i personally dont think you are moving too fast bro... its that mod bug lol... if i had it to spend, i'd prolly do it the same way bro... havent made any major mistake that i've seen

 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

In response to Rochester's questions about this mod, I'd like to say there is one previous mod I did that is in perfect harmony with the VIAS plate mod: my 6th gen HLSD swap.

I just installed mine last night, and after a full day's driving impressions, I can tell you this mod mates well with my shorter gearing, since the power gains start from 3800 RPM on up. Although dyno sheets will tell me otherwise, I also didn't feel any significant power losses during commute-driving (under the 3800 RPM threshold).

And maybe it's just my imagination, but the motor seems a bit happier to rev now, which, like I said, works well with shorter gearing,

 

^^^
OMG. How much did Hotshot pay you to write that?

 

On a bad note, I figured out where my oil was disappearing to... I found a POOL of oil inside the plenum. Its almost like the intake was acting like a large 'catch can' . ((((((

 

Que? Who's "Hotshot" (the header company?), and why does he/she matter?

 

lol..no a member on here.. its just because every post that rochescter makes soon more times then once hotshot has managed to write about how amazing hlsd is... i think its more of a ongoing joke , if you will...

and all this talk is making me want to put the plate back on...

 

Back on? Why did you take it off?

This is probably going to be my next mod. Thanks for the good info everyone.

 

If I may interject, my launch control and VLSD love each other long time

Rochester you should get headers. And Technosquare F-spec ECU.

 

had to go into the dealership under warrenty . . didint want to upset that... new tranny for 53 bucks

 

What mist_max said, about hotshot, that is.

A new transmissions is a disproportionally expensive "mod" compared to a VIAS delete. And it's not really a mod since it's an OEM transmission. And while you seem real happy with both, there's no relationship between the two.

I just assumed it was a gag. My bad. Sorry for the confusion.

Seriously, I'm glad that you're happy with the VIAS delete and your 6th gen tranny. I'm sure I would be too.

 

Ah. Well, 40-dollar VIAS block plate aside, to me, it's the mod that has been the most worth the money I spent on it (about 1200, including install), after my 3rd gear issues and all. It's also perfect gearing for my commuting. I don't understand why Nissan didn't just put the 4.1 final from 2002 on.

So yeah, unfortunately, this probably won't be the last time you'll hear me tout this little *ahem*, "upgrade."

 

I'd say it still counts as a mod if it didnt originally come on the car even if it is nissan oem. Kinda like a ZIM is a mod right...

 

I suppose if I spent over a grand on something for the car... it's a mod. Sure. In fact, if for whatever reason I swapped out for a 6th gen HLSD, you can be sure I'd list it in my sig.

So yeah, OK... not that it has anything to do with a VIAS delete, but I was off-base about that whole this-isn't-a-mod thing.

 

LOL its all good man. I was going to list my new oilpan in my sig but I dont think that really counts. But it was a serious upgrade from the old one that was about to fall apart

did you get the block plate yet??

 

I think we can safely say an oil pan replacement does not count as a mod, unless yours is gold plated. However, I believe I need a new oil pan soon as well. It does not seem to be a last-forever part on the Maxima, and mine's looking rather nasty lately.

And no, I'm not playing with the VIAS delete until next May. I just had intake spacers installed, so I'm going to ride through winter as-is, and slowly collect brake and suspension parts for an April 2010 upgrade.

Plans within plans... It wouldn't be a hobby if I did everything at once.

 

mod = modification = anything changed from its original state

So yea, 6th gen HLSD tranny = mod

I have one too and its great

 

I mod my oil every 3000 miles.

 

How do you like the spacers Rochester? Can you notice any sound difference? I remember reading that if you have an intake that the spacers make it whistle...

Can you feel the power difference? I just installed my headers and while I can tell the gain is there its kinda hard to feel. Thats supposed to be 20-30ish HP gain so if spacers are 10HP I can't imagine it would be very noticable...

P.S. I just modded my gas tank with 50 litres of premium

 

 

its all in good fun and mr rochester takes it in stride

 

I'm extremely pleased with the spacers, Nick. The whole thing is chronicled here:

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...p-spacers.html

Enjoy.

 

unless it was this... http://blog.stillen.com/2008/10/stil...rade-released/

or this. . http://www.intensepower.com/stoilpanspki.html


lol

 

Yikes! I never would have guessed there's an aftermarket for oil pans.

 

Would a spacer on the block plate do anything?

 

doubt it...

omg lol thats hilarious! The funny thing is that that cost about the same as ordering an oem oil pan...

 

Installed the NWP Block Plate this evening.

A few things for those who haven't yet done this mod:

1. The wiring bundle has a third bolt under it that is hard to access. If I'd had a 12 mm wrench, that might not have mattered but for some reason I couldn't find mine and had to access the 3 bolts on the VIAS set-up with a socket wrench and you can't access the lower rear bolt without removing the 3rd wiring bundle bolt. Make sure you have the tools you need (which are listed in the directions). I also had to unplug the light blue, dark blue and green wiring connectors to have enough clearance to get that bolt with a socket.

2. If you have a upper strut bar, unbolt it on the passenger side, gives you more clearance.

3. Read the directions! You cannot remove the VIAS assembly if you don't partially close the butterfly valve. It closes towards the radiator, NOT THE FIREWALL! I would have realized what the problem was if I'd turned to page 2 of the directions.


My impressions of the mod:

1. Very nice looking, well machined plate. Fits perfectly.

2. I did notice some "softness" between 2800 to around 4000 rpm but after that there is a noticable surge and the tach seems to fly towards redline. Plus I noticed that left in drive, my car was now shifting at 6400 rpm instead of 6200 rpm.

3. If you launch hard, you really don't notice the bottom end loss, especially if you allow a *little* wheelspin.

4. From a roll, even if the engine is under 4000 rpms after the downshift, the pull is more consistent. A constant irritation with my car is how at lets say, a 50 mph roll, when I get all the way on it, sometimes it pulls real hard, other times it is soft until the rpms build a bit. My guess is that the VIAS system doesn't always work exactly as it is supposed to and the valve doesn't open and close properly all the time.

5. The surge above 4000 rpms is oddly more pronounced at part throttle. Not sure why but it was a nice surprise.

Since everyone likes pictures:





I can see why this big 'ol thing is a restriction on top end! And yes, my car does use a quart of oil every 1500-1800 miles on average. However, there was no pooling of oil in the intake but it did have a yellowish cast to the interior.

 

looks good!,..,..and yeah.. i cant imagine doing this without the 12mm wrench,... must of been a PITA lol...

 

So are you saying the block plate eliminated this condition? I experience this too. I have a new MAF I've yet to install that I hope rids of me of this intermittent hesitation.

 

Scott, very well done with the write-up and the photos. Those are excellent pictures!

I so-o-o want to do this mod now, but I also know that it's going to be snowing in about a week, and it's just no fun driving hard with snow tires.

Thank you for this post. It's very convincing.

Can't wait for next Spring!

 

Yes, it eliminates what seems to be the inability of the VIAS system to consistently react to full throttle at a roll. With the block plate, it may not pull as hard instantly the way the car does when the VIAS system works as it is supposed to but it definitely pulls harder than when the VIAS system doesn't work properly...and once the engine is above 4000 rpm, there is more pull and it doesn't start dropping off at 5500 rpm like the car did stock.

I would suggest that if you have a short ram intake or the GAB that you may get more gains than someone with a stock intake, being that since the VIAS allows more airflow at 4000+ rpm, that getting more air into the engine helps the block plate do its job.

 

I'll stand by that for sure... there definitely is some synergism between the plate and a good intake.

(heh post number 1600,..i spend too much time here lol)

 

To the auto folks, any noticeable torque loss during casual city driving? i.e. shifting around 2,500-3,000rpm?

I would hate to lose the low end I gained back with my partial GAB and stock axleback muffler.

 

Just out of curiosity, has anyone had to take this through emissions when they got their registration renewed?

Nashville area requires that we have our cars checked for any codes, and the exhaust test ran in order to renew. I know I've heard that this mod will pull a pending code, (I don't know if they check for pendings or just actual codes) and I don't want to have to de-mod every time I need to renew my registration.

Any input?

 

Just tooling around, I haven't noticed anything. The VIAS system boosts power between 2800-3800 rpms but under that, there isn't any difference-in fact, the dyno sheet http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/eng...-vs-stock.html shows that under 2500, the block of plate shows a small advantage (a couple hp it appears) over the stock system.

As you pass through 2800-3800 it feels a bit softer but the 4000 to redline pull makes up for it and then some.

SLCPunk267-if you remove the cannister and electrical connections associated with the VIAS system, you will get a pending P1800 (according to someone who pulled all that stuff out), but I just checked for codes today (had my precats changed out, cleared the pending P0420 hopefully for the last time!) and no P1800 code pending. All I did was cap off the vacuum port on the manifold but left the cannister and other stuff in place. I believe if you do that, you won't have any codes.

 

Mine should be here any day now. Kinda pissed it wasn't here today. I'm going to install it when it arrives even though winter is on our doorstep. Still lots of winter days when the sun is shining, the roads are dry and the pedal wants the floor.

 

i notice no loss... but i will say im not the greatest at noticing minor gains or loss...

 

With regards to the modest power loss between 2800-3800, I read a post where the person had the timing changed to 17 degrees and that eliminated the loss in that rpm range. For sure the intake spacers would more than cover any loss in the midrange from the block plate.

 

I have one also just reused factory gasket and Im fine and I used the new bolts that were sent with block off plate. I noticed some diffrence but no through you back in the seat stuff.

 

Mods are incremental.