I have $15,000.00 to mod my Z and would like the opinion from some of you guys that have been at this for a while. Please keep in mind that I want to keep my Z street/smog legal, so that will limit what I am doing a bit.

What I have in mind is the following:

Vortech Procharger
Rotora 4 Piston Big Brake Kit for the front
Ultimate Racing High Flow Cats
Eibach Sway Bar Kit
Eibach Springs
Crawford Plenum
Craford Tower Strut
B & M short throw shifter
Wheels/Tires (One of the following: 5Zigen Hyper 5ZR 19 X 8.5F / 19 X 9.5R w/ Falken/Toyo 235/35/19F 275/30/19R OR Volk GT-7 19 X 8.5F 19 X 9.5 R w/ Falken/Toyo 235/35/19F 275/30/19R

Any input/opinions you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I would like to start by 1 July, so I have a little time to consider about anything.

The main questions I have are:

1) Would a Procharger be the right option, or is Twin Turbo with intercooler the right way to go? If twin turbo is the right path, is street/smog legal?

2) Would the pulleys need to be replaced along with these mods? If so, would the Unorthodox pulley kit be the right kit?

3) Do I need to add an oil cooler?

4) Do I need to add a fuel management system?

5) Would a new ECU be a good idea?
I really appreciate your advice.

 

Check my sig! Oh and btw if you want to be legal your only option will be the stillen blower with the stock pulley as far as FI.

 

FairladyZ,

According to Vortech:

"All ProCharger systems for fuel-injected applications meet both EPA and CARB emmissions requirements and are classified as 50 state legal."

Doesn't this mean street/smog legal?

 

Not sure on that.....I suggested the stillen because since it is legal it is offered with a full engine/drivetrain warranty.

 

With the Stillen, you have to modify your hood, correct? Either a scowl or a different hood? With the mods in addition to the Procharger, I'm cutting close to my budget and didn't factor in a additional hood. Plus, I'd rather not dump the entire 15 G's, but I will if I have to.

Thanks for your input, FairladyZ.

 

No problem, and yes you will need a new hood. What happens if you blow your motor with the procharger? Your SOL, and have to buy a new engine plus get that installed.

If you have the stillen blower, blow your motor, take it to a dealer and get it fixed, simple. It is worth the extra money (if one has it), imo.

 

Makes sense. DO you have any first hand experience with the Stillen Blower?

 

With the wheel sizes you are going to go with I would do 245-35-19 front and 275-35-19 rear to keep the overall diameter allmost as stock.

IMO with that amount of money I would wait to see what JWT's TT kit is going to be like or if you don't want to wait go with the PE TT kit.

 

trade it in for an elise then?

 

A twin turbo set-up is ultimately more tunable and has better torque distribution than an SC set-up. However, if you don't plan on going much over 400-450 crank hp, an SC will do just fine, and is an easier and cheaper install. I have said before, that for street use more power than that is dangerous and hard to live with in real world driving conditions. I just got my Z recently and am waiting until the end of the year before finalizing my choice for FI. By then, HKS will have their SC kit out, as well as the long awaited JWT TT kit, and the APS TT kit from Austrailia also looks promising. I am looking for 400 crank hp, but want the smoothest most reliable system with the best engine management. Also, although a TTs set-up will give you a big swell of torque earlier than an SC, the Z motor is not like a little torque-deficient four banger. It has more than enough torque for a quick smooth launch, and an SC can give you a more controllable and linear power delivery.

The bottom line in my opinion....for the street, find the system with the best engine management, SC or TT. For max tuning, go TT.