New mods - Grounding wires and front strut tower brace

[fatire_mtb]

The reason I purchased the GroundingGear (www.groundinggear.com) 5AT Performance System full 10 wire package was to help alleviate/cure my only complaint(s) about my G35. I was never happy with how the engine would overrev when making a quick lane change or pass in traffic. Not much pressure on the accelerator and the engine would race up, but the following oomph was always a little delayed and didn’t seem to quite match the amount of work the engine sounded like it was making. The next thing I was hoping to change was the shift points. I didn’t like how low in the RPMs it would shift especially in the lower gears. I can understand being in 4th gear at 40mph in my Jeep, but not my G. Let me say that I could not be happier with the results of installing the GroundingGear system.The GroundingGear's system is first rate in quality and appearance. All of the wires and parts were clearly labeled and the quality of the components is striking. I only had to make one educated guess during the installation based on the provided instructions. Maybe if I were more of a gearhead it would have been easier so thanks to google images for lending a hand. The change I would make to the instructions is to have a close-up picture of each endpoint connection. Granted the majority of the connections are made in the engine bay and straightforward, there are a couple where an extra picture wouldn’t hurt. All in all it took about a little more than an hour. I went slow wanting to make sure I did it right and didn’t miss anything. I did have to lift the car and put it on jack stands for the connection next to the transmission housing. Once I had all the connections made I hooked the battery back-up and jumped on I-75 and headed to I-575 for the recommended “spirited drive” with some (well, a lot of ) runs at WOT to let the ECU know there was a new signal. I could not be more impressed with the results. No more overrevving, more aggressive shift points, improvements in shifting response beyond the desired result, engine starting is smoother, and idle smoothness and throttle response were immediately noticeable. Now when I hit about 45mph you can literally feel the car willing itself to go faster.

I would be remiss if I didn't say how responsive and helpful Gordon Gee was during the entire process from purchase to install. Class act!



Next mod was the Circuit Sports front strut tower brace.The installation is really easy. The quality of the brace is very good. It reminds me of a high-end hand-built mountain bike with the quality of the welds. It took maybe thirty minutes to install and that includes the time to lift the car up on jack stands and bring the car back down. AZHitman’s write-up on G35 Chassis Stiffening was my inspiration for this mod (and soon to be rear main under brace). I already enjoyed the handling of the car, but as mods get added, acceleration and speed increase (driving style becoming more aggressive as a result) I wanted more stability in the handling. Let me emphasize what AZHitman said before – this mod is great. It took an already nice handling car and made it more responsive and gives it a very connected feel. I have been trying to think of a way to illustrate the difference and the best I can come up with is before the brace it felt like the front tires operated independently, but now they feel connected and working in tandem to provide greater stability and control.

[joe603]

So no more engine cover after the tower brace??

[fatire_mtb]

No, it's now hanging on the wall in the garage. I believe it will fit okay under the hood with the brace, but it's such a PITA to take off every time I get under the hood.

[G_whizz]

Excellent write up and pics!!! Please get this into the Modification Database thread!!

I think this is deserving of a Custom Title!

What would you like??

[fatire_mtb]

Thanks! I'll have to think about the custom title and get back to you.

[zippyslug31]

Excellent write up and pics!!!

ditto! good job.

[chad1200]

Thanks for the info! i've been thinking about a grounding kit for a while and the dyno on their we site really clinched it for me! WOOHOO! i'll take another 7-9 ponies!

how much did you pay for it?

[srv2nv]

I agree with everyone else, very nice write up and beautiful pics! I just installed my strut tower bar and was looking into some grounding wires myself. But I have to ask too, how much?

[zozoka1212]

well done my friend well done.

zozo two big thumbs up

[fatire_mtb]

I paid $150 for the kit and shipping. GroundingGear is located in Canada so it takes a while to get here (I live near Atlanta and it was 12 days to arrive).

I sent Gord an email asking him about what the full line of products are and the cost for each. He was real informative about how the various kits were different and the added benefits of each kit.

[chad1200]

did you get a voltage stabilizer with your ground wire kit? i'm shopping heavily for a grounding wire kit but i'm seeing a separate box (voltage stablizer) with some of them.

this is the one i'm looking at....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem

[fatire_mtb]

No voltage stabilizer required with the grounding gear kit.

Aside to the ground wire kit. I was talking to a friend of mine who used to be a F-16 mechanic and he told me they have similar grounding kits. Therefore, I now have the same capabilities as an F-16

[zozoka1212]

No voltage stabilizer required with the grounding gear kit.

Aside to the ground wire kit. I was talking to a friend of mine who used to be a F-16 mechanic and he told me they have similar grounding kits. Therefore, I now have the same capabilities as an F-16

Infiniti and beyond

[srv2nv]

I paid $150 for the kit and shipping. GroundingGear is located in Canada so it takes a while to get here (I live near Atlanta and it was 12 days to arrive).

I sent Gord an email asking him about what the full line of products are and the cost for each. He was real informative about how the various kits were different and the added benefits of each kit.

Finally, something for our cars that comes from Canada and is decent quality! SHOVE THAT UP YOUR DUTY, CUSTOMS!!!

I think with my birthday coming up this weekend it might be a good excuse to buy me a simular kit.

[zozoka1212]

Probably you can ask for express mail. That would take 2-4 business day.

Zozo

[srv2nv]

I just looked over the Stillen installation .pdf at stillen.com and it looked pretty simple and straight forward. Is the kit you installed roughly the same thing, or is it more complicated than that?

[zozoka1212]

It is a simple instalation.

zozo

[fatire_mtb]

I just looked at the Stillen product and installation. The kit itself is fewer ground wires, but the install looks the same. It's not difficult, especially if it doesn't come with the wire that attaches to the transmission housing.

[srv2nv]

Sounds like I found my next mod, thanks for the info!

How do you like the strut tower bar so far? I notice you have the 5/16" spacer, do you hear any rubbing or feel any vibration in the pedal at all?

[fatire_mtb]

If you have an automatic I cannot recommend the grounding kit enough. Very noticeable improvement.

I wish I had installed the strut brace sooner. Handling is far better with it than without it. I left the engine cover off after installing the brace and there is no rubbing or vibration.

[srv2nv]

So when ordering, which kit should I ask for? I notice a lot of the people have the 7 wire kit for their G35's, but you bought the 10, what extra 3 wires did you get and what are they used to ground?

By the way, after shopping around I've noticed that this kit, and specifically the wires and their connections seem to be a lot better quality then Stillens or Nismo's. Thanks for the point in the right direction!

[fatire_mtb]

Here's the excerpt from the email Gord sent me describing the different kits. He also has a write-up on his website.

The 5- wire system has shown to have dramatic effects on smoothness and improved engine/throttle response. The extra 2 wires are more subtle in effect, benefiting automatic transmission response, and “at the limit” driving styles. Very effective is the 5, but most with auto trannies do the full 7 and are happier with the overall results. I also offer a modified 7-Wire Custom Series ST System with the shorter transmission Tube ground wire rather than the full length wire for those not inclined to crawl around underneath the car. This is a popular option for those with the G35X (please specify when ordering). The full length wire requires that you safely put your car up on stands or a ramp. Highly recommended is the GroundingGear® Performance Series Systems, the most fully developed Systems for the G35! Feedback on the Performance Series Systems have been overwhelmingly positive as making a noticeable improvement over even the basic systems which have garnered most of the publicity and positive user reports. Virtually all users of the original 5 to 8 wire Systems have up-graded to the full Performance Series Systems. Please note; testing was done, up to 14 wires, and no benefit was noted with additional wires. The 5AT Performance System full 10 wire package (7, +1, ECU, TCU)

[joe603]

Has anyone done a grounding kit for a 6MT? Any benefits?

[G_whizz]

LOL... got the itch again eh Joe

Yup... me too...

[illmaticxdrp]

hey fatire_mtb.. i just got my circuit sports strut bar a couple of days ago.. i was just wondering how you installed it..

-did you jack up the car?..-how tight did you tighten the nuts?-you know that one green piece that holds that one pipe near the right side of the strut bar spot.. did you take it off?.. in the pic it looks like you did.. i'm pretty sure you have to take it off.. the CS Strut won't allow me to keep it on.. it should be ok to take taht green piece off right?..

-please give me any suggestions!! .. THANKS!!!

[fatire_mtb]

-did you jack up the car? Yes, you need to lift up the front end for a proper isntallation

-how tight did you tighten the nuts? good old craftsman socket wrench

-you know that one green piece that holds that one pipe near the right side of the strut bar spot.. did you take it off?.. in the pic it looks like you did.. i'm pretty sure you have to take it off.. the CS Strut won't allow me to keep it on.. it should be ok to take taht green piece off right? Yes, I took it off and then secured the pipe that was attached to it to the strut bar with a large zip tie

[illmaticxdrp]

-did you jack up the car? Yes, you need to lift up the front end for a proper isntallation

-how tight did you tighten the nuts? good old craftsman socket wrench

-you know that one green piece that holds that one pipe near the right side of the strut bar spot.. did you take it off?.. in the pic it looks like you did.. i'm pretty sure you have to take it off.. the CS Strut won't allow me to keep it on.. it should be ok to take taht green piece off right? Yes, I took it off and then secured the pipe that was attached to it to the strut bar with a large zip tie

1 more questions fatire... how tight did u tighten the nuts?.. as tight as you could get it? (using all of ur muscle to get it tight)..

thanks for the reply!

[USAF_G35_Guy]

Has anyone done a grounding kit for a 6MT? Any benefits?

I've got a 03 6MT and did it..I can definitely tell the difference in response. I didn't have it dyno'd before and after to see the actual gain, but definitely quicker throttle response. I've got a lightened flywheel as well so it alwready rev'd quick, but I could still tell that it helped.

they're the yellowish wires, 8 points of grounding, can't see em all cause covered by engine cover. all coming together between engine cover and battery box.

also got the sun hyper voltage system

voltage system, different angle

did em both same time, so not sure which helped more, but I'm happy with the aftermath. the wiring kits can cost you from 20-120ish bucks depending on gauge, brand name, and how many wires. And roughly the same for the voltage systems (ebay prices) but more if you just do a google search for em. so between 50-400 bucks total depending on where you get em (wiring set and voltage system) lots of places will sell em as a all-in-one kit but sometimes you never know what your gonna get.
Modified by USAF_G35_Guy at 6:38 PM 9/3/2007

[fatire_mtb]

1 more questions fatire... how tight did u tighten the nuts?.. as tight as you could get it? (using all of ur muscle to get it tight)..

thanks for the reply!

Yes, I just used good ol' elbow grease. I couldn't find the spec ft-lbs to tighten to so I made it as tough to get off the next time as it was the first. Real scientific I know.

[ACoupe]

Will the grounding kit affect shifts in manual mode as well?