This car came to the shop a couple of weeks ago with the normal bolt-on mods and a shiny set of wheels to roll down the street with style. This 2006 convertible with an automatic transmission entered our doorway with a Stillen cat-back exhaust system, Kinteix Velocity Manifold plenum, and a few other nice dress up pieces. Then came the time to add some real power!!!
The basis of any real power addition with a VQ based drivetrain really needs to come by way of forced induction. For this reason a Vortech supercharger kit was ordered as a starting point in this build. Not wanting to stop there and be left wanting more, Rob and the the car’s owner went the full monte and also ordered a set of JWT camshafts, Stillen headers, and a set of high flow catalytic converters. This isn’t going to be your everyday convertible after this transformation.
After the top half of the engine was taken apart and reassembled with the new bump sticks all of the new exterior power-adders were installed. This car features the recently improved Kinetix Velocity Manifold and accompanying intake cover, and the new look with the supercharger left us wanting a bit more under hood bite, visually. The decision was made to paint the engine cover to match the battery and brake master covers and off to paint it went!
While we were waiting its return, the final tune was performed and power numbers were recorded on our Dynojet dynamometer, but this isn’t where this story ends. This car needed big brakes. We knew it, the owner knew it, it had to be. Rob made a call down to our good friends at StopTech Brakes to secure a four-wheel Big Brake Kit for the next day, and guess what… it was just what the doctor ordered. The color-matched plenum cover went back on and the build was complete. Wicked
From the dyno sheet you can see that the power gains are very impressive for a VQ35DE with an automatic transmission. But wait you say, I said this was a 2006? Yes, unfortunately Nissan did not put the improved “Rev-Up” engine in any of the convertibles for this year. What’s even stranger is that this generation DE engine uses a few engine castings that are different from the first generation DE, strange.
Anyways, you can see the power is still climbing on the graph but the Nissan nannies step it to limit the fun at just under 6,500rpm. There are software changes on the market that up the rev-limiter but they have shown to reduce the DE’s reliability down the line, and that is not an option. We want this car to be enjoyed for as long as possible.
With the car now complete it was given a full detail before the owner came down one last time to take delivery. This time he brought his son and a few of his friends to enjoy the occasion. With all the test rides he gave that afternoon there is not a doubt in my mind that we will be seeing him for a set of rear tires very soon. Enjoy the Z my friends, you have done well.
There are a few more photos after the ‘read more.’