably the premier shop in Cenla at Select Motors located on Highway 165 in Ball, Louisiana, the owners of Select Motors have established a first-rate business centered around their love of automobiles. Not only do they specialize in locating and restoring muscle cars from the domestic “Big Three” manufacturers, they have one of the most advanced shops in the area. The Select mechanics (artists) can install virtually anything and even possess excellent fabrication skills, should the need arise. Having laid my installation fears to rest, let’s get started with the fun!
I chose the Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe as my project car for several reasons. It has already won numerous (& well deserved, I might add) automotive magazine awards. These include being named Motor Trend’s 2003 Car of the Year and also a repeat winner of Car & Drivers 10 Best Cars 2002-03. In its stock form it is capable of sub 6 second 0-60 mph times, and when equipped with the optional Brembo brake package, hauls itself down from that same 60 mph in 112’. Most owners would be content with these figures; however, for the true enthusiast such as myself, it’s simply an attractive starting point for building a serious sports coupe!
The natural starting point for this project would be a the potent VQ35 V-6 engine. It displaces 3.5 liters & is rated at 287 HP in the coupe – OK for some but there’s plenty of untapped potential in it. The basics require getting more air in & out through simple bolt-ons. An AEM cold air intake (CAI) was installed in front of a modified (oversized) throttle body. The OEM intake plenum has an unusual slope to it so Crawford Performance in Tennessee has developed a modified version which allows for more even airflow to all cylinders. These modifications take care of basic breathing restrictions. To remove the spent gases, Borla products were called upon due to their reputation and research. A set of stainless steel headers was wrapped in thermal barrier tape & installed upstream to a pair of Random Technologies High Flow catalytic converters. The exhaust then flows through a Borla true dual cat-back system & out a pair of 4” chrome tips. A Stillen 8 wire grounding kit helps assure good feedback to the TechnoSquare reflashed factory ECU (mapped for more aggressive fuel & spark curves). Finally, to help the VQ35 rev easier, a 3 piece set of Unorthodox Racing aluminum pulleys was bolted on.
Now that we had more power, we needed to get it to ground. Since my G35 was equipped with an automatic transmission, installing a higher stall speed torque converter was a no-brainer. Here is where Select Motors really went above & beyond. Since there are no aftermarket performance converters available at this time, Select simply removed my converter & had it shipped to Level 10 Transmission for modification. When it was returned later in the week, the stall speed had been raised to 3000 RPMs & Level 10 had suggested modifying the valve body to give more control over the shift points & to allow the transmission to handle more power. Once re-installed in the Infiniti, a 18,000 GVW transmission cooler was bolted in place to assist the factory radiator with cooling capability. While the car was out-of-service, Select turned their attention to the suspension improvements I wanted. A set of adjustable Eibach sway bars was installed (front & rear) to permit tuning the car for personal driving preferences (in my case, a slight bit of over steer). To improve both the looks and handling performance, Tein H-Tech drop springs lowered the center of gravity approximately .75” on all 4 corners.
Lastly, if you make a car “go” faster, you need to make it “whoa” better! A 6 piston caliper Wilwood front big brake kit with 14.25” vented & slotted rotors found a home behind the front 18”X8.5” iForged Evolution alloy wheels. The keep the braking system balanced, a 4 piston Wilwood kit (with similar rotors) hides behind the 18”x8.5” rear Evolutions. Motul brake fluid was substituted for the OEM due to its ability to handle heat better & Goodridge stainless steel brake lines made sure that pedal feel would be consistently firm.
At the time of this letter my G had only 500 miles, after speaking with Keith, we’ve decided to let the motor break-in a little more before doing any more modifications. The G handles like a slot car with negligible body roll (& slight over steer as I requested). Without a Dyno sheet it’s difficult to guess the power improvement; however, the ‘butt’ dyno would say well over 300 HP & responsiveness to throttle input is instantaneous. I’m not afraid to really push things as the Wilwoods have proven their worth time & again. For reference, G-Tech Pro 0-60 runs of 5.8 seconds were done before any moods. These runs also include a best quarter mile time of 13.9 @ 102 MPH. After mod times are now consistent 5.2’s & 13.2 @ 107 MPH not quiet Z06 & M3 Racing territory, but future plans call for a Stillen Stage 3 supercharger with intercooler & a Gilken or NISMO LSD to deal with traction issues. These will be more involved installations, but I have the utmost confidence in Keith, David & the rest of the gang at Select Motors. I’ll report back when these improvements occur. Until then, I invite everyone to visit Select Motors & see firsthand the quality of their work!
© 2004, Select® Motor Co., Inc
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
