M35 Mods - Too good to be true?

[azeiler]

Talked to the guys at Megan Racing and they didn't seem to eager to help. I called because they didn't respond to an email I sent a few days ago. I also read where some people are having issues with welds interfering with mounting bolts. So I decided to go with DC headers. They actually have some specifially for the M35. Same part # as the G35 - go figure. $445 from New Level Motor Sports (ceramic b/c I live in S Florida where it's hot a lot).

[rgb129]

So I decided to go with DC headers. They actually have some specifially for the M35. Same part # as the G35 - go figure. $445 from New Level Motor Sports (ceramic b/c I live in S Florida where it's hot a lot).

Sweet! Take pictures when you get them and of the install.

[azeiler]

Mieneke put the car on the rack and I got to spend some time with their exhaust expert taking measurements and asking everything I could think of. These guys have so far been great! The bottom line was, "you bring it and I'll make it fit."

I didn't realize there were sensors in the cats. He said they could put in bung holes for the sensors (bung holes were something very different when I was growing up...lol). Will this mess up anything with the ECU by using high flow cats? There is almost enough room to use headers with straight pipes and small cats, but add'l heat shields would be needed or moved. Megan Racing's cat is small enough to actually fit right after the headers so all you would see coming down is piping after the cat. BTW, he also suggested going 2.5" after the cats.

I also noticed a heat shield above the resonators, so I guess this is where the new ones go (or move it). I have about 14" across which is just enough room to fit two Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonators (6.75" wide each). Maybe we'll have to angle them a little to get some extra clearance between them if necessary.

The stock mufflers are huge; 14" x 23" including the tits. He also agreed going with Dynomax mufflers for noise and performance (although they are a magnaflow dealer). Now I just have to figure out which model.

He also said I will need two small flex pipes so that when the engine torques, it doesn't twist the whole exhaust system. I haven't read this anywhere yet, but the stock exhaust has them, so I guess I'll get a pair.

The one thing I forgot to ask him was about taking pictures during the install. I don't think they'll mind though.

Now I just have to find someone to dyno it before and after each mod. Which mod I should do first: plenum or exhaust. Which is more useful for everyone; to know how much extra hp you gain from just a plenum or from just an exhaust upgrade. I think there is plenty of data out there when just adding the plenum. So maybe do the exhaust first?

[cruzad3r]

i have heard many good reviews on meth/ethanol injection and this product is good in case you guys want to try it out

http://www.kmdtuning.com/index.php?_a=v ... uctId=1429

it said works with NA and FI motors as long as the car has MAF sensor.

[rgb129]

The stock mufflers are huge; 14" x 23" including the tits. He also agreed going with Dynomax mufflers for noise and performance (although they are a magnaflow dealer). Now I just have to figure out which model.

Now I just have to find someone to dyno it before and after each mod. Which mod I should do first: plenum or exhaust. Which is more useful for everyone; to know how much extra hp you gain from just a plenum or from just an exhaust upgrade. I think there is plenty of data out there when just adding the plenum. So maybe do the exhaust first?

I am curious how you make out noise wise with the Dynomax muffs. Post some sound clips when you are done.

There are plenty of dyno runs from the G forum on doing the plenums, spacers, or both. I would be more curious on just the exhaust dyno numbers. Doing a full exhaust is sure to improve things, but by how much is the question. Keep us posted.

[azeiler]

I am going with the Berk cats because they are 2.5" inlet and outlet. All the others that contacted me back were 2.25 inlet/outlet except Stillen who had a 2" inlet and 2.5" outlet. Berks come with extra bung holes for wide band (although I don't know what that is yet). And Bryan was extremely helpful, more helpful than anyone else I contacted.

I'm going to try the new Dynomax VT mufflers. They're smaller, suppposed to be very quiet under light driving conditions, but pretty loud at WOT when the valve opens up and essentially becomes a straight through pipe. They also have 90 day guarantee; if you don't like them, return them.

Stillen never answered my first email - I had to call them, then they were helpful. And a follow up email was promptly answered.
Kamikaze & Strupp never got back to me.

[rgb129]

. Berks come with extra bung holes for wide band (although I don't know what that is yet).

Wideband is referring to a wide band O2 sensor. Much more accurate than a standard "narrowband" (not sure if the OEMs are called that or not). I believe you not only get more accurate readings, but faster frequency of readings which allows for more precise tuning by the ECU to run the engine. Fuel and timing would probably be the two main elements the ECU would change based on input from O2 sensors. So more accurate samples and a higher sampling rate means a better running engine. They are pricey though.

I'm going to try the new Dynomax VT mufflers. They're smaller, suppposed to be very quiet under light driving conditions, but pretty loud at WOT when the valve opens up and essentially becomes a straight through pipe. They also have 90 day guarantee; if you don't like them, return them.

Let us know! Sounds clips too!

[azeiler]

Cats coming today. This probably sounds wierd but I'm excited. When I got married 20+ years ago I gave up motoring and just drove whatever POS we could afford and couldn't even think about mods. This is the first time in over 20 years I'm doing mods and I can hardly wait.

Yesterday I talked to the mechanic who's putting in a new rack & pinion (mine broke) and he told me that the new exhaust will not do much until I get the car tuned. Since I've gone over budget already, I can't afford to have the car tuned after the exhaust and then again after the plenum. I'm thinking that I'll run 3 dyno's; (1) baseline stock, (2) after the exhaust & plenum without a tune, (3) then again after all the mods (exhaust, plenum and grounding kit) and tune. If someone can recommend different/better times for the dyno's, let me know.

Here's the bill so far:
DC Headers (ceramic) $464.99
Berk High Flow Cats (2.5" inlet/outlet) $448.33
Berk Flex Pipes $55.49
Magnaflow X-Pipe $83.79
Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonators $167.00
Dynomax VT Mufflers $186.85 (inlcudes $25 rebate)
Tips $89.00
Total Exhaust $1,495.45
With labor estimated at $300, I'm at about $1,800 just for the exhaust. I figure with this exhaust, I can add anything and it will handle it. Breathing is always good, for both driver and vehicle. = )

Pulleys are going to have to wait, and from what I've read, I will not go with underpulleys, just lightweight stock size.

[azeiler]

Eveything's arrived except the resonators. Baseline dyno scheduled for tomorrow and hopefully exhaust will go in this weekend.

[azeiler]

Baseline Dyno for stock 06 M35. What an experience! He gets the car into 4th gear using the manual shift, lets the rpm's drop to around 2500, then WOT till around 6300 rpm. I can't wait to hear what this sounds like after the new exhaust. I will try to remember to bring my video camera for that.

I forgot that the advertised 280 HP is at the flywheel and didn't realize that so much HP is lost through all the moving parts.




Resonators are on backorder till next week, so exhaust not going in this weekend.

[dvan]

That say 222HP? Hard time seeing the number on this tiny netbook im on lol. My next mod is UpRev tune since i got my exhaust installed a week ago. Cant wait

[azeiler]

yep - only 222.

[cruzad3r]

yep - only 222.

dude good job documenting the process of HP accumulation make this your build thread.

my only comment on your quest for power is your exhaust cost too much but i sure hope it sounds and gives you the best power out of all available vendors kits.

good job!!!!

P.S - i dont remember this but are you planning on getting an uprev dyno tune before or after the complete engine back exhaust installed? reason i ask, well stock base M35 gives you 222 WHP and WTQ so it might give you 250 WHP and WTQ before the tune but after the tune it could give you 270 WHP and WTQ.

does that make sense?

[azeiler]

As rgb129 said, HP gains from the plenum are readily available. So I was thinking that I would do the 2nd dyno after the exhaust, but before the plenum or anything else. I was trying to avoid doing four dyno's but I guess another $75 isn't going to kill me. I'll do the third dyno after all the mods, but before the tune. Then I'll do the last dyno after the tune. This should give some idea of what some of the individual mods will do. If only I could find a sponsor......lol.

BTW, BC Racing BR coilovers arriving soon, along with mirror covers w/blinkers and hopefully an Impul areo kit. But more HP first.

[azeiler]

That say 222HP? Hard time seeing the number on this tiny netbook im on lol. My next mod is UpRev tune since i got my exhaust installed a week ago. Cant wait

Why don't you do a dyno before and after the tune? This would give us an idea of what just an exhaust will do and also an Uprev tune.

[mexillis]

when you get Uprev they will do a base run, then they will do modifications here and there, then the final run will be what your mods did and Uprev gained you together.

[azeiler]

Good to know - thanks mex. Sounds like that will save me two unnecessary paid dyno's. Isn't it important to have the car dynoed on the same dyno each time though?

[mexillis]

if you do it on the same one and within the same air temps, etc it will help you "know" your number's are not far off from doing it on a very hot day vs a cold day. Also dif. dynos will give you dif. Hp/Tq numbers. When i got Uprev i had about six dynos done all in one day, just in case that's what you were referring to.

[cruzad3r]

i think it's always good to have all dyno done on the same machine. this way you can rule out weird results. beside, the goal here is the delta power which means you start out with x, you put mods and get y. y-x is your gain (hopefully not loss) and that is what counts. don't go hunting for big numbers because there are operators out there will give you that.

[azeiler]

Finally got everything done!! Sound is nice, but a little louder than I was hoping for. My daughter noticed as soon as I started the car, and we were inside the car with the doors closed. However, my initial reason for keeping it quiet (wife), is no longer; we're getting divorced (not over the car though). I have pics on my phone and as soon as I figure out how to get them onto the computer, I'll post. Video coming soon too (hopefully).

CAI, Plenum and grounding kit also installed.

I also had transmission rebuilt with heavy duty clutches and a transgo shift kit. WOW!!!!! Shifts like butter during normal driving, but kicks @ss during WOT. It's now ready for anything the motor can generate.

BC Racing Coilovers also installed. Ride is NOTHING like stock. Stiff and a little bouncy in the back. I'll have to adjust it, but right now I'm enjoying the corners (maybe a little too much).

Due to circumstances, I decided to have all this work done at once and will not have dyno after exhaust only. It's just the way things worked out. I will however, have a dyno after the uprev tune for comparison.

[azeiler]

These are the cats.



X-Box at top of pic.



All mandrel bent stainless. I don't suggest using the ultra quiet resonators as they are too big for the space. From resonators back, the exhaust hangs a few inches lower than original. This will definitely affect any future lowering. And I'm not sure how much these resonators are actually keeping things "quiet". I guess it would be outrageously loud without them.





Getting it lined up perfectly.

[EniGmA1987]

Looks very nice! Cant wait to see some number when it is all tuned and done.

[mexillis]

GL with the divorce and sorry to hear that, kinda going through the same thing myself. Anyway exhaust looks good and can't wait to hear it. I would think with HF cats and reson's plus mufflers it wouldnt be that loud but just so u know it'll get quiter with time. The other day i was haulin a** and i thought for a sec WTF my shyt is quiet compared to before from what i remember. Anyway i dont really understand your statement "I decided to have all this work done at once and will not have dyno after exhaust only. It's just the way things worked out. I will however, have a dyno after the uprev tune for comparison." but i think this will clear things up. If you mean that you wanted a dyno tune after you installed the exhaust before UpRev, you will. The first dyno pull wont be a tuned run so you can compare that to your no.s of 222HP to see what your exhaust added. Keep in mind it will varey a little bit due to temp and all the other stuff.

[Iconic]

I see you have general exclaims, are they good ?

[fiveliterbeater]

"general exclaims" ? was that directed towards Mex?

[cruzad3r]

man - what's up with M series owner and divorce rate?

is this a bad car for family?

azeiler - any more update bruh?

[fiveliterbeater]

apparently. me and my ex split up around the same time my M was gone. she still has my house and all my furniture. all i have is a little 12x14 room , my 50" plasma and my PS3.

[Iconic]

"general exclaims" ? was that directed towards Mex?

no azeiler, guy with pictars.

[cruzad3r]

explain this to me, how in the hell women always get stuffs when a split happen?

[azeiler]

the tires (general exclaims) hug the road nicely. but i don't expect them to last too long the way i drive. at least they were cheap (relatively speaking). maybe i'll change the way i drive..............NOT.

I was hoping to do the uprev tune this weekend, but a friend needs my help in doing a brake job, so the tune will have to wait. also have to get things in order around the house to sell it.

originally, i was going to do dyno's after each mod; the first being after the exhaust. this would have given some idea of what just upgrading the exhaust would do. but b/c of the divorce, i simply could not wait to do one mod at a time, nor afford to do these separate dynos. yes, a dyno will be done b4 the uprev, but all mods are already done (exhaust, plenum, & CAI). however, this will show if there is any loss in hp from the stock dyno due to the mods w/o a tune.

i'm hoping that it does get quieter. At normal idle (not start-up idle) and cruising, you can't hear a thing, but as soon as i touch the accelerator it's loud as hell. And at WOT, it's ridiculous. I had a stupid little honda (with one of those fat mufflers) rev his motor at me while we were stopped under an overpass. he drove away like a beat dog when I reved mine to 7,500 rpm and resonated the entire overpass. the one thing that's bothering me is the tinny sound it makes at around 3,000 rpm. the shop is going to see if they can fix that. when i get it back, i'll get some sound clips posted.

the car's back at the shop b/c i flipped & spun a one-way clutch bearing in the transmission. when they did the rebuild last week, they put back in the original b/c it passed inspection and testing. they are fixing it for free and even gave me a rental.

as for divorce, division of assets in "equitable distribution" states is different than in "community" states. however, anyone can give up anything they want in a divorce until it goes to court (if they didn't settle). as a forensic accountant, i see clients give up all kinds of stuff just to get out and finally have it be over with. i have already proposed an unequal distribution in my wife's favor, but she's not seeing it that way. however, if it goes to court, it's usually somewhere near 50/50. so she will screw herself if she decides to fight for even more than i'm offering. at this point, it's only about the $$.