This is my plan, will it get me to 350 HP?

Portlander · 09-15-2009, 07:48 PM

My car is due to arrive late November and my goal is to equal the power of the Nismo 370Z. From what I have read in various posts and magazine articles, the only difference between the 370Z and the Nismo is exhaust and ECU tuning. So I intend to have the dealer install the Nismo exhaust, do the required tuning and add the K&N drop in filters.

Would like to have this accomplished upon delivery and my dealer said they will have the Nismo exhaust shipped directly to the parts department and they also told me that the tuning is something they can do quite easily. I do realize that there are more potent HP gains available from other aftermarket exhausts, HFC, and cold air intakes, but I do not want my bumper removed or have possible warranty and/or state inspection issues. Car will go from dealer prep and then directly into my garage until mid March.

Maine is fairly limited when it comes to performance shops that can do this type of work and I do not want to drive the car out of state in the winter, simplicity works best for me. So the bottom line: I'm not too greedy, don't need to be the fastest Z but I don't want to be the slowest either. Does anyone else have this exact set up and will this meet my needs to reach 350 HP? Thanks for your advice!

m4a1mustang · 09-15-2009, 07:54 PM

The Nismo CBE doesn't provide much in terms of gain. Interesting that the dealer is offering an ECU tune, as well.

It all seems like they are just looking at you as an easy target and are going to rip you off. They will probably install the CBE and charge you more than an hour for labor, and then reset the ECU and tell you they tuned it!

If you want more power you need to do it right.

jpit · 09-15-2009, 07:55 PM

You need to do a little research. There are better cat-backs and intakes available. The drop in K&Ns will do nothing for power and the Fast Intentions and Berk cat-backs are better choices than the Nismo.

kenchan · 09-15-2009, 07:58 PM

agree with the above posts

Portlander · 09-15-2009, 08:23 PM

But will this formula get me the requested 18 HP gain, and if not, why does it work for the Nismo Z? The dealer said the labor costs will run me around $150 which sounds fair. I'm surely not set up to install it myself. Sounds like the big unsolved mystery is the so called "ECU Tune" and what it actually consists of.

bigaudiofanat · 09-15-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpit

You need to do a little research. There are better cat-backs and intakes available. The drop in K&Ns will do nothing for power and the Fast Intentions and Berk cat-backs are better choices than the Nismo.

I agree

MightyBobo · 09-15-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portlander

But will this formula get me the requested 18 HP gain, and if not, why does it work for the Nismo Z? The dealer said the labor costs will run me around $150 which sounds fair. I'm surely not set up to install it myself. Sounds like the big unsolved mystery is the so called "ECU Tune" and what it actually consists of.

If you'd spend 5 minutes searching, you'd find plenty of dyno-proven results all over the place.

The short answer is yes, you'll pick up your 18 CRANK horsepower at least, more than likely. But I would NEVER even imagine of installing the silly Nismo exhaust for a "performance" gain. So many better options out there...

m4a1mustang · 09-15-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portlander

But will this formula get me the requested 18 HP gain, and if not, why does it work for the Nismo Z? The dealer said the labor costs will run me around $150 which sounds fair. I'm surely not set up to install it myself. Sounds like the big unsolved mystery is the so called "ECU Tune" and what it actually consists of.

The CBE alone won't. And since we have no idea what their "ECU Tune" consists of we can't really say anything about that. But I'd be very skeptical.

FWIW, a FI or Stillen CBE is going to give you at least +18 hp to the wheels which would technically put you over 350 hp.

joeyz10 · 09-15-2009, 08:30 PM

stillen gen3 or injen cai already gives you 15 to 18+ whp

joeyz10 · 09-15-2009, 08:30 PM

then if you add cbe then you're good to go. not the slowest, not the fastest.

Portlander · 09-15-2009, 08:48 PM

Mightybobo, you answered my main question, thanks. Never realized that the Nismo exhaust was that bad of a product, the installation at the dealer was going to be so easy for me.

Steve, the Stillen CBE was initially my first choice and now may end up being what I go with. I'll just have find a place to install it. Is a ECU tune required with that set up, and if not, why, when it's required with the Nismo exhaust. Upgrades seemed less complicated during my 5.0 LX days!

Also read that there were some installation/rattle issues with the Stillen CBE mounts?

m4a1mustang · 09-15-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portlander

Steve, the Stillen CBE was initially my first choice and now may end up being what I go with. I'll just have find a place to install it. Is a ECU tune required with that set up, and if not, why, when it's required with the Nismo exhaust. Upgrades seemed less complicated during my 5.0 LX days!

Also read that there were some installation/rattle issues with the Stillen CBE mounts?

With basic bolt ons an ECU tune is not required. We have an adaptive/smart ECU which does a pretty good job of "learning" bolt on mods. That's not to say a real dyno tune isn't going to be beneficial... it is, but it's not necessary.

I don't know who told you that the Nismo CBE requireda tune. That's simply untrue.

As far as the Stillen CBE rattling... I think that issue has been fixed. Some of their earlier runs did not fit well and made contact with parts of the car where they shouldn't have. I think they fixed that. I'd definitely check out all of the other CBEs available just to make sure you get the best one for you. I ended up going with FI and should have it late this week or next.

Good to see another Mustang guy on the boards. Surprisingly there are a lot of us here!

Portlander · 09-15-2009, 09:01 PM

Read about the ECU tune on numerous sources including posts here. It was understood that the 18 HP gain achieved by the Nismo Z was due to the Nismo CBE and required tuning. And that was all I was really looking for as far as a performance boost. Thanks.

kenchan · 09-15-2009, 09:08 PM

i think the FI exhaust and a simple JWT pop charger (short ram how you like it) will net your over what the nismo can do... WITHOUT a reflash.

GingaBreadMan · 09-15-2009, 09:09 PM

Achieving 18 more hp can very easily be attained, but you will not notice the difference in power. Even 18whp isn't a huge jump in power. You will be spending money unnecessarily just to equal the output of the Nismo Z. Imo that's quite silly.

09-15-2009, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Portlander Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 69 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Sport Rep Power: 16	This is my plan, will it get me to 350 HP? My car is due to arrive late November and my goal is to equal the power of the Nismo 370Z. From what I have read in various posts and magazine articles, the only difference between the 370Z and the Nismo is exhaust and ECU tuning. So I intend to have the dealer install the Nismo exhaust, do the required tuning and add the K&N drop in filters. Would like to have this accomplished upon delivery and my dealer said they will have the Nismo exhaust shipped directly to the parts department and they also told me that the tuning is something they can do quite easily. I do realize that there are more potent HP gains available from other aftermarket exhausts, HFC, and cold air intakes, but I do not want my bumper removed or have possible warranty and/or state inspection issues. Car will go from dealer prep and then directly into my garage until mid March. Maine is fairly limited when it comes to performance shops that can do this type of work and I do not want to drive the car out of state in the winter, simplicity works best for me. So the bottom line: I'm not too greedy, don't need to be the fastest Z but I don't want to be the slowest either. Does anyone else have this exact set up and will this meet my needs to reach 350 HP? Thanks for your advice! __________________ Life is a highway!

09-15-2009, 07:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	The Nismo CBE doesn't provide much in terms of gain. Interesting that the dealer is offering an ECU tune, as well. It all seems like they are just looking at you as an easy target and are going to rip you off. They will probably install the CBE and charge you more than an hour for labor, and then reset the ECU and tell you they tuned it! If you want more power you need to do it right. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

09-15-2009, 08:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Portlander Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 69 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Sport Rep Power: 16	But will this formula get me the requested 18 HP gain, and if not, why does it work for the Nismo Z? The dealer said the labor costs will run me around $150 which sounds fair. I'm surely not set up to install it myself. Sounds like the big unsolved mystery is the so called "ECU Tune" and what it actually consists of. __________________ Life is a highway!

09-15-2009, 08:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
Portlander Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 69 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Sport Rep Power: 16	Mightybobo, you answered my main question, thanks. Never realized that the Nismo exhaust was that bad of a product, the installation at the dealer was going to be so easy for me. Steve, the Stillen CBE was initially my first choice and now may end up being what I go with. I'll just have find a place to install it. Is a ECU tune required with that set up, and if not, why, when it's required with the Nismo exhaust. Upgrades seemed less complicated during my 5.0 LX days! Also read that there were some installation/rattle issues with the Stillen CBE mounts? __________________ Life is a highway!

09-15-2009, 09:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
Portlander Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 69 Drives: 10 370Z PW 6MT Sport Rep Power: 16	Read about the ECU tune on numerous sources including posts here. It was understood that the 18 HP gain achieved by the Nismo Z was due to the Nismo CBE and required tuning. And that was all I was really looking for as far as a performance boost. Thanks. __________________ Life is a highway!

09-15-2009, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
jpit Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 440 Drives: 370Z Tour MT w/Spt Rep Power: 17	You need to do a little research. There are better cat-backs and intakes available. The drop in K&Ns will do nothing for power and the Fast Intentions and Berk cat-backs are better choices than the Nismo.

09-15-2009, 07:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	agree with the above posts

09-15-2009, 08:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
joeyz10 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 248 Drives: 09 370z AT/ RRSS 08/ Rep Power: 17	stillen gen3 or injen cai already gives you 15 to 18+ whp

09-15-2009, 08:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
joeyz10 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 248 Drives: 09 370z AT/ RRSS 08/ Rep Power: 17	then if you add cbe then you're good to go. not the slowest, not the fastest.

09-15-2009, 09:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i think the FI exhaust and a simple JWT pop charger (short ram how you like it) will net your over what the nismo can do... WITHOUT a reflash.

09-15-2009, 09:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
GingaBreadMan Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New York Posts: 313 Drives: 09 370z Sport 6spd Rep Power: 16	Achieving 18 more hp can very easily be attained, but you will not notice the difference in power. Even 18whp isn't a huge jump in power. You will be spending money unnecessarily just to equal the output of the Nismo Z. Imo that's quite silly.

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