scottyp Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) As I’ve used the forum for information and questions, thought I’d put something back in I know the question of Uprev and various N/A questions come up regularly so thought I’d share my experiences in stages: Standard ’05 350z Bearing in mind my upgrade path to the Nissan has gone: remapped Audi TT, Porsche Boxster 2.5, Porsche Boxster 3.2s – 350z, my views on standard performance may need taking in context with these cars. The initial test drive of the 350z is quite special, the noise and grunt is quite impressive and hard not to fall for, however I quickly found the 276bhp engine to be quite lazy and coarse when exercised into the upper rev regions – not as ‘screamy’ as the Boxsters, and not as silky smooth as the TT’s Turbo 4. The initial noise also seems quite tail orientated and the engine seems muffled in volume as standard. I also found the restricted power in 1st and 2nd quite obvious and frustrating as standard and marred the driving experience Standard 350z + Induction VFM:3 Performance: 2 (placebo noise effect!) To balance out the exhaust heavy note and to try and get the engine revving a bit more freely I fitted an induction kit first. From experience a decent induction kit loses a little torque, but does give the impression of freeing up the revs with the induction growl. Unfortunately I bought a Japspeed ebay induction kit (I don’t think they’ve seen a 350z, let alone fitted an induction kit to one...) the fit was poor, but with a bit of garden shed engineering it came good and the result was acceptable. Noise was good as expected, and although it produced no more power, the placebo growl did make it about 5% nicer to drive. Uprev’d 350z VFM:9 Performance: 9 The forum feedback on Upreving the Z proved too much of a temptation and I booked it in with Horsham to get the job done – the service was excellent and the result? – Excellent, I can’t imagine why the car wasn’t mapped this way from the factory. It’s not a 100% change, more 25% I would say. The most noticeable change is the power available in 1st/2nd, I did get the traction light on a couple times on the way home which I’d never seen previously. The power delivery was smoother and the car more pleasurable to drive, again not a dramatic transformation, but more of a showroom car version 2.0. Rolling road showed 276-296bhp, pretty good for an NA car. Downsides: Using the extra power and the onset of summer (Ha!) resulted in the crapspeed induction kit drawing in hot air over longer journeys and making the car seem very lethargic, not entirely the remaps fault but resulted in the standard airbox going back on which resolved the issue. Uprev’d 350z + Hard intake pipe and Popcharger VFM:4 Performance:3 In-between getting it Hdev’d I thought I’d go back to getting a bit of growl from the engine and fitted the recommended Popcharger, along with the alloy induction pipe from the Crapspeed kit – wow! People aren’t joking about the noise these make! Fitting so much easier than the ebay kit, and the full growl returns. Kit has a semi decent heat shield and ran a cold air intake pip from the front of the car to the inlet to combat the above heat soak issue. Power feels a bit better due to the huge growl, but not sure it’s any more than sound – encourages you to rev out the car though! Uprev’d 350z + Popcharger + HFC’s + Plenum Spacer + Standard holey exhaust VFM:5 Performance: 8 (score subjective due to exhaust issues!) Returned to Horsham to let Jez work his magic – disappointed to see the car only made 250bhp on its first run, raising to 270 on subsequent runs. Although not too worried about flat figures as my dyno experience in the past has taught me to read them as a guide (more on a separate thread). All bits fitted and it was noted the exhaust had a hole developing on the join to the backbox – which upped the volume to ear splitting resonance levels. Rolling road showed a final result of 280bhp. Low VFM figure as it is an expensive conversion and power gains are moderately low compared to a turbo car. Would do it again personally though. Car is much more responsive, same difference as the original Uprev on top of the existing power (if that makes sense?). 70 -80mph is now dispatched in 6th with a flick of the toe J. Smooth power delivery still. Due to noise I couldn’t test it fully – which leads too: Uprev’d 350z + Popcharger + HFC’s + Plenum Spacer + Scorpion ‘Y’ Back exhaust VFM:6 Performance: 9 Luckily a mate in the trade got me a deal on a Scorpion exhaust and it was fitted yesterday. What a sound the car now makes! Absolutely gorgeous v8 type rumble on idle and bellows in a subtle(?!) way when rev’d – finishes the car perfectly and makes the standard exhaust sound a bit synthesized. Only did about 30 miles last night, but car feels so complete and nice to drive its won me over again – will be keeping this for a long time! The past and the future! I’ve wasn’t enthralled by the character of the engine – it seemed very lazy still compared to the sharp handling of the car, which actually seems to get underrated against its competitors. The final death nail for the current state of tune was a drive in a friend’s Boxster S – I was reminded how zingy and revvy the flat six is in comparison and knew I needed the HFC’s, and intake spacer upgrade offered by Horsham. Incidentally I was surprised how twitchy and bumpy the Boxster is to drive against the Z – roads I’d normally be flat out in driving the Z resulted in the Box being bumped off line and feeling out of its depth: some would say exciting, but I now prefer the planted heavier feel of the Z. Sorry for the length of post, but hopefully will be useful to someone – fully updated now and I can finally say I’m really happy with the end results. The BHP figures are disappointing, but I’ve been down that route before and the car drives much more as a package than the figures suggest – the power delivery is much more accessible. Any questions, please ask! Edited December 10, 2012 by scottyp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Good write up:thumbs; Although if your talking about the 1.8 20vt in the tt I wouldn't say that's a smooth engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Thanks! The TT wasn't standard, it was a 180 with sports cats and exhaust, remap and various other engine mods - pumped out about 230bhp and reacted really nicely to the mods, as opposed to the lumpy standard 1.8t. Unfortunately the rest of the car couldn't be saved regardless of what I did to it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 You are right about the engine it's a little lazy compared to the revvy boxster one but I've learned to love it. I use the torque but whsn its nice il get some high rpms in. Sound amazing with an exhaust. The boxster is more focused and a "sports car" where as the Z is more of a gt with its torque and planted handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Nice review for starters - look forward to hearing your findings on the upgrades to come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 nice review, will be looking out for next part after 15th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nico Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 This was a good read. I'm looking at getting the uprev done soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I appreciate the post as well, I've just booked in with HDev for the 6th, hopefully work bloody pays me tonight (why is it that happens only when you're trying to get something done!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianphampton Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Re - Uprev . . . .the result? – Excellent, I can’t imagine why the car wasn’t mapped this way from the factory. +1 my opinion, too You might want to consider remapping her again after you've done the plenum spacer and HFCs to make the most of these changes, too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Nice post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Great feedback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home Slice Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 A really good write up for beginners! I look forward to reading the rest after the 15th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted November 19, 2012 Author Share Posted November 19, 2012 Right, had the work done last Thursday at Horsham - excellent customer service and first specialist I've visited where you're shown what's going on and the person doing the work genuinely seems interested in it: Thanks Jez! Unfortunately the road to power never runs smoothly and a hole in the rear section was discovered (including some wafer thin brake discs!), which on the way home must have opened up - as car now sounds like a top fuel dragster! Need to get this sorted before its MOT on Thursday. Can't comment on the changes the mods have made so far as it hurts my ears to take it over 2k on the revs, but watch this space!. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I keep forgetting to put the photo's onto my computer at home so I can show the dyno results etc on a new thread. Let us know your thoughts once you've gotten the MOT sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeroy Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I keep forgetting to put the photo's onto my computer at home so I can show the dyno results etc on a new thread. Looking forward to seeing the results too Rob - be interesting to see what it made What was the starting figure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Looking forward to seeing the results too Rob - be interesting to see what it made What was the starting figure? Hey, hope all is going well for you ? I'll definitely post it up this evening once I'm home (dark ages of internet there though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeroy Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Hi Rob, I'm good ta Look forward to seeing the results, I always wondered the car was anywhere near the quoted stock figures. I'm a tad envious of you guys making these specific mods as I always knew the Zed would come alive with them but couldn't justify the cost. Right now my soul is gradually being eaten away by the Ford Focus sat on my drive Sorry for the thread hijack ScottyP!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 fully edited the first post with mods to date - enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Excellent write up, it puts my post to shame But we've got a very similar set up so I'd be really interested in hopping in your car to check out the noise from the HFC's. Here's my thread for ref: http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/65249-hdev-dyno-beforeafter-modifications-uprevdecatspacer-etc/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 No problem - where are you based? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 (edited) No problem - where are you based? That would be great, thank you, I'm based in Surrey, near Guildford. I'll be at Abbey Motorsport on the open day this Saturday, so if you're far from me hopefully someone there can take me out for a spin quickly. Edited November 23, 2012 by RobPhoboS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Ahh, I'm in Taunton down in Somerset - probably a bit far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyp Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 thought I'd update this post after doing 500 odd miles with the upgrades Firstly - Wow!! what a transformation, now everything has bedded in and the exhaust has coked up a bit the change is staggering. The car just feels so urgent now, and almost has a turbo/vtec kick around 3000 rpm where in any gear it just seems to over power its bulk and hurl itself towards the horizon with an angry shout, the back even seems to squat down under gear changes as it readies itself for the next surge - couldn't help giggling like a child over the weekend on a b road run with overtaking a plenty! The exhaust note is truly addictive, the combination of pop charger and scorpion cat back with HFC's give the v6 a bit of italian character: its gone from a lazy drone to something reminiscent of an alfa v6's metallic rasp - I'm sure this encourages this extra feeling of acceleration as I regualarly nail the throttle to hear this glorius noise. Unlike other sports systems I've had, its completely silent with the cruise on at 70-75, so you can enjoy some soothing music on motorway journeys. An added bonus is that I now get 35mpg on a steady motorway run - drops a lot lower when enjoying the sound and power of course! Due to this I'm revising the scores I gave this conversion, value for money is still a hard one to argue - but performance is definetly a step up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPhoboS Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Hey do you notice that going from 3rd to 4th (at red line) it seems to run out of puff but 4th to 5th is fine ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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