Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

I'm curious as to who have purchased/installed a Vortech for their 350Z? Most the the posts I have seen have come from G35 coupe/sedan owners, of whom have some good results.

I've seen the G35 owners getting 320-350hp and ~300 lb-ft. But then I saw some post saying they only got 302hp on their 350Z. What gives?

I was really excited when Vortech introduced their kit. I know a few Mustang/Camaro guys who swear by them. But I have not seen anything from 350Z owners that are particularly promising.

350Z owners with Vortech's please post with your impressions and any other install/tuning details.

I'd like to see 350Z results as well because I'd like to know what numbers are being put up w/o having to make changes to the programming of the splitsecond box that acts as a piggyback to the ECU.

Until Vortech finishes a G35 kit, G35 owners (there are at least 2 of us so far) have had to use a tuner to program the SS box. The results have been great--but it leaves me curious as to the A/F and HP numbers of the stock programming as Vortech sets it.

Here's my G35 sedan dyno (vortech + stillen exhaust) in 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear, respectively:

http://www.audioenvy.com/images/g35/dynoone.jpg

I hope any 350Z owners with the Vortech kit will chime in with a dyno for comparative purposes.

--Steve

Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

I was told my Z did 305 RWHP on the vortech dyno. Which is more than the 6spd manual did on there first car. I have auto. I need to take it to a dyno jet to get same numbers as everybody else. They say there is 50 to 60 hp difference in dynos. The other problem is correction factor and what its set at. Change that and anybody can make 400RWHP.

Yeah, the dyno machine Vortech uses is notoriously low compared to other machines. I'm hoping you'll do a Dynojet install for a closer comparison (although differences still exist from Dynojet to Dynojet of course).

--Steve

Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

350zer,

what's your impression on the vortech? Would you do it again, and what would you do differently? And how much were you charged for the install? How long did it take?

Hope you don't mind answering, particularly if you've addressed these questions before. I'm really torn between and FI system or an engine NA build up.

Wow, I am surprised that there aren't more posts. It seems like there are at least 15 ATI owners, and the Vortech seems like a much better deal and many people seemed to be waiting for it....

Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

350zer,

So what did Vortech have to say about the dyno? If the 350Z laid down 305hp on the vortech dyno, and their claim is 412hp from their ads, are they saying that there is a 26% drivetrain loss on the Z? Even the lowest baselines I've seen are showing no more than 20% loss, and on average about 17%. It doesn't seem to add up.

Has Vortech provided a dyno of a base 350Z to compare their supercharged 350Z? I would suspect that their dyno of a base Z would only be about 190hp at the wheel, seeing how they claim to generate an add'l ~120 hp at the crank based on their ad.

I'd really like to pick up a Vortech, especially because of their good reputation, but not if I'm not getting as much performance as others are getting from the GReddy TT kits, or even the Stillen or Procharger (which I personally would steer away from).

Yeagghhhhhh!

Another FI A5T. So does your tranny stick due to lazy shifts or is this just an anomaly on two cars?

Re: Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

The GReddy TT kit costs WAY more than the Vortech so that's not a very fair comparison. However, my pre-Vortech dyno (G35 sedan, mind you) with an Injen CAI and the Crawford plenum was 217 whp. My latest dyno with Vortech and Stillen exhaust (no Crawford and obviously no Injen) was 355 whp. Even accounting for variances yadda yadda that's still a pretty good gain.

Anecdotally, the Procharger seems to be getting better gains on a PSI for PSI comparison with the Vortech--but the Vortech install includes timing retard which, uh, some people would say is important.

--Steve

Re: Re: Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

Zimbo,

That is very impressive, and a very compelling reason to get the Vortech kit. I'm just scratching my head as to why the 350Z Vortech dyno yielded such low results.


Is the timing retard incorporated in the piggyback unit to the ECU?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

Both Zimbo and I had custom tuned vortech piggybacks. I heard the stock programming in those vortech boxes are below average. This could explain why that 350Z is getting lower numbers then us.

Yes my tranny is a little lazy in drive. It does shift when it bumps the rev limiter. Not for long though. Have a guy here in so. cal that only works on import autos and wants to fix my problem.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Where are the Vortech 350Z's?
 

There dyno is a mustang dyno. It is a load bearing dyno and is good for tuning. Numbers are lower on there dyno. The only way to get good numbers is to use the same dyno with different set ups. Correction factors can be different and also the calibration of the dyno. Yes there stock Z made 190 hp and also mine is 5AT.

Yeah, $1.99 and I both had custom tuning and we both have 6MT cars. Every out-of-the box ATI kit I've seen numbers from would indicate that the 5AT gets lower numbers.

Also, don't discount the fact that the Vortech dyno on which the 305 whp was measured is notoriously low. This is the same machine that measured the stock Z at 190 whp, so that 305 is probably around 350 on a dynojet. Vortech came up with the 412 crank HP estimate by doing pre- and post-dynos and then multiplied the percent increase by the 287 crank HP number.

--Steve

Zimbo or Dollar99,

Are you guys daily driving your Vortech G's? You guys are getting sub freezing weather in NC and DC. Have you guys heard the issues with the blower ceasing because of sub freezing temperatures?

It does get into the 20's in Pensacola, FL during the early morning when I have to drive to work. I'd hate for the car not work because the blower's ceased up. Have you heard of this problem?

Yeah, mine is a daily driver. In fact, I take my kids to school in it. I think the teachers in the dropoff lane think something is wrong with my car.

I keep the car in a garage overnight and stay under 2000 rpms until the engine is warm.

--Steve

High Dyno Numbers are nice but I don't put much stock in them. Tuning is more important.

Example, I had a 2002 Z28 that only put down 322 to the rear wheels and everyone thought that was low, it had major Mods.

I had a Yank 3200 Stall TC in there with a B&M Cooler and some 315 wide Nitto DR's and was smacking low 12.'s when cars with higher dyno numbers were struggling for 12.9's lol go figure.

Man, I need to change my driving habits................:D

Question to all the Vortech owners : How hard is it to take off the air filter for cleaning??????

I heard someone comment that removing the Vortech intake filter on a 350Z is somewhat challenging. On the G35 the filter doesn't fit the same and goes down near where a CAI filter would be--meaning that you can get at it via the wheel well.

--Steve