Trying to unleash the beast. Tuning my M56S

[TheMajesticKing]

So I had to pay UPREV the $200 "patch fee" for them to support my rom (1MP7E). They finally patched it and I bought a license on Saturday.

My friend and I have been messing around with some of the throttle and CL settings. It already feels amazing and we haven't adjusted anything else. There arent' many tuned M56's so there's not much of a baseline tune to go off of. I'm going to call and schedule an appointment for my tune very soon but we're having so much fun tuning this thing ourselves. LOL. I will say that VVEL is a huge pain in the a** since you never really have full control over the actual throttle and it's like playing a game trying to balance the figures on the throttle chart. Most of the useful info we've used came from 370z forums since the VQ37 also has VVEL. So far, after an hour of messing with it, we got it to pull much harder after 5k and it continues to pull all the way to about 7500rpms. So far I'm happy and I can only imagine what will happen once I get it dyno tuned. We used a "special highway" as our dyno. It's a lot more than "noticeably faster".

Current mods:
K&N drop-ins
Custom ypipe-catless
Custom midpipe
Stock mufflers
Stock exhaust manifold with stock cats still attached. (I plan on gutting them once I find a wrecked M56 )

I will keep this thread updated with my progress.

[AlphaSnacks]

I just had mine UpRev tuned as well. Paid UpRev $200 to unlock my ROM. Then took it to a dyno that's a bit of a heartbreaker for some baseline runs...I put down 370WHP/400WTQ stock (Motor Trend ran theirs on a DynoJet at K&N that made 390WHP stock).

After some tuning on my stock car, my shop got me a peak of 7WHP/10WTQ...but with gains of 20WHP/40WTQ low-end between 1800-2500RPM. An exhaust will provide gains all throughout the powerband, clearly.

Be careful though with how you tune the car, it can definitely lose power even if you think you're not adding that much fuel to the mixture. Also, leave the line pressure settings stock - adjusting transmission line pressure may increase crispness of the shift, but will cause very bad downshifting lag on 4-3 downshifts at 50MPH+, and also bogging on launches. A lot of the Titan and other VK56 (non-VD guys) like to touch line pressure. Don't touch it on a 56VD.

I desperately need an exhaust to let the car breathe better, though. Strap it on a dyno and tell us how much power your car is making past 6250 - that's where the peak is on this motor stock. I'm curious if you really are making power past that point, on my car it's a noticeable drop off.

[TheMajesticKing]

Omg you need to get rid of that stock exhaust ASAP. The stock ypipe has 1.25" crimps in it. Horrible flow.

Funny you mention that about the power dropoff. After doing several more runs and logging there is definitely a noticeable drop after 6k. I hadn't noticed it before but I'm using the Torque app to monitor absolute throttle and pedal. My absolute throttle drops to around 50% right pass 6k and goes back to 89% once I shift. There is definitely a throttling issue which I assume vvel is causing.

[TheMajesticKing]

I hit the track earlier this week and ran a 13.21 @108 with my heavy 20x10.5 wheels on. They are about 5lbs heavier than stock. Temps were in the high 70s and car was very hot not to mention I weigh over 300lbs. I could have easily run a high 12 if conditions were optimal.

[TheMajesticKing]

When I did that track run, the only settings we changed were Calculated Load and Rev Limit. Nothing else. The car was noticeably faster overall. A friend sent me his tune file to try out and his felt almost identical to our minor changes. His tuner did alter his fuel settings, torque, and throttle but it still didn't help pass 6k.

[TheMajesticKing]

Forgot to mention that Uprev made 398whp with an M56 with a custom exhaust and ypipe. They also made custom intakes but the car lost power due to heatsoak. So they just went back to stock intakes.

[AlphaSnacks]

Yep. They told me the same thing. I need to get that Y-pipe dropped immediately.

Question, I replaced my OEM filters today (they were filthy black after 15k miles) with K&Ns. Is there any reason why the plastic shroud should be installed back into place? It seems to serve no function other than cover the airbox, and its air ducts are so measly.

And yeah, I noticed the car makes no power after 6250 when I was on the I95 two weeks ago driving to NYC. I went for a pass and the car downshifted near readline...and it pulled like crap. Then it shifts to the next gear and you suddenly feel a surge of power moving you forward. Two days later when I got my dyno done, it was obvious why it happens. But it doesn't happen all the time - sometimes it's worse than others. Very weird, and I agree, seems like a VVEL issue. My 370Z, which was 6MT, would occasionally do this stock too.

After the tune, it doesn't seem to do it anymore.

What effect would calculated load have on improving drivability? Is it a torque management adjustment?

Also, your 1/4 mile run sounds pretty good based on conditions. You'd easily gain 2MPH+ and dip into 12s if you had stockers on the car and were a thinner dude. LOL.

[TheMajesticKing]

I'm not sure what you mean by plastic shroud. If you're referring to that huge cover that you had to remove, that's the actual Ram air duct which, although designed horribly, does help to increase airflow. I made some custom popcharger warm air intakes but the heatsoak was unbearable. In the summer my idle Temps would shoot up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The flow was good on the highway but the tradeoff wasn't worth it

[AlphaSnacks]

Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

Alright, I suppose I'll pop it back on.

[TheMajesticKing]

Yeah you should get a cheap ($15 last time I checked) Elm327 bluetooth adapter and buy the torque app. Then buy the Infiniti Advanced EX plug-in. Best $25 I ever spent. I can monitor just about everything on my car. You can do some logging of your MAF air flow and intake temps and see how much better they are with that duct installed. I was astonished. Our cars would benefit SOOO much with a new intake setup. There are basically two 90degree bends that the air has to travel through. Worst design ever! I'd imagine that something like a stillen gen3 setup would net at least 12whp even without a tune. Someone needs to design a Cold air intake badly

[wideopn11]

I was looking into the Torque app...with so many adapters to choose from how do you know which one to get? The app recommends adapters that are over $100 so what's the difference? If this $10-$20 adapter works the same why would you buy a $100 adapter? http://torque-bhp.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Adapters
Are there additional benefits to the more expensive ones? Also where does it plug into the car?

[AlphaSnacks]

Well, I drove the car today without the plastic cover and my new K&N filters. My OEM ones were seriously dirty, 2/3s were pitch black after only 15k miles. And covered with bugs, surely that couldn't have helped my dyno. Anyway, without the cover, the intake growls now. It sounds like a legitimate aftermarket intake now - I am truly surprised with the result.

And while I haven't driven it long enough to see how the effects of heat will have, I do live in Florida and heat is pretty much immediate in our engine bays and I'm extremely sensitive to heat soak.

[AlphaSnacks]

Drove another 20+ miles today...I'm not seeing any drawbacks to not having the cover present. It gives the motor a glorious roar, it allows the intake to take in a lot more air directly from the grille/front end of the car, and there is virtually no chance of water getting in either, simply due to the positioning of the intake air inlet.

I'm genuinely pissed that I had my car dyno'd with such filthy and clogged filters, on top of the plastic cover working against me. It definitely adds spirit and spring to the car, no doubt about it.

[TheMajesticKing]

I was looking into the Torque app...with so many adapters to choose from how do you know which one to get? The app recommends adapters that are over $100 so what's the difference? If this $10-$20 adapter works the same why would you buy a $100 adapter? http://torque-bhp.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Adapters
Are there additional benefits to the more expensive ones? Also where does it plug into the car?

I don't see the EXACT one I bought on amazon anymore. It was made by "iSaddle" but the one in this link looks like the exact same adadpter. The prices range anywhere from $10-15
http://www.amazon.com/DBPOWER%C2%AE-Blu ... rds=elm327

As far as differences, this thing has been amazing. And Torque has a plugin called "Advanced Infiniti EX" that allows you to monitor extra things like oil temps and other VVEL gauges. It works flawlessly. It also works to read and clear codes. I use it regularly on my 2005 Altima as well. It just plugs directly into the OBDII port near your knee and it's so small that it's not in the way. I would NOT spend more than $15 for a bluetooth obdII adapter. There's no point.

[TheMajesticKing]

So even after paying Uprev the $200 patch fee, there was something wrong with the rom. The tuner was able to adjust everything EXCEPT the timing. Now, anyone that has ever tuned a car knows that timing is one of the single most important things to change as that's where you gain most of your power. Even though he was able to adjust the timing in the software, the timing never changed. He tried everything he could but the timing remained stock. I asked Uprev what the problem was and they just blew me off saying that they need to do more testing on the M56. I had another tuner at another shop call them and they sent him what I believe to be a "test rom" and he's going to make some changes and send me the rom to try out. Hopefully they fixed the locked timing issue on this one. I'll keep you guys updated.

NOW FOR THE RESULTS!!
Even though they couldn't adjust my timing, I ended up making 382whp!! I forgot the torque numbers. lol. I need to look at the printout. But that's not bad considering the stock timing. I should be able to put down close-to, if not more than 400whp once the timing is changed. I was honestly surprised to see such good number despite the issue and the fact that I have 20x10.5" wheels on that weigh about 75lbs.

[wideopn11]

Thanks for the info on the Bluetooth adapter, for $10 bucks what do I have to lose.

I hope they can fix the ROM for you. What do you estimate power is at the crank?

[TheMajesticKing]

Thanks for the info on the Bluetooth adapter, for $10 bucks what do I have to lose.

I hope they can fix the ROM for you. What do you estimate power is at the crank?

Considering I didn't really have a completely stock baseline, it's hard to say. But compared to others stock dyno numbers I'd say around 450-460 at the crank.

[wideopn11]

So tempted to look for a M56 to trade on...

[TheMajesticKing]

So tempted to look for a M56 to trade on...

Do ettt!! You won't be disappointed.

[AlphaSnacks]

Wow...UpRev told me the same s*** about needing more research on M56s and VK56VD motors.

And I had a similar problem with my unlocked ROM, except I couldn't log my AFRs. UpRev blew me off and told me to take it a tuner when I asked them to fix the rom. I was f*** pissed, since now I had to pay more money for a dyno. Luckily, I was driving the car to NYC and visited my old shop when I made it there for all the work.

[Ilya]

I sent UpRev an email asking if I could transfer my cable, etc. to my new car (my M35 was tuned) and got ZERO response. WTF?

I'm going to remove my intake duct and also I want to get that BT adapter but the link above didn't load anything. Can you kindly look for what you bought (part number maybe?) and link it again? Thanks!

[TheMajesticKing]

Well I went to the track last weekend and ran 12.88 @ 111mph

[coolchuck]

Thats a good run!
I hope to do an uprev tune in the spring.

[wideopn11]

I sent UpRev an email asking if I could transfer my cable, etc. to my new car (my M35 was tuned) and got ZERO response. WTF?

I'm going to remove my intake duct and also I want to get that BT adapter but the link above didn't load anything. Can you kindly look for what you bought (part number maybe?) and link it again? Thanks!

I think it's this one or similar. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAO ... GA66U7O6UR
I dropped it in my Amazon shopping cart to keep track when I first started looking. Still not sure which to get with the mixed reviews.

[Ilya]

I bought it via Prime, so it'll be here saturday. I'll let you know lol.

[AlphaSnacks]

I sent UpRev an email asking if I could transfer my cable, etc. to my new car (my M35 was tuned) and got ZERO response. WTF?

I'm going to remove my intake duct and also I want to get that BT adapter but the link above didn't load anything. Can you kindly look for what you bought (part number maybe?) and link it again? Thanks!

Did you unflash the old car before you traded in to get the license back on the cable?

If so, then yes, you can use the cable on the new car no problem. But you'll need a tuner, because UpRev for some odd reason doesn't feel like e-tuning these.

[AlphaSnacks]

Well I went to the track last weekend and ran 12.88 @ 111mph

Holy s***. Amazing numbers. I've rolled around with some 12 second cars having fun on the highway and none of them can pull. I'm dead even with 5.0 Mustangs. Even had a run-in with an E60 2006 M5 (500HP V10) and from a dig I actually put some distance on it (they have no low-end torque, I used to have a 2006 M6). It wasn't until 80MPH or so the gap would sloooowly begin to close (they have incredible gearing for high-end pull).

Still, it's good to know what our cars with a tune run. I need to make it out to Orlando Speedworld one day.

[Ilya]

I sent UpRev an email asking if I could transfer my cable, etc. to my new car (my M35 was tuned) and got ZERO response. WTF?

I'm going to remove my intake duct and also I want to get that BT adapter but the link above didn't load anything. Can you kindly look for what you bought (part number maybe?) and link it again? Thanks!

Did you unflash the old car before you traded in to get the license back on the cable?

If so, then yes, you can use the cable on the new car no problem. But you'll need a tuner, because UpRev for some odd reason doesn't feel like e-tuning these.

No, but I think the old car is still at the dealer so I'm going to see the sales guy on friday when they open and hopefully I can do that.

[AlphaSnacks]

Yeah, you definitely gotta remove that license by re-uploading a "back to stock" rom that your tuner or UpRev should've provided you.

[TheMajesticKing]

The m56 can easily be a low 12 second car. I ran a 12.88 and I weigh over 300lbs and I had my aftermarket 20s on that weigh 72lbs with tires. Not to mention I still have the stock cats installed too. It really woke up after I disconnected my mufflers too. So there is even more power to be gained. Lots of potential. When I installed my friend's G19s I could feel the difference in power transfer but I couldn't hook because of the s*** tires he had on them but I think G19s with drag radials would be perfect. And on top of all of that my timing isn't even advanced. The more I think about it the more I think it can be a high 11 second car.