Proven Performance Upgrades

D

derek

Member
Are you actually are trying to maximize your M's performance? Please tell us what you are doing. Part lists, tuning information, documented performance changes, dyno sheets. I wanna see some Horse Power people!

We call ourselves Enthusiasts right? Well what the heck is fun about minor lighting swaps or oils used? If you can buy it at Autozone, its boring and nothing to be Enthusiastic about. Lets make some real changes to our cars!!!!! I want to know what you got!
 
I will be installing a Stillen Exhaust system, an Injen Intake, and I am adding an UpRev Programmer and having the car Dyno tuned. All the parts will be installed within the next week and the tuning is being done at GRP of Chicagoland as soon as they can fit me in.

What r u doing?
 
Unlike your approach, I didn't buy M to make it go fast. In fact, I always drive speed limit ^_^/ I bought it to cruise. I am planning to buy Tanabe axlebacks and Fujita intake. I just want axleback to minimize the noise, but to improve appearance. I want a short ram to avoid the potential of hydrolock from full CAI, like Injen's product.
 
Mongolian said:
Unlike your approach, I didn't buy M to make it go fast. In fact, I always drive speed limit ^_^/ I bought it to cruise. I am planning to buy Tanabe axlebacks and Fujita intake. I just want axleback to minimize the noise, but to improve appearance. I want a short ram to avoid the potential of hydrolock from full CAI, like Injen's product.
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OP never said anything about going fast. He said proven performance upgrades. Also, have you any idea how much water you'd have to get into your engine to get it to hydrolock?

I know people have seen gains from the +2 Timing Advance, I've noticed some pretty nice gains from my intake, and I'm sure there are some from exhaust. Anyone else?
 
I actually killed my old accord (bone stock) through flooded roads ^_^. Now the question is, do you really know how easy it is to hydrolock it with a tube sucking in water from a lower location than it is? Logic tells us that it's a lot easier to suck in water with a straw. lol

I've experienced zero gains from +2 timing advance for the FX35 (same engine). It may be different for the V8. I personally think I lost power on the low end using a plenum spacer and intake. However, I do like a "vrooom" noise from these two things. It may be different for the M35 (maybe different factory tune??).

Lastly, why the hell do you want proven performance gains without the consideration of going faster, especially when the OP only mentioned the general power upgrade and not suspension? Isn't this implied to those of us with common sense?
 
Mongolian said:
I actually killed my old accord (bone stock) through flooded roads ^_^. Now the question is, do you really know how easy it is to hydrolock it with a tube sucking in water from a lower location than it is? Logic tells us that it's a lot easier to suck in water with a straw. lol
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Yes, yes I do. I also know that I drove a lowered Altima SE-R with a intake filter just ahead of the front driver's side wheel, behind the fender liner and was unfortunate enough to have to take a trip during heavy raining and flooding. Driving through an unfamiliar area at a high speed (it was a bit of an emergency) I accidentally slammed down in a puddle easily 3 feet deep and sucked up enough water to cause major stalling (wouldn't rev above 4K RPM) and CEL to come on. I changed the air filters and oil and never had a problem after that. Somehow I think that if CAIs caused that many hydrolocked engines there wouldn't be so many out there for sale.

Mongolian said:
I've experienced zero gains from +2 timing advance for the FX35 (same engine). It may be different for the V8. I personally think I lost power on the low end using a plenum spacer and intake. However, I do like a "vrooom" noise from these two things. It may be different for the M35 (maybe different factory tune??).

Lastly, why the hell do you want proven performance gains without the consideration of going faster, especially when the OP only mentioned the general power upgrade and not suspension? Isn't this implied to those of us with common sense?
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I do find it odd that you didn't see any gains from the timing advance, spacer, and intake as they seem to show gains on just about every other platform that uses this engine. Maybe YOUR factory tune is different.

And lastly, proven performance gains make a vehicle more efficient. Is it possible that this is what the OP is after? I also have yet to see a serious suspension upgrade that didn't increase performance. Could that be the implication for those of us with common sense? Maybe your version of common sense is not so common. Like the factory tune on your M perhaps?

And before it gets out of hand, I didn't mean for this to become a pissing match. It's merely a different point of view. Enjoy your weekend.
 
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I just purchased a bone stock 06 M35. I have never been so in love with a vehicle in my life. I dont particularly care to upgrade the exterior as I think these cars just look perfect. I might lower it slightly but who knows. All of my upgrades will be into performance. I want to do this mind you while keeping the reliability high. My background is building HP on the classic Chevy small blocks- not tuner cars. With this being said I'd like to hear from everyone what the "best" upgrades for the money are. I plan on adding a cold air intake - plenum spacer (not sure which is better 5/16 or 1/2). I'd like to get overall feedback on what gets this car up and moving the best. What works the best with these M's????
 
FYI, 5/16 provides low end gains and 1/2 provides high end gains. I've yet to try intake and plenum spacer on the M. As I mentioned in the earlier post, I felt like I lost power low end with intake and slightly more pick up on high end. It's probably due to me installing a thicker plenum spacer (This is on my FX35)

You should definitely lower it. I'm lowered on Tein H Tech. Very moderate drop - I ended up with 1.5ish drop in the front and just over an inch in the back. Car sits quite even. If you stare at your car for a long time, you will notice that the front sit higher than the back on stock M. At least that's what I noticed before I lowered it.
 
LuckyDogM35 said:
I just purchased a bone stock 06 M35. I have never been so in love with a vehicle in my life. I dont particularly care to upgrade the exterior as I think these cars just look perfect. I might lower it slightly but who knows. All of my upgrades will be into performance. I want to do this mind you while keeping the reliability high. My background is building HP on the classic Chevy small blocks- not tuner cars. With this being said I'd like to hear from everyone what the "best" upgrades for the money are. I plan on adding a cold air intake - plenum spacer (not sure which is better 5/16 or 1/2). I'd like to get overall feedback on what gets this car up and moving the best. What works the best with these M's????
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I'd defintely say suggest lowering it. Tein makes a good spring as does Eibach and a few others. Coilovers are another option if you prefer adjustability.

The plenum spacer (I'd suggest the 1/2" for the higher-end increase as these cars never really seem to be hurting for low-end power) intake, exhaust, and a tune are definitely good places to start. Not really sure how far you're wanting to go after that, but there are a few more options to push the envelope a little further. I too come from building GM small-blocks and what I like most about the Nissan engines is the smooth power delivery and excellent mid-range. Before my M I drove an '06 Altima SER with the VQ35DE. Total gem of an engine.
 
Tony TwoTone said:
I'd defintely say suggest lowering it. Tein makes a good spring as does Eibach and a few others. Coilovers are another option if you prefer adjustability.

The plenum spacer (I'd suggest the 1/2" for the higher-end increase as these cars never really seem to be hurting for low-end power) intake, exhaust, and a tune are definitely good places to start. Not really sure how far you're wanting to go after that, but there are a few more options to push the envelope a little further. I too come from building GM small-blocks and what I like most about the Nissan engines is the smooth power delivery and excellent mid-range. Before my M I drove an '06 Altima SER with the VQ35DE. Total gem of an engine.
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Off the start I planned on lowering it..not sure what direction to take; springs, air, or coilovers. Having not heard to much about proven ride performance on either setup i'm still up in the air. I also wanted to do a cold air intake..again not sure if "all things are created equal" regard which brand to go with for best performance...I want a lot of top end so I would probably go with the 1/2" plenum. Next would definitely be the exhaust...I want something very aggressive sounding. So far the Megan seems like the way to go but I haven't heard anything in person. I'm also interested in the uprev tune but uncertain what "model" to get....have never owned a "tuner" before so the thing makes me nervous...small blocks are much easier to work with. Also wanted a throttle body spacer ( dollar for dollar the most noticeable upgrade you can on a small block and actually notice instant improvement) but again dont know the effectiveness with these engines. How much can these motors even take before you lose reliabiliy on them? What kind of rearend changes can you make/tranny upgrades??? Gear changes..etc...etc... I know nothing about these cars other than I know I want to put some money on making this M stand for MEAN.
 
Eh, suspension mods are always a matter of taste and how you want your car to perform. My suggestion would be springs for a daily driver.

A CAI is a CAI, just get one with a dry filter. There are none for the Y34 so I made my own and I'm pretty happy with the results.

Exhaust-I've never been an advocate of bolt-on systems. Go custom. I actually just got a custom Magnaflow setup on my car yesterday and I love it. I'll post some clips later.

I've yet to see someone with a throttle body spacer on a VQ, but for some reason I question their effectiveness on these engines. They do wonders for small blocks but the VQ is a different animal.

Reliabilty is really a non-issue with these engines for the most part. They are actually pretty stout and can take a lot of abuse. I drove the piss out of my Altima SE-R for 2 full years and 60K miles and it never once gave me a problem. When I traded it at 100K, the guy tho sold me my car snapped it up after it being on their website for a day.

For rear end gears, LSD, etc look to the G. Just about everything that they use is swap-able with your car.

Tune-contact an UpRev pro tuner in your area and have them do it for you. No hassle, great gains.
 
Go to infinitiscene.com and do a search on throttle body spacer. There were couple of FXs with throttle body spacers with very minimal or no results.
 
I figured as much. I noticed about the same on my Suburban. When I tried it with a SRI, I noticed it made it perform like a CAI, no gains, just a slight "shift" in the powerband. It made a cool whistling noise though. LOL!
 
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