350Z 2003-2006

  1. Catching Zs - Direct Fit Catch Can Kit R&D

    Catching Zs - Direct Fit Catch Can Kit R&D

    "Tokyo Drift" is a term that has almost become a colloquialism assigned to just generally kicking out the back end of the car. All of this stems from the third installment in the Fast and the Furious' franchise that shares the same name. Anyone who's watched Tokyo Drift, or has just happened to see any of the marketing material has seen that the 350Z is plastered on just about every inch of that movie. For good reason too.

    Nissan revived their Z car platform to basically be a drifter's dream. With the heavy hitting VQ35DE in the front, a manual gearbox in the middle, and the power at the back, this car was born to go sideways.

    060118_NLT_G35_BCC_WEB_4

    2006 was a long time ago, and we've seen the 350Z and the G35 on the roads for even longer.  These cars are racking up the miles, and not all of them are gentle. While the VQ35 engines are robust, they're still taking a beating from the inside thanks to the internal combustion cycle, which is diminishing their performance. Given that the compression ratio is on

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  2. Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Silicone Induction Hose Pre-Sale!

    Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Silicone Induction Hose Pre-Sale!

    PRE-SALE LINK

    R&D is complete and we've started producing our first batch of silicone induction hose kits!

    While this process takes place we are launching a discounted pre-sale for those interested in picking up this awesome induction hose.

    Check out the final details below and click the pre-sale link to check out our product page.

    MSRP: $150.00

    Pre-Sale Price: $79.95

    Expected Ship Date: 4/13/16

    • Direct fit for the 2003-2006 Nissan 350Z
    • Up to 4 whp / 6 wtq gains over the stock rubber induction hose
    • Installs in under 30 minutes
    • Fits with the stock air intake system or Mishimoto Performance Air Intake
    • Installs with no tuning necessary
    • 5-Ply Silicone construction for added durability and long service life
    • Silicone hose reinforced with steel rings to prevent collapse
    • Pre-installed CNC connector provides a quick and easy installation
    • Fits a wide range of Nissan / Infiniti vehicles with the VQ35DE engine
    • Available in black, blue, or red
    • Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty

    PRE-SALE LINK

    Let us know if

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  3. 350Z Silicone Intake Hose R&D, Part 2: Test Fit and Testing

    350Z Silicone Intake Hose R&D, Part 2: Test Fit and Testing

    It's now time to test fit our prototype 350Z intake hose to verify fitment. If any changes are needed to enhance or ease the installation process, now is the time to do so.

    Mishimoto silicone 350Z intake hose installed
    Mishimoto silicone 350Z intake hose installed

    We have a slight adjustment to make on the length of the CCV hose connection, but otherwise, our 350Z intake hose mounted nicely.

    Mishimoto silicone 350Z induction hose installed
    Mishimoto silicone 350Z induction hose installed

    Dyno Testing

    Power gains from an intake hose can vary from one vehicle to the next. This typically depends on the existence of any restrictions within the stock hose. To test for power gains, we set up our 350Z test vehicle on our Dynapack™ for a few pulls.

    Check out the video compilation from our runs. VQ sounds are always welcome in the shop!

    Dyno Results

    Each 350Z induction hose setup was on the vehicle for numerous runs until we were able to produce three consistent pulls. We took an average of the three pulls to create the final plot for each setup. This process reduces variables from testing

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  4. 350Z Silicone Intake Hose R&D, Part 1: Stock Hose and Silicone Prototype

    350Z Silicone Intake Hose R&D, Part 1: Stock Hose and Silicone Prototype

    We recently designed a performance intake system for the 2003-2006 Nissan 350Z. This included an airbox and filter that attaches to the end of the stock mass airflow (MAF) housing. Our results were positive in that we achieved a significant improvement in intake sound, and we increased power output by 10 whp and 13 wtq without any additional tuning.

    This project is not so much performance oriented but is intended to add reliability and additional aesthetic appeal to the intake system on the Z.

    To start this project, we rolled our test vehicle into our development facility and started inspecting the stock piece. Check out our test subject.

    350Z intake hose test vehicle
    350Z intake hose test vehicle

    350Z intake hose test vehicle
    350Z intake hose test vehicle

    As we typically prefer, this vehicle was bone-stock in terms of performance adders.

    350Z intake hose test vehicle
    350Z intake hose test vehicle

    Stock Intake Hose

    Let's take a closer look at the stock rubber hose.

    Stock 350Z induction hose
    Stock 350Z induction hose

    Stock 350Z induction hose
    Stock 350Z induction hose

    The stock hose is molded plastic and rubber. This component

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  5. Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's Nissan 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 4: Final Prototype Assembly

    Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's Nissan 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 4: Final Prototype Assembly

    Interested in purchasing our awesome intake system? Check out our product page linked below!

    Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Performance Air Intake!

    Last time we dyno tested our assembled prototype for sound and performance. Maximum gains were achieved in the midrange of the rpm band to the tune of 10 whp and 13 wtq. These are impressive numbers. We saw gains from the start of the pull through redline, averaging around 5-7 whp/wtq throughout.

    The sound produced by the VQ with our intake installed is nothing short of awesome! The large air filter and reduced restriction produces a deeper, amplified induction tone that sounds quite satisfying from behind the wheel.

    Our last task is to fully model our design in Solidworks and construct our final prototype for fitment confirmation. As we mentioned last time, minor tweaks were needed to perfect fitment.

    Intake 3D Models

    With our prototype airbox in hand and our adjustment notes ready, we began constructing our 3D models of the final design. Check out

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  6. Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 3: Dyno Testing and Results

    Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 3: Dyno Testing and Results

    Interested in purchasing our awesome intake system? Check out our product page linked below!

    Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Performance Air Intake!

    With our initial design completed, it is time to strap our Z to the dyno and make a few pulls. We would be evaluating power output and engine sound, both of which are important aspects of our Nissan 350Z intake design.

    Dyno Testing

    Setting vehicle up for Nissan 350Z intake testing
    Setting vehicle up for Nissan 350Z intake testing

    Once we had the car lined up properly, we were ready to make some pulls!

    Setting vehicle up for 350Z air intake testing
    Setting vehicle up for 350Z air intake testing

    Check out a compilation from our dyno runs! You can really hear the VQ sing with our intake system installed.

    Man, what an engine! The VQ sounds so good and is quite refreshing compared to the turbo four-cylinder vehicles we focused on for previous intake designs. The Mishimoto 350Z air intake elevates the volume and seems to deepen the overall tone, especially during initial throttle application. Overall, we had positive results for the sound produced, and

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  7. Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 2: Fabrication Completion

    Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 2: Fabrication Completion

    Interested in purchasing our awesome intake system? Check out our product page linked below!

    Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Performance Air Intake!

    We're back with more grinding, fitting, cutting, and welding. The fabrication of our intake prototype for the Nissan 350Z continues!

    Airbox Fabrication

    When we left off, we had fabricated three sides of our airbox and created a 3D model for our MAF-to-filter adapter. The next plan was to continue designing and constructing our airbox, starting with the base.

    Template for 350Z intake airbox base
    Template for 350Z intake airbox base

    We mapped out our base on steel, made a bend, and trimmed some excess material.

    Cutting Nissan 350Z intake airbox base
    Cutting Nissan 350Z intake airbox base

    A few tack welds and it was starting to take shape.

    Fabricating 350Z intake airbox base
    Fabricating 350Z intake airbox base

    Fabricating 350Z intake airbox base
    Fabricating 350Z intake airbox base

    The base of the stock airbox utilizes some interesting mounting points, shown below.

    Nissan 350Z intake airbox - lower mounting grommets
    Nissan 350Z intake airbox - lower mounting grommets

    Our team would need to design pegs on the base of the airbox assembly, which would sit

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  8. Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 1: Intro, Goals, And Initial Fabrication

    Pure VQ Sound! Mishimoto's 350Z Performance Intake R&D, Part 1: Intro, Goals, And Initial Fabrication

    Interested in purchasing our awesome intake system? Check out our product page linked below!

    Mishimoto Nissan 350Z Performance Air Intake!

    The Nissan V6 is a familiar animal here at Mishimoto. We have designed various cooling components for this model, and several of our employees have owned or presently own a Nissan of this particular vintage. After covering the cooling system of the Z, we decided it was time to turn our attention toward a power-adding component.

    The first product we want to tackle is a performance 350Z air intake system. Over the past couple years our team has been designing and testing intake systems for a variety of vehicles, including the Subaru WRX/STI, Subaru BR, BMW E46, and Mercedes CLA45 AMG, to name a few. Each project introduces a unique challenge and an opportunity for our team to produce additional vehicle power and improve intake sound and volume.

    Project Goals

    Goals drive an appropriate end product, and we needed to construct a set of basic guidelines so

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