I've read through a good bit of the performance mods. But have not yet tried to price out most of them. If I were going to spend $500 on a mod or mods, what should they be? How about $1000? $1500? Or maybe a 'Top 5' mods list to improve performance? I have an '08 QX56. Stock. Looking for better acceleration and also braking ability. No towing. No problems with anything. Just looking for some better 'oomph'. Do want to be careful not to void the factory warranty though.

I'll list some of the various mods I've noted/considered. I'll also try to spell it out so new members (like myself) better understand what it is exactly:

*R1 Concept Premium rotors
*Green Stuff or EBC Yellow Stuff or Posi-Quiet brake pads
*Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
*Free airbox mod
*Bilstein 5100's shocks on the front only (around $200 installed for a pair?)
*2 degree timing advance
*Injen ProFlow CAI (cold air intake) (what exactly is the 2nd generation?)
*Superchips FlashPaq tune (Program SC 91?) (purchase this unit for around $350-375. and do it yourself, or take it to a shop and have them do it... cost??)
*MagnaFlow muffler (muffler only, not the whole exhaust system)

How would you rank these as to bang for the buck? Would appreciate help with price estimates. Any others you would add to the list?

Which ones are really worth doing? Service rep at the Nissan dealership (I get it serviced there) says there really aren't any cost effective mods that are going to make a noticeable difference in power. What I read on the forums says otherwise. But I'm hesitant to spend money if I won't see a difference.

Has anyone been able to make reasonable mods that get the vehicle closer to a 6.0 second 0-60? Or would I be spending a grand or two to shave off 0.2 seconds? Just trying to get some idea of the benefit vs the cost.

Also would like to add an exhaust tip. The one on there is discolored. I've tried various cleaners to shine it up, but no go. Anyting at a reasonable price point that maybe also gives it a better growl?

PGM if you can find one. Search Club Titan or Titan Talk. It's a Corvette Z1 90mm throttle body that speaks Japanese. Only 12 originals exist.

PGM original Link (http://www.clubtitan.org/forums/showthread.php?t=31884&highlight=pgm)

$500 performance- Intake and Free flow muffler, and 2* timing advance, least expensive, best results.
next $500, get a tuner, UpRev, Superchips.
08 brakes are OK, maybe better pads.
Shocks would be next IMPO.
You've got to decide your needs and wants, after the first $1000, performance parts get really expensive, headers, dyno tuning, cams, etc. If you don't believe me ask my wife!!

What 9ball posted, CAI, Magnaflow muffler swap, two degree timing advance. Those three mods will cost about $400 and shave off at least .5 seconds in the 1/4 mile.

Thanks all. Appreciate the replies. I'd love to see a 6.0 0-60 out of this thing! But that's probably getting into the realm of all that very expensive stuff Jerry referenced. No interest in going into the engine. Would I at least have a shot at a sub 6.5 second 0-60 with the top 3 changes mentioned, plus a tuner? A quicker takeoff from stoplights is all I'm really interested in (I'm 52 yrs old, but I have my reasons!).

Suddenurge, what CAI are you referring to? I was thinking just the CAI is the better part of $400. Sounds like your pricing would be sub-$300 on the CAI. Magnaflow muffler would run $80-100 plus the cost of install. I have no good way to get the 2d timing, unless someone in eastern NC area can do it. Does the 08 QX56 also benefit from this? Seems I saw some discussion on that at some point, but don't recall any clear answer.

[QUOTE] A quicker takeoff from stoplights is all I'm really interested in (I'm 52 yrs old, but I have my reasons!).

I (we) understand completely!! Nothing better than than the family grocery getter, rolling up on a shiney hemi and leaving it in your rear view!!LOL

I hear ya. I drove a Tahoe for many years, and I swear it was the slowest car on the road from stoplights. I need an SUV. But I want something this time that is going to move when the foot moves. I don't push my vehicles hard at all. But occasionally I like to blow the carbon off...

Went by the muffler shop today and they quoted me $250 for a Magnaflow muffler and install. The mufflers appear to be around $80 to 100 online. So I'm assuming around $150 for the labor. Is that a fair price?

A 6 sec 0-60 is not hard to do. A good cat back system and UpRev will give you a 5.8 easy. Good long tube headers added to that will get you 5.5-5.6.

Uh oh. You're going to have me spending too much money!

Wow, I hadn't expected that much of a gain. I have the Infiniti instead of Armada and they are suppoosed to be tuned a bit more from the factory. So would I see the same gains from these mods on the Infiniti? I had no expectation of getting to a sub 6.0. Now I'm pumped!!

I had decided not to do the whole catback system, but rather to do just the muffler. Guy at the shop said I'd get most of my gain from doing that, and it's probably $250 vs $850 price difference. Is he right or wrong there? I had also thought about doing the muffler and the one pipe behind the muffler, and tail pipe tip. I've read that some have had issues with the muffler to pipe connection at the back of the muffler. That should eliminate that concern. But I didn't get a price on that. And am not sure if Magnaflow (or other mfgs) offer that for sale. Was surprised to see that Borla doesn't make a system at all for the '08 QX56.

So right now, I'm leaning to the muffler (or muffler and piping behind muffler), CAI (which one???), 2d timing adjustment, and a tune. Part of my problem is that I'm in eastern NC and I don't know of anyone close at all that I could take it to for the 2d timing. And I've never used a tuner, so would prefer to look over someone's shoulder the first time to see how it's done. Anybody have any ideas on a place in eastern NC I could take it? Even the Infiniti dealer, if they would do it, is 2 hours away from me.

Thanks big time for the input. Now I'm starting to see what you mean about leaving the Hemis at the light.

Oh, also, my understanding is that I have to have the Console III to do a tune on the 08 QX56. True? If so, then the Superchips or Bullydog or UpRev won't work.

can I do the 2 degree timing advance on my '06 Armada? And a link on How-to please

Oh, also, my understanding is that I have to have the Console III to do a tune on the 08 QX56. True? If so, then the Superchips or Bullydog or UpRev won't work.

Not true. The Consult is not a tuner, it is a diagnostic tool. The tuners will work on the 08.

That's good news. Thanks scr.

Now I just have to figure out where to go in eastern NC to get a tune!

Contact UpRev. They can tell you where the nearest tuner is.
http://uprev.com/

I have no good way to get the 2d timing, unless someone in eastern NC area can do it.

A dealer can do it.

JB2C...have you already done the tune? I have a BullyDog GT, most of the guys prefer other brands, but I live in the upstate of SC. I dont know what part of NC you are in, but I would be willing to meet you somewhere to help you out with the 2* advance. I cant tune it completely since BB only allows one tuned vehicle at a time, but I can do the timing. Let me know.

Taze, thanks very much for the offer. It is very much appreciated. After reading up on the tuners more, I decided to buy one for myself. I ended up with the Superchips Cortex. VERY happy with the one tune I've done. It's amazing the difference. I'm going to try a different tune, the 87 octane one, once I can run out the gas in the tank and refill with different octane level (boy, that sounds odd given the mpg we get out of these things!!).

I'm still a little confused as to the TA though. Can't figure out what the Superchip's different tunes do to the TA. Only the 93 Performance tune allows you the option to adjust timing as a part of the tune. And I can't find out what the other Superchips tune do to the timing. I guess I'll just stop worrying about it and go with their tune without touching the timing. Will be interesting to see what the 93 Performance does when I try the timing set at 1 vs 2 vs 3 degree advance though.

Does the BD allow you to choose your timing when you set the particular tune? At all? Only for the highest performance tune?? How many differnet tunes does the BD offer?

BTW, I'm in New Bern. I'd guess you're in the Rock Hill or Spartunburg areas. So we're several hours drive apart. But again, thanks for the offer.

A drop in K&N filter would most likely net you the same minimal gains as a whole overpriced CAI (*unless you made it yourself*). Magnaflow Mufflers are great quality and definitely will be on my armada once my factory warranty fizzles away....probably sometime in the next year and half. But really why mess with perfection. Unless you are pulling +5000 lbs or you yourself weigh 5000 lbs there is plenty of power for the stock setup.

if you still looking for a muffler i have a hooker max flow 2.5in/out sitting in my garage PM in you want it other wise it might end up on mine! also havnt raced a hemi yet but did smoke some teens in a honda accord

A drop in K&N filter would most likely net you the same minimal gains as a whole overpriced CAI (*unless you made it yourself*). Magnaflow Mufflers are great quality and definitely will be on my armada once my factory warranty fizzles away....probably sometime in the next year and half. But really why mess with perfection. Unless you are pulling +5000 lbs or you yourself weigh 5000 lbs there is plenty of power for the stock setup.

Until you've driven one with some of the mods, particularly the tune, you just cannot appreciate the difference it makes. I'm not a 'hot rod' type of guy, but I LOVE driving mine with the mods. Any red blooded American male would want to drive it with the mods once they've tried them!

theres always room to improve a vehicals performance! besides who dont like going fast? Ricky Bobby said it best " If your not first your last"

Ricky Bobby said it best " If your not first your last"


Ha Ha...Well again, I love power and performance. This is my first v8 so it seems powerful in comparison to what I was driving previously. Mine will remain stock until my warranty runs out though. I definitely will do a drop in filter and muffler. I have a magnaflow 3" turbo back on my 91 mx6 and love it. I've had it for 7 years and still going strong...love the sound and the look. I'm guessing the mada's pipes are 2.5 inner diameter?

My first performance add was the superchip flashpaq and put it on 87 tune but got a little curious and threw it on 93 tune + 2° advance, I cant go back. Then later did the airbox mod and added the K&N drop-in and installed the magnaflow 18" muffler. The thing takes off now, especially in the mornings when its cool and Im driving to work on a one laner and ppl are driving 55mph on a 70 it comes in handy.:D

theres always room to improve a vehicals performance! besides who dont like going fast? Ricky Bobby said it best " If your not first your last"

My theory is " if your not the lead dog, the view never changes!!":D

Ha Ha...Well again, I love power and performance. This is my first v8 so it seems powerful in comparison to what I was driving previously. Mine will remain stock until my warranty runs out though. I definitely will do a drop in filter and muffler. I have a magnaflow 3" turbo back on my 91 mx6 and love it. I've had it for 7 years and still going strong...love the sound and the look. I'm guessing the mada's pipes are 2.5 inner diameter?


wow first V8 congrates man welcome to the big leagues! i grew up with V8s under the hood. but this is only my second DOHC V8 and is worlds ahead ford v8 in my wifes old v8. pulls hard down low and up top. but if im in the mood to go fast i got my Trans Am. and i dont know if they are 2.5in i looked it seems a bit small maybe 2.25in but im not for sure. if i was happy with the performance then maybe i would just go with like upgrading the brakes pads/rotors and shocks. but me personally i would not go with drilled rotors ive had them and they cracked to may high speed stops if you want to upgrade them then id go with slotted.