Phenolic Thermal Intake Manifold Spacer Kit

[fortmyerspolice]

No this is not spam. These spacers are pretty proven for the VQ35DE in the Maximas/Altimas. These spacers can be used on the Murano. Just wanted to let the forum know that there is an actual useful mod.

NWP Engineering, Inc - Phenolic Thermal Intake Manifold Spacers - Eliminate Heat Soak in your Nissan!

[fortmyerspolice]

I also just found out about the VIAS system in the VQ35DE. If it was removed, you would sacrifice some low end power for some high end power.

NWP also sells these block plates.




These VIAS Block Plates only fit on the VQ35DE engine in most FWD platforms.

This is strictly a block plate kit for those that have removed their VIAS (Variable Induction Air Control System). This will hurt low end power, but since you are removing an obstruction, it will help top end.

The other use for this block plate and considered the best option as far as performance is known as the SSIM (Secret Sauce Intake Manifold). That name was created years ago by a member of the Maxima discussion forums. This involves cutting the shelf out of the main chamber of the upper intake manifold and removing the VIAS assembly. This will still lose a little low end power, but the gains in the top end are very noticeable. It's definitely a modification that is worthwhile.

[turbizzy]

Thanks but... ill save my money for something more useful than some gaskets.

That VIAS block off plate is a good idea for people who race their car more than daily drive it. Like a Z. Especially in a manual trans. But you gotta ask yourself, "What operating range do i mainly use my engine?" The reality is most of our engines never see past 4k rpm especially with the cvt. Unless your driving with the gas pedal mashed all the time, removing the VIAS is gonna feel like your towing a really heavy trailer from a stop.

[njjoe]

When you factor in return on investment the MO is probably one of the worst Nissan vehicles with regards to performance mods. No matter what you do to the engine the power still has to go through the CVT. And as every MO owner knows, the CVT is best suited for highway cruising, not boulevard shoot-outs.

A few years ago Nissan cobbled together a high performance MO to tease the public, but except for a few tightly-controlled photo-shoots it never saw the light of day. Has anyone heard anything about this hi-perf MO in recent years? My guess is that some Nissan geek took it home for the weekend, put his right foot to the floorboard and left a pile of aluminum, steel, and CVT fluid in front of his driveway.

Now having said that, I realize that performance is a relative term. I am sure that twenty five years ago, somewhere in L.A. there were two guys who were modding their new imports in preparation for the weekend shootout. Each wanted to be known as having the quickest Yugo GVX in the area. I am sure they poured a few hundred dollars into their 67-cid engines hoping to get a 5% bump in those 55-hp dynamos.

I think the Cub Scouts are to blame. This all starts with the Pinewood Derby.

-njjoe

[fortmyerspolice]

If you even looked at the dyno graph, the gains are there, especially throughout midrange, 3600-5000rpm. For 225$ this is probably the most bang for buck mod your going to get. Not to mention people waste more money on those worthless intakes only to not do anything but make more noise. I agree about the VIAS block off though, I think that's something best left alone. Sure the CVT is probably not suited for performance, but where is the story about the CVT breaking because of too much power?

Originally Posted by turbizzy

Thanks but... ill save my money for something more useful than some gaskets.

That VIAS block off plate is a good idea for people who race their car more than daily drive it. Like a Z. Especially in a manual trans. But you gotta ask yourself, "What operating range do i mainly use my engine?" The reality is most of our engines never see past 4k rpm especially with the cvt. Unless your driving with the gas pedal mashed all the time, removing the VIAS is gonna feel like your towing a really heavy trailer from a stop.

[Warhammer]

Just a thought...

What might blow this whole he-said-she-said naysayer conversation would be to see some real time performance gains. I'm all for bolt on mods as well but am reluctant to purchase because I don't know if the gains are real.

I suggest taking your MO to the dyno and getting a few pre-mod runs. Afterwards, bolt on your equipment and then go for some new runs. That will let you know for sure what exactly you got after you installed the new equipment.

Otherwise, if you don't, everybody will throw in their 2 cents and you won't have anything to refute it with except for what the website provides.

[fortmyerspolice]

Trying to find a dyno for the spacer kit, but here's a comparison between stock and vias removed on a 6th gen maxima. Red line is stock.

[njjoe]

The phenolic spacer is nothing new here.

Check out this thread: Phenolic Spacer

-njjoe

[fortmyerspolice]

Nice, should be stickied, it is a "performance" mod after all, and it's much better to see people using the spacer than wasting money on a CAI.

[njjoe]

Originally Posted by fortmyerspolice

Nice, should be stickied, it is a "performance" mod after all, and it's much better to see people using the spacer than wasting money on a CAI.

Stickied? It is not that hot of a topic. I think one, maybe two members installed the spacer. That's it. It just never caught on with the MO.

-njjoe

[fortmyerspolice]

Well, it's obvious by the amount of CAI threads there are that MO owners are looking to modify theirs. I for one am going to get the spacers, and I'm sure there are others that will too. It's not like it's doing any harm to this dead section anyway, stimulate the economy a bit.

[Warhammer]

Would be interesting to see your results. Numbers don't lie that's for sure!

[turbizzy]

CAI besides power gains, also help with fuel economy and technically the CVT is aimed at fuel economy so those two go together hand and hand. The nice sound it makes is a plus and the eye candy isn't too bad either. CAI work, they've been proven time and time again on all models.

On the spacer thing, try it out and see for yourself. These remind me of the ebay older nissan throttlebody coolant bypass kit and grounding kits. The theories sound beleivable on paper but in real life who's gonna notice a couple single hp gains?

[fortmyerspolice]

True thats what a CAI is SUPPOSED to do, but has there been any real dyno testing done? Probably not, hell I haven't even seen a dyno sheet for a stock MO. Plus, the stock intake seems to work well, as it is getting cold air from the front dam under the front of the hood. The only problem I really see with the stock intake is that the duct going into the lower airbox is not completely sealed, and could be sucking air from inside the hot engine bay.

[turbizzy]

I havent been around Murano forums alot so i've not seen any dyno sheets but then again i don't think youll find too many people dynoing a murano considering the huge amount of detuning it has to let the cvt live.

I have seen a cold air intake make a 12whp gain on several cars myself and know they work. Why do you think they make noise? Because your removing all the air silencers/resonators in the intake tube which allows for the airflow to be smooth and thus increases the amount of air entering the engine.