Why are you guys and girls going with the ATI unit if it keeps making engines go "kabooooom"?
Why not go with the VORTECH or STILLEN (besides the hood)?
I would like to hear youre opinions on these systems.I personally like the VORTECH .I saw all the Z's at the "supercharger shootout"
and I thought the vortech Z kicked *** and sonded great.
But then again what do I know Im just a so called newbie........
I have no idea when it comes to forced induction, so I guess im turning to you guys, any info or opinions would be cool.

Later thanks in advance.....

 

The majority of the Z owners with superchargers at this point seem to have more money than sense. They saw the ATI had the largest peak dyno number and chose accordingly, without evaluating risk and safeguarding appropriately. Now they're all surprised that their cars, tuned for summer temperature and humidity, are blowing in drier/colder fall and winter conditions (different environmental conditions are just one reason why some engines are popping, I'm sure there are other causes as well).

Some people have chosen to install timing retard boxes. IMO, that's the smart way to go. Tune carefully, and then install safeguards as backup.

The Vortech kit seems like a nice kit, but it doesn't matter who you go with. Poor tuning and ignorance will lead to blown engines no matter which kit you go with. The ATI kit has had more issues because it's running the most boost.

Some people (probably ATI owners with blown engines) will have a problem with what I'm saying, and that's fine. The reality is, if you boost an NA motor, you risk detonation and possible failure. You have to be prepared for that.

 

Hey Esrael,
All that makes nothing but sense to me, but doesnt the vortech kit come with some type of timing control box?
So i have to worrry about timing, and now the weather.
Do you think in So. Cali. its that important (the weather that is)
This F.I thing is starting to get on my "THAT SUCKS" list.

 

Not true. The Vortech kit is 8 psi and the ATI kit is 7 psi. You are correct that the Vortech kit has a timing retardation device whereas the ATI kit does not.

Also, as far as I know I'm the only person on this forum who has installed the Vortech--primarily because it's brand spanking new.

Since I have the Vortech kit installed in my car, I'm hoping that these ATI issues are simply due to lack of timing retardation or over-agressive A/F ratios or poor tuning and not something inherently incompatible with the Nissan engine/ECU because I would sure hate for my car to go kaput.

--Steve

 

timing is everything.......Stillen knew it.......Vortech knew it........ATI is just coming to grips with.........i think they're still in the "denial" phase

 

Zimbo, do you know what kinda device the Vortech came with that performs the timing retard?

 

Apparently the timing control box is a SplitSecond unit.

 

Yep it's splitSecond and they won't release the amounts of timing they pull for obvious proprietary issues. I'm hoping someone with a kit installs one nearby me so I can figure out how much timing they're pulling as a reference for my J&S safeguard box.

 

I'm even more of a newbie in which I have to ask what a 'timing retard box' is, what it does, and how it does it. Anyone have time to field that one?

 

same here. what is a timing retard box?

BTW, what happened to the quote button?

thanx

 

Just click on reply under the person who you want to quote.


Yielar

 

Reply button = Quote button

 

Is there a compatible MAP for this car? IMO that would be the safest alternative although a grand or more.

 

The timing retard box is a device that will retard ignition timing to hopefully avoid detonation. These usually intercept the coil trigger wiring between the ecu and the coils, so the box can slightly delay the signal to fire each coil. Some work based on rpm, some on boost, and some on a combination of the two.

The reason for running this is to pull the timing back to a safe point while boosting. The 350z factory ecu assumes a naturally aspirated setup, which can tolerate more advanced timing. Allowing it to run those timing maps with a supercharger may cause detonation, possibly severe enough to cause engine failure. When tuning for forced induction, the timing is just as important as the fuel control.

 

Thanks for the response.