Only one: HFC, Gen3 Intake, or CBE?
 

My wife wants to cut my nuts off for talking about modifying the car, but alas I plan to do it anyway. So, considering bang for the buck as well as improved power and enhanced aesthetics (better sound)...which ONE would you do first? Money is a factor as I'm buying winter rims too.

1) Stillen Gen3 Intake
2) Berk HFCs
3) Stillen CBE

The HFC will be the most bang for the buck in terms of power....but if you're just getting one, I'd get the exhaust.

Do the HFCs. There are some new CBEs about to come to market. Doing the HFCs first will give time for these other players to get their CBEs finished, which means you'll have more choices. Berk, for instance, is preparing to release their own CBE for the 370Z.

One thing to consider is that HFC and exhaust combined might be a bit loud for some. HFC will of course yield more power, but I'd get an exhaust first then decide if I want something louder.

HFC, good power, better sound and cheaper

Where's the option for the ECU flash? If you are serious about performance, that is your best bet. My first call will likely be to Technosquare for a 93 octane specific performance map.

If you don't care as much, anything you have is fine because the change in sound/performance will likely satisfy your i-modified-my-car jones.

Well, life will become a lot less enjoyable—unless you intend on sleeping, and having sex with your car.

If you're going somewhere like technosquare, it will be more cost-effective to get all bolt-ons done prior to doing a reflash.

:iagree:
I was about to say the same thing. Getting a reflash prior to completing all your bolt-ons is a complete waste of money.

i put you down for Berks HFC's......better flow and has a rumble, so the CBE can wait after the intakes are put in.

Thanks guys, definitely appreciating the advice and look forward to anyone elses opinions.

I haven't found any clips of Berk HFCs alone. At this point, I have no problem with having a louder exhaust as long as my car doesn't sound like a rice cooker. Do the HFCs alone have a nasty buzz or does the sound mature with some time to keep a good, sporty note?

As you noted, the HFCs are cost effective and none of these bolt-ons sound like a challenging install.

Get Test Pipes instead if you dont have to worry about Emissions other than that HFC's

Wait on the exhaust like others have said there will be many to choose from in a year


DAN

Nice, and for the price of the CBEs I can do both the intakes and HFCs.

HFC's do not have rasp

Some test pipes do at certain rpms

When I had APS TP on my 350z the rasp was from 3200rpm-4200rmp under WOT

But I thought it sounded good I also Had Megan Racing Headers,Borla TD


DAN

Emissions testing these days in Illinois is just a computer hookup. Would that even register a violation if I had test pipes instead of HFCs?

the G3's and HFC's would be a very nice start to upgrading the Z !!

there are vids of just the HFC's on, i like it...check youtube out

What?? Get with the program, man! ;)

YouTube - Project 370Z Sound Clip - Berk Technology High Flow Cats


YouTube - Project 370Z Dyno Test: Berk Technology High Flow Cats

This is the latest. The clip begins with the Berk HFCs w/ stock exhaust. Then the second part is the Berk HFCs with the prototype of the upcoming Berk CBE. And yes, Spearfish, you may feel free to rep me for finding these for you. ;)

YouTube - Berk Technology 370z Dual Exhaust Prototype#1

Uh if you aren't sure about the exaust it seems like the G3 intake is the way to go. They are all around the same HP gain for each of the three mods with the G3 and HFC being about the same cost wise. Also if you get the G3 before you do the exhast you'll be able to hear the G3 breathing - its tough to hear once the exhaust is done :)

I'll rep you just because you're the mighty Semtex and found the videos for me. I was at work where they block YouTube and too lazy to wait for my iPhone to search for the vids :tiphat:

That Berk prototype CBE sounds SICK. It's settled then. Berk HFC first, Stillen G3 intake shortly after, Berk CBE whenever if it shows good gains.

Ha! I was just kidding around. Glad to help.

check your rep :) :bowdown:

So what do you think of the sound with just the Berk HFC? Sounds pretty throaty with just that one change, doesn't it?

Yeah, it's a nice upgrade from the stock sound. While more rwhp is a priority, I'm tired of my car missing some sportscar exhaust note. The HFC alone will be a nice improvement, the Berk CBE make is sound ridiculously good. Still tempted by the Stillen CBE though.

The Berk HFC install seems a bit tricky with those darn bolts. I think I could pull off the G3 intake with no problem though. I have my Dremel ready for the hole cutting.

You will be fine as long as you dont throw a CEL... So my suggestion is get the test pipes that have the non-foulers/O2 sims so you dont have a check engine light.

Ps If you are in Chicago why are you not on the ChicagoZ Forum!!!!!!!!:tup:




DAN

You, my friend, need to lean how to lie.

I would tell her you're doing exhaust since it's more expensive, then sneak a little money out of the checking account each week as a cash withdrawl. The cats are only $500 more. Get them done at the same time so she doesn't suspect anything. Then, at Christmas or your birthday (which ever is first), tell her that your car doesn't run right because the intake is too restrictive and wasn't matched to go with your exhaust. The intake may even make it fail emisssions...but it you put aftermarket intakes that are matched to your exhaust, the car will run perfect and pass emissions.

On a more serious note, for $100 or so, you can get a sportscar sound with the stock look. Check out this link as it's quite valuable:

Muffler delete

Dude, you're devious. I can respect that. :tup:

The test pipes with extended O2 ports are from GTM, btw. (In case anyone is wondering where to get them.)

Semtex, you can disagree all you want, but the fact of the matter is that changing the tune first will yield good gains. In addition, much of the gains in power from the aftermarket intakes isn't from additional airflow, the stockers flow just fine, it is actually from changing the MAF signal to read less air is flowing and thus leans out the charge to a more ideal ratio. Those disputed tests where the guys at 370z.com held the air-fuel ratio at stock levels proved that the power gained from additional flow was minimal. This points to where the intakes make most of their real power, which is changing the reading and thus the combustion mixture, not from additional airflow. If you were to take a stock 370z and flash it, you will see good gains.

And as further proof, this has been done and tested at 370zdotcom.

Had they gone with a better map, their gains would have been greater.

I never stated that getting a reflash done first wouldn't yield good gains. Getting a reflash done, whenever you do it, should yield good gains. I simply believe that given the cost of a reflash, if you're planning to do a bunch of bolt-ons anyway, it makes more sense to do them all first, then do the reflash one time, vs. doing it before and then again after and therefore paying for it twice. If the added expense doesn't bother you, or you don't plan to do any bolt-ons for a while (or at all) then have at it. Either way it's your choice. But I personally don't feel like laying out the funds for a reflash twice, given the mod path I've taken.

In so far as the OP is obviously planning to do a bunch of bolt-ons, I believe that it would make more sense for him to do them prior to the reflash, strictly from a cost-control standpoint. In other words, whether or not he'd get good gains from a reflash is not something I'm disputing here.

I see your point, but somehow the the premise was confused. The original idea was what to do if you could only do one. That has apparently changed or I have misunderstood it from the beginning.

Even with the choice of one change, intake/exhaust/HFC or even a tune, I would still take a bolt on first. Just resetting the ECU with a bolt on yields plenty of gain and you are not out any money if you ever add more bolt ons or want a tune.

No worries. If you go back and read how the poll was worded, the question was "Which bolt-on should I do first?" So if we want to get all 'strict-interpretation' about it, he was strictly asking about the order of bolt-ons, so non-bolt-on mods (like ECU reflashes) aren't even within the boundaries of his question. But having said that, I am glad you brought up the ECU reflash thing, because regardless of which bolt-ons one does, or in which order, etc., one shouldn't neglect the ECU tune aspect of the 'big picture'. And let's face it, sometimes people forget about the ECU, so it was good for you to interject with a reminder.