OK. After owning teh Z for about 2 years, I really want a little more juice. So I've decided on going FI. The two choices I have in mind was either a Greddy Twin or a Vortech SC. But the deliema is I have no idea on which is better for MY OWN PERSONAL use. With the Greddy, I have a little more buffer if I ever want to go with more power. But from what I've seen/heard the vortech seem to be more reliable (keep in mind that I am keeping the block stock).
I don't plan on running double digits for the first year, or until I can afford to rebuild the block. I don't want to spend more than 6-8k on EVERYTHING (Installed,tuned, and New Kit, with or without an intercooler). As for power I want something conservative, maybe 350-375RWH, but I want reliabilty since it will be a daily driver.

Questions Summary:
1) With my budget is this possible? If so with which?
2) Should I start buying little things first (Fuel system, etc) or wait to buy it all at once. (the install will somewhat be free)
3)Should I just say "Screw it" and still with NA?

Thanks in Advance,
~Thanh

 

PM Jeremy(audible mayhem) He has a deal for vortech installed for a little under 7K if I recall correctly. You can upgrade to 3.12 pulleys for another $150 and you are a about your power level goal. Its a reliable kit and has been installed over and over.

 

6-8k price range

i would say Turbonetics single

PM Jeremy (Performance factory)

or

Sharif ..he is close to you (Forged Performance)

 

Check out our Stage I Greddy package. https://my350z.com/forum/engine/270261-greddy-tt-stage-packages-you-asked-here-it-is.html
You should call us or stop by the shop, since you are local.

Vortech or TT can be just as reliable. It's just that the TT leaves little room for careless mistakes, or a poor tune. Two things you wont have to worry about if you bring the car here.

 

vortech tuner kit
utec
??0cc by deatchwerks (go greater then 440cc, maybe 550ish)
walbro 255
---------------
5k roughly

You can then get:
plenum spacer
test pipes
3.12 pulley ( no new belt is needed for the new non revup layout)
---------------
500

install/tune = depends on where you go

 

Just take it to FP to get the Greddy, call it a day. Jeesh, if I was local, I would have done that long ago.

 

LOL. I wish man. But I can't afford that much. I have to stick to a budget since i dun want to bite off more than I can chew. I've gotten quotes for anywhere from 10k-12k for teh greedy twins. I think 9500 from FP. 8k was teh high end that I want to spend. All of this is being paid for by a college student remember that. Not getting any help from my family (which is totally against anything with more than 4 cylinders lol).

 

Then maybe do a simply complete Vortech kit. Installed, it will be well within your budget. No need for UTEC, fuel system...etc..etc. We are Vortech dealers too, so no worries.

 

Would it be advisable to buy a used kit to save on some money? And since I am only planning on running at low boost for now, is it safe to run without an intercooler (knocking out like 1500) if I decided to go with the greddy?

 

I wouldnt suggest running an FI system without an intercooler. As far as used kits are concerned, they are rarely 100% complete, and they can cost more to install if the shop has to track parts down, or fix things.

 

do it right the first time. Don't buy something you may not be totally satisfied with later, even if it means saving up just a little bit more it will be money well spent. TT for me next month Sharif! Will be calling soon to set everything up.

 

yea its better off to wait till u can get a complete job so nothing gets messed up

 

If you're going FI, do not cut corners. Do it right and do it right the first time. It would be in your best interest to save up and get the Greddy's since you mentioned about a possible rebuild in the future.

As you may already know, Forged Performance comes highly recommended. A big bonus since you're located so close to Forged Performance.
I drove nearly a thousand miles to have my car worked on at Forged Performance and will do it again when I'm ready to build.

 

Have you thought about running a simple turbonetics setup?

 

the obvious answer would be to read through the F/I subforum and look at all the stuff involved with this.

 

Oh trust me I have. But no one really talks about prices when they go FI (unfortunately that is one of my main concerns). I'm trying to get as much information as possible before i call a shop and actually have a talk with them. I rather asked questions that only they can answer, than play 1001 questions and waste their valuable time. Which Thankfully I've gotten a lot of helpful responses. I think unless I come up with some more money SOON, I'm gogin to go with a Vortech SC. I've talked to a few guys hta have it and it seems to be what I am looking for. Only drawback is there will be no way to boost power as high as a greddy tt in the future.

 

I would spend the extra dough on the TT setup. Vortech will be fine for a while, but won't be enough over time. I would not consider the turbonetics kit either. IMHO, the twin turbo setups are the only way to go on this car. You can retain stock like drivability and milage (I average 26.5 mpg on my last trip to chicago) and have tons of potential in the future. The extra 2-3 grand is more than worth it for the twins

 

I feel your pain, Iv been stuck between VSC and GTT for 2 years. I wont even buy an exhaust for my Z because I still don't know if I'm staying NA or FI. LOL. I stopped all mods on my Z and started saving money. but now that I have enough you'd think hey lets do it right... no thats still not it. Now I'm thinking damn do I really want to spend all that money on my car. Or should I pay off my car, credit cards, buy a house, pay my wife tuition, etc.. If I spent the money on NA stuff and looks I could have one bad *** Z. I mean most people don't have turbo and they are already fast. I don't street race anymore. Most girls don't know the difference. ahh!! decisions decisions!!! So I'm not going to tell you what Id do when I haven't even decided. Sorry to high jack your thread.

 

Sharif is da man! Whenever you go twins or any type of FI, make sure you save up enough to rebuild/fix as well since you technically never know when it's going to go out on you, especially on a stock block! (BTW, don't ever buy used kits unless it's local where you can swap parts in person!)

However, do not get a Vortech. Most Supercharger owners end up going twins anyways so I really see no point in this.

 

OP: This might not be what you want to hear, if you're deciding to go FI (any kit), I recommend not using ALL the excess money you have. There will ALWAYS be a chance of the motor letting go. Of course going to Sharif will minimize that chance, but that chance is still there. If you don't have an extra 6G's to build your motor, or even at least 2G's to buy a replacement oem motor, I wouldn't consider going FI at this time.

Either way, since you're so close to FP, go talk to Sharif. He'll give you the best options. Trust me, he tells it like it is. He'll give you all the scenarios for you to make your own decision.