"Just when you think you're done you realize that you're far from it.."
YES! I KNOW THIS IS A RWD VQ35 AND THAT MY ALTIMA HAS A FWD VQ35!
PERFORMANCE
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XS/SSAC Headers & Downpipe w/ Magnaflow Hi-Flo Catalytic Converter This modification was one of the most benefical for the performance of my car. It opened up a lot of exhaust flow by eliminating the restrictive pre-cats. This image is originally from the installation that was done on my automatic Altima (traded in for the manual) but the same steps had to be taken for installation on the manual. If there's an Altima owner that wants a modification that they will actually feel headers are it. But be warned! The exhaust will get MUCH louder as a result of this modification!
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Custom 3" Single Magnaflow Exhaust Yup! You've read right! A naturally aspirated Altima running a SINGLE outlet 3" exhaust! You can leave speculation about how much gains this modification gives at the door because it's been dyno proven to give 10-15WHP! YES! My goal with this car is to make a top-end runner. A 3" exhaust is definitely not for the faint hearted. Sound is decent. At idle the exhaust has a low hum. Drone is noticeable at around 2k but on the highway is silent. At wide open throttle it roars!
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Custom 3" Cold-Air Intake w/ BLOX Velocity Stack & 6" BLOX Filter Call me crazy but I have a thing for 3" pipes! Haha! The general hardware for the intake was purchased on eBay, pipe is pipe, right? The picture on the left shows the difference between the 3" Filter that came with the kit compared to the MASSIVE 6" K&N Filter strapped to the BLOX Velocity Stack. The intake has a turbo-like whistle during low-throttle acceleration but outright screams when you go wide-open throtle. At around 5k it seems to hit some sort of "cross-over" and resonates even more loudly. |
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Jim Wolf Technology Stage 1 Clutch I should restate my comment above with the Technosquare Reflash making the biggest difference because by far this clutch alone has made the LARGEST difference in the way the Altima performs. The clutch that was originally on the car was supposedly a "new" clutch but after looking at it it was definitely NOT! The further I pushed the car the more the clutch began to slip and after enough frustration I finally pulled the trigger and upgraded! I picked the clutch up along with the Jim Wolf Technology LW Flywheel from MyNismo.com.
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Racingline Performance Motor Mount Inserts Another great modification for those looking to stiffen up the motor mounts. The only drawback is the dramatic increase in in-cabin vibrations but if you're getting to the point where you want to install these a little vibration is the least of your worries. Installation went smoothly. You can definitely feel the engine with these installed. Racingline Performance is also a great vendor and I will be going back for the rest of their suspension goodies!
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Other Performance Modifications:
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Jim Wolf Technology Light-weight Flywheel, Axxtion Short-Throw Shifter, Energy Suspension Shifter Bushings
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SUSPENSION & BRAKES
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Racingline Performance Front Strut Bar I've finally started working on the suspension! This is one of the first two lazer engraved front strut bars offered by Racingline Performance! I managed to snatch this one up before they even went on sale! I installed the strut bar with no load on the front suspension so when it was all tightened down the car REALLY tightened up! The front feels more planted during hard turns. The only drawback to this modification is you will more easily notice how easily the rear will "sway" during cornering. I really need to get a sway-bar!
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05+ Altima SE-R Brake Conversion (Front) I seriously don't know what Nissan was thinking equipping a 3,200lb 240HP vehicle with 11.6" rotors up front! No more warping rotors! No more unstable high speed brakes! This upgrade consisted of throwing away the 11.6" stock rotors and putting in 12.7" rotors in their place. Replacing the dinky front calipers with the bigger and more stable SE-R calipers and replacing all of the fluids with ATE Super Blue DOT4 liquids. Now if only my ABS could keep up with these brakes because I'm usually at a stop before it even gets a chance to kick on!
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Racingline Performance Springs (F&R) These have been in development for a while and are finally out! As soon as I heard the news I had purchased them and within a day of recieving them had them installed. The ZENN springs I had on originally were mostly there to lower the car. Performance wise they aren't the greatest springs. These springs tightened up the car and also gave it a very level look in drop. The springs really made me notice though just how much the front OEM struts squat and jerk during hard cornering. I really really really need to upgrade them!
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KYB 8-Way Adjustable Shocks (Rear) This was my second suspension modification to my vehicle. Originally it was only intended to reduce squat during hard launches at the track but has since shown that it's a valueable tool for tuning the way the car takes a corner. Full stiffness shoves the front tires into the corner and maximises over-steer while helping keep the rear tires down as well. Full softness and you're riding just you are stock! I typically keep the shocks at full stiffness but for comfort find the best setting at "3." Best of both worlds! |
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Altima SE-R Rear Sway Bar Ordered, arrived and installed! Finally got some free time to do the installation! Overall the install wasn't very difficult. Fanagling the new bar in place was a little irritating but other then that everything went fine. Always remember to double check the position of the new bar with the old bar before putting it back in. Install it wrong and you will get some gnarly sounds going on! Luckily for me I triple checked. Impressions after the install: OH MY FUC*ING GOD! Yes, it's that good. The newly found over-steer is very easily manageable and you can throw it into a corner and not worry about it. The drunk-man shuffle on the highway is also greatly reduced. Overall this modification is AWESOME! DO IT NOW!!
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Racingline Performance Chromoly Adjustable End-Links (F&R) Installed! And they feel great! Really accomponied the SE-R RSB nicely. The car feels more solid, cornering is easily manageable. Understeer is much easier to correct it seems too. Now all I need to do is have the car corner-weighed and adjusted properly, but that will have to wait till later. For now I'm pretty satisfied with everything that has been done. For anyone looking to improve their handling, definitely go check out Racingline Performance! They are a great company to work with and will work hard to make sure you are satisfied!
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Ichiba Adjustable Camber Arms (Rear) Seriously one of the PRETTIEST suspension components I have on my car thus far. The metal flake on this camber arms shows that Ichiba really wanted their quality to shine over all other competitors. They also wanted to make sure that their product would last. Heavy duty metal will allow for precision tuning, stiffer suspension along with longevity. The bushings is also great since most other camber arms come with a helm joint in place which will often times not be able to handle the added strain. No for this case! OEM quality with race performance!
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350Z Rear Brake Swap (R1Concept Rotors)
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KONI Yellow Strut Inserts (Sport Adjustable)
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| Other Suspension Modifications: |
Posi-Quiet Pads, R1Concept Rotors, 350Z 17s (17X8F, 17X7.5R) Dunlop DZ101 Direzza 245/40, NISMO 60MM Studs |
AESTHETIC
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DDM 4500k 9006 (Foglight) It finally arrived. Took a couple days before I got the chance to install it, but it's done! The installation did require the removal of the front bumper but that wasn't very difficult. Other then that everything else went very smooth! The kit is very slim and easy to hide away. It's also very bright! I could probably run with just the fog lights on at night and do just fine. Even though I wouldn't advise anyone to do that! Overall very happy with my kit and my reccomendation goes out to DDM Tuning for all your HID needs!
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bt2580/RacingLine LED Footwell Kit Ordered, recieved and installed! As you've probably read already on page 2 I am VERY happy with this kit. The installation was very easy and even though it may seem a little unnerving at first, Nissan did a very good job in making it very easy. Again, very happy with this kit and if anyone with an Altima is interested make sure to contact bt2580 either on NissanClub.com or in my friend's list on CarDomain.
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V-LEDS Dome, Vanity & Puddle Lights (Interior) These goodies came with the kit offered by bt2580. Very easy to install and incredibly bright! They really make a difference in the way the car is presented. Stands out but subtle enough to make people wonder if it's OEM. I will be doing all of my LED business with V-LEDs and if anyone else is interested I would suggest you do the same.
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Racingline Battery Tie-Down Not really all that much that can be said about a battery tie down. It's a laser etched piece offered by Racingline Performance of Canada. Who said nothing good comes from there? VERY high quality piece and holds the batter ydown nice and snuggly. If there's anyone looking for a battery tie down this is definitely one you should look at.
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STEREO (I.C.E)
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(2) Kicker CVR8 8" Subwoofers These beauties have been mounted free-air in the 6X9 slots where the original BOSE (Mid-Bass) 6X9s went. I originally attempted to run these off the BOSE amp but found out very quickly that the amplifier was inadequate in running these subs. Thus the reason for the modification below (Memphis Audio Amp) The subs accomponied with the amplifier hit very well for being open-air. Sound quality has been compromised slightly due to being run as open-air subwoofers. But my original goal was only to get a little more "bump" into the stock system. That's all.
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Memphis Audio (D-Class) 250watt Mono Amplifier This was what took my system from a marginal improvement over stock to a GREAT improvement over stock. Coupled up with a PAC-OEM1 and Scosche wiring this is a great little amp. I still have some fine tuning to do (via a voltmeter to get signals lined up with head unit, etc.) but even without that the subwoofers still sound great. Anyone planning to try and attempt to run ANYTHING off the stock BOSE amplifier in an Altima should reconsider and get themselves an amplifier. It will make a HUGE difference! Now I'm just hoping the audio bug doesn't bite so I don't have to go broke chasing the perfect audio setup. Haha!
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Second Skin Audio Damplifier Pro Stuck this stuff down on the rear deck and the difference is crazy! Going from rattles at the setting on the HU for bass at +3 to NO rattles at 20+ volume and +5 on bass is rediculous! Anyone looking for a solution to all of those annoying rattles associated with stereo upgrades I highly recommend you look at Second Skin! The stuff is amazing! Now I'm trying to figure out how I can justify adding on more weight by damplifying the entire floor of the car, haha! Might be a good time to jump to the 150 shot!
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Sometimes I look at the car and think to myself "I must be crazy to be doing all of this to an Altima.."
