So.....a certain someone (fellow .orger, name withheld) finally got tired of hearing my broken exhaust manifold studs when i would go visit him.....so he finally got me motivated enough to do something about it......

1.) found ONLY 2 broken studs that were broken off into the heads. (no easy-outs. no drilling. no tapping.) got all the materials needed for around $30 bucks, and decided to go with bolts instead of studs this time, for ease of installation (seriously) and aesthetics.....sounds excellent, no redneck truck noise anymore, and i got my low end power back (yay! it's farkin awesome....)

2.) got my VTC's grounded better, as the ground was intermittent previously due to bad conectors. My power was kind of off and on before, and now it is more consistent, and the entire powerband is powerful now..... same performance at low RPM's as high RPM's.......i did a trial run with the VTC's un-grounded, and with them grounded......seems that my top end is actually better with them grounded, than the other way around. I now think that they are farther gone than i previously believed, so it seems i need a rebuild.

3.) also checked the timing, it was only advanced 8 degrees, so we adjusted it up to around 19-20. purrs like a kitten, and no more stalling! (i run 93oct, FTW.)

4.) we also modified the airbox....removed everything from the filter down, so it's completely open (will get pics later).....the weird thing is, following the modification of the airbox, the sound of the exhaust changed drastically....not sure why, but it sounds much deeper and stronger.

4.) even got a courtesy engine cleaning

cliffs: fixed my broken manifold studs, re-grounded the VTC's, advanced my timing to a more 'proper setting', and modified my airbox.


ALSO, the man that has helped me through this, and many other things (for now, untold) recently, is the 'shizzle', and i owe him very much for everything he has helped me with.

 

Sounds good mang. I need to fix my studs, but Id be worried about the long term strength of the bolts. The studs are used for a reason.

I drove a stock Z31 with just a HAI and it sounded MEAN. Get a CAI though, the HAI will heat soak in traffic and city driving.

~Alex

 

the exhaust sound is actually your INTAKE!!!
hotrodders have been doing similar tricks for years.
ive been wanting to do the intake box mod for a while, but am unsure about the possibility of water getting in.

thats alot of work that you guys got done.
all i did yesterday(all day) is change my timing belt, and im still not done....

 

the bolts can be just as strong as studs, depending on the grade of bolt used.
hell, even stronger than stock studs that always break...

 

What grade bolts did you use?

 

Whats your history on the studs? Have you replaced the others?
Dont let the other studs go too long with the new ones around them.
IMO you should atleast fix all the studs in that area you worked on. Having new ones next to old may create the others to go quicker.

 

He's not a dumbass

 

With such a ghey/unfinished bodykit I disagree j/k.

~Alex

 

Hey not bad how about some pics and vids you....thing..you

I wonder who is helping you... cuz I'm getting some nice cash and I'd like some help too

 

wire-tied air filter to airbox, removed bottom half of airbox
the resulting sound on a 2.0L Elantra 56k... hell, EVERYONE beware it's a long download so just leave it be, and watch it when it's finished.

 

Pics are fun. That one stud in the rear wasn't.



The studs broke 1/8 of an inch inside, and this was after two hits with the mig to build it out. End up hitting it a couple more times and welding a nut around it to turn the broken stud out.

EZ-outs FTL!

Welding much better, but will burn arm hair.

Also.. we didn't even have to remove the motor mounts or cross member.

 

welding is a GOOD idea.
I need to learn how-to with a mig.
gotta get one first.

(sorry, FTL?????????? wtf does that mean?)

 

FTL=For The Lose

 

that makes a noob happy
and that must mean ftw means "for the win"
im less ignorant!
hooray!!!

 

Also, your timing wasn't advanced 8 degress, that would of been out. I think it's 5 degrees advanced now. Before we changed it it was at 8!!!! Making it retarded.... By alot.

 

yea i kept telling him he was retarded but he never understood me

 

Also blocked off your EGR.

 

oh....we also blocked off my EGR.

not sure which repair was the biggest gain, because we did it all at once ;x

 

Does advancing the timing affect the vehicle emissions?

 

I'm sure it does...

I was there when Goon9 adjusted his timing and got mine done as well. Can't remember how far mine was off, but it was a lot. Anyway, before he adjusted it, my car was having to be gassed up every couple of days. I filled up on monday, and here it is Thursday, and I still have over 1/4 a tank. And I'm driving about 70 miles a day round-trip.

 

yeah, i got a SMALL bit of mileage increase...like an average of .5 - 1 mpg or so, but i've also been on the throttle a lot, with the power restored and all.... so it's hard to say, but i will report back on my next trip down south