Stillen Exhaust with Berk HFCs

semtex · 03-06-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle@STILLEN

Thanks for the great feedback and video's Semtex!!! Very much appreciated!!!

Question for you. Would you mind telling us what you thought of the quality and ease or difficulty of installing the STILLEN exhaust. We love getting customer feedback and want to make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase.

Thanks! Now get out there and enjoy it!

Hi Kyle. Glad you like the videos. The installation of the exhaust went pretty smoothly. The only minor hiccup we had was that the H-pipe in the middle kept resting on the cross-brace, which would have caused rattling issues. It wasn't immediately apparent to my mechanic how to adjust the exhaust so that the H-pipe wouldn't touch the cross-brace. He did figure it out eventually, but if you guys make some explicit mention of this in your instructions, along with how to adjust everything, I think that would be an improvement. Also, your kit includes 5 gaskets when there's only a need for 3 as far as we could tell. So we assumed that you guys just included 2 extras in case . . . well, why do you include 5 when only 3 are needed? Actually, let me back up -- can you first confirm that only 3 are needed? I guess that'd be a good starting point! If indeed only 3 are needed, it might be a good idea to state in the instructions that you include 2 extras so that people don't scratch their heads wondering why there are 5.

As far as quality goes, I think everything is top notch. But I've been modding my Nissans with your parts for close to 10 years now, so I wasn't surprised.

370z4Steve · 03-06-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Hi Kyle. ..The only minor hiccup we had was that the H-pipe in the middle kept resting on the cross-brace, which would have caused rattling issues. It wasn't immediately apparent to my mechanic how to adjust the exhaust so that the H-pipe wouldn't touch the cross-brace. He did figure it out eventually, but if you guys make some explicit mention of this in your instructions,..

This is happened with the 350'z in some cases as well with some aftermarket exhausts

import111 · 03-06-2009, 07:35 PM

This sounds soooo good.

dlmartin81 · 03-06-2009, 08:01 PM

Semtex, nice setup. It sounds good from our prespective.

After you get and install the STILLEN intakes, what next? Have you thought about headers? I guess there aren't many options as of yet except for the Zele, which you'd have to sell/trade one of your kids, if you have any. J/K....but you get the point.

nogoodname · 03-06-2009, 08:03 PM

congrats on the install....................u'r one of the 1st's in my books

Endgame · 03-06-2009, 10:34 PM

Sounds great! I was worried the HFC's would cause it to be too loud, but it does not sound too bad/loud at all!!

FERRARI · 03-07-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

congrats on the install....................u'r one of the 1st's in my books

I give a +1 to that.......GREAT JOB !!!

semtex · 03-07-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmartin81

After you get and install the STILLEN intakes, what next? Have you thought about headers? I guess there aren't many options as of yet except for the Zele, which you'd have to sell/trade one of your kids, if you have any. J/K....but you get the point.

I'll have to wait for some other players to put headers on the market before I decide whether or not I want to install headers, and which ones. Right now, the rest of my 'to-do' list is pretty minor.

I'm waiting for steel braided brake lines to come out for the 370, at which point I'll change out the brake lines. EBC is also due to release new Yellow-Stuff pads in a month or so, and I intend to switch to those. Although if StopTech comes out with Axxis Ult pads that'll fit, I'd opt for those instead. When I upgrade the lines, I'll switch all my brake fluid over to Motul RBF 600 synthetic.

I plan to switch my engine oil over to Motul 300V, and I'll be draining my trans fluid and replacing it with Redline MT-90, and I'll also be draining my diff fluid and replacing it with Redline 75W90 Gear Oil. I'll probably do this all at around 5000 miles. Or maybe I'll just do it at 3000 miles. I haven't decided yet.

I might add an oil cooler at some point. I'm leaning towards the ARC oil cooler.

I also plan to do a tune. I haven't made a final decision on what to go with. I might try UpRev Osiris. I'm trying to decide between UpRev and Cobb. Cobb looks more convenient, but I have a sneaking suspicion that UpRev will give better results as you send in your ECU data and they send back a custom program to upload into your ECU based on the data you send them.

Then I might save up for a set of Volks TE37 G2s. I plan to match them up with a set of Michelin PS2s. But that's some big bucks and I'm not sure if I can justify the expense in my head (which means I'll probably go ahead and do it in one of my many moments of fiscal irresponsibility).

Last but not least, I'll slap on a set of fake chrome fender vents for a nice and classy finishing touch. No no, I'm just kidding!

I think that's pretty much all I have planned. With past cars, I've had a tendency to go a little too far with my mods and ended up having issues. So this time I plan to dial it back just a tad. And in all honesty, with the economy the way it is, I may just go into 'defensive mode' and sit on any extra money I have for a while, lest either my wife or I get laid off unexpectedly. I also have a handful of friends who have been hit pretty hard already. Some of them can't even tap into unemployment benefits for one reason or another. I just don't feel right about spending gobs of money on my car when I've got friends in dire need. I've already started to just give some of my money away to people who I care about, and might just step that up and put all further mods on the backburner. The air intake is a must-have, as is the switch-out of the lubricants. But everything else may go on hold.

m4a1mustang · 03-07-2009, 11:44 AM

That sounds great, thanks for posting. This will be my exhaust setup when I finally get around to buying the car.

kdo2milger · 03-07-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Last but not least, I'll slap on a set of fake chrome fender vents for a nice and classy finishing touch. No no, I'm just kidding!

ah ha..ha...haaaaaaa....

cant wait to see your dynos bro, ive got quite a bit of catching up to do...

lol...and ive still got 3 more months to even get in my z...

BanningZ · 03-07-2009, 01:51 PM

Very nice install. Sounds wonderful.

invazn · 03-07-2009, 04:09 PM

That sounds really good man.

dlmartin81 · 03-07-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I'll have to wait for some other players to put headers on the market before I decide whether or not I want to install headers, and which ones. Right now, the rest of my 'to-do' list is pretty minor.

I'm waiting for steel braided brake lines to come out for the 370, at which point I'll change out the brake lines. EBC is also due to release new Yellow-Stuff pads in a month or so, and I intend to switch to those. Although if StopTech comes out with Axxis Ult pads that'll fit, I'd opt for those instead. When I upgrade the lines, I'll switch all my brake fluid over to Motul RBF 600 synthetic.

I plan to switch my engine oil over to Motul 300V, and I'll be draining my trans fluid and replacing it with Redline MT-90, and I'll also be draining my diff fluid and replacing it with Redline 75W90 Gear Oil. I'll probably do this all at around 5000 miles. Or maybe I'll just do it at 3000 miles. I haven't decided yet.

I might add an oil cooler at some point. I'm leaning towards the ARC oil cooler.

I also plan to do a tune. I haven't made a final decision on what to go with. I might try UpRev Osiris. I'm trying to decide between UpRev and Cobb. Cobb looks more convenient, but I have a sneaking suspicion that UpRev will give better results as you send in your ECU data and they send back a custom program to upload into your ECU based on the data you send them.

Then I might save up for a set of Volks TE37 G2s. I plan to match them up with a set of Michelin PS2s. But that's some big bucks and I'm not sure if I can justify the expense in my head (which means I'll probably go ahead and do it in one of my many moments of fiscal irresponsibility).

Last but not least, I'll slap on a set of fake chrome fender vents for a nice and classy finishing touch. No no, I'm just kidding!

I think that's pretty much all I have planned. With past cars, I've had a tendency to go a little too far with my mods and ended up having issues. So this time I plan to dial it back just a tad. And in all honesty, with the economy the way it is, I may just go into 'defensive mode' and sit on any extra money I have for a while, lest either my wife or I get laid off unexpectedly. I also have a handful of friends who have been hit pretty hard already. Some of them can't even tap into unemployment benefits for one reason or another. I just don't feel right about spending gobs of money on my car when I've got friends in dire need. I've already started to just give some of my money away to people who I care about, and might just step that up and put all further mods on the backburner. The air intake is a must-have, as is the switch-out of the lubricants. But everything else may go on hold.

I hear ya man. It's not lookin so good out there. I was kind of hesitant in ordering m Z because of that but I've had my damn Civic for 9 years, which I've grown tired of years ago. So it was time for a replacement...a nice replacement.

But yeah, because of the way the economy is, I dought that I'll be putting much into the Z, except for maybe tint and an aftermarket in-dash navi (I ordered the base model).

I agree that getting a set of Volks can be expensive so with that note why not continue to try to find a nice set of spacers. I know the first time around it wasn't a success but I'm sure there's a solution out there. Like you said in your other post, it seems like the only solution is to replace the stock studs with longer ones and get a set of spacers without studs.

I think the stock wheels are great....in fact, I think they're one of the best looking stock wheels out for any car, period. They just need to be pushed out a little further or Nissan should have made them a little wider to begin with. But whatever. Getting a set of spacers is another not-so-expensive mod that I might try to due and then perhaps a set of coilovers.

Anyways, again, good job with your car so far.

kustomZ · 03-07-2009, 08:25 PM

It sounds perfect! Thanks for posting the vids too.

semtex · 03-08-2009, 11:15 AM

Okay folks, I have three more clips for your viewing pleasure, this time trying to give you guys a better idea of how this setup sounds from the outside.

First up -- Launch Clip.

Next up -- Drive-by Clip. (I got lucky on this one. At the beginning of the clip, right as my car comes into view, you'll see a white vehicle drive by in the opposite direction on the right side of the frame. That was a cop! A half-second later I come flying by in the opposite direction. Thankfully, he didn't give me any grief.)

Last but not least -- Synchro-Rev Match Clip. I thought it might be nice to have a clip where I'm downshifting as I drive by, so that you can hear what this setup does to the sound while the throttle is being blipped.

Oh btw guys, for all my efforts, I've gotten 1 measly rep pt. so far! hint hint

03-07-2009, 11:44 AM	#24 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	That sounds great, thanks for posting. This will be my exhaust setup when I finally get around to buying the car. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

03-07-2009, 01:51 PM	#26 (permalink)
BanningZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: nowhere Posts: 5,478 Drives: 06' Nismo Frontier Rep Power: 29	Very nice install. Sounds wonderful. __________________ Become a Premium Member: Click HERE MB 06' Nismo VQ40DE

03-08-2009, 11:15 AM	#30 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	More clips! Okay folks, I have three more clips for your viewing pleasure, this time trying to give you guys a better idea of how this setup sounds from the outside. First up -- Launch Clip. Next up -- Drive-by Clip. (I got lucky on this one. At the beginning of the clip, right as my car comes into view, you'll see a white vehicle drive by in the opposite direction on the right side of the frame. That was a cop! A half-second later I come flying by in the opposite direction. Thankfully, he didn't give me any grief.) Last but not least -- Synchro-Rev Match Clip. I thought it might be nice to have a clip where I'm downshifting as I drive by, so that you can hear what this setup does to the sound while the throttle is being blipped. Oh btw guys, for all my efforts, I've gotten 1 measly rep pt. so far! hint hint __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf. Last edited by semtex; 03-08-2009 at 11:50 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DIY: Berk Technology HFC Install	M.Bonanni	DIY Section (Do-It-Yourself)	203	08-03-2018 06:12 AM
STILLEN 370Z Dual Exhaust System w/pricing	AK370Z	STILLEN	25	01-03-2011 08:49 PM
Berk Technology HFCs gain +19whp + 18wtq!	M.Bonanni	Intake/Exhaust	73	08-13-2010 10:52 PM
STILLEN 370Z Dual Cat-Back Stainless Exhaust System	sktvietdragon	Intake/Exhaust	103	05-09-2009 07:06 PM
STILLEN Exhaust & Gen 3 Intake Dynos - 18hp Each!	Josh@STILLEN	Intake/Exhaust	96	03-09-2009 04:33 PM

03-06-2009, 07:35 PM	#18 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	This sounds soooo good.

03-06-2009, 08:01 PM	#19 (permalink)
dlmartin81 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chalfont, PA Age: 43 Posts: 923 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 608	Semtex, nice setup. It sounds good from our prespective. After you get and install the STILLEN intakes, what next? Have you thought about headers? I guess there aren't many options as of yet except for the Zele, which you'd have to sell/trade one of your kids, if you have any. J/K....but you get the point.

03-06-2009, 08:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	congrats on the install....................u'r one of the 1st's in my books

03-06-2009, 10:34 PM	#21 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Sounds great! I was worried the HFC's would cause it to be too loud, but it does not sound too bad/loud at all!!

03-07-2009, 04:09 PM	#27 (permalink)
invazn Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new orleans Posts: 105 Drives: 07 350z Rep Power: 17	That sounds really good man.

03-07-2009, 08:25 PM	#29 (permalink)
kustomZ Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 112 Drives: TBD Rep Power: 256	It sounds perfect! Thanks for posting the vids too.