thedoc092

Hey guys, im fairly new to the forum and fairly new to the world of the Z. Ive owned turbo cars in the past and some of which were modded quite nicely. This will be my first venture into the supercharging route. Im sure the supporting mods is similar but i just want to make sure there isnt something that i may be forgetting. I recently purchased an 04 350z MT. I also have a Vortech SC kit that was previously installed on a 03 which i want to install in the spring. Im looking to get somewhere in the 400-450whp. The car already has a Mishimoto radiator installed. So my real questions really come down to what else should i include to make the car run properly. Im looking to do the Motordyne Shockwave exhaust as well, oil cooler, fuel pump and some bigger injectors(would 600's suffice for the power im looking to get to?), fuel return system, clutch, and a tune...prolly UpRev. Anything u guys think i may be forgetting? And another question, (im sorry for putting so much in this first post), but i was debating on the addition of headers into my setup as well, and if so are long tube headers really worth it if im only looking to get into the low to mid 400's for power? or would shorties or test pipes be a better option. Thanks guys in advance for any advice u can give me.

Doug

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

Your supporting mods seem fine but keep in mind that at this power range, the stock clutch is just a ticking time bomb. So its fine to ride it till it dies, but be prepared to swap it sooner than later.

600cc injectors will be fine at that power range but if you ever plan to increase power, you will need larger injectors. A walbro 255 fuel pump is basically the same way. It will be fine for 400-450whp, but any more than that and you will need an upgrade.

A fuel return system is not needed at that power range so don't worry about that.

In order to hit that power range you will want the 2.87 Vortech pulley on the supercharger. Most people see 10-11psi with that pulley, I am seeing 8.5psi with it but still making 438whp.

Any other mods will help you get more power (i.e. exhaust, headers, intake manifold, etc.). I only have shorty headers and didn't have an issue reaching the power range you want. But from my understanding, the long tubes generally do push more power.

thedoc092

Ok cool, thanks craig12895 for the valuable advice. the guy who i got the Vortech from said he included the smaller pulley with it, im guessing it was the 2.87 one but ill double check before the install as id definitely need that. Yeah im definitely gonna do the clutch, might as well if im gonna be putting the time and effort in with the rest of the install. Long tube headers from what i heard are such a bit*h to install (im not all that familiar with them) id rather not go that route if i dont have to and from what u told me i wont have to. Which shorty headers do u have in ur setup? And not to sound too nooby about headers, but im gonna be going with the MD Shockwave and i know they make ART pipes, are those the same as shorty headers? Also, are u using UpRev?

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

Let me start with this, our exhaust systems can be broken down into 3 main sections:

1. Manifolds (Headers)
2. Catalytic converters
3. Catback

The motor dyne shockwave would be the catback. The ART pipes would replace your catalytic converters. So that leaves you with needing headers. If you got long tube headers you would not be able to use the ART pipes, because long tubes combine the manifolds and cats into 1 piece, hence the name 'long'tube headers.

The headers I have are Strup headers, which I don't see many people with. Im not sure if that means they are good or bad, I have no issues with them at all.

And yes I am tuned using Uprev. Most people, like myself, in the PA, MD, NJ, region go to R/T Tuning in Lansdale, PA for tuning. That shop is very easy to work with and the owner Vince tunes our cars himself.

thedoc092

Ahh, ok that makes total sense now that i think about it as far as the exhaust system goes. Thanks for clearing that up. Ill look into headers between now and my install. As far as tuning goes id definitely need to travel a bit for a tune since the shop close to me isnt open anymore, the owner moved to Texas to work for Cobb. He did all the work and tuning on my WRX when i had it. Does this shop in Lansdale do installations as well as tuning? im only asking cause if i had the work done here id have to do some sort of ECU reflash in order to get the car to Vince for a custom tune or have it flatbedded which id rather not do. If his shop does it all that may be a better option for me.

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

That shop does do installs but I think that can get expensive very quickly.

Vince was able to send me a base tune to make it so I could drive my car to his shop before tuning. So I had everything installed and ready to go and my car was drivable. He will stress that you need to drive it very easy because it obviously could be bad if you went ripping on it while the car wasn't tuned.

For them to send me the base tune they wanted a deposit, but that deposit went towards the total bill after the tuning was done.

thedoc092

ahh, thats great that he could send a base tune to atleast drive the car. So what would i need to load the base tune on the car after the work is done? ive never had to tune any of my previous cars as my installs and tunes were all done in one place.

And the install id much rather have done here, my friend owns a shop and will do the work cheaper than anywhere else id take it.

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

The supercharger install is very simple. All you need to do is have the uprev cable and license. He would email you the tune and you use the uprev cable to download that tune onto the ECU in your car by connecting a laptop to the OBD2 port under the dash.

And the vortech supercharger install is the simplest kit to install for our cars without a doubt.

thedoc092

ahh ok, that sounds simple enough to load the tune on. Awesome man, thanks a bunch for the help. When i figure out exactly what im gonna do and when ill give Vince a call and set something up. Its about a 6 hour drive from me but well worth it if he knows what he is doing.

OldManZ350

iTrader: (23)

If you are looking for 400-450 then.....

And if you think you may want more down the road, some things like the fuel system you should just do now.

1. Headers with 2-1/2" diameter Test pipes and quality 2-1/2" Duel Exhaust

2. CJM Stage 2 Kit and a DW300 Fuel Pump and 600cc Injectors

3. Catch Can

4. 34/28 Cog setup, you only need to buy the 34T Pulley. Best deal is SuperChargers Online

5. 3.12 Serp Pulley

6. A higher quality and better cooling Intercooler, Best bang for the buck is a Treadstone TR-1245

7. A TimRod Radius Rod Kit to keep the Bracket from flexing in the higher Boost.

8. One step colder Plugs and Gap them to .034" for that boost range

Hope this Helps

thedoc092

awesome post oldmanz350, thank u so much for helping me map out a direction to go. and the pictures are a huge help so thanks for those as well i was looking at the Treadstone as ive seen alot of guys on here using them or posting about them, ur right, cant beat the price on that unit. I know the guy i got the Vortech from had a smaller pulley that he bought when he had it on his Z, not sure which one but ill look into that. Ive also seen quite a few of the same intake setup that u have in ur pics...thats something id definitely like to do as well, what did u use for that?

OldManZ350

iTrader: (23)

Intake is all 3-1/2" diameter tubing and hoses

You missed Number 7 on the list, very important...

thedoc092

awesome, ill look into that tubing when the springtime gets closer. And definitely, the timrod strut kit i will most certainly invest in