M35 Mod "path"

[jasevr4]

Ok so I have my M35, and I have a wing coming from Japan. Once that's painted and a few minor repairs on the body are done, it's time to have some fun. I have around $5k to justify spending on top of the car, but could be convinced to spend more, just don't want to go mental.

Goals for this car is to retain driveability, comfort, reliability and a degree of economy while handling well and going alright. We only have one car in the family right now, so really the Stagea is meant to satisfy my wants of having something with a bit of go, and my wife's wants for getting herself from place to place.

The car is standard aside from a Blitz intercooler and K&N filter. It has a Nismo exhaust. Are they decent at all? Worth having a bigger dump into a quality cat and then just run the Nismo exhaust or does it really strangle the system?

Now that many of you have done what you've done, how would you go about doing it again? I'm keen to get coilovers in this thing first, but aside from that have no real plans for the future. In all honesty, I don't really need massive power, but a highflow seems like the way to go rather than have the car give out on me at some stage, would you agree?

Anyway, keen to hear peoples opinions.

[M I K E]

i've got some akebono brakes if you feel like upgrading, jase

[jasevr4]

Swap for standard M35 brakes + my neighbours yappy dog?

[Sunkist]

Ok so I have my M35, and I have a wing coming from Japan. Once that's painted and a few minor repairs on the body are done, it's time to have some fun. I have around $5k to justify spending on top of the car, but could be convinced to spend more, just don't want to go mental.

Goals for this car is to retain driveability, comfort, reliability and a degree of economy while handling well and going alright. We only have one car in the family right now, so really the Stagea is meant to satisfy my wants of having something with a bit of go, and my wife's wants for getting herself from place to place.

The car is standard aside from a Blitz intercooler and K&N filter. It has a Nismo exhaust. Are they decent at all? Worth having a bigger dump into a quality cat and then just run the Nismo exhaust or does it really strangle the system?

Now that many of you have done what you've done, how would you go about doing it again? I'm keen to get coilovers in this thing first, but aside from that have no real plans for the future. In all honesty, I don't really need massive power, but a highflow seems like the way to go rather than have the car give out on me at some stage, would you agree?

Anyway, keen to hear peoples opinions.

keep some cash aside for a turbo rebuild. like many of ours it may be the first thing that needs rebuilding(read: highflowing)

[WAGON_BOY]

when you high flow the turbo from my understanding u also need to upgrade injecters, fuel pump and fit a E-manage or the like........ so that in itself will cost upwards of $2000 in just parts.

apart from that make sure u dont have the stock dump pipe and the nismo exhaust should be fine, FMIC and A/F are good.

then just spend money on coilovers ($1500ish) maybe some strut braces etc

$5000 doesnt go along way really..................

[Sunkist]

when you high flow the turbo from my understanding u also need to upgrade injecters, fuel pump and fit a E-manage or the like........ so that in itself will cost upwards of $2000 in just parts.

apart from that make sure u dont have the stock dump pipe and the nismo exhaust should be fine, FMIC and A/F are good.

then just spend money on coilovers ($1500ish) maybe some strut braces etc

$5000 doesnt go along way really..................

who said? lol you dont need to, but if you wanted to pull some power out of it, its advisable. with a budget of 5k I dont think the OP was consdering tuning?

[Dunc]

when you high flow the turbo from my understanding u also need to upgrade injecters, fuel pump and fit a E-manage or the like........ so that in itself will cost upwards of $2000 in just parts.

Not necessarily true; Injectors/Fuel pump/Emanage is only necessary when you start chasing numbers. Ive had a high flowed turbo for over a year without needing to do the above.

You can choose NOT to do the turbo but it'd be silly to expect it to last forever; you can either wait for it to let go or pre-empt it with an upgrade. There are a few rebuild/highflow options - if you're not chasing numbers then you should be able to get away with a rebuild in the region of $1k I believe & this will be pretty close to stock spec with the advantage of a steel wheel and a touch more power/response.

Bang for buck, Plenumn spacer would be the first & easiest thing to do.

After that, ensure the ehaust dump doesnt have the cat in it.

Sway bars will definitely help with going around corners.

Thats my 2c at least

[zei20l]

keep the boost down and youll be fine with a hiflow on stock everything else.

5k isnt massive, but its enough to replace all those ageing parts that really need doing!

budget at least $1000 for labour for the turbo change. depending on who does it for you.

[jasevr4]

when you high flow the turbo from my understanding u also need to upgrade injecters, fuel pump and fit a E-manage or the like........ so that in itself will cost upwards of $2000 in just parts.

apart from that make sure u dont have the stock dump pipe and the nismo exhaust should be fine, FMIC and A/F are good.

Yeah see this is the thing. It's hard to justify high flowing the turbo, but at the same time it's probably the most unreliable part in the car. But if I go and high flow the thing, it kind of seems like a waste not doing it right.

$5000 doesnt go along way really..................

Sure doesn't!

who said? lol you dont need to, but if you wanted to pull some power out of it, its advisable. with a budget of 5k I dont think the OP was consdering tuning?

I'd be keen on getting it properly tuned, but I know I don't have the cash for it. Not unless there's a cheap solution that just magically appears overnight but from everything I've read it's not going to happen.

[Sunkist]

I'd be keen on getting it properly tuned, but I know I don't have the cash for it. Not unless there's a cheap solution that just magically appears overnight but from everything I've read it's not going to happen.

well you can get an emanage for around 500-600 brand new. and a tune depending on the tuner from 400-600 including install of the unit.

might have to drive down to melbourne for that, as theirs still only one proven tuner unless i stand corrected

[jasevr4]

Aaron do you think a cat back or a tune would be better?

[zei20l]

turbo back, dont even bother with a cat-back exhaust

[jasevr4]

turbo back, dont even bother with a cat-back exhaust

No sorry, I mean what would be better:

a) dump + cat with Nismo exhaust back and Emanage and tune, or

b) dump + cat + catback, no tune.

[Sunkist]

No sorry, I mean what would be better:

a) dump + cat with Nismo exhaust back and Emanage and tune, or

b) dump + cat + catback, no tune.

as iain said but is your "front pipe" still standard? or is it and upgraded part aswell.

any modification will obviously perform at its best with a tune. you'll mac out the suction pipe at about 190kw IIRC

there is still a part of the exhaust between the dump and the cat back.

[bigkevracer]

If you've got the Nismo exhaust, dump and front pipe for sure. Get rid of the cat in the dump as a priority! There are a few options at the moment, I've got the AM Performance pipes on mine and I'm local to you if you want to have a look?

What needs doing on the car? Mine needs brake pads and rotors, suspension, etc. You can easily spend $2k+ doing just this. Sway bars are a must, mine are brilliant. I've done strut brace instead of plenum spacer, but they're pretty highly regarded.

[jasevr4]

The front pipe is standard now, but will definitely be replaced.

Ideally I'll do the turbo/everything else in that area hassle in one job since it appears to be a right *c-word* of a job.

[Jetwreck]

$5,000 aye.

Providing you do most of the mechanical work yourself.

Turbo back exhaust(including dump + no cat), Standard rebuild of the the turbo with steel wheels, E-Manage ultimate + tune, a Turbosmart boost controller and a set of BC's.

Spent!

[iamhe77]

Jasevr4, is this the silver RS that was/is on Carsales?

If so, that Nismo exhaust is the same one I have and you shouldn't change it.

It has effectively the same piping as the Fujitsubo Legalis with a completely different rear muffler.

1. Get a dump pipe/front pipe combo to bolt up to your turbo and the Nismo exhaust.

2. Drill out the oil restrictor to 3mm which may prolong the life of your turbo.

3. Get a set of BC's.

You should still have a couple of grand left so I'd go with a boost controller and tune I guess (eManage Ultimate is the cheapest option).

Doing so, you'll make more power, have less stress on that flimsy turbo, have far better handling and probably better fuel economy.

If you want more power after that, you'll need a suction pipe, injectors and pump... and probably a new turbo lol.

[Sunkist]

Jasevr4, is this the silver RS that was/is on Carsales?

If so, that Nismo exhaust is the same one I have and you shouldn't change it.

It has effectively the same piping as the Fujitsubo Legalis with a completely different rear muffler.

1. Get a dump pipe/front pipe combo to bolt up to your turbo and the Nismo exhaust.

2. Drill out the oil restrictor to 3mm which may prolong the life of your turbo.

3. Get a set of BC's.

You should still have a couple of grand left so I'd go with a boost controller and tune I guess (eManage Ultimate is the cheapest option).

Doing so, you'll make more power, have less stress on that flimsy turbo, have far better handling and probably better fuel economy.

If you want more power after that, you'll need a suction pipe, injectors and pump... and probably a new turbo lol.

thhhhiiiisss! i forgot to mention

[scotty nm35]

I agree with Cam, dump/front pipe, EMU and tune for 20psi on the stock turbo. As long as the oil restrictor doesnt get blocked it should last, mine did for over 4 months. Then save for the turbo rebuild...

(Aaron, I think 2.5mm would be better)