I'll get pictures up soon!
Back from a thread update hiatus.
Couple of good things have happened to the Z.
- Installed head unit by bigaudiofanat
- Installed LTH/CBE @ VTR
- Hit up Englishtown Raceway
Headunit Review:
Most of you know bigaudiofanat (
Need Help? Let me know!) as being the resident NE forum audio installer. After helping me determine the correct wires I needed, I ordered, setup a time and waited for the weekend.
Matt arrived on time and got straight to work. The first thing he did which reassured that I picked the right guy for the job, was to use painters tape to mask off any area of my interior he'd be using as a pry/fulcrum point. Kudos Matt!
We chatted it up as he worked through the install - he did clean soldering, heat shrinked all the connections, and had the stereo installed in no time. We walked me through the functions of the HU, since I bought it used I didn't have a physical manual.
He cleaned up after himself (wire pieces, tape, etc) and pretty much left no trail he'd been in the car - no new scratches to the interior - awesome!
Matt you did leave one of your flat head drivers here, I'll return when I see you next, maybe for a detail session?!
Anyways, will use Matt again if/when I expand my system, Would highly recommend him and pricing is spot on. As far as the deck, I bought it used on the forums here, it's awesome, great deal - Have to give props to the seller too, bumblez.
FI LTH/AAM 2.5" CBE Install @ VTR
I bought the FI LTH from TheDreamer probably a month ago and soon after ordered the FI CF CBE 18" RES from Tony. That's still in the pipe, but for now I'm running a 2.5" AAM CBE (
AAM Competition - Nissan GT-R, 370Z Turbo Performance Specialists)
After the experiance w/my oil cooler installer, I decided to go with VTR again for my LTH/CBE.
I arrived Sat, chatted a bit and Steve (the lead mechanic) got right to work. He had the factory CBE off in ~20m - but heh, the OEM headers took hours. Steve worked his *** off, for hours to get all the bolts out to get that drivers side header out - I'm happy I didn't attempt this myself. I don't have the patience OR the tools OR the skill.
In the meantime, they allowed me to setup a desk right on the shop floor, w/my PC and I knocked out a bit of work (and browsed the370z of course!). We had lunch and by then Vin and a few other guys where in.
No GTRs this time, but a few guys dropped by to inquire about the shop and I think some even booked future appointments. Regardless, they were greeted, offered some pie and chatted it up with us.
After lunch I went back to putzing around and Steve went back to the headers....FF about ~4 hours IIRC the headers are out and he's working on the FI LTH. As far as build quality of the FI LTH, they are spot on (According to Steve). They fit even better than OEM he said.
Since I didn't organize w/Tony in time to get the extended 02 wires, we had to extend them. Out came the soldering gun and wire cutters.
Once the headers where on and wired up, I unboxed the AAM and set it up for Steve. He had it on with-in minutes, and then it was to alinging the tips - what a pain in the ***. No offense AAM, but damn, weld the f'n tips on PLZ! They don't really line up 100% because the quality just isn't 100% - I mean, the overall build quality is Top notch, but the tip setup w/the single pipe you have to align and bolts to tighten the separate tips, IDK, it's just not an optimal setup IMO. ah whatever, eventually this will be replaced with either a FI setup or an FI setup...hah, and I mean forced induction...hah..
So, while I'm chiling, Vin throws me the keys to a ~500whp 350z and tells me to go see what real power is like, hah. I take the car out by myself in the ajdacent industrial area and give it a go.
So, at first I'm like, damn, where's all the power? This thing is ******* docile...so I turn onto a straight-away, about ~20mph in second - I floor it...it goes...RPMs hit about ~ 5k and then it REALLY GOES, but 7k the *** is loose and by redline my foot is off the gas and my heart is in my throat.
What a ******* experiance. So I turn the next straight away and do the same in 3rd......docile....5k...FASSSSTTTT...7k *** is swinging..haha. wow.
Drove back and Vin says, "you either get it or you don't....and by that **** eating grin on your face, you get it" [paraphased].
Anywho, if I keep this car, I'm going TT. Otherwise I'll sell it and go GTR. We'll see in spring.
As far as VTR, another awesome experiance. They worked on my car till about ~8PM, then took it out for a drive to make sure nothing rattled, clanked, etc. I now have a DashDyno SPD so I could monitor AFR..no problem, running just like stock, no need for a tune. I did notice a slight rattling, and we could all hear it - we couldn't tell if it's the engine itself and all the new noises I'm hearing w/out the cats, or an actual piece of metal. They said come back next weekend and they'll throw it on the lift. You can barely hear it, but if it keeps up, I'll go back just to be sure.
The only downside of the day is that dyno wasn't working, so I couldn't do a before and after. I'll probably go back this weekend to get an after though.
FI/CBE Review:
It sounds mean - it's raspy as ****, but I like it. And it smells like **** - which I don't like - hah, I mean I stink of gasonline now from the headers and no-cat. Hopefully that subsides a bit or all my clothes are going to smell like my boy who has a 69 chevelle. I definetly feel it in the butt dyno - it's just more constant when I floor it - like it's got power, power, power all the way up. It's not a HUGE difference, but it is more consistent power across what feels like the entire power band. I like it - though it's too ******* loud I think for the long term. It's really, really loud. Ah well, it's fun as hell being an ******* w/a loud exhaust.
EnglishTown:
Had to leave early cause my dog went into surgery. She's ok now, but my wallet isn't (- $2400!)
Went w/a 350 nismo buddy, Neeko. I ran an awful 14.9 - I launched early and missed my second shift - nerves I guess. I was running at ~35psi as well. I need to go back soon and fix that piss poor run. I was running stock (minus OC and HKS drop-ins).
Awesome turn-out at Englishtown though - tons of sick sick sick cars!