Well, I finally got to run a 6 speed 2k+ Maxima to continue the 3.5VQ vs all saga. A bunch of us went to the opening day at a Mo/Kan Dragway 2 hours south of Kansas City. As we all hoped, VQMan (Matt) brought his bonestock 2K3 6 speed HLSD Maxima. FYI, Matt's 2k3 made 205fwhp and 215fwtq in stock form.

Excuses for both sides :

1) We had thought that opening day at a track on Feb 2nd in the midwest would mean some nice brisk 40 degree air. We were way wrong. This weekend has been record highs in the Kansas/Missouri. It was lower 70s with an extremely low 29.5 baro pressure. Humidity wasn't a problem at 50%. 15mph tailwind. 1100' above sea level.

2) Matt's never drag raced in his life.

3) I'm running the stock B-pipe, no STS, no HKS intake, 17s

My mods:
MEVI
modified stock airbox
UDP
Y-pipe
2k1 muffler

Matt:
Stock

Overall, Matt ran 4 lower 15s@94mph with one 15.7 spinning horribly. Matt's second to last run netted a higher 14.9@94.Xmph with a 2.4X 60'.

My runs started off slow. I got a 15.1@94mph with a 2.40 60' and then a 15.2@93mph with a 2.39 60'. I was bogging horribly. I let the car cool off, changed the switchover to 5400 (vs 5000), and launched higher. On my 3rd run, I launched at 4000rpms and spun horribly thru 1st, but somehow netted a 14.87@94.5mph with a 2.28 60'. My final run was a 14.91@94.7mph, spinning thru 1st again, banging off the rev-limiter in 1st, and getting another 2.29 60'.

From the way it appeared to me, our cars were pretty evenly matched especially when you consider the trap speeds. In Matt's defense, this was his first time at the track and his 60 foots were killing him. He'll only improve. He got his baseline runs so now it's time for the real fun to start I'm definately bringing my 15" rims the next time because I have a feeling I might be seeing his taillights. The JWT ECU is also something I'll need to get to keep up.

As for the other cars that ran in our group:

1) ShortChaz in his stock G35 got a 15.1@93mph (correct?)
2) Matt93SE got his personal best of a 14.9@92!!!
3) BSwithTF got a 15.1@91 in his MEVI auto
4) John in his CAI Sentra Spec V got a personal best of 15.5@89
5) Chong in his complete sleeper 92 Civic hatch with a D16/Jackson Racing SC got a 13.9@97mph on slicks (2.0 60')


Dave

Finally got to race a near stock VE 5 speed eh?

Yep, you can see the timeslip of Matt93SE vs Me in the Midwest forum under the (Mo/Kan) post. You tell me......who won I think Matt's only mods are an intake, UDP, flywheel, and advanced timing. I think it's time for him to get a Y-pipe.


Dave

sounds like a tough track.

He said no need for that, since he will have a downpipe. We have already been telling him that. Seems like everyone had bad times though, I know Matt ran a 15.0 bone stock! and you have ran a 14.6 and that VQ35 should of been in the mid 14's atleast.

OMG! Think those tires effected his times? geeez...how was traction Matt?

Considering VQ3.5 runs 14.2 stock with a good driver. The 4th gen has no luck beating it.

We'll see about that .....what's up jwt ecu

Even with a poor driver, trap speeds stay pretty much the same. Matt's problem, like most 5th gens, was with the Potenza rubber. Once he got going he was fine. He got 94mph and so did I. I think at most, our mphs varied by less than 1mph depending on the run.

Dave

I think potenzas are decent at the track. I've seen a 2.135 60' on potenzas. I personaly did a best of a 2.167 on them. Not bad for a steet tire on a FWD car IMO.

BTW the races sounded good

would pilot sport a/s tires help that much?

Well smack my a$$ and call me Sally. Those are some awesome 60 foots, especially with the Potenzas.


Dave

Stop picking on Matt

He is probably secretly planning his revenge now, as he orders up his Injen intake, UDP and who knows what else, he is probably going to start practicing his tail off too...

damn homey... you guys suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

2.132 60' on potenzas

since i havn't seen dmbmaxima around lately.. .he had two back to back 2.1's on potenza's also

its the track more than the tire in my eyes. I went about a month ago and was stuck in 2.4's b/c the track was terribly preped felt like getting wet mopped every run. This was also the same track I saw 2.13's so it all relies on the wonderful VHT and a little skill

skill in an auto?

damn strait

postwhores.

a quick little street race would settle this ... three honks, the first one to 120 wins... no need to worry about 60 ft times or botched the launch (roll from 20 or 30).

The DC members had a group dyno yesterday. A 2k2 with an intake made 224HP at the wheels !!! I think the 2k3 you raced might not have been broken in yet. NOthing against you Dave B, but I think no N/A 4th gen has any chance against a 2k2 or a 2k3. 2k2s are scary fast !!!!

Since Dave B is such a good driver, he will have same or better times in the 1/4 mile as a 2k2, but the 2k2s should be trapping higher. I want a 2k2 maxima too !!!

Screw 2k2-2k3 maximas. =P I'll keep my paid for 4th gen and get some boost. =P More HP, lighter car! That will kill NA 3.5s. But all bets are off once the 3.5s get boost.

That's what I would do also......

It will happen sooner than you think....

The 2k3 had 8000 miles on the clock.

I'm pretty certain I'll be able to hold my own against the 2k2+ Maximas, even the ones with modifications. Once I get the JWT ECU, it's going to unlock the true 1/4 mile potential of the MEVI. The trap speeds from Matt's 2k3 Max and ShortChaz's G35 show that our cars are pretty much equal at every point down the track. It's all about who gets the better launch. I know that many stock 2k2+ Maximas have gone 97+mph in the 1/4, but it's all relative to the track you're racing at. We're the only Maximas that race at the tracks around here so that's all we have to compare our ET/MPH to.

Keep in mind that we don't have any ET/MPHs from the MEVI/JWT equipped 5 speeds yet. That's going to change very quickly and I think we will be seeing a handful of 4th gens going low low 14s@99+mph on street tires. I wouldn't be surprised if Neal rips off a 13.7@100mph.


Dave

i was on the parkway and just got out of a toll booth when i saw a 2k3 titaium edition 6 speed maxima come out with me...he looked like he was joy riding so i tried to take advantage and get a head start on him hoping he would bite....

like a macho shark, he bit and ran through me, i mean we were like neck and neck for .7 seconds when he got serious and left me, cutting through traffic like a hot knife through butter...ripped me alive, i will never ponder the thought of thinking 4th gens with like a y-pipe and intake can keep up wit a 2k2-2k3 maxima manual....

dave doesn't just have a y-pipe and intake

We got one here Requin6 (Paul). But our tracks havent opened yet. It will be very interesting to see what kind of numbers Paul can get. I am dying to see the numbers.
And on 2nd thought, if a MEVI/JWT 5spd can trap anywhere around 98+mph, thats pretty much a 2k2 territory. I think a handful of 4th gens might be able to hold their own. Thats like what I got with my NOS !!

I have never driven a 2k2 myself, but I wonder how its throttle response and low-end torque is. I wonder if its as good as a 5spd 4th gen. 4th gens got unbelievable throttle response and really gobs of torque. I need to stop talking about 5spds because I keep wanting one.

2002 Max puts down about 225lbs of torque, so I would say it is pretty responsive in low-end. I used to own 2000 SE 5-speed. In my 2002 6-speed I seem to drive one gear higher compared to my old car. Like from the rolling stop sign I can put it in 3rd and just floor it and the car moves easily. Shifting hard into 3rd makes tires get loose pretty easily.
I wouldn't even talk about 2nd gear, it is scary, I shifted hard once and the car started going sideways with wheels spining

I know exactly what you are talking about....
This car is so built for performance, when boost comes out for it terror on the tracks will occur!!!!!!!!!
Almost lost a race because so much torque.....but didn't lose....4-0 right now...

Like Trevor said, I don't just have a Y-pipe and intake. I also have the MEVI, UDP, and 2k1 muffler. I'm also not carrying around a heavy aftermarket stereo or rolling on a 55lb wheel combo like yourself. I was pretty happy to see my car pull a 14.8@94mph (only .15 seconds off my best) without my Stillen B-pipe, stock 15" saw blades, STS, or my HKS intake along with running in fairly warm weather (lower 70s).

The biggest problem I'm having with my car right now is with the MEVI. The lack of power with the MEVI from 4000-4900rpms is killing the performance of my car. It's not much of an issue in 1st because I come off the line at around 3000-3500rpms and fly past 4000-5000rpms fairly quickly, but the shift into 2nd lands me at 4000rpms and 3rd lands me at ~4400rpms. What ends up happening is my car labors for 600-1000rpms before starting to really haul butt. With the USIM, my Max would leap hard on the 1-2 shift and 2-3 shift, but fell flat after 6000rpms. Now my car feels alright on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts (most people would say it feels fine) and continues to pull hard straight to redline. The JWT will allow me to enter each successive 500rpms higher along with a substainial gains on midrange power. This pretty much eliminate the lag between gears.

I want everyone to understand that I'm not downplaying the performance of the 2k3 Maxima at all. Matt's 2k3 was bonestock where as mine pretty much has all the bolt-ons minus the B-pipe, true intake, or ECU. Judging from the trap speeds, our cars perform the exactly same. With a 2.2 solid launch and in cooler temps, Matt's 2k3 is quite capable of a 14.6 in stock form at the tracks around here. Mine did 14.6 with quite a few bolt-ons. IMO, the bolt-on NA 4th gen not be able to hang with 2k2+ Maximas isn't very accurate. We don't have any times for a MEVI/JWT 5 speed 4th gen. That will change shortly and I think I lot of people are going to be very surprised at the outcome. According the calculations, a MEVI/JWT 4th gen will riding a power curve with ~15-18fwhp more than just a MEVI 4th gen. That's pretty significant and it looks like Cartest is showing a .3 drop in ET and a gain of ~4mph.

Remember that quickest bolt-on 2k2+ is a 13.8 and the quickest bolt-on 4th gen is a 13.9 and Neal has to run with the JWT ECU.


Dave

Once you tune it right....
Your going to turns heads and create aws..
Thats good....

Maybe I shall provide ethan my slicks to make it fair

Hell ya. I'm surprised Ethan hasn't tried to source out some slicks. Ethan's 60 foots are usually lower 2.1s, right? I think Neal is pulling higher 1.9s?


Dave

Well if it wasn't 800 miles I would. Ethan is in 13.5 territory with slicks . I'm hoping for a measly 13.8 since my y and b pipe install.

imagine what your car would do with a twinturbo kit and new engine