I did the same thing when I was in Iraq, I had the Stillen installed before I returned. If I knew then what I know now, I would have probably went Vortech, TT, or ST. The amount of money I spent for installation, parts, and upgrades I could have gotten more power with Turbonetics or APS. It is a personal choice, I am happy for now with my Stage 4. I am going to get my moneys worth out the SC and engine and then I am going to upgrade. If your going to get a bonus, I suggest you be patient until you get back or talk to one of reputable installers on the forum.

I have not had any problems with my car since the install but it is definately no Vette killer. Get the most out of your engine that your paying interest on and when your close to paying it off or getting mileage on it then upgrade.

 

thanks for the info everyone

 

I know I am opening a semi old thread, but i was looking at the stillen kit also. I have one question, i have an auto...i have been searching, will still search, but wanted some input also. it looks like the stillen kit is the only one safe for an auto...is that true or is the vortech kit ok for an auto.

(and yes, i know i should have got a stick, but i got WAY too good of a deal private sale to go with the auto)

 

The tq converter isn't going to fully lock up until around 3500 rpms to even start making full use of the stillen's low end tq regardless if the engine is making lots of tq or not

If you're already moving and hits the gas, the transmission is going to downshift anyway and put you in the mid/upper powerband which isn't really the stillen's strong point.

IMO if you had a 6 speed, then I might recommend the stillen. But with an automatic, you're only going to get half the stillen's benefits

 

so then is the vortech ok to use? what i was reading said a screw type supercharger is safe on an auto, but a centrifuge type (vortech is one right?) is hard on an auto. so i guess is there a supercharger safe for an auto?

 

basically lets put it this way, BIG POWER = Build the Tranny LOW POWER = Its fine stock.

 

so what would be low power then? plus i was seeing some significant issues with the vortech not really being reliable. so a stage one or two stillen would be ok? is the install pretty easy?

 

the only thing to watch out for with the auto tranny is how much tq you run. The stillen and vortech really won't be able to make enough tq for the stock auto transmission to not be able to hold unless you're really pushing out some big numbers

vortech should work fine. In a lot of ways it's very well suited for the automatic transmission. There have been a lot of bad vortech blowers a few months back, but Vortech supposedly has fixed what was causing the issue.

There's lots of people with stock auto transmissions with vortechs and they all run just fine. Some have upgraded the valvebody for faster shifts, but you don't really need that unless you want it. I'm not sure why your sources would say the centrifugal SC's would be more stressful on an auto transmission. I could see a turbo overstressing an auto though because of its high peak tq

 

had something to do with over working the tranny. it was a forced induction info website, so i figured they would know what they were talking about, i could have figured wrong though. thanks for the info. by they way, how easy is the vortech to install and does it need a tune?

 

vortech isn't too bad to install. Probably one of the easier FI kits to install aside from the stillen. The stock tune it comes with is ok, but is a little on the rich side. Usually people benefit from a tune and gain around 20-25hp over the default tune

check this thread for more vortech info
https://my350z.com/forum/forced-induction/270770-vortech-faq-read-this-before-asking-vortech-questions.html

 

Stillen got lot of torque @ low rpms and maxes out at hight Rpm.
vortech is the way to go!

 

I agree with your first sentence, but not the 2nd. Different kits for different goals and intentions.

 

i disagree with his first sentence actually......i read that thread and had plenty of questions still.

 

what questions did you still have? Maybe I can add them into the thread and try to answer them

Not sure when you last read it, but I edit and update the big long posts on the first page all the time as people send me PM's

 

i think you answered them in another thread: mainly, is it safe with an auto tranny and ease of install. i do agree that the above mentioned info thread was great...just didn't have what i needed.

 

if all you want to be is as fast as the HR's go right ahead and spend 6k.

 

no prob

actually I did add those things into the thread later after talking with you about it.
Just now I added in some more details about those things

 

great thread even better

 

Bud please dont go with the stillen unless you are doing a lot of auto x.Almost anything for the price is better.........i should know cause back when i bought the kit the only options were the ati and the greddy twins.Back then there was nothing really known about our cars and the only kit that didnt blow the engines was the stillen.

 

not looking into stillen. i was talking about sentry65's thread on the vortech.