MattG

Get the Motordyne Copper ISO thermal spacer in 5/16". It comes everything you need to fit it including longer bolts and spacers for the strut bar. Speak to Chilli Red in the traders section about getting one of these. Don't get the 5/8" variant as you'll have to remove your standard strut bar to prevent it fouling the bonnet. There is virtually no difference in gains versus the 5/16" version anyway so it's just extra hassle for no benefit. Oh and get a torque wrench that measures in inch pounds if you don't already have one. You don't want to snap any of those plenum bolts and it's very easily done! You can find the install guide for the spacer on Motordyne's web site and that will have the torque values in there so you know which wrench to buy.

These would have been my second and third as well! What's wrong with us?! I had an email from Paypal saying my item was posted on the 30th May (Bank holiday Sunday? ) but there was no carrier information or tracking number and I've heard nothing from Gaz directly. I've got until Monday 7th June to submit a claim so I'll wait until Saturday but then I'll have to raise a dispute too. I can always cancel it if the item turns up a couple of days later.

My thoughts exactly. I bought my airbox from someone on **REMOVED** although I think they were a member on here too.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one Steve. TDI had no vested interest in proving this part provided gains and I would describe their approach as "sceptical but curious" (as was I). I have no reason to think that TDI, Abbey and all the various people in the US who have verified these gains are lying simply to promote modding. That seems like a very weak argument and I think to call them all liars because reality doesn't match your theory seems a little harsh to say the least! After all, the fact that fitting a pop charger style induction kit often loses power seems to be common knowledge. People who lie about the gains for their parts usually get found out and roasted pretty quickly, especially in the US. I can't tell you why the gains measured don't match what you're saying, but for me empirical testing trumps theory. My 06 airbox cost me about £50 and my car runs stronger with it fitted so I shan't be changing it anytime soon.

You could try contacting ICT direct and see if they will sell to you: http://www.incartec.co.uk/ Hope this helps.

Bear in mind RS have a tight arsed dyno so you probably did better than you think. I reckon that would probably show as 290+ on most other dynos. The 14bhp difference with no other mods is excellent.

Mine made 7bhp and some torque (can't remember exactly how much) after fitting an 06+ airbox. The exact same cosworth air filter was used for both tests and the dyno runs were done before and after fitting the airbox on the same day. This was at TDI North, not Abbey, and I supplied the airbox so it's another independent test. In the US the gains from this mod are common knowledge. It would have cost Nissan time and money to change the design of the airbox so they must have done it for a reason. I'm assuming it's more to do with the timing of air pulses rather than total air flow, possibly optimised for the different cams and higher top end of the Rev-up engine (but fortunately benefiting early cars too). Perhaps Nissan were scratching around for gains to try and make back some of the torque they lost compared to the earlier engine?

That is a very good price. I'm just wondering now, do they realise "cat back" on a 350z includes the Y pipe?

That's brilliant Sarah, PM sent!

As far as I know Longlife are the same as Powerflow in that it's a franchise so quality will vary based on the outlet doing the work. The best bet would be to try and get a recommendation for a particular Longlife branch and then you should be fine.

Agreed, I don't think it's fair to drag her into this considering she didn't have any involvement with the transaction. I'll keep trying to get in touch with Gaz but if I haven't got anywhere in the next week my only recourse will be a Paypal dispute.

Cheers fella!

Did you place the order pre or post her split with Gaz though? I think my order was placed just after Sarah left so I don't think she'd want anything to do with it (which is fair enough).

Me too! Well two of the buggers actually so I'm currently £163 out of pocket with no badges to show for it. I was told two weeks "to be on the safe side" and that was on April 23rd so it's 5 weeks tomorrow. Maybe the mods need to look into this given they are approved traders?

Anyone know if Z-Store are still trading? The reason I ask is that I'm trying to chase an order that is 3 weeks overdue but am getting nowhere. I sent a PM to Gaz a week and a half ago and then another one on Monday and so far neither have even been read. I have also tried phoning the mobile number but it just rings out and goes to answer phone. I know there has been a split with Envy / Z-Store / Chilli Red lately but as far as I know Z-Store are still trading. Aren't they?!

Cheers mate!

Can't wait to see the pics! As the stone chips begin to build up on my car I can't help but wonder if I should have gone that route too! I bet wrapping is cheaper as well.

Sorry chaps, meant to get these up much sooner (assuming you mean my pics and not Dene8s!). As I said above the car has been sprayed Audi Ibis White which is a non-pearl or metallic white. The wheels are Linea Corse Z2S courtesy of Rarerims but I got the bodyshop to repaint the centres black to match the door handles, mirror holders, etc. As a result the finish is really glossy, better than any black wheel I've seen so far. The car had a genuine Nismo V1 kit fitted at the same time that was provided by Envy for an excellent price. The bodyshop covered the square bit in the front bumper and leading edge of the side skirts with flexible black plastic to absorb stone chips. If we had painted them black they would have chipped quickly and looked awful. They also blended the rear spats into the rear bumper and smoothed out the side "Z" badges. All bodyshop work was carried out by Gary, Steve and Tony at Newcoat Garage: http://www.newcoatgarage.co.uk/ and I would absolutely recommend them to anyone. Here's the pics anyway, I'm not that great at taking photos but hopefully you get the idea: Album: http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w135 ... Pics/350Z/ Slideshow: http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w135 ... b6cf76.pbw The bonnet looks a little out on the pics (see larger gap against bumper on the passenger side) but a quick twiddle with the rubber adjusters on the bonnet has since fixed that. The car also has now had red calipers courtesy of ZMANALEX which have really finished the car off. Well, sort of finished. It's going back in to Newcoat soon for a 07 "bulge" bonnet (again from Alex), repainted wipers (black to match the other bits) and blended side skirts (to remove the line halfway up). Will get more pics up in a new thread when it's all done, hopefully when it's a bit more sunny.

Well I'll take the unsilenced mid pipe if someone else wants a nice quiet exhaust system.

It sounds to me like a blueflame performance exhaust would be ideal for you. About £450-500 and includes a new Y-pipe too. The sound is very similar to stock, very slightly more bassy below 2000rpm but normal above that. Just make sure you get the version with the silenced mid-pipe if you want it quiet (you have to specify when ordering). Bodyboarder actually has a virtually new one for sale at the moment (see For Sale section) and that has the silenced mid pipe, although he has a spare un-silenced mid pipe too. You buy the exhaust and I'll buy the unsilenced mid-pipe and everyone's happy!

Would you be prepared to sell the unsilenced mid pipe separately? You could get Blueflame to send it direct to me if it hasn't been sent yet. Assuming that it fits the older silenced version of the system that is. If not, have a free bump!

Adam is a busy man. I have been waiting a week for my order confirmation although I was told the exhaust will be with me in 10 days once the order has placed . I was a bit worried as I receive no response from my PM or confirmation for the payment. The PM I sent were still sitting in my outbox until I called them today. :/ So I decided to cancel the order but was told the US system is different than the one in UK, once they placed the order with the supplier, the order would be non-refundable even I am willing to pay for shipping cost from the supplier to their warehouse. I would suggest people to consider carefully before placing an oversea order as the difference between the UK and US system. To be honest whilst I have ordered things like brake disks and pads from the US I wouldn't be looking to order something as expensive and complex as a Nismo exhaust from there. My main concern would be that you aren't covered by the Sales of Goods Act etc so you're entirely dependent on good will if the part develops a fault. I remember someone on here got a Nismo exhaust from Z1 and the y-pipe cracked well under a year after purchase (fairly common on the Nismo it seems) and last I heard he had got nowhere obtaining a replacement. If you search on here you should find the thread. For some things it's worth paying the extra to get it from the UK for the extra insurance in case something goes wrong. If you ordered a Nismo through Sarah and it developed a fault in the first couple of years they'd be legally olbliged to offer refund, repair or replacement as the part would be considered "not fit for purpose".

I couldn't possibly say. Drop him a PM and have word. He has his own section of the forum, "Z1 Auto" under "Professional Traders". It might also be worth PMing ZMANALEX as he sometimes gets used Nismo stuff.

Yeah you need to make sure the vendor puts the right values on the invoice in the box too as they will often check that to try and catch you out.

The gift thing only works if the item worth less than about £35 so that's why you'll have got hit. The only way round it really is to get the seller to state the item is worth less than it is, e.g. put a $100 value on the box or something. The downside with that approach though is that the parcel insurance will only pay out to that amount if it goes missing, so there is a certain amount of risk involved.