Im still trying to figure out whats better a turbocharged 350z or a supercharged 350z

I personally preffer a turbocharger

 

i use to think turbo but it seems supercharge is a better bet
i mean you even get a warn. with stillen

 

Stillen has a CARB certified supercharger system, their Stage 2 kit, that's been tested with their other components for a totally integrated kit. They offer a warranty on the kit and an engine warranty as well! Which is a good thing because Nissan voided mine as soon as I installed the kit. The only real downside, at least I thought it was at the time, was that I had to replace my hood. Now I like my CF powerbulge hood!

The supercharger shootout in the Winter 2004 edition of SportZ Mag showed that:

The stock Z made max HP and torque of 242 HP and 239 ft lbs @ 5900 & 4550 rpm respectively.

The Vortech S/C kit came in at 344 HP and 298 ft lbs, a gain of 102 HP and 59 ft lbs, at 5900 and 6300 rpm respectively. If you look at the dyno sheets at the SportZ website, you can see some significant deviations and drops in both measurements. It appears that the engine was detonating quite a bit. The stock runs look much smoother and more progressive.

The ATI S/C kit showed 353 HP and 300 ft lbs, a gain of 111 HP and 61 ft lbs, at 4800 & 6700 rpm respectively. The HP and torque curves look much smoother than the Vortech kit but you still see some deviations and drops in both measurements which indicates some detonation.

The Stillen kit showed 338 HP and 302 ft lbs, a gain of 94 HP and 63 ft lbs, @ 4200 and 6700 rpm respectively. The curves for both measurements look smooth, progessive and mimic the stock curves, albeit with higher values.

The Stillen kit makes it's power earlier in the powerband and sustains it longer across the rpm range.

A turbo makes more power, of course, but I couldn't find one as a complete kit. JWT now has a turbo kit with a CARB certificate. They offer a warranty on the kit but not your engine as Stillen does with their S/C kit. I didn't want to be reduced to buying one part here, one part there, one part somewhere's else, ad nauseum, and hoped it all works together.

I checked out GReddy, Turbonetics and one other when I first started researching pros and cons of turbos vs. superchargers. I also knew that a centrifugal supercharger would also work but alas, no CARB certificate for ATI and ProCharger yet. They had no recommendations for the ECM flash, intake or exhaust. Also, they couldn't give a recommendation re: an intercooler. Stillen had it all covered.

APS now has a complete twin turbo kit with all the nuts bolts, gaskets, hoses manifolds you need. The kit also comes with a uni chip piggy back for added fuel managment. APS claims 398 RWHP and 386 RWTQ with 11.5 to 1 Air fuel ratio at only 12 PSI. APS had a problem with the stock actuators they supplied with the kit but they then sourced an actuator through Garret that bolts on with minor modifications.

They recommend the Altered atmosphere return style fuel system to take care of the fueling needs for the turbos and include all a/n fittings, walbro fuel pump, aeromotive regulator, ect.

I was a bit leery of underhood heat. I hate melting stuff under my hood and, while I know you can heat shield under the hood, I just wasn't ready to take that chance.

I know a turbo makes more horsepower, at the upper end, but a S/C meets my needs with respects to making power in the low and middle power rpm ranges. The Stillen kit, based on it's dyno results, appears to be the best kit available for a supercharger as of now. It makes it's horsepower at a lower RPM (easier on the engine with max HP coming well below redline) and the torque value is comparable to the other kits.

Good luck with your choice!

 

Good write up, very knowledgeable.

 

very nice maddog

Personally I like the APS TT or the Stillen Stage 3.

 

Great write up MADDOG. Thanks for the info.

 

So did I but my biggest issue was that I needed a kit that had been tested and had received a CARB (for those not in Cali, the California Air Resources Board) certificate as we get checked for emissions here in Orygun and they will pass modded cars as long as the mod has that certificate. The Stillen Stage 3 has not been tested. However, I am contemplating some modification of the Stage 2 into a Stage 3 and just show the smog sniffers the Stage 2 certificate. They won't know the difference!

Check out the Summer 2005 issue of SportZ magazine. They have a great article on turbo's for the Z33.

The APS people seem to have moved forward to a fully integrated kit.

For those who want to turbo their cars, check out Jim Wolf Technology (JWT). They recently passed the California requirements and have a nice turbo kit which carries the CARB certificate.

Thanks for the kudos, folks. I've learned so much here and wanted to help out others.

LaterZ!!!!

 

It depends on your power level and price limit. Check out the turbocharger and supercharger FAQ in the forced induction forum section. BTW, you posted this in the wrong forum.

 

Man, I actually understood Maddogg's write-ups!

Nice job.

 

Whoa! LOL...Thanx, Rat!

 

Remember you only get checked every six years by the California smog testers. A the rate people here are crashing their FI cars you shouldn't have to worry.

 

True, but I'm not in Cali, I'm in Oregon....and we get checked every 2 years!

 

Well if you go with a SC what other upgrades other than the actual kit, do you have to get. Do you have to replace the pistons to a high compression piston?

 

The lower the compression ratio, the lower the detonation threshold (allowing you to run more boost safely). And the higher the compression ratio, the higher the detonation threshold. If a given car has the exact same mods, the higher compression ratio car will make more power at a lower boost level than a car with a lower compression ratio at the same boost level.

It depends on the kit on what upgrades you need. IMO, return fuel system (mine preferrably ), good tuning device (ultimate emanage, or a good standalone (personally recommend electromotive tec3r)), fuel pump, and CAS wire.

Good tuning and install can make or break you though.

What all you need to upgrade depends on the power level you want.

 

To the thread starter, what is your power goal?
If it's less than 575rwhp, go with a single turbocharger, if it's around 500rwhp, you might want to consider a supercharger. If it's more than 575rwhp, you need to look at twin turbo kits.

Best out-of-the-box twin turbo kit is the JWT and APS kit. The other kits are not complete out of the box, so unless you know what you are talking about, I suggest getting one of those.

Best out-of-the-box single turbo kit would be the only one's available, APS and Turbonetics both make complete kits. Turbonetics is better for the money vs. what you get IMO.

I'd recommend Stillen for a s/c if you only want 350rwhp or less and need CARB certification (though, keep in mind that JWT will obtain carb before it is available). If you want more, I recommend the Vortech Engineering centrifugal s/c kit.

Oh yeah, price limit will determine what parts you get.

Hope this helps, and don't be suprised if your motor blows due to a bad install, bad tuning, or you didn't get all of the parts needed.

 

What is CARB certification?

 

California Air Resource Board. (CARB)

Deals with emissions and what is legal to have installed on your car and what's not.

 

hey mr Maddog,
where did you get your S/C and how much was everything?
who did the install?
was there special custom tuning involved?
how has your fuel milage changed?
thanx!!!
m

 

I'm still trying to decide which way to go...I'm happy with the gains I've gotten with just HKS Suction,headers,downpipe,Koyo radiator,and Invidia Exhaust...this winter I'm taking it a little furthur..either HKS Rotrex or the APS twin

 

Turbo.