[rogerxp]

Well, this update has been a long time coming. I’ve been away for a week which was quickly followed by an office move when I returned and two rooms at home being completely stripped & refurnished, but finally getting round to doing a write-up on my improved Zed…

You may remember, back in early June, that some lady did her best to take the front end off my car whilst parking in front of it on a street . Eventually got it fixed a couple of weeks ago so it’s back to its original condition.

As my car was due to be at the bodyshop for a week having its treatment I seized an opportunity and so temporarily disconnected my sensible-finance-head and ordered something to improve something that was driving me a little mad about my Zed – its SOUND. So, a few days after being parted with £1,250, a very shiny new exhaust arrived at the Bodyshop ready to be fitted whilst my car was with them .

There are many many exhausts available for the 370Z, from a fairly cheap ‘Blueflame’ exhaust at about £400ish up to a bonkers ‘Akraprovik’ exhaust that will be nearer £2k. There seemed a rear positivity about the one I ordered on all of the forums to I order a full Stillen exhaust system.

Ordered directly from a big contributor on a Zed forum but this his official eBay advert - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370Z-Still...item25656950dd

My remit was fairly simple -: I wanted to bring back the bark that the 370 sadly lacked but the 350 had in spades, I wanted that tell-tale rumble, the gruff bark, but not of the chav wide-boy boomy shite. Also, I only really wanted the extra noise when pressing on, didn’t want to loud permanent background din, especially on motorways (with the stupidly loud road noise it’s noisy enough). This it seemed is what the more expensive systems produced but thought the Akra one was daft money really. So, I made my choice, having never heard any of the alternatives in the flesh; just youtube videos.

The other added bonus, because of its less fussy straighter design, it increases the bhp by 19 – nice .

Must admit, when I collected my car again, I was more than a little shocked. I thought, what the fuck have I done, those exhaust tips were massive. Much bigger than the originals. The originals are oval, smaller & shorter so the Stillen tips being slightly larger, longer and also round made quite a difference. I was panicking somewhat. The chap then started her up, again I shit myself, it was very LOUD. I was panicking more. I honestly thought that it would have been removed the next day and flogged but thought I’d better bed it in and see how things settle once the initial shock had passed.

I’m glad I did .

I can honestly say now that I’m absolutely thrilled with the results. I think the larger tips in fact ADD to the already aggressive back-end and finish it off nicely. I love them. Also, there are so few 370Z’s around, nobody really knows what the original exhaust would have looked like anyway.

The sound it now produces is great, really vocal, but not in a chav way. When started from cold, yes it’s quite loud, but not too bad at all (my neighbours & my wife say it’s fine ). The Zed kind of over-revs for a minute or so from cold which adds to the noise level; it pretty soon calms down though to a nice rough grumble.

It can make a beltingly loud noise if I want it to but I’m learning now to give it beans, up to a point, then edge off just before it gets too loud (for some situations; passing through a quiet village). If I want to though I can hold onto the gear a little longer to really start shouting.

As Tim (TMP) put it quite nicely when I took him out in it, words to the effect of “it’s a big V6, it should be able to make some noise”. One of his first comments when he went out on its standard exhaust was how quiet it was; thankfully this is a long and distant memory.

Maybe I’ve just adjusted myself to the new noise level, but I really do now thrive on driving it and hearing the delicious sounds. When pootling around really slowly you can just make out lovely pops from the exhaust .

The rev-synchro thing (automatically blips the throttle on down shifts) has now taken on a whole new life – a vocal one. Before you could hardly hear the blip but now it’s really prominent and just adds to what it’s doing – you now get a really tasty blip of revs that sounds great and very supercar-esq. Slowing down next to another car at lights is really satisfying .

So, what about the extra 19bhp you ask, well unless I’m imagining it, it really has made a difference. The engine feels like an asthmatic who’s just received a miracle cure – it breathes so much better now. I can’t explain how this feels, or how I know, but it just feels better. The revs climbs much smoother and quicker, it’s made what I considered a very quick car (massive improvement on the 350Z) into a blisteringly quick car. Shock horror, even though I can’t stop gunning it everywhere, I seem to be getting better mpg too – I’ve reached the heady heights of 18.6 (before it was 17.2). Remap next to really unlock its potential .

So, all in all, considering my initial requirement, it’s absolutely ticked all the boxes. Well pleased.

Here’s some photos for you to make your own mind up…

I do have before and after video too but as nobody came forward to suggest a way to blank out my reg plate I’m not sure whether to post them.

[MEGA]

Sounds good (Pardon the pun).

Looks good too...

Question though Rog. Why does it take a minute to idle properly. Has the zed always done this or is it due to the new exhaust? If due to the exhaust I'd be slightly concerned about lambda readings or etc and long term engine management faults? Of course if it's just a characteristic of the car then no bother.

[JLR1969]

Looks wise I like it. It looks more 'fit for purpose' its always a leap of faith fitting a new exhaust without hearing it first. A brave move.

Glad you like it and it sounds better.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Question though Rog. Why does it take a minute to idle properly. Has the zed always done this or is it due to the new exhaust? If due to the exhaust I'd be slightly concerned about lambda readings or etc and long term engine management faults? Of course if it's just a characteristic of the car then no bother.

Always has done it mate, so has the 350. It's a bit strange really, when pulling off from cold, it's a bit like pulling back a dog on a lead who's spotted a cat, it's raring to go, so you have to feather the clutch a little. Soon passes. Don't know why it does it but it's happened on all 3 of my Zeds.

[TMP]

Glad you have got used to it, under 2k it has a lovely burble sound and not too offensive.

It was when you tore off, my god it was v.loud, but why shouldn't it be

btw, have some software on the mac that should be able to edit your vids (not that I have any idea how to use it )

[peterg1965]

Roger, looking good and a great write up. You are braver than me, I am an 'original is best' type of bloke. It does look a bit 'in yer face' with those two big pipes though!

This is the bit that made me laugh, spill my coffee and fall off my chair

Originally Posted by rogerxp

. The chap then started her up, again I shit myself, it was very LOUD.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Always has done it mate, so has the 350. It's a bit strange really, when pulling off from cold, it's a bit like pulling back a dog on a lead who's spotted a cat, it's raring to go, so you have to feather the clutch a little. Soon passes. Don't know why it does it but it's happened on all 3 of my Zeds.

I bet it doesn't do it for a minute when she is red-hot after a run ad re-started.

It's just the ECU fueling more when the engine is not upto temp a little like a choke in an old school car. All petrol engines do it. Some only for a few seconds, some what seems like an eternity!

[dxb335d]

Oh and it looks great mate!

[sheps]

Looks great Rog, would be very interested to hear it.
The C63 idles loudler when cold, but that lasts no more than 20 seconds or so - after that it quietens down from absolutely deafening to just plain loud

[KadeSdad]

Bet it sounds great. Must admit I prefer the angled tips though IMHO

[willhollin]

Very nice Rog! I love a big rear pipe and having two is even better.

[briers]

That sounds filthy rog, love it!!

Excellent use of the money, bet your well pleased

[Hotcoupe]

Excellent mod Roger, and if it sounds like the clip Will posted you must be well pleased

[MEGA]

Glad to hear it re: the idle thing.

Heh.. and I can't wait to hear the zed either

[rogerxp]

Thanks for all your comments. Seems to have been met with petrolheads approval .

Originally Posted by peterg1965

I am an 'original is best' type of bloke. It does look a bit 'in yer face' with those two big pipes though!

Yeah, I normally am 'original is best' too, but the 370 is just too quiet as standard. They dropped a real bollock there as it's what everyone says instantly. My mate even asked if it was electric . This is my first ever mod to any car so really was quite anxious but thought what the hell.

Originally Posted by dxb335d

It's just the ECU fueling more when the engine is not upto temp a little like a choke in an old school car. All petrol engines do it. Some only for a few seconds, some what seems like an eternity!

Yup, that's exactly it. Does add to the drama though which I quite like .

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

Bet it sounds great. Must admit I prefer the angled tips though IMHO

Something between the two would have been great but you can't have everything in this world .

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Excellent mod Roger, and if it sounds like the clip Will posted you must be well pleased

It's a pretty accurate clip actually (shame about the road noise). If I manage to edit the video somehow then I'll post them up (could always redo the after clip again I suppose).

[mowflow]

Redo the clip and stick a bit of paper over your reg.

Clip posted sounds lovely.

[misterS3]

Looks great Roger.

Having driven the 370Z (and owning it's big brother which is whisper quiet from factory. FWIW i now have a full Miltek TUV because like you i didn't want to deafen myself all the time) a few times, i know a exactly what you mean. And i think it definitely a great move.

I'd love to hear the blip down change in person. If i ever have to sell the fast datsun, the 370Z will be looked at seriously. Great car, made even better.

[rogerxp]

I have got a before & after interior video which I could post. Don't know how to though; what's best, YouTube or something else? It's shot in 1080p so a massive file!

[briers]

Most editing programs should be able to export to youtube hd

Reckon that would be best

[ed335d]

Nice mod Rog

I'm wondering what the exact purpose of the high rev cold-start idle is and whether it can be programmed out! Mine lasts for about a minute and is properly loud before it settles down...

[E902717]

Looks good Rog! I saw you on Friday in wilmslow you were parked up on your phone with the roof down, I was going to blue bell BMW to look at a e91 335d after I wrote my x5 off on Tuesday

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by E902717

Looks good Rog! I saw you on Friday in wilmslow you were parked up on your phone with the roof down, I was going to blue bell BMW to look at a e91 335d after I wrote my x5 off on Tuesday

Oh, you should have swung round to say hello, don't think that call was all that important .

Shame about the X5, what happened, or is that a separate thread. Think I know the 335d you're referring too, a black one, very high spec, lovely car, out of my price range though .