The shop owner of "Brainstorm" in L.A. seems to think that one of the main problems with blown motors has to do with the unshielded crank sensor cable that OEM 350Zs come with.

He also told me the Stillen is potentialy more dangerous because it only has one injector feeding everything.

Can anyone validate any of this?
He also claims that the APSTT kits are VERY SAFE.

 

There is a few threads on here about the problem. There is a group buy running right now....wires produced by Phunk. The APS kit cimes with a shielded wire..they ran into the problem with ignition scattering during R &D on their TT kit.

 

The unshielded crank angle sensor wire issue is [very] old news. Aftermarket shielded replacements are under development and nearing completion at this writing. There are at least a couple extensive threads...

 

Im so sorry that I I did not know this [very] old news.
Dude have some more respect......

 

More respect? Why assume I'm a troll? I have no reason to disrespect you. I thought I answered your question pretty well, friend. No reason to roll your eyes. Very old news = abundant information available. I pointed that out, too.

 

I guess I took it the wrong way but over the computer it sounded like you were speaking to me like some newbie who does not know where the search button is.

While I have your attention. Do you think the Stillen Stage 2 should have a WB 02 sensor?

 

Yeah as stated before, Phunk or Charles is the man when it comes to the CAS. Very cheap insurance for those expensive engines everyone's building.

 

I'm coordinating the GB on the shielded cables for phunk. $77.47 via paypal to sharif.abdelbaset@us.nestle.com Should be ready to ship in 2-3 weeks...pending arrival of a part from Japan.

APS kit is probably the safest "out of the box" solution. The biggest drawback is lack of Unichip/APS authorized tuners for their engine management computer. If you dont have one nearby, you might be SOL when it comes to tuning and upgrading. Another option, that one of my customers has done, is ditch the Unchip, and tune via eManage referencing pressure and RPM, just like the unichip does.

 

Aren't APS setups pretty well tuned via the standard MAP? Or does more need to be done?

 

yes the APS kits are setup perfect and tuned via MAP... however you cannot tune them yourself. This is the only reason why you would swap out to the E-Manage.

 

You should probably install gauges to monitor any F/I application: WBO2/AFR or EGT, FP, OP, and Boost. Some folks install both WBO2 and EGT, but that may be overkill. In any case, I would not install a narrow band AFR, because that's just a blinking light show.

The Stillen Stage 2 comes tuned, and you can't fiddle with the program maps. I think you should run with at least the WBO2/AFR and a good boost gauge. If your belt slips or if you have a leak, your boost gauge will let you know.

Just in case... I respect you, you're not a newbie, and you're all over that search button like a big dog!

 

it does not have 1 injector feeding everything...it has one injector that is activated under boost. Considering its the only one that comes with even a possibility of a warranty, I cannot see how it be considered not safe. Yes the APS kit is very well done and appears very safe - but his statements sound more like an APS dealer (which they are) pushing product, rather than looking at things from first hand perspective.

The shielding issue, from the ionfo I know, seems to be hit or miss on cars of various build dates, etc - much in the way a grounding system helps some cars, and has no effect on others. Either way though, if I were invested the required money for a forced induction setup, the shielding would certainly be a must have considering its low cost and ease of installation

 

He did not claim the Stillen was not safe but he was very confident in the APS TT. I am just not willing to take that risk without engine work.

 

Keep in mind they also sell APS TT kits... . I try not to get my info from someone who sells the same thing they are promoting. Now, if they didn't sell any other kits (and had the funds to do so), I would trust what he says.

The crank and cam angle sensor wire deal, isn't with every 350Z. But, it's such a minimal thing in the whole equation, why take a chance when all you would have to pay is what? $50 for some wires to prevent something that could happen...

Some see the Unichip tuning as a disadvantage..I personally don't. I think this will contribute to the reason there are less APS blown motors. You can't tune anything yourself, so it eliminates personal error.

IMO, these motors are good in stock form for 440-480rwhp as long as:
You have a shielded crank and cam angle sensor wire, you trust your tuner because they have successful experience with F/I 350Z's, especially if they have success with a kit that you use, you have all necessary components (BOV, engine management, fuel pump, fuel injectors, etc. (i'd seriously consider a return fuel system after 480-500rwhp)), and again, that you have faith in your tuner. Tuning is 90% of how reliable you want your turbocharger kit to be IMO.

I sure wish we could get a thread started and get members to donate to pay for a pressure test to be done on 6 stock rods and then translate that to horsepower so we know in theory, what these rods are capable of.

 

yeah, Brainstorm is also one of those dealers wanting the rediculous amount of 3k for the APS install. So I'm sure they will everything in their power to convince you to go APS.

 

i have a question about that. I'm still a bit confused on a MAP/ MAF setup. So if you convert to a MAP setup, do you take out the MAF or will that be needed also. Right now i'm waiting for the AEM to come out since it's simliar to the hks f-con. So in the future, AEM will be my tuning management of choice. With that in mind, if the MAF sensor can be replaced with the MAP do you connect it through the MAF wires? On my old car I used a 3 bar map sensor, so would that be something to replace the MAF with? thanks

 

Isn't it possible to buy the software and then be able to tune yourself? I thought that was one of the options? Instead of having to buy a emanage

 

Doesnt the Stillen kit tap right into the CAS there by eliminating the need for a shielded wire???? I thought that was what i heard... could be wrong though....

 

yes, the stillen is wired in right at the crank and cam sensors.

Like Z1 said, Stillen doesn't have only one injector, it has one Additional injector. Fuel is sprayed from it into the intake tract right before the compressor under boost. I'm not sure of the capacity of the stock injectors vs. aftermarket ones that come in other kits, but this basically equals an increase in size of your injectors by 1/6th each, which is probably close to the capacity of 6 larger ones.

 

Nope. You have to be certified by Unichip...