devildriver421

iTrader: (1)

Hey all, I have done a few searches and haven't quite found the comprehensive answers I need, so I come to you for guidance. I have an 04 z, bone stock for now. I'll be deploying to Afghanistan in September, and when I come back I'll have about $8,000 to drop for performance. That's aside from a sound system, wheels suspension....just power. I originally wanted to stay away from FI just because of the reliability issues(I need this car to last about another 4 years and it has 50k on it now). But the more I looked into what I could do with $8,000, the more I realized FI is the only way to go on these engines. I'm keeping this as my DD, and only looking to track it to get a time and have some fun, not compete. So I've set my goal at 400rwhp.

My first thought was a SC, either the Stillen or the Vortech. I don't like that you have to replace the hood with the Stillen, and neither of them get the power I'd like since they nearly max out my budget. I'm pretty set on the Turbonetics Single turbo kit. This will run me 4500 for stage 1, 5500 for stage 1.5.


The turbonetics kit claims 360-385 for stage 1, 420-450 for 1.5 so my first question is: Is this just bolting on and tuning the turbo or with other mods? I see the 1.5 has bigger injectors, is that the only difference?

I have a buddy who will do the work for me for free....ok a few beers n cigarettes, but close enough. I'm leaving about $1,000 for tuning after everything is done. That still leaves ~$2000. I was thinking borla headers and borla catback.

Does anyone have any other recommendations/suggestions? As I mentioned, not planning on taking this thing to compete, so I'm not concerned about being able to get more power if I decided to, just give a cap-off hp at 450, which should be safe on stock internals.

Thanks

06g35meister

iTrader: (3)

Vortech with supporting mods (fuel pump, tune, etc) will come in at about 6.5k and will give you 400hp with a 287 pulley.

devildriver421

iTrader: (1)

But most of the dyno sheets I've seen havent exceeded 330 without other mods...Leaving 70hp to be gained with only ~$2000. I understand it could be tuning but I don't believe that 6 or 7 different reputable shops can't properly tune an engine with a SC

johnwigs

you need to see what the treadstone kit looks like... Ive installed 1 and will never do it again... I refuse to put my name on shady turbo kits... if you want reliability then get yourself a set of twins from JWT... if there is a bad review of JWT I havent seen it... just food for thought

rcdash

iTrader: (18)

If you are on a budget, I would select either the PowerLab kit or the Boosted Performance single turbo kit (this is brand new but looking good).

Check the recent threads on these kits:

https://my350z.com/forum/forced-indu...ts-of-pix.html

Elperuano

Yea, this topic has been discussed a lot. Stock block turbonetics will require some work to get ur goals.
I have a PL gt35r kit n it got me 420 stock block, with a haltech all day.
So with that keep in mind you're gonna always want more. Think of long term and not just the moment (as I did). Buy something that will give u room to grow later

tiguy99

iTrader: (3)

If that were me right now, I'd look into the Boosted Performance kit and call it a day. You can swap the turbo out when it's time for more power. It also seems to be the most flexible offering for the VQ market out of all the turbo kits available

athenG

iTrader: (2)

Dont know how the Powerlab and the Boosted Performance kit cost but I think Boosted kit is much easier to install and it look like it has the flexibility to grow. Both will give the power you wanted and even more...

seymore4

iTrader: (27)

Do NOT boost it.

Take 3K and spend it on bolt-ons and an Osiris tune. Take the other 5K and buy a busted 240 with an SR swap that goes really fast. And enjoy your Z for another 4 years relatively trouble free.

1GR8350Z

iTrader: (1)

On your budget, this is exactly what I would do.

Are you planning on running stock clutch, OP?

athenG

iTrader: (2)

/\ stock clutch wont hold unless you have no plan on boosting. My stock clutch lasted 3 months and I only had 15K on the ODO before the turbo. A vendor here recommended the Competition stage 2 clutch and that is the biggest mistake I have made so far. The clutch smell so bad at the track and I wasnt even slipping the clutch that bad. My Competition is toast now

1GR8350Z

iTrader: (1)

Competition Stage 4 here and fortunately no problems.

Chris@FsP

iTrader: (4)

For reliability, I vote for Vortech.

If you decide to go single turbo, I like the BP kit over anything else out there.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

My first goal would be to get the money. But that's just me.

Chris@FsP

iTrader: (4)

^^Once again, davidv drags us all back down to reality

graffkid732

iTrader: (44)

Ok from here. If you look up Turbonetics on here. I have read nothing but bad things about that kit. What do they come with? Turbo, injectors, fuel pump, something to tune with? $8,000 all though seems like a nice budget, can be used up fast, believe me. Unless you look at a used kit it and other used parts it may be hard.

In your post I didn't see anything about Wideband, any boost gauge, anything for temps(talking about lasting awhile, would be a good idea to monitor everything) Fuel pump, Exhaust, Injectors if not included, Clutch/Flywheel, Exhaust wraps or something to keep temps down, Osiris or Access Port will be cheaper than a standalone. I could easily be missing things.

Kit: 5-6000k$ new ( Maybe more, haven't searched for kits )
Exhaust: 8-1000$?
Injectors/Fuel Pump: 550-600$ ( Depending on a full kit or tuner )
Clutch / Flywheel: 8-1,100$ depending on what you get
Electronics: 600$+ Depending on brand and how many you choose to get and what you get.
Tune: about 1,000$ ( Depending on a full kit or tuner, but will still cost some to have what ever it is tuned if it comes with something )

Right there buying everything new you're reaching that limit if not exceeding it easily.

marques1

iTrader: (5)

lol

superchargedg

iTrader: (4)

The Stillen sucks and i would go with Boosted Performance kit.

thatv35guy

iTrader: (1)

I've selected the PowerLab GT35R single turbo kit, that's my recommendation for boost!
I've also gone with the ProEFI Pro48 for tuning...hoping to have it installed in the next two weeks!

johnwigs

ive never driven a single turbo Z... if it is like a single turbo RB then the broad power band is no longer there... wait I have driven a single turbo Gcoupe... I felt it made less power than stock (I like low end torque) so much emphasis on HP# goal... what ever happened to usable power under the curve and throttle response... Im no expert nor am I trying to pursuade anyone... the PL GT35R... single turbo... well maped out intercooler piping and has a decent power curve... what you need to do is take a drive with someone with a turbonetics kit and see if you like how the power is (or lack there of) whoever came up with the fans on the intercoolers???? WTF!!! and I am pretty sure you wont go down that road