Manual Upgrades vs. Auto Upgrades
 

Hello all!
I am coming to the time where I am going to be getting some upgrades for my Z! Currently I'm looking Stillen Gen 3 Intakes, Armytrix Super Sport Exhaust, and maybe a few other goodies. My question is: Do the modifications I'm looking at have a different effect or HP gain on the Automatic transmission models? I have looked up the Dyno numbers and all the tests seem to be done on a manual so I'm wondering if there is a performance increase. And if so, what upgrades show the best gain on Automatic transmission models. Thank you all and have a great day! :pics:

A mod on an AT vs. a MT car will make the same power either way. It's the difference in parasitic driveline losses incurred by each transmission type that will affect final power output at the wheels on a dyno.

I am not familiar with the specific AT/MT parasitic driveline losses on the Z, but I'm sure if you do some research on dyno numbers of stock AT vs. stock MT, you might have your answer, but each dyno is different so it's hard to say.

You'll get similar gains, maybe slightly less but your overall numbers will be a bit lower since the 7at has more drivetrain loss than the 6mt.

General rule of thumb dictates that the loss on a MT is 15% and the loss on an auto is 20%. That being said, on the 370Z they both SEEM to be around the same, if anything 15% for the MT and 17% for the 7AT

yeah around 17-18% for 7at seems about right

That's what I figured, but without researching it myself I'd leave it up to the likes of you and others lol. It's just very hard to pin a % down with differences in dynos, unless someone is actually doing a controlled test for that reason.

DE is pretty much spot on, the 7AT is a pretty efficient(and if driven correctly)and quick shifting transmission. The modifications will give the same net increase with either transmission. The total numbers may be slightly lower with the AT although not by much.

:tiphat:

The biggest difference, or what should be the center of attention is modability. The 7AT will do fine with bolt ons, some will argue it will hold a SC with low torque figures with mild upgrades (tune for line pressure, trans cooler and maybe even VB upgrade) but the 6MT will always be best for high power applications and modability. Lightweight flywheel, different clutch, no need to cool the fluid, etc... Biggest disadvantage is the CSC/CMC.

Thanks for the descriptive responses! You, my good sir, are a true Z God. :worship:

Lol, no problem. You didn't ask what I feel to be a stupid easy search bullshít question, so I'm more than happy to help.

What are you using the car for? That should dictate what trans you should go with

Personally I wouldn't support ArmyTrix though, just me though...

Makes two

My stock AT 370 produced 260.6 whp and 217.7 torque on a Mustang Dyno. That's a 21.5% loss. Not too impressed with the loss but I did hit 13.3 on street tires and 13.2 with drag radials on the 1/4 mile the other night.

..

Mustang dynos also read very low. That's why they're referred to as "heartbreak dynos"

True. But aren't they more accurate in the industry as far as what you are putting to the wheel?