Turboooo

[CoupesRUs]

For anyone who knows anything about turbo...

How beneficial would it be for me to get a turbocharger even when my car isnt manual? I want to add some horsepower but im not sure if an automatic transmission conflicts with a turbo.
Thanks!!!

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

If you have to ask if an automatic transmission will 'conflict' with a turbo, then you are probably not ready to dive into something like that, honestly (no offense or sarcasm intended).

However...I'm bored so here:

A true traditional automatic won't ''conflict" with a turbo. However if you have the Altima Coupe, then it's either equipped with a 6mt OR a CVT (not Auto) -- difference. Big difference. As in, if you have the Coupe 2.5s (4 banger), the CVT is even more weak than the one in the 3.5 V6 edition. Which means you pretty much will blow the CVT after running anywhere from low 3+ pounds of boost (a friend here ran his 3.5SE coupe 2-3 months like that WITH a transmission cooler and it still started to give out).

You'll best be served with a good base - manual car - on which to turbo to your heart's content. Otherwise, look at spending about $15-$20,000 on a complete turbo + cvt-> 6 speed swap...assuming you can find a donor car from which to obtain the manual transmission, ECU, CV axles, lots of random tidbits, firewall mods for clutch addition, and chasing an insanely retarded long list of part #s for whatever reason that Nissan had for changing them from one year to the next (or if the donor car is fixable it might be cheaper to do that + turbo it.. but meh).


Or I might be all wrong and swapping a 6MT into a 2.5 CVT is a lot simpler. There are a few members on here who had done this. If they're still on here, they may respond. HOWEVER, do a search on turbo 2.5 or 3.5 manual swap, etc. and you may find those 2-3 year old threads with plenty of nightly reading material.

Or you just go get a used G35/Z and do a TT ROFLCOPTERZOMGFUVQ35 burned up all the oil.

[CoupesRUs]

Thanks man. As you can tell I have no experience with mods but I have some cash to burn so I dont know where to start.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

I know how you feel.

First, do you have a 2.5 or 3.5 coupe?

[CoupesRUs]

Its a 2.5 man its sooo slowww. I put an axle back borla on it but it only adds about 25hp.

[SanoSuKe]

Wrong. It adds 0 HP lol

[J Russ]

[Innovazn]

butt dyno doesnt lie guys....

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Its a 2.5 man its sooo slowww. I put an axle back borla on it but it only adds about 25hp.

ROFL I think most of us who have owned the 2.5 at some point (my '05 sedan) would have given their left hexagonal fastener for that kind of Unicorn juice.


No but really, I liked the Borla on my 3.5, but I swear it made absolutely zero difference in practical terms. Perhaps 1-3 WHP at best considering it was/is just an axle back section, and doesn't address the rest of the crimps along the way.

My best advice is to see if you can trade it in for a 3.5 or find one and put yours for sale etc. unless you are attached to it. The honest truth is IF you were to somehow turbo and swap to an M/T is you'd still only be as fast as a stock 3.5 or modded N/A 3.5, and I am no QR25 expert but I imagine you'd need some extra goodies in the rods/bearings to handle anything sub 5 sec 0-60mph times, or 13sec 1/4 mile. But that's just theoretical hot air on my part. If you want to know what it takes to juice up a 2.5, look at the 02-06 Sentra SER forums for suggestions (it's the same engine).

[RicerX]

I will just put it like this -

The Altima looks great. You can do stuff to make it sound better and look better than it already does, but you're not going to make a sports car out of it. No matter what you do. This is especially the case if you have a CVT equipped.

The weight distribution of the car is bad for sports car standards. The suspension is more geared toward ride comfort than sport handling, with the 3.5 being the most "workable" suspension as far as upgrades go. The handling dynamics of the car can be changed with a lot of work/money, but you're not going to change the fact that over 60% of the weight of the car is in the front, and when you're attacking corners, you're going to notice with a metric ton of oversteer.

You can dump thousands of dollars into suspension parts and even turbo parts if you want to, but you'll still get nailed by a Z or a G with breather mods if you're doing anything besides a straight line.

Enjoy the car for what it is - a semi-luxury touring coupe. It's not ever going to be "fast".

[cbelschner]

Honestly I work in a garage and you are better off doing light mods to improve your car to what you like for style and performance to an extent. I'd suggest an intake, headers, exhaust, and a gas tuner. Anything more than this really lowers your cars reliability. I know people with turbo set ups on cvt transmissions that run good for a month or so then the transmission literally is ripped apart. Look up how the cvt works and you'll understand what I'm saying. I'd do lowering springs, a tower brace, and away bar for suspension work. As for styling the possibilities are only limited by your ideas. But do what ever you want it is your car and with the right amount of money you can make anything work. Just do your research before you spend all that money. Just like everyone else said the car isn't meant to be a sports car it's not going to keep pace with a modded z or g. Just know what your car can handle and work with in those parameters.

[Ranga14]

Yeah man, just stick to improving suspension and the looks. You can't really do much with a 2.5 CVT.

It took me boat loads of money to make the 3.5 a competitor.

[Bangin_Coupe]

Well, u can Boost a 2.5. I've found the way and a few of my friends in Kentucky have done it and it's wonderful. I'm working on my Boost setup now. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress.

[seldomseen]

Is the 3.5 fast? It's subjective, but what defines fast? I've driven many G35/37 as loaners and would not describe them as fast, nor would I describe them as slow either. The 3.5 coupe certainly isn't a slow car by any means especially on the highway. Power delivery from a standstill really isn't all that bad either. The CVT just makes the driving experience feel somewhat bland. But once you get used to how the CVT works, you'll appreciate it to some degree. If you want to boost the coupe, just be sure that it's the manual variant.

Moreover, if a person thinks the 3.5 is "slow" stop comparing it to the likes of the G37, 370Z, etc. On the other hand, I agree that the Altima coupe definitely does not drive or handle like a sports car by any means. But it's a quality coupe that looks great that can also be equipped with some cool features than its 8th generation Accord counterpart doesn't offer.

[Ranga14]

Well, u can Boost a 2.5. I've found the way and a few of my friends in Kentucky have done it and it's wonderful. I'm working on my Boost setup now. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress.

I hope you and your friends 2.5 Coupes are not CVT's!?!??!?

[Bangin_Coupe]

Well, u can Boost a 2.5. I've found the way and a few of my friends in Kentucky have done it and it's wonderful. I'm working on my Boost setup now. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress.

I hope you and your friends 2.5 Coupes are not CVT's!?!??!?

Well they are, put it to u like this, there's no difference in the way the CVT is made by Nissan. Godzilla has a CVT transmission, u can Boost that all day long. As I said b4, a way has been found and my friend has done it to several 2.5's and it's been all good. The motor can handle up to 10lbs of Boost, believe it or not. I don't recommend doing that on the regular. 8-9lbs is plenty, especially if ur coupe is a daily driver. I'll let u know how it comes out, and I'll tell u this much, I have the key to keepin the CVT in check, you'll see soon enough.

[AlexN09]

Well they are, put it to u like this, there's no difference in the way the CVT is made by Nissan. Godzilla has a CVT transmission, u can Boost that all day long. As I said b4, a way has been found and my friend has done it to several 2.5's and it's been all good. The motor can handle up to 10lbs of Boost, believe it or not. I don't recommend doing that on the regular. 8-9lbs is plenty, especially if ur coupe is a daily driver. I'll let u know how it comes out, and I'll tell u this much, I have the key to keepin the CVT in check, you'll see soon enough.

Why does this remind me so much of D3santis???

[AlexN09]

Godzilla has a cvt transmission??? If you're talking about the R35 you couldn't be more wrong. It has a six speed dual clutch transaxle.

[Ranga14]

lol @ the GTR having a CVT, ooook, I think maybe you got confused with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxgNt1fZ-Q

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Well they are, put it to u like this, there's no difference in the way the CVT is made by Nissan. Godzilla has a CVT transmission, u can Boost that all day long. As I said b4, a way has been found and my friend has done it to several 2.5's and it's been all good. The motor can handle up to 10lbs of Boost, believe it or not. I don't recommend doing that on the regular. 8-9lbs is plenty, especially if ur coupe is a daily driver. I'll let u know how it comes out, and I'll tell u this much, I have the key to keepin the CVT in check, you'll see soon enough.

The only reason the R35's CVT lasts as long as it does is because of the polycarbonate exhaust bearings that keep the engine vibrations in check so that the CVT does not get the brunt of the torsional launch forces.

That and the CVT on the 2.5 coupes is notorious for failing past a certain point -- which would be barely over 200-250hp (not at the crank). The CVT in the 3.5 coupes is a different model built to handle the 270hp but also very prone to breaking down even running only 3-5PSI and that's with an external transmission cooler and never exceeding 180-200*F. On the other hand there are other reasons the CVT seem to fail, which I believe has to do with parts not covered in the conversations here. Something about some solenoid and/or the belt itself failing due to the added torque from a modded engine.

But I'm interested in hearing what you and your buddies have found out in order to keep the 2.5's notoriously weak CVT from exploding. There's probably a LOT of 3.5 and 2.5 owners that would jump on that and the BOOST wagon if they knew they could keep the CVT and go turboz.

[AlexN09]

The only reason the R35's CVT lasts as long as it does is because of the polycarbonate exhaust bearings that keep the engine vibrations in check so that the CVT does not get the brunt of the torsional forces

I can't tell if you are being serious or not?? The R35 GTR has a dual-clutch transaxle in the rear of the car and in no way is cv. It's basically a manual trans with two hydraulically automated clutches.

[RicerX]

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

The only reason the R35's CVT lasts as long as it does is because of the polycarbonate exhaust bearings that keep the engine vibrations in check so that the CVT does not get the brunt of the torsional forces

I can't tell if you are being serious or not?? The R35 GTR has a dual-clutch transaxle in the rear of the car and in no way is cv. It's basically a manual trans with two hydraulically automated clutches.

If I was being facetious why would I take the time to explain it in so much detail? Say it with me, polycarbonate exhaust bearings > torsional loads on cvt mounts.

So what's the update on the secret CVT upgrade, mang? I want to buy a GS450h and put down more than 450 rwhp without worrying about ripping up the CVT it came nerfed with.

[AlexN09]

I realize you were taking some time to explain, but I don't understand where this notion that the GTR has a CVT comes from.

[AlexN09]

When we say CVT were both talking about a continuously variable transmission, correct?

[RicerX]

I have seen this too many times already, and I'm done my popcorn.

Sure, you can configure a turn-key turbo setup on any Altima Coupe. It has been done numerous times and will be done numerous times more. Yes, it's been done on Altima Coupes with a CVT. The problem is not some incompatability with the configuration. The problem comes from the fact that NO CVT Nissan makes can handle the extra power. There is nothing to "keep in check" in the CVT. You need to keep your power output "in check" from your engine, or your CVT will "check the f*ck out". There is no debating it - this has been an issue since day one. We have had moderators here that have melted several CVTs trying to discern whether or not there was a single defective CVT or if the CVT itself is just not designed to handle the extra power.

Unless you have something scientific to disclose regarding the modification of a Nissan CVT and how to get it to handle more power, you have nothing else to contribute, so don't come in here trolling about it. Disclose what you want to try. If it works, you get props. If it doesn't, thanks for trying something different anyway. Coming in here saying that you're undergoing some super secret project to "keep a CVT in check" makes you sound retarded and no one will take you seriously.

Finally, for those of you who barely even understand the Altima Coupe's powertrain configuration and how its transmission works, please just refrain from weighing in on the R35 GT-R. Go google the GR6 transmission (which is classified as a "dual clutch automated manual" btw) and just stop.

Perhaps I'm grouchy today, but I can see where this thread is going, so we're all done here.