I've done a bit of researching and asking a few people that I know about getting a built motor for FI (leaning towards the Vortech kit, because it's CARB legal and tends to be more bang for the buck, compared to turbo). I've found out that with a built motor that has shorter compression ratios will be roughly about 70-100hp less than a complete stock Z motor. The Vortech's boost kicks in at mid to high RPM levels.

1. So if I put the kit and the shorter compression motor together, am I driving at 100 hp less than stock until the boost kicks in at about 4K RPM? If that's the case, is that why I don't see many people running a built motor with the Vortech, or is Vortech just pretty much established itself for reliability that people don't really run it with a built motor?

2. If I go with a built motor w/o the shorter compression ratios, but just with better quality and more durable pistons and head gaskets, that should definitly cut down the risk of blown engine with the Vortech at about 8PSI?

 

You lower compression to reduce the incidence of detonation at higher boost levels. Do you plan on keeping boost low? If so, then you can stick with higher compression and keep a nice power curve before the csc boost kicks in. If you're ever thinking of increasing boost though, it'd be a shame to work on the motor and not lower compression.

I'd stick to a stock engine w/ the vortec - and just save up if something blows, then make the decision...