2008 EX35: My brake upgrade and G37 exhaust install

Discussion of Infiniti's amazing (and underrated) sport-luxury crossovers, the EX35 and EX37. For 2014, the EX series will be renamed QX50, in line with Ininfiit's new naming conventions.
jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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So, I've been keeping busy with my 08 EX. First thing to discuss is the brake upgrade. I wanted to do the Akebono setup, but couldn't justify the cost on my daily driver, especially when I have two other toys that are money pits. I ended up cleaning the stock calipers, adding 3 coats of VHT gold paint, added the black vinyl decals, then added 3 coats of VHT clear paint. Turned out pretty good. Also installed drilled/slotted rotors, Hawk HPS pads, and Stoptech braided lines. All in all should be a nice setup, just need to get the car back on the ground to drive it. Here are a few pics:

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The other project is the exhaust. I have a muffler and midpipe from a 2012 G37. The install is not complete, but I took the midpipe, cut out 1 7/8 from the main pipe, and rewelded it, so the length matches the stock EX35 pipe. Hoping to install it tomorrow (have to get mew hardware).

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More updates to come.

Jason


CustomLowz
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:24 pm
Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35

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The brakes look great. Last week I also did my brakes. Powerstop Cross drilled and slotted rotors with their Ceramic pads all around. I still wanted to paint the calipers but wasn't sure what color I wanted to do. Gold was one of the colors I was thinking, and now seeing yours, I'm sold. That will be a project for another weekend. I'd love so see some pics of the EX on the ground. I know those brakes will look sexy through the spokes on your wheels. I have the OEM optional 19's for the summer and mine look great (even with the dirty calipers.) :bigthumb:

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Thanks. I'll post more pics once the wheels are back on. I just have stock 17's.

Jason

CustomLowz
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:24 pm
Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35

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jrmotorsports55 wrote:Thanks. I'll post more pics once the wheels are back on. I just have stock 17's.

Jason
Ok Cool. I have the stock 18's for winter, and the optional 19's for summer...

Also, where did you get the vinyl decals for the brakes? Online or some place local? I think I need to make a call to my Vinyl guy (might change the design alittle though)

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Got the paint and decals on eBay.

Jason

CustomLowz
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:24 pm
Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35

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jrmotorsports55 wrote:Got the paint and decals on eBay.

Jason
Would you mind sharing the listing for the decals? I just want to make sure I get the correct size. The paint I think i can get locally. Thanks. :dblthumb:

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/INFINITI-G35-G3 ... b9&vxp=mtr

The paint is VHT brake caliper paint, both gold and clear coat. I'd get two cans of each to be safe.

Thanks,

Jason

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AWGD8
Posts: 1071
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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Wow! I really like what you did to the midpipe. Great job! Yeah! I also had my brake caliper painted black to give contrast to my gunmetal rims. I think my next mod will be a new disc brake... I will keep this as reference when the time comes to change brakes.

BTW, did you notice how skinny the midpipe diameter from the EX35 compare to the G? :biggrin:

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Yeah, huge difference in the pipes after the resonators. I got the midpipe back on yesterday, and fired it up without the muffler, sounded so good! Have to do some POR-15 rust proofing before the muffler goes on. More to come.

Jason

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AWGD8
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Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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Cool! I will wait to see how those muffler tips look like when installed. I might go that route of cutting the midpipe. So 1 7/8 " removed?

Honestly, I like the distinct sound of this setup. It is worth the mod if you want the car to be more unique. ( Although, I only see one EX35 here in WI with no roof rail and sound different than the rest of the EX.) Oh wait , that is my car. :gapteeth: :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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LOL, no roof rails on mine either. My wife has a white one with rails, mine is charcoal grey. I'll probably be installing high flow cats in the future as well, as the heat shields are rotten on my stock ones, so they probably don't have much time left. That install is going to suck!

Jason

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AWGD8
Posts: 1071
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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Jrmotorsports55, do you have a Bose audio setup or just the 6 speaker setup ?
I only have the basic audio setup. I just replaced the 4 door speakers with a poineer TSD1602R (cheaper in Amazon for 1/2 the price) but I can not replicate the same sound setup with my sold RAV4 V6. The Rav4 had a Pioneer 2 din head unit though. I am just wondering if you have info in regards to our Audio head unit. My Rav4 did not even have an amplifier, but the sound was so detailed.

Thinking of buying a cheap amplifier, but not sure how it hooks up to the stock head unit? I am not a bass head guy, but I belong to headfi.org forum.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp9cZzG31P4 ( I recently made this video :crazy: )

http://youtu.be/CNUTlKqSO-I ( Impressive details of instruments here) Their songs here were originally arranged as a house/Trance music and made it Acoustic. ;)

This is the kind of music I listen to.

Sorry off topic, but does not hurt to ask. :dblthumb:

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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I have basic sound, no Bose. I have never looked in to changing anything with the audio, so can't help much there.

Jason

CustomLowz
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:24 pm
Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35

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AWGD8 wrote:Jrmotorsports55, do you have a Bose audio setup or just the 6 speaker setup ?
I only have the basic audio setup. I just replaced the 4 door speakers with a poineer TSD1602R (cheaper in Amazon for 1/2 the price) but I can not replicate the same sound setup with my sold RAV4 V6. The Rav4 had a Pioneer 2 din head unit though. I am just wondering if you have info in regards to our Audio head unit. My Rav4 did not even have an amplifier, but the sound was so detailed.

Thinking of buying a cheap amplifier, but not sure how it hooks up to the stock head unit? I am not a bass head guy, but I belong to headfi.org forum.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp9cZzG31P4 ( I recently made this video :crazy: )

http://youtu.be/CNUTlKqSO-I ( Impressive details of instruments here) Their songs here were originally arranged as a house/Trance music and made it Acoustic. ;)

This is the kind of music I listen to.

Sorry off topic, but does not hurt to ask. :dblthumb:
By any chance do you have your original speakers still? I was looking into replacing all of the speakers in my 11 with non-bose stereo too. Im guessing all 4 doors are 6.5" speakers, but I was wondering if you could take a look at the original speakers and see if there is a mark saying how many ohms they are.

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AWGD8
Posts: 1071
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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JRmotorsports55, thanks man! Sorry, to highjack your thread. We are still waiting for the exhaust tips images... :biggrin:


To CustomLowz: The none Bose speakers are 4 ohms and yes, both 4 door speakers are 6.5" . I forgot that speakers like headphones need a few hours of burn in time. It is getting better.....

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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A few more days. Spent yesterday doing clean up in prep for paint work. Today I am going to use POR-15 on the rusty bits. Tomorrow the muffler will go on, so I'll hopefully have pics after tomorrow.

Jason

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AWGD8
Posts: 1071
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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I did use Por 15 last year to clean up some surface rust on the underside. Good stuff! The spray can is a lot easier than the rubberized can (brush application)
I think i am due for another coat of Por 15. Most surface rust are located on the rear lower control arms and the area where the muffler hangers are located. Too many on that area compare to the front of the car.

One big spray can is enough. Although, I use the rubberized type on lower control arms for better gravel/sand/rock protection. I never read POR 15 high heat capabilities, what I sprayed on my exhaust joints were the high heat break caliper paint from Walmart. The area where the muffler connects to the midpipe. I painted it red, but changed my mind and blacken it up! Maybe I will paint it red again. It looks sporty! =)

BTW, you mentioned about the high flow cat. This will definitely change the sound signature of the G37 exhaust. You might probably look at the Fast Intentions resonated HFC. Might keep the noise closer to stock G37 coupe , but deeper.
It also lessen your lowend torque, but gain on the top midrange towards the highend. If you drive between 2.5k- 4.5k RPM, you might feel the loss of torque. Dont worry, if you decided to tune (Uprev) the car I got your back. I made changes to the throttle programming and the responsiveness can be be felt down 2k RPM. :woot:

Pls. Check thread # 262 and #276.

http://www.the370z.com/tuning/43384-smo ... ev-18.html

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Thanks, I appreciate the info. I've been doing the research on cats, not sure which way I'll go. Mine are starting to get pretty rusty (the heat shields have fallen off both).

Jason

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Alright, she's back together, and back on the ground.

Here are some pics of the brakes with the wheels on:

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And, here are some exhaust pics:

Stock black muffler vs new silver muffler:

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Position of tips:

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I must say, the exhaust does not seem any louder than it was with the stock exhaust. Very impressive.

Jason

CustomLowz
Posts: 137
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:24 pm
Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35

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Looks good. I like how the brakes came out. I will post up pics of mine when I get the calipers painted. This way you can see what it will look like with the OEM 19's if you ever go larger.

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AWGD8
Posts: 1071
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:34 pm
Car: 2008 EX35 AWD JOURNEY

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Great setup on the brakes! The exhaust tips are just perfect! The exhaust note is pretty quiet with the G37 coupe midpipe compare to just the G37 muffler stand alone. Revv it to 3K and the cat purrs... :chuckle: q

You can pull that middle black rear bumper - passenger side out a bit to even out with the driver side. There is a bracket that can be bent behind that holds the black bumper.

BTW, those stock rims look new! :crazy:

I will bring the picture of the cut/welded midpipe and see if my local shop can do the same. Thanks for posting all the pics. :dblthumb:

jrmotorsports55
Posts: 152
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Car: 2011 EX35 AWD Journey (wife's car)

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Thanks, I appreciate it!

Yeah, I noticed the bulge after taking the pic. Have to mess with it. The car only has 34,000 miles on it, I was amazed how clean it was when I bought it a few years ago.

Jason


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