Best bang for your buck mod combo

mpp9 · 04-16-2013, 04:32 PM

Sold my 04 STI and got back into a Z today. I'm trying to gain as much midrange torque as possible. From reading on here the last few years, Im thinking a Motordyne intake manifold paired with some HFCs would be a good setup on the cheap. Would be nice and quiet when I want it to be but would still put a smile on my face going WOT.

I'd appreciate any input. Especially from those who can speak from experience. Thanks.

critical · 04-16-2013, 05:48 PM

Think you'd go way cheaper and be better off with post MAF tubes, new filters and test pipes. Pretty sure the post MAF tubes and new filters were shown to give better low to mid end power compared to the stillen intake which gave gains in the high RPM's.

You can get ........ ones for 200 some odd bucks or find some good used HFC's or test pipes here on the sale forum, so that'd be less than 500 bucks total coupled with tubes and filters from Z1.

edub370 · 04-16-2013, 10:21 PM

test pipes are the best bang for the buck imo

tower74 · 04-16-2013, 10:30 PM

Test pipes but you will have to get a tune. If you don't it will be throwing codes all the time.

.c2 · 04-17-2013, 01:13 AM

+1 for test pipes, definitely best bang for buck mod. Other than that, fast intentions catback seem to have very good gains as well!

G37sHKS · 04-17-2013, 03:51 AM

Manifold, HFC, Catback, and tune you're already near $3000 if not more.

Spend a few more and get this.
GTM Performance Engineering: MHI Twin Turbo Official Release
GTM Performance Engineering: MHI Twin Turbo Kit Group Buy

This is what i call a "real" best bang for buck.

tranceformer · 04-17-2013, 10:15 AM

testpipes
post maf tubes
lightweight flywheel
4.08 gears

ZMan8 · 04-17-2013, 10:36 AM

High performance driving school

Sh0velMan · 04-17-2013, 10:42 AM

K&N Drop ins, tubes, motordyne (or DEpointfive0) intake manifold, used Nismo cat back (from a Nismo Z). Block off all the resonators on the intake tract...

You'll have a big fat torque curve (relatively speaking) and plenty of intake howl at high throttle input to make lots of noise for you without being any louder than stock in normal driving. Peak HP will be in the neighborhood of 290-295 WHP with area under the curve being hugely improved.

Then you can do some HFC's later.

Jordo! · 04-17-2013, 10:43 AM

Best bang for the buck.

1. K&N panel filters (~$100)
2. Cobb (or similar) smooth intake tubes (~$200)
3. ebay test pipes (warning -- raspy!) (~$75-$150)
4. Nismo (pass on the S-tune, get the OEM "take off", picked up used -- ~$300-$550)

Total cost: Under a grand

Results:

Note 1: That is actually a bit lower -- add another 3-5 whp/wtq for the tubes. That dyno is before the tubes were added.

Note 2: If you are worried about rasp, pick up a set of used resonated test pipes for a bit more $$.

Note 3: Most of those gains were from the K&N and TP's mods, so if your budget is really tight, just go with those.

Sh0velMan · 04-17-2013, 10:47 AM

Oh, and some lighter weight rear rotors... Those will add WHP as well.

mpp9 · 04-17-2013, 11:06 AM

Budget's around a grand. If given the choice, would you guys go with a cheaper intake setup or the Motordyne manifold? From what I understand, the manifold on a stock car gives big midrange gains.

Definitely going with HFCs to stay legal and open up the exhaust a bit.

Jordo! · 04-17-2013, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpp9

Budget's around a grand. If given the choice, would you guys go with a cheaper intake setup or the Motordyne manifold? From what I understand, the manifold on a stock car gives big midrange gains.

Definitely going with HFCs to stay legal and open up the exhaust a bit.

I wouldn't recommend changing the IM without tuning. You will almost definitely gain mid range but lose top end without tuning.

HFC's will net gains similar to TP's. Again, if you are leery of rasp, get resonated HFC's.

mpp9 · 04-17-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

I wouldn't recommend changing the IM without tuning. You will almost definitely gain mid range but lose top end without tuning.

HFC's will net gains similar to TP's. Again, if you are leery of rasp, get resonated HFC's.

Thanks. Didn't realize you needed tuning with the manifold.

Sh0velMan · 04-17-2013, 11:44 AM

You don't....

Tuning is great for everything, you will always get more performance out of a tune.

There isn't a single N/A mod (within certain limits and with certain notable exceptions) that REQUIRES a tune.

Certainly nothing discussed in the this thread requires a tune.

04-16-2013, 04:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
mpp9 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 103 Drives: 2012 sti Rep Power: 16	Best bang for your buck mod combo Sold my 04 STI and got back into a Z today. I'm trying to gain as much midrange torque as possible. From reading on here the last few years, Im thinking a Motordyne intake manifold paired with some HFCs would be a good setup on the cheap. Would be nice and quiet when I want it to be but would still put a smile on my face going WOT. I'd appreciate any input. Especially from those who can speak from experience. Thanks.

04-16-2013, 05:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
critical A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 1,252 Drives: 09' 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	Think you'd go way cheaper and be better off with post MAF tubes, new filters and test pipes. Pretty sure the post MAF tubes and new filters were shown to give better low to mid end power compared to the stillen intake which gave gains in the high RPM's. You can get ........ ones for 200 some odd bucks or find some good used HFC's or test pipes here on the sale forum, so that'd be less than 500 bucks total coupled with tubes and filters from Z1. Last edited by critical; 06-19-2015 at 04:39 PM. Reason: cnt racing is crap

04-16-2013, 10:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 20	test pipes are the best bang for the buck imo __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

04-17-2013, 01:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
.c2 Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: BC Canada Posts: 414 Drives: 09 370z MB 6MT Rep Power: 13	+1 for test pipes, definitely best bang for buck mod. Other than that, fast intentions catback seem to have very good gains as well! __________________ Instagram // Build Thread Amuse / Mines / Bride / Momo / KW / Hotchkis / Motordyne / Invidia / Injen

04-17-2013, 03:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
G37sHKS A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,183 Drives: 09 G37S Coupe 7AT Rep Power: 20	Manifold, HFC, Catback, and tune you're already near $3000 if not more. Spend a few more and get this. GTM Performance Engineering: MHI Twin Turbo Official Release GTM Performance Engineering: MHI Twin Turbo Kit Group Buy This is what i call a "real" best bang for buck. acoll likes this. __________________ G37 BUILD UNDER CONSTRUCTION

04-16-2013, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
tower74 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 1,597 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Camaro Rep Power: 370	Test pipes but you will have to get a tune. If you don't it will be throwing codes all the time.

04-17-2013, 10:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
tranceformer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palm Beach, FL Posts: 1,213 Drives: 2009 370Z PW 6MT Rep Power: 268	testpipes post maf tubes lightweight flywheel 4.08 gears __________________ Ray 2009 370Z Base Sport 6MT / 12.860 @ 109.09mph / 1.921 60ft / street tires official 1/4 mile track times

04-17-2013, 10:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
ZMan8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,844 Drives: 10 370z 40th M6 Rep Power: 659	High performance driving school Boostoff likes this. __________________ 2010 370Z 40 Anniv., 6 MT \| Fast Intentions \| Swift Springs \| SPC \| Z1Motorsports \| JWM \| Redline Oils \| 35% Window Tint 2015 Mazda6 \| 370ZChicago: Chicago Area Cars & Coffee

04-17-2013, 10:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sh0velMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas/Ft.Worth Posts: 3,349 Drives: Noisily. Rep Power: 20	K&N Drop ins, tubes, motordyne (or DEpointfive0) intake manifold, used Nismo cat back (from a Nismo Z). Block off all the resonators on the intake tract... You'll have a big fat torque curve (relatively speaking) and plenty of intake howl at high throttle input to make lots of noise for you without being any louder than stock in normal driving. Peak HP will be in the neighborhood of 290-295 WHP with area under the curve being hugely improved. Then you can do some HFC's later. SterlingDrive likes this. __________________ Buy My Car! \| Build Thread

04-17-2013, 10:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Best bang for the buck. 1. K&N panel filters (~$100) 2. Cobb (or similar) smooth intake tubes (~$200) 3. ebay test pipes (warning -- raspy!) (~$75-$150) 4. Nismo (pass on the S-tune, get the OEM "take off", picked up used -- ~$300-$550) Total cost: Under a grand Results: Note 1: That is actually a bit lower -- add another 3-5 whp/wtq for the tubes. That dyno is before the tubes were added. Note 2: If you are worried about rasp, pick up a set of used resonated test pipes for a bit more $$. Note 3: Most of those gains were from the K&N and TP's mods, so if your budget is really tight, just go with those. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it. Last edited by Jordo!; 12-04-2013 at 04:32 AM.

04-17-2013, 10:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
Sh0velMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas/Ft.Worth Posts: 3,349 Drives: Noisily. Rep Power: 20	Oh, and some lighter weight rear rotors... Those will add WHP as well. __________________ Buy My Car! \| Build Thread

04-17-2013, 11:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
mpp9 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 103 Drives: 2012 sti Rep Power: 16	Budget's around a grand. If given the choice, would you guys go with a cheaper intake setup or the Motordyne manifold? From what I understand, the manifold on a stock car gives big midrange gains. Definitely going with HFCs to stay legal and open up the exhaust a bit.

04-17-2013, 11:44 AM	#15 (permalink)
Sh0velMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas/Ft.Worth Posts: 3,349 Drives: Noisily. Rep Power: 20	You don't.... Tuning is great for everything, you will always get more performance out of a tune. There isn't a single N/A mod (within certain limits and with certain notable exceptions) that REQUIRES a tune. Certainly nothing discussed in the this thread requires a tune. __________________ Buy My Car! \| Build Thread

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