I've decided to go with a Vortec Supercharger to upgrade my stock (base) 2003 350z.

I'm really wondering if there's any obvious upgrades I should get to go along with this... any advice/opinions would be great.

I'm not planning on exceeding 375hp, so as far as I can tell I can basically keep stock everything?

Some background of my goals etc:

• Purely a daily driver
• Essentially a hold-over for a GT-R, so I'm not concerned with huge power right now, just want something to spruce up life until I can get the beast
• I have 3 kids, no time to do maintenance. Longevity and peace of mind are major. I don't even have a garage right now, so I'm not into screwing around.
• Looking to make about 375 to the wheels
• My car does not have a LSD, and 3rd gear syncro's are shot
• Budget is ~10,000 not counting Labor, SC is already on it's way from Ebay.

So far my plan is simply:

• Vortec V-3 Supercharger $5400
• Exedy Stage 1 Organic Clutch $410
• Replacement CD009 Transmission - $1695

Anything major I should add? I have a couple g's left over in the budget...

Things I'm considering:

• Exhaust (any recommendations? something deep and growly)
• Headers (signficant gains to be had?)
• LSD (worth it?)

As much as the GT-R is my dream car, there's something so beautiful about a RWD 6 speed, and I don't wanna give it up! So this is really just an attempt to breath new life into the old girl, and give me something fun to bag the **** out of in the next few years

 

Hmmm given that I'm in Edmonton Canada, and I do drive this guy in the Winter, I suppose an LSD would be a no brainer!?

I'm looking at a Quaife QDF11L for $1149
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/C...068.148.73.178

Good choice?

 

I guess my tentative build is shaping up to be:

• Vortec V-3 Supercharger $5400
• Exedy Stage 1 Organic Clutch $410
• Replacement CD009 Transmission - $1695
• Top Speed Cat-Back - $499
• Quaife LSD - $1149

 

I'd strongly suggest a fuel return system and a fuel pump. Uprev is a very good choice for tuning the Z.

 

If you're getting a gtr, don't waste a penny on a Z period.


For 375 crank just get a stage 0 fuel return I'd get like 440cc's, nice exhaust (long tubes+motordyne is what I would get if I went s/c or just ART pipes), nice street-able clutch, rjm bracket, buy some nice tires and get a nice set of coils.... Pulleys wouldn't be a bad idea just to get that done and out of the way. Maybe some upgraded rotors/pads if you have the brembo setup. That way you'd have a car you can track.
+255 drop in pump for sure.
Osiris for tuning, and find a good shop.

Pretty easy. I'd wait on that cd009, unless your tranny has problems. Kind of a lot of dough... it just depends how bad you want those triple cone syncros.

 

^ He said in the OP that his 3rd gear synchros are shot.

 

should be fun. i would do the trans now too..if you have the usable capitol, why not

 

OP listen to Resmarted. I'm getting a 2009/2010 Titanium GT-R. Once i made the decision to get one all monies for the Z were diverted to the GT-R fund. It makes sense fiscally as well. I'm on track to put a sizeable down payment and purchase the Alpha 6 kit when i buy it. My Z will be the backup car when she goes into the shop for the Alpha 6 conversion. Keep the Z N/A.

 

How about labour costs?

 

forgot this.

10 grand is 1/4 the way to a used 2009 gtr. Why even mess with the headache and WASTED money into this car? Yes, the money will be gone and lost if you put it into this car.

Take the 10k, put it in a CD to gain some interest and keep saving. By putting this into your car you just extend the time it is going to take to save up. I'll tell you first hand you will continue to spend more and more money on the car through small items and little things that go wrong. FI on a car is nothing more than a money pit that keeps costing you down the road. Enjoy the car for what it is and save your money for your dream car. Resale value on your car will be no different with the supercharger on it so you just lost 10k if you decide to sell this to pay for the gtr. I doubt I could get mid 20's out of my car that has almost 60k into it now.

 

Like I said in the OP, going to AWD + Paddle Shifters would lose a bit of the pure fun factor... I really wanna keep my Z and just have it around as a fun car. And I just love the idea of having a garage with a Supercharged 350z and Godzilla, both sitting there ready and waiting...

I'm saving for a downpayment on a new house right now, which is why I can't justify spending a ton of money at the moment, but I can slip 10k in there So, the GTR is likely 2 years off, and that's alot of time to fill!

ps. Oh and there's nothing in my area for 50k, at best I could find a used GTR in the 85-95k range, and there's like 2 for sale in the entire city :/

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, for anyone saying stay NA or whatever, the kit is ordered! It's too late now

Couple followup Q's I guess...

* No one is mentioning headers, I guess the stock ones are pretty efficient, even for SC?
* Thoughts on the Quaife LSD? Alternatives?
* Is a Stage 1 Exedy a good choice on the clutch?

Could you go into this a bit more? Why do I need a fuel return system? And the fuel pump, is that just to be on the safe side?

 

i was about the post that same statement! lol. i dont know much about superchargers, but good luck with everything.

 

use the 10k to buy facebook stock, you can buy a gtr in 2 days....

 

Looking at the V-3 Vortech kit, it looks like it already contains a Fuel Pump replacement, and an FMU:
http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/product.php?p=117

Anyone know how well these work??

 

If you buy the Vortech V3 kits, it come with Walbro Fuel Pump 255

 

Sweet, I was wondering if anyone knew the make of the pump. And hopefully the EMU is enough to handle the Fuel Pressure without needing to get the Fuel Return system, as long as I'm not planning on upgrading further...?

 

Adn just to make sure I understand this Up-Rev thing, I basically get one of these:
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/C...768.148.73.178

And then I can just take it into a licensed UpRev shop and get them to tune it?

 

PRICELESS!! A buddy of mine did this when it was at 38$ LOL! 19.05 ATM. I think he wants to buy the car not the diecast.

 

For your stated sub-400whp intentions, headers and a return fuel system are not necessary and would be a waste of money that would be better left to save up for the GT-R. Although not necessary to reach your modest power goal, I would get high flow cats or resonated cat-delete pipes before I would invest in headers. The headers flow fine for 400whp. The stock cats would be more of a restriction.

The Quaife is a good LSD and is known to be more streetable than the clutch type LSD's.

As for clutch, the JWT clutch is very popular and would be another good choice for that power level.