It takes me a while to appreciate a mod, why? Not sure it's all the WOT runs searching for the butt dyno HP and being so aware (put plenum in 2 weeks ago and haven't listened to radio since).

I have 5AT everything but nav - 03.5

So after a while i start going back to 3/4 throttle when i want to get on it and dam if the plenum hasn't truly impressed me. The gains I feel now that I am not looking for them are so apparent now.

I must say that NA mods rule for me. The 3 combined for this car are the bomb. The pull in 4th now is better than it used to be in 3rd. At 75 when you drop it to 4 and push the gas 3/4 - you feel the love from the VQ. That air is sucking so hard through my injen it sound like an x wing fighter whizzing by on 5.1 surround. I bet the 540's out there are scared now. M3 may run on me but i bet I can get him upto 65 or so. Feeling a little good about meself for spending only 800 bucks I suppose and picking up who knows 25 HP guys? maybe 30. It would be nice too run with the Z anyway and be able to say I have 290.

I need a lightweight pulley now. Someone think the TS is worth it now. Not so sure with the reports of knocking and sending it back over and over. I might hate myself for playing with this combo anymore.

 

your next mod s/b in the exhaust arena. Your engine is only as strong as it can breath.

I would recommend considering the stillen exhaust, then RT or Crawford Cats, then headers.

Then Technosquare's ECU... or you can get the ECU anytime if you wanna pay 150 to reflash. If you are in SoCal, that's no big thing. But if you aren't it's kinda hard to drive your car around while youare waiting on your ECU to come home.

Cheers, Ted


'03 Sedan 5a: BS/G, Prem, Aero/Body, Sport, Nav
Click for MODS or Vote at Online Showoff

 

I was thinking the exhaust would be helpful but am not sure i want more noise. I hear the injen is good for less noise but am not sure the cost is worth it. I need to see see 15hp gains to spend 1500. And i hate rattles that aftermarket exhaust create. Compelling but I like the cost/benefit approach so far. I will prob change my mind before I sell this car. If i get bored by '06 I'll shoot for a 320-330 hp NA car and do all the mods i can and get lightweight wheels.

The pulley seems like it would always add power no matter how the engine was breathing but prob not a ton.

Anyone think of modifying the electric throttle actuator? My infiniti guys said there are gains to be made there but noone talks about this?

 

SixFive,
I have the Stillen exhaust and have no rattles problems whatsoever. Great sound, and from the research I've done, it offers the best increase in performance numbers overall.

04 Coupe, DG/G, 6MT, Aero, Prem., Eibachs, Stillen exhaust, JWT Pop/Z-tube, Carbon fiber dash overlay.

 

SixFive I'm thinking about the exact same mods on my 5AT. The only thing that concerns me is from a warranty perspective. Does the Crawford void any specific Infiniti warranty? How was the install? I doubt you would pull a 540...I sold a 540/6MT for my G and that car was way faster-but if I could spend $800 to get close it would be well worth it!

 

what are the gains? Also is longevity of the muffler and cats as good as the original eq? Also i hear stillens drone a bit when new...does this go away?

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by SixFive on 03/24/04 07:48 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

Ya a 540 manual is a tough customer to pull on even modded I bet but you can't believe the add'l breathing the plenum adds. The car used to pull before... but now it's like a turbo - hell there's even a lag at 2000-3300 or so. I can feel the rush of acceleration when the cai gets rammed air going at 55 or 60 - just like the turbo i wrecked as a kid.

I stripped a bolt in the actuator and turned a 45 minute plenum install into a 3 day event. It was easy until then and was going pretty well but theres a reason i work with a calculator and not my hands all day.

Its the best bang for buck out there for increases and it makes a difference big time that you'll notice.

I once pulled on a 540 auto - actually we were both right there..now with plenum i'd like to think a manual 6sp would have to shift like al unser to beat on me too hard. The 545 should make me envious and want more car!

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by SixFive on 03/24/04 08:03 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

there are no warranty issues to be had with more air hitting the valves. They have to PROVE a mod caused the problem you want them to fix. FI will blow the top of them at the weld points but u blew your warranty before that happens anyway

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

there are no warranty issues to be had with more air hitting the valves. They have to PROVE a mod caused the problem you want them to fix.

<hr></blockquote>
I think it's actually the other way around: if you want them to fix something that they said was caused by a mod, you have to prove it wasn't the mod that did it. I guess it all depends on how cool your dealership is though.

2003.5 G35 Coupe 6MT Black/Willow
- Texas Tech Mechanical Engineering -
- Texas Tech Advanced Vehicle Engineering -

 

The law as I thought it read was that they have the burden of proof - if that were the case then everyone with an injen would never have an motor work done as they would make you prove it didn't cause the problem...that is impossible since only god can prove something is not the cause of something else. We are relegated to proving what does cause an event or occurence.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by SixFive on 03/25/04 05:25 AM.</EM></FONT></P>