I'd get a 300ZX TT or a Supra if you want fast. I just like how the Z looks

 

Yep. I've said this in other posts as well

 

What do you want it for?

You need to read Zlands post that sums everything up (in about 10 pages).

A 300ZXTT or Supra is great if you want straight line fast, and the 300ZXTT will even be a decent handling car.

However, neither it nor the Supra (especially the Supra) will be able to handle as well as the 350 (unless you mod the suspensions of those cars as well).

None of these cars is perfect in everything.

If all you want a fast, inexpensive car with potential, get an F-body.

The CRX would be a great choice because it will handle like a go-kart but can also be pretty fast depending on how you modify it.

The light weight of that car really makes it a fun choice.

Now, to get back on topic:

Numerous S/C kits are putting out (or will be putting out) 7 psi. There is no reason an I/C'd turbo couldn't do the same. Obviously, to make the car extra safe you would need to pay attention to fuel and timing management. You would not need to do any internal engine mods other than that based on what the T/C and S/C test vehicles as well as N2O vehicles have been through.

Now, if you want to run real high boost, you will need to lower the compression, get stronger rods, blah, blah, blah. This will let you get great top end power, but you will loose performance when you are off boost (compared to the stock engine). Furthermore, you will need to run a greater amount of boost to get the power that the high compression engine would get at a lower amount of boost. So maybe with 8.5:1 ratio you'd need to be running 9 psi to match the 7 psi from the high compression ratio setup. So here too you will need to decide what you want to do.

If you are looking for a 50% increase in power, the S/C or TT kit @ 7 psi seems like a great choice. Niether kit will be running anywhere near its maximum potential, so you can always build up the motor later if you decide you want more power.

I would personally wait for some additional choices to be tested by other, more daring, Z owners. Right now I think the Dreamworkes S/C looks like a very good option. Complete with Engine/Powertrain warranty and maybe some robust fuel management techniques. Haven't heard much about the details of the TT kits yet, but in their initial tune they will be putting out power similar to the S/C's, so I think it comes down to which type of FI you prefer, rather than the pure, objective, performance numbers.

-D'oh!

 

You're still the assclown. It doesn't matter if you're talking superchargers or turbochargers. You seem to think that anybody not interested in achieving the dyno king title is somehow less intelligent than you. Not everybody has the same goals for their car that you do. Here's what you said above:

Yes, yes we all know the vq is a high compression engine. In addition, we know that internal components have to be changed in order to run big boost. But I have another newsflash for you...many of us are happy with the performance at the boost level we're running. I don't want to run 30 psi, I'm perfectly happy where I'm at. I'm quite sure that many people will install one of the upcoming turbo kits running at a modest boost level and will be happy as well.

As far as me knowing better than the Nissan engineers....true on some points. I know what I want a lot better than Nissan's engineers, marketing group, etc. I want a 350z with about 400 hp. Now I have it.

Watch out now, you're about to trip over something. What is that? Oh, its just your big 'ol e-****.

 

Let people decide for themselves what they want to do. All these people keep on saying, "I'm waiting on someone to try the kits." With this attitude, noone will buy the kits at all. And if you do buy it, guess you are the fool that bought it first, lol. Or you might be "foolish" to turn up the boost when you get one, yeah right.

To each is own. If I keep my car stock(too late) for the rest of its life, that is my decision. If I get a kit, that is my decision too. Hopefully, many people will buy the kits and have success with them. I want to see what the VQ can take too, but I hate to see people say we need to replace everything in the engine. Truthfully, there is probably not that much of the internals that need to be changed, would be good to find out what is actually needed to be changed, instead of people just pulling parts out of their a$$ and saying replace everything.

 

sometimes this forum is so ridiculous..

so few people really know what they're talking about, but everyone acts like they know everything.

First off -- I love the Z, but you're out of your mind if you think the Supra can't handle. I know at least 20 Supra owners who run their cars at the road course regularly, and aside from it being a little on the heavy side, none of them have any big complaints.

Second -- BOOSTED, you seem to be interested solely in drag strip ETs. The 350Z is not the car for you. Can you make it fast? yes.. but it will cost a lot of money. A blower will get you into the low 13s, high 12s. Current N/A options seem to put you somewhere in the mid-13s. Turbos will hit high 12s.. you won't see a Z get down into the deep 11s without some more work. In any case, it doesn't matter. There will ALWAYS be a faster car. Just do what you want and have fun driving the car.

I don't even want to talk about all the speculation about what the VQ can handle and what it can't. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it, but little or no factual data to back themselves up. I'm getting kinda tired of people spouting off nonsense left and right (I've seen a daily-driven RSX run 9psi, so the Z should be able to as well, right?).. I've seen only a handful of people who truly know what they're doing.. jesseenglish, ravaz, N4SPD, some of the sponsors, and a few others.. but most people here don't know anything about FI, but want to speculate anyway.

anyway, sorry.. I'm done with my rant. you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming..

 

guess we'll have to wait and see what blows up at what psi

 

a pure guess based on other peoples' anecdotal experience:

- pistons melt/crack and cylinder walls score at or above ~7 psi due to lean conditions and/or aggressive (advanced) timing, both of which can be corrected with appropriate engine managment

- rods crack at 600+ HP (top secret blew engines, as I understand)

beyond that, it's anyone's guess.

 

Technically, the above would happen at any psi

 

The most important thing is to ELIMINATE detonation. It's horribly destructive, not only to the pistons/cylnders, but to the crank, RODS and the even the bottom end of the motor. The Turbo Buick guys know that around 550+ RWHP their stock bottom ends are getting near the limit. However throw in some detonation and several have had their crankshafts on the ground as a result of the detonation. The pictures are amazing, the whole Cast iron main bearing webbing ripped out of the motor , the transmission ripped off the block and to shreds. All in all an unbelievable mess. All from detonation. Control that and you are in far better terrority reliability and power wise.

 

SO basically if you want to run 7psi i should get bigger injectors and a fuel managment system, like an Apex'i SAFC so that the car doesn't run lean? and then i'm safe for 7 psi? that sounds good...lol

 

Besides injectors and fuel management system other options might be to look into ignition timing retard system. Keep the engine run cooler, via cooler spark plugs, oil cooler, better radiator, more air to the motor and etc...

 

Just my 2 cents:

I agree with azreal, there are alot of ppl going around the forum spouting off nonsence. It gets in the way of what the forum was intended to do, and i think that is to educate and entertain. I have to say i am gratefull to a handfull of forum members like jesse for always making constructive threads.

Reading through the forums is alot like listening to ppl. The dumbazzes are usually the ones always mouthing off and not reading/listening.

 

I can understand your point of view, but there is some info that can be correlated in order to reach some general conclusions about what the engine can handle. Obviously not many of us here will have difinitive answers to the limits of the engine, but just looking at the kits coming out for the Z give you a good idea of what the "experts" think it is capable of.

You seem to be implying that even running 7 psi is a crapshoot, yet we have Vortech, ATI and Stillen with 7 psi S/C kits. Dreamworkes is around 6 I think, and the TT kits seem to be between 5-7 as well. There definitely seems to be a consensus that these levels of boost are safe for the VQ, or the companies making these kits wouldn't be releasing them at those pressures. None of the problems with boost so far have been due to "power" failures, but instead to poor tuning (either running too lean or perhaps with too aggressive timing - these problems can destroy any engine at any boost level).

Also, we know that the N2O drag 350Z was running mid 11's on their progressive setup without problems. It wasn't until they tried running all the N2O at once that they blew the engine. This also gives us data that a Z can take large amounts of torque, but that it needs to be well controlled to prevent catastrophic failure. Furthermore, we can know that if we are getting in the 11's on stock internals we are probably getting very close to the limits.

Finally, compared to the Z, the Supra doesn't handle well, just as the Z doesn't handle well compared to a Miata (your friends just have low standards for handling ) . Its just that, compared to most other cars on the road, the Supra and Z handle extremely well, and both will be more than sufficient for most people.

So, your argument about tracking the Supra can be used in the other direction as well, supporting why people will still mod the Z for speed even though it may be practically impossible to get it as powerful as the Supra. It will simply be "good enough" for them.

-D'oh!

 

you need some form of engine management that can supply more fuel and keep the timing in check. An Apex'i SAFC alone won't cut it there.

 

Then drop a nice turbo system on top of it with high boost.

 

This is true. Apex'i SAFC can be used to refine the A/F ratio, but another engine management to supply the fuel is needed. Check out Skidazzle's (Michael's sp??) turbocharged Z. It's using, I think an Aeromotive DFMU + Apex'i SAFC. So one fuel management to control fuel and one to refine A/F. This is missing a retard system and the Aeromotive DFMU might have some issues at higher rpm with fuel delivery. So a timing retard might be a good thing to add.

 

I can't wait to prove you wrong!

 

I think that if one goes with the PE kit and gets the TechnoSquare flash for it, you can absolutely safely run the car, as the timings /mixtures are very safely (and not in any E.T./unusual form) governed by the ECU - just like it was meant to be. I'd rather have this sleek setup then some additional management devices to rely on.

That's what I am doing for my PE TT setup.

gurgen