It was on my porch when I got home, and since I knew I'd be busy tomorrow cooking turkey and other goodies, I couldn't resist. =)

The install took me about 2 hours solo, including stopping to take pictures, arrange parts, and other things for the DIY I'll post in the next few days.

Overall it was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be, and the Nismo instructions for the 350Z were less than great, but the rewards, at least for now, seem well worth it. No ostensible change in the exhaust note (I made recordings before and after that I will also post) at idle or at low revs, but on the test drive I noticed a distinct change. At almost exactly 4600 rpms in every gear there is a very new, much louder, very aggressive growl that continues up to redline. It's almost like it hits a switch and bursts into life.

That is exactly what I wanted from this kit. Composed when driven conservatively, but rowdy when pressed. I'm very happy. Look for a full-pictoral and documented DIY coming to a thread near you. Maybe after I get the turkey in the oven tomorrow I'll sit down and write it up.

Gobble gobble,

Shader


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

 

OK, I just listened to the mpg audio I recorded of before and after. I put the recorder on the Nismo box about 1 meter behind the car and didn't move the box for the installation, so the distance is nearly identical. The Nismo intake is louder certainly. It didn't seem so when I drove it though; maybe I need to drive with the windows down more often. =)

Anyway, here are a couple small pics from the install:


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

145593-Dsc00796.jpg

 

View from the front ^^^


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

145594-Dsc00795.jpg

 

that's very clean bro. Is the Nismo one really the AEM? I'm down here in Hacienda at work, let me check that out at lunch time. LOL my lunch time is at 10am

BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

Sorry Ova, been cookin' and eating all day. Maybe we can hookup some time this weekend if you're out this way. The DIY is almost done tho. =)


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

 

Looks like a nice install.....Did it require taking off the front bumper or anything else?
Also any power gains using the 'butt dyno'?
And finally cost?
TNX-- GSM

<font color=red>GSM</font color=red> <font color=black>Silverstone Coupe</font color=black>

 

Not much Shader, I've been working through this turkey holiday so I'm a bit out of it.

Do you ever make it to the g35 meets?

BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

Newbie question: What is a DIY?

 

DIY = Do It Yourself A write-up so you can have step by step instructions and do it in your garage or driveway instead of having you pay someone to do it since this for example is pretty simple that you can do yourself without screwing it up, well at least not too bad.

 

Gsedan: Nope, no bumper removal necessary, not even close. I only popped off the inner fenderwell on the driver's side, very easy. As far as the butt-dyno, it does seem to rev faster after about 3500K, but I can't say one way or the other conclusively (I like real data). 10 - 20 hp gains are hard to measure objectively without going to the track, using a dyno, or other analytical means.

Ova: I haven't made it to any meets yet. I'm very busy with family and work, but I hope to make it to one soon.

Look for the DIY later today. I just shot the video drive by so you can hear the sound under load. It's very aggressive and sounds great. There are also static sound bytes taken under identical circumstances before and after the install. The Nismo makes the exhaust noticeably louder when comparing the two, but just driving around it didn't seem much louder.

I love it, and the bypass valve makes it a clear winner over the Injen in my opinion.


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat