Currently I've got an 05 with the DE engine with around 70k miles and I've been considering turboing the car for a while now.

A friend of mine says that he can do it with a single 63mm turbo and get around 380-400HP on stock internals. I know this has been done as I have done a lot of research on it.

However, I called around to a lot of shops today and was basically laughed at for wanting to do a single turbo in a 350z. Both shops I called told me it wasn't worth my time or efforts to single turbo the car and that a twin turbo was the only option. One store suggested a Vortec Supercharger though.

What do you guys think? I'm looking to just get some fun out of the car and I don't have 10 grand to spend on upgrading internals and buying TT kits. I just want to have around 380-440hp and have some fun.

 

You should call those shops back and tell them that they are morons as there are plenty of single turbo Z's out there (like mine) that run both strong and safely. They were probably just trying to up-sell you, if anything but **** them.

It is worth doing but just make sure you aren't going on the razer's edge of tuning and try to be conservative to save your engine from blowing.

 

I can only assume that the shops laughing at your ST idea are only selling TT kits. You should probably stay away from them when you do buy a FI system, and it is time for tuning.

A 63mm does not mean much. A 63mm compressor wheel will get you where you want to go, but the other half of the turbo is unknown (assuming you are talking about a 63mm compressor wheel)

 

So if it blows were will you get the money to fix it? heres more costs - Tune? support mods? Install? etc.. etc... This is not a cheap MOD to get into. The Vortec suggestion will get you there, BP also has a single turbo kit thats cost affective. If you cant afford to fix it, dont mod it. Not trying too squash your plans, but you need to research more into this...

Good luck and if you make it have fun. I wish i only spent 10 grand..lol

 

This is easily do-able.. my st setup (turbonetics kit with garrett gt3582r turbo) produced 400whp/400 ft.lbs torque at 13 psi. Tuned off Haltech platinum pro engine management by Portland speed Industries. Id give ya the kit and haltech for 5500. Custom turbo built by garrett for my 350zescort specifically. Pm me.

 

OP... the shops that you called just might be retarded, there are several ST kits out there, BP/Turbonetics/Powerlab to name a few.

400 hp on stock internals is very safe, but be sure to get a good tuner that knows what hes doing, reliability can be made or broken with this so its very important to not cheap out on this.

The Vortech option that was brought up is very doable as well, before my motor blew I was enjoying three years or fun and excitement on a V2 blower making just under 400hp...

Now to address a few other things, you are going to be needing the supporting mods i.e. injectors, fuel pump, and tuning solution. these are just as important as the right kit selection for the type of performance your looking for. All of this will fall well with in your budget, but you do run the risk of motor failure. Some ppl get lucky and beat on their cars for a ton of miles, and others only get a few hundred. I would suggest that you save some money incase this happens to you. other wise, do a little research, choose wisely and GL with your endevor to rock a boosted VQ

 

Lol single turbo z is dumb ... Idiots Hal's z is a single at runs low 9s all day

 

A Vortech or a BP single turbo should be your options. Sounds like you want a budget build, so those are about as budget as you can get.

Nitrous is another option for "quick fun".

 

BP +1

 

Is that a DJ or DD number. Most TN kits on stock internals run 8psi or 10psi max.

 

Don't forget the Momentum Performance kit as well which is arguably the most reliable kit on the market with the minimum amount of turbo lag.

 

I personally think that if you don't have 10k set aside, you should stay away from FI. It's a lot more than meets the eye. I was recently planning on going the "safe" single turbo route at 8psi with my stock 06 350z and the parts list alone added up to almost 10k, and that's before install. Keep in mind, thats just my opinion. Do what you want....

 

where did you do all the research? you joined here this month and this is your first post.

Quick search in the FI forums would have easily shown you what you can get out of single turbo kits on a stock block. Very common and very easy to find info.

 

There is a lot of hard truth in this post. If I didn't know any better I'd think I wrote it. My conservative 13k build ballooned when one thing went wrong (namely progressive auto in Victoria.)

An engine rebuild is a daunting hazard that causes many to stick with threads about "thinking of turbo"

 

That shop you talked to should be avoided. BP and Momentum make great, proven, ST kits.

 

If you spend the money to buy a turnkey kit 10k is enough. No the car won't be totally done, and you'll have traction issues etc, but it's enough to get the car running pretty well provided you can do the work.

Not to sh*t on momentum, but the whole reliability thing they spin is bs. They have a great design (vband clamps etc), but the rest of the reliability really comes from who's installing the kit, and who's tuning it. From what I've seen (online and in person) the turbo kits for the Z/G are all pretty reliable aside from the tnetics which is just garbage. And if you take into consideration the shops that are installing the momentum kits are really big names, dynosty, forged, vinny ten... you really wouldn't have issues with any kit. Furthermore it looks like momentum provides amazing instructions (their packaging/instructions for just a shift **** made me LOL).

 

What started out as a blown Vortech head unit on a stock motor (which was on the car when I bought it), turned into about $15k for a built motor & highly modified APS single turbo kit. OP you should do more research as several of these members have helped guide me through the maze of getting the Z to make good power.

My Z made 375rwhp with the Vortech. After getting used to the power you will want more. I was already looking into other alternatives to make more power before the bearings let go in the Vortech. Boosting the Z is not cheap and never seems to be all the way done. Just when you think you're finished you will find something else that either needs to be done or you want to be done. Just my 2 cents........

 

You need to find better shops dude...

And dont thing about boosting.... just do it.
Best mod EVER.

I put on a built up Vortech package (sc plus mods)
there is nothing like punching with 400+ hp behind the wheels.

I went with a SC as the tourque is generally lower, and "safer" on the internals.

Turbo is the way to go for more power in the long run (my opinion).

 

One thing to keep in mind with SC... you will get tired of getting beat by V8's and more torquey turbo cars, and eventually want to go turbo yourself, so why not do it from the start and save the hassle/money of building twice? :P

/sarcasm (but I see it so often, just sayin LOL)

 

This is a common misconception with superchargers...Plenty of guys on here have put the time and effort in to make great numbers and turbo like torque curves. With the right supporting mods and a 3.12 pulley you will make the same amount of horsepower as a number of turbo kits.