wstar's Journal

travisjb · 05-08-2009, 06:18 PM

ditto ! thanks wstar - i ordered mine as well

+rep on the way !

wstar · 05-09-2009, 01:02 PM

I'm half done with my exhaust gasket inspection/replacement. In other words, I took everything apart but nothing's gone back together yet

So far most of the gaskets looked surprisingly good and would have held up fine, I guess the abuse they got wasn't as bad as I thought. The center flange gasket near the crossmember, however, had some issues:

I think some of my exhaust note ugliness might have been coming here from lol.

wstar · 05-09-2009, 05:54 PM

Well I just finished up getting the gaskets in (I know that seems like an epic long time since the previous post for this job. I took lots of breaks, no sense killing myself on a hot day if nobody's paying me for it) and going for a very light test drive, and the results are f-ing awesome.

Prior to fixing the leak, I thought it sounded pretty damn good, but a little too raspy for my taste in a perfect world, and maybe had a leak to boot. Well, it did have a bad leak, and now it doesn't. The rasp and leak sounding stuff is all gone. The sound volume at low throttle/rpm dropped a bit too, but that's probably a good thing. No more waking up the neighborhood on every cold start.

The sound is insanely great now, imho, and there's no huge raspiness at any RPMs I checked. Specifically, the really ugly one around 2.5-3K rpm is gone. If you've got a similar setup and yours doesn't sound insanely great, maybe you've got a leak too

I think I would have to move this thread to the NSFW area to describe how sexy it sounds.

Anyways, I'm babying it for now to let those gaskets fully bake in. I don't want to go through this leak mess again. I have a highway trip that I'll take real easy tomorrow (visit mom for mother's day), and then re-torque again when I get home. Then I'll start getting on it hard and get a video clip for you guys.

ChrisSlicks · 05-10-2009, 09:16 AM

Congrats on getting it all sorted.

My stock exhaust is starting to sound better at WOT, also could have been that I had all the rear carpets and mats ripped out which enhanced the resonance.

Exhaust is definitely on my list but I'm not bothering with any HP mods until I get the brakes and oil temp under control.

wstar · 05-10-2009, 10:04 AM

Yeah as I said in the other thread, my oil cooler plans just moved up a notch. I'm kinda undecided on exactly how to do it given all the options we have in play though.

A thermo plate would be nice, if nothing else so I can get the oil warmed up quicker. We do have some pretty cold mornings (especially if I spend the weekend out of town further up in north texas), and it sucks as it is waiting around for the car to warm up (I really don't like getting on the revs at all until the oil gauge gets up off that bottom 140 mark at least, and it will take even longer with an unregulated cooler I suspect. Even then I don't run it hard till it hits 180 if I can help it). Also the core size thing. If some with the smaller Setrab core are thinking about upgrading... I'd rather just do it once right from the start and get a larger core (but still, I'm a fan of the Setrab in general from what I'm seeing and reading).

Then there's placement considerations. I think I want it on the driver's side all alone. Leave the passenger side for the stock and/or upgraded PS cooler, and maybe double-stack an ATF cooler there if it becomes necessary down the road.

I just haven't seen a single kit put together for that yet (thermo plate, lines long enough for driver's side, larger setrab core), and I'm a little bit scared of making my own hoses. I mean, I could probably do it fine, but it's just such a big thing if I made a tiny mistake putting those fittings on the ends.

travisjb · 05-10-2009, 10:07 AM

I heard that Stillen will swap a larger core into their kit if you ask for it

wstar · 05-11-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

I heard that Stillen will swap a larger core into their kit if you ask for it

Yeah they may have some further developments in the pipeline re: cooling options, I'm going to wait it out and see what they do in the next few weeks. I'll have to change oil again when I install it anyways, and I just did that, so I've got some time to burn.

Also, video is uploading to youtube now from some driving today on the newly-fixed-up exhaust, it'll be here in about another 10-15 minutes. I'm going to shoot another tonight as well (cooler temps and less traffic = moar fun driving).

RCZ · 05-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Im going to be looking at a bigger core too when I have to do the next one. I think the width is fine...it should be thicker!

semtex · 05-11-2009, 07:44 PM

Hmm...I have the Stillen kit sitting in my garage. I haven't even unpacked it yet. I'm going to PM Josh to see if I can send the core back to swap for a larger one.

Josh@STILLEN · 05-11-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

I heard that Stillen will swap a larger core into their kit if you ask for it

Hang on.. this is how rumors get started..

As shown by RCZ beating the crap out of his Z on the track, this cooler is doing it's job well in keeping temps into the acceptable range despite being pushed hard.

That being said, some of you have asked about doing more, by possibly a different core, etc. and I'm looking into that with our R&D guys on some solution options for those looking for an overkill option.

I'll know more this week. The cooler kit does exactly what it was supposed to.

semtex · 05-11-2009, 07:55 PM

^ What? The four of us starting rumors? Nevverrrr!!!

Thanks Josh!

Josh@STILLEN · 05-11-2009, 07:59 PM

You four are hard to follow. I go away for a day and there are PAGES to catch up with all over the place.. LOL.. and you're planning level 7 of world domination.. haha

travisjb · 05-11-2009, 07:59 PM

Thanks Josh... sorry, didn't mean to jump the gun!

... hey, can I tell them about your oil cooler giveaway contest?

Josh@STILLEN · 05-11-2009, 08:01 PM

Sure.. they can signup here: STILLEN Sweepstakes

(there is a couple of $500 gift certificates.. you're not actually lying!)

:P

wstar · 05-11-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisjb

Thanks Josh... sorry, didn't mean to jump the gun!

... hey, can I tell them about your oil cooler giveaway contest?

Yeah, just don't post the secret passphrase that gets you a free supercharger when you buy the exhaust system.

05-09-2009, 01:02 PM	#77 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	I'm half done with my exhaust gasket inspection/replacement. In other words, I took everything apart but nothing's gone back together yet So far most of the gaskets looked surprisingly good and would have held up fine, I guess the abuse they got wasn't as bad as I thought. The center flange gasket near the crossmember, however, had some issues: I think some of my exhaust note ugliness might have been coming here from lol. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

05-09-2009, 05:54 PM	#78 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Well I just finished up getting the gaskets in (I know that seems like an epic long time since the previous post for this job. I took lots of breaks, no sense killing myself on a hot day if nobody's paying me for it) and going for a very light test drive, and the results are f-ing awesome. Prior to fixing the leak, I thought it sounded pretty damn good, but a little too raspy for my taste in a perfect world, and maybe had a leak to boot. Well, it did have a bad leak, and now it doesn't. The rasp and leak sounding stuff is all gone. The sound volume at low throttle/rpm dropped a bit too, but that's probably a good thing. No more waking up the neighborhood on every cold start. The sound is insanely great now, imho, and there's no huge raspiness at any RPMs I checked. Specifically, the really ugly one around 2.5-3K rpm is gone. If you've got a similar setup and yours doesn't sound insanely great, maybe you've got a leak too I think I would have to move this thread to the NSFW area to describe how sexy it sounds. Anyways, I'm babying it for now to let those gaskets fully bake in. I don't want to go through this leak mess again. I have a highway trip that I'll take real easy tomorrow (visit mom for mother's day), and then re-torque again when I get home. Then I'll start getting on it hard and get a video clip for you guys. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

05-10-2009, 10:04 AM	#80 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Yeah as I said in the other thread, my oil cooler plans just moved up a notch. I'm kinda undecided on exactly how to do it given all the options we have in play though. A thermo plate would be nice, if nothing else so I can get the oil warmed up quicker. We do have some pretty cold mornings (especially if I spend the weekend out of town further up in north texas), and it sucks as it is waiting around for the car to warm up (I really don't like getting on the revs at all until the oil gauge gets up off that bottom 140 mark at least, and it will take even longer with an unregulated cooler I suspect. Even then I don't run it hard till it hits 180 if I can help it). Also the core size thing. If some with the smaller Setrab core are thinking about upgrading... I'd rather just do it once right from the start and get a larger core (but still, I'm a fan of the Setrab in general from what I'm seeing and reading). Then there's placement considerations. I think I want it on the driver's side all alone. Leave the passenger side for the stock and/or upgraded PS cooler, and maybe double-stack an ATF cooler there if it becomes necessary down the road. I just haven't seen a single kit put together for that yet (thermo plate, lines long enough for driver's side, larger setrab core), and I'm a little bit scared of making my own hoses. I mean, I could probably do it fine, but it's just such a big thing if I made a tiny mistake putting those fittings on the ends. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

05-11-2009, 07:44 PM	#84 (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	Hmm...I have the Stillen kit sitting in my garage. I haven't even unpacked it yet. I'm going to PM Josh to see if I can send the core back to swap for a larger one. __________________ "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.

05-11-2009, 07:55 PM	#86 (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	^ What? The four of us starting rumors? Nevverrrr!!! Thanks Josh! __________________ "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.

05-08-2009, 06:18 PM	#76 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	ditto ! thanks wstar - i ordered mine as well +rep on the way !

05-10-2009, 09:16 AM	#79 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Congrats on getting it all sorted. My stock exhaust is starting to sound better at WOT, also could have been that I had all the rear carpets and mats ripped out which enhanced the resonance. Exhaust is definitely on my list but I'm not bothering with any HP mods until I get the brakes and oil temp under control.

05-10-2009, 10:07 AM	#81 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	I heard that Stillen will swap a larger core into their kit if you ask for it

05-11-2009, 07:40 PM	#83 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Im going to be looking at a bigger core too when I have to do the next one. I think the width is fine...it should be thicker!

05-11-2009, 07:59 PM	#87 (permalink)
Josh@STILLEN The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,197 Drives: 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT Rep Power: 533	You four are hard to follow. I go away for a day and there are PAGES to catch up with all over the place.. LOL.. and you're planning level 7 of world domination.. haha

05-11-2009, 07:59 PM	#88 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	Thanks Josh... sorry, didn't mean to jump the gun! ... hey, can I tell them about your oil cooler giveaway contest?

05-11-2009, 08:01 PM	#89 (permalink)
Josh@STILLEN The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,197 Drives: 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT Rep Power: 533	Sure.. they can signup here: STILLEN Sweepstakes (there is a couple of $500 gift certificates.. you're not actually lying!) :P

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