[mdowney]

I'll be purchasing my GT-R very soon and I'm trying to pass the time by trying to understand aftermarket parts better. I don't know a whole lot about cars but I'm intent on learning. I just need a little orientation.

Also, I may never upgrade the GT-R as it will just be a daily driver that may or may not ever make it out to a track so my questions are asked in that context.

1) If you just want to get a *little* more out if the GT-R for street driving (perhaps simply to one-up a buddy who also has a stock GT-R) what areas should you start looking at?

2) If you were going to start taking it to the next level (including regular trips to the track) what things do you need to upgrade at the same time? For example, would you want to upgrade the intake by itself? Would it make sense to modify the ECU without changing anything else? Etc...

3) What modifications will void the warranty?

I've been skimming through the forums looking for answers to these but the conversations seem to be largely advanced way beyond entry-level.

Thanks in advance! Can't wait to get my GT-R. Already found the one I want (2012 pearl white, Black Edition), just waiting on a stock sale to go through.

 

[Djreversal]

the way nissan sets up the car is they kinda could void the warranty with any modifications. Entry level is usually just an exhaust and a tune. Thats pretty much all you need to do, and then possibly a set of injectors so you dont have to push the stockers soo hard. I would do, Downpipes, Midpipe, Catback, Injectors and a Cobb... Intakes really are not necessary. Find a quality tuner.. theres a handful on this board that will get the job done well, not sure your area. But they could also do an E-Tune with those simple mods as well. That will wake your car up plenty, make a night and day difference and still be safe and daily driven.

As far as track u will probably want to start looking into suspension, sways, oil / trans coolers and things depending on how crazy you want to go.

 

[Neil Switzer]

The Switzer Introductory Tuning Package - AKA the P600, for only $4990, tune is reversible to stock and features our titanium exhaust system that saves you 50lbs!

 

[mdowney]

The Switzer Introductory Tuning Package - AKA the P600, for only $4990, tune is reversible to stock and features our titanium exhaust system that saves you 50lbs!

Nice! That's probably the kind of thing I would consider doing. Great price too. I'm in Seattle and I know there are a couple of GT-R tuning specialists in Bellevue so I'll probably drop in on them one of these days. Thanks!

 

[Cavalier777]

Great info - that's exactly what I was looking for. So those who do any modifications must just be expecting to have to pay out-of-pocket for any problems that would otherwise be covered by the warranty? Sounds risky but you don't buy one of these when you're strapped for cash, so...

Nice! That's probably the kind of thing I would consider doing. Great price too. I'm in Seattle and I know there are a couple of GT-R tuning specialists in Bellevue so I'll probably drop in on them one of these days. Thanks!

from results I've seen here on NAGTROC I'd recommend nothing but parts from the super reputable shops such as Switzer, AMS, and SPE, just to name a few. there aren't a whole lot of other shops like them AFAIK.

 

[shawnhayes]

Street - midpipe. Period. Nothing else. No voided warranty. No huge increase in emissions (none at all if you get a catted midpipe). Very safe. Back to stock in 15-20 minutes, and brings out a lot in the car.

Track - a good set of pads, and either AP or Performance Friction rotors. 2009-2011's, if you're going to wail on them a lot a track, will need some sort of cooling. Thes best bang for the buck and install so far is a transmission cooler. But, at first, the pads and rotors will be ALL you will need. No, I'm not kidding. Really.

Graduations up will bring more needs, but at first, these will be all that would be needed for those applications.

Stuff that voids warranties: ECU tuning, Cut wiring harnesses. Intakes, turbo's, boost controllers if the engine goes kaboom.

Shawn

 

[mdowney]

Street - midpipe. Period. Nothing else. No voided warranty. No huge increase in emissions (none at all if you get a catted midpipe). Very safe. Back to stock in 15-20 minutes, and brings out a lot in the car.

Awesome! That sounds like an easy one for me to start with. Any opinions on the *best* midpipe to get if that's all you're going to upgrade? Sounds like Switzer is great but I only see the combo packs from them.

 

[Cavalier777]

Awesome! That sounds like an easy one for me to start with. Any opinions on the *best* midpipe to get if that's all you're going to upgrade? Sounds like Switzer is great but I only see the combo packs from them.

all the shops like switzer and ams offer individual parts and whatever else you need, really. the bottom line is they are a good business and they will give you what you want and help you get there as best as they know how to. can't go wrong imo.

 

[midlandgtr]

Street - midpipe. Period. Nothing else. No voided warranty. No huge increase in emissions (none at all if you get a catted midpipe). Very safe. Back to stock in 15-20 minutes, and brings out a lot in the car.

Shawn

This is the path i am taking, really don't want to void the warranty on leased car. From what i see on here you can add about 10 hp but it really makes the response better in the lower rpm ranges.

 

[Flash]

you also might want to talk to your dealer or the GT-R tech at your dealer. I remember talk to mine a few months ago and he basically said there would be no problem with a midpipe, catback, and a tune. But anything else such as downpipes, injectors, or intakes he wouldn't guarantee.

 

[Neil Switzer]

The titanium mid-pipe from the P600 pkg is available separately. Contact me for more information.

Your dealer could do the installation for you, that is not uncommon for us at all.

 

[seanm]

This is the path i am taking, really don't want to void the warranty on leased car. From what i see on here you can add about 10 hp but it really makes the response better in the lower rpm ranges.

Warranty is always a concern.Most people really don't understand a cars warranty, and what kind of consumer protections are built into the warranty process. We have a lot of dealers install our parts, and cover them under warranty.

Some information on the Magnsson Moss act.
http://blog.stillen.com/2011/01/federal-trade-commission-validates-right-to-install-aftermarket-parts-without-voiding-warranty/

Buyers Guide with links to warranty info - http://www.2009gtr.com/2010/12/used-nissan-gt-r-buyers-guide-2009-2011.html

Its best to talk to the dealership. There have been several transmissions replaced under warranty, on tracked cars that have had a pretty extensive list of modifications.

 

[Rhyno46]

Good info in this thread. Thank you for asking the question mdowney.

 

[ALPHA Performance]

An ALPHA 6 is a great entry level performance package, its 100% reversible and will give the car a great bump in power department. Its designed for all form of operation, street, track, strip, crusing... you name it.

Eric

 

[mdowney]

Good info in this thread. Thank you for asking the question mdowney.

I was honestly expecting to get flamed for asking questions that have already been asked. But I got tired of reading through endless threads that were way over my head. This has been very informative. I think a "Beginner's guide to GT-R modifications" would make a great sticky if someone vendor-neutral were willing to put the time into it.

Thanks!

 

[Rhyno46]

An ALPHA 6 is a great entry level performance package, its 100% reversible and will give the car a great bump in power department. Its designed for all form of operation, street, track, strip, crusing... you name it.

Eric

Doesn't that include an access port and tune? How do you keep Nissan from finding that?

 

[Cavalier777]

Doesn't that include an access port and tune? How do you keep Nissan from finding that?

AP tunes can be reflashed...

 

[Rhyno46]

Good to know, I'm just surprised that the black box won't show that it's been tampered with or have data points that don't make sense.

 

[leaveit2bevo]

Good to know, I'm just surprised that the black box won't show that it's been tampered with or have data points that don't make sense.

it does show.

 

[Cavalier777]

it does show.

how? any computer is "hackable."