New stillen sc kit no boost.
 

Hi guys,

I've been reading these forums for a while but haven't really posted much.

Just installed the stillen sc kit on my 2013 Z manual base+sports package. The install went pretty well and I didn't have any major issues. However, i don't think I am making much(if any) boost. I don't think it is a serious problem since the car seems to be running fine. No crazy noises, starts up right away and idles/drives without indicating that anything is dangerously out of whack.. I just didn't notice much of a difference than pre SC. I mean it's a bit peppier and pulls harder... But no where near what I would have thought. I know people complain about the stock stillen tune but even if it was just a 50hp gain I think I would have immediately felt the difference . The only engine mods before were gen 3 intakes and topspeed cat back. My guess is that there is some sort of vacuum/boost leak.

The only real diagnostic tool I have is the torque app for android that connects to the OBDII port via Bluetooth. It's not a wide band AFR gauge, but it is not running lean. It can also read manifold pressure and can "calculate" boost pressure from this. I know this isn't an accurate reading of boost pressure, but it was dead on for my GTI and brother's STi. This was giving me a reading of 1.2 psi..... Which seems like it would make sense with the slight performance increase I noticed. Makes me think the bypass valve isn't operating correctly/opening too early.

Has anyone had any issues like this?


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You need a real boost and afr gauge. It does sound like you've got a stuck valve or boost leak.

New stillen sc kit no boost.
 

Thanks. Yeah I know those would be ideal. I'm schedule for a tune/diagnostics at PTuning On May 1st. Do you think there would be serious risk in driving it as is?

As many cars as have lost motors with stillen kits and their godawful tune, I'd sideline it until you can get a decent time on it.

Seriously you guys need appointments for tuners ? :D
Thats umm weird to me haha

I second what Chuck says, You NEED those gauges.
Good Luck OP

Haha yep.. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon


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Stillen Kit is pathetic. That kit has killed more motors than anything.

Guys dont scare OP in to getting a GTM tt/sc kit, by telling him stillen destroys engines.


P.S. stillen is ok, but you have to get a custom tune, its a must.

New stillen sc kit no boost.
 

The kit will be fine, you just have to get a good tune and not try and push the kit beyond what it's designed for. The failures occur when people push for more power.

Yeah I'm not chasing crazy numbers. I just want something "reliable" and it seems that people on this forum who don't push it with pulleys and impeller upgrades are able to run it for several thousand miles without popping the motor


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Pretty much my answers have been said , You NEED a custom tune for sure , and the guages are a must, I would honesy check the BPV did you install the kit? I've seen a few guys install the BPV upside down :/. And just for thoughts I made 300 WHP ith my bolt ins and only made 342 WHP on Stillens tune. Custom netted my 412 WHP. And listen to chuck don't mod the SC at all.

New stillen sc kit no boost.
 

Yes I installed the kit. Bpv is not upside down(I checked). And the piping for the bpv came pre assembled from stillen and there is only one way for it to go on between the inlet pipe and charge pipe.

Agreed gauges are a must. Coming soon along with a tune. Drove it again today. Definitely is faster than before. Maybe I'm just not happy with my $7k 42 hp gain haha


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My car sucked on the canned tune because it was way rich. It will come to life with a good tune.


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Thanks for the replies. Feeling a bit better. I'll keep you guys posted for the results of the tune/dyno. I just hope it's ready for the tail of the dragon on May 9th!


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^ We are having a dyno day next week in MD.. Tuning a turbo 370z you should try and stop by.. Will be @ Pure Automotive. I can send you the details if your interested

Will be using EcuTek

Yes definitely interested. I was leaning towards EcuTek but the tuner here(PTuning) said their shop is not tuning 370z's with it yet, only uprev.


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You can stick with the uprev, but come by and check out what EcuTek is doing ;)

Go buy a vacuum gauge, there 15$, Get 6 feet of 1/4" vacuum hose.

Buy a 1$ T-fitting, hook it up to the hose that goes from the manifold to the BPV.

You should have 14-20 HG's at idle, it should stay somewhat steady.

Grab a friend, do a couple pulls while your friend is watching the gauge. See what kind

of boost your getting. This is what I did the first day my kit was done installed. (before I

had a boost gauge). You might find your HG's are really low, or none at all. Start

looking for a fitting your forgot, BPV installed wrong, pinched hoses, and make sure your

manifold is not leaking.

you probably have about 8 pounds, You wont feel it on the stillen tune. I have a feeling you have full boost, its just the stillen tune is garbage and makes the car feel

more under powered than stock.

hey vg! come up and see my car get tuned. I think some people are going to be in for a big surprise =) Me as well. Hey john what time is my car going on the dyno ?

So I bought a boost gauge. Strong steady vacuum at ~18 HG while idling. WOT in 2nd gear I was at 2psi. The needle was vibrating quite a bit between 1-3 psi. Any thoughts?


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Boost leak?

Bypass valve issue?

I'm thinking boost leak.. Just not sure where. I don't think the belts are slipping. I replaced the stock valve with a turbosmart one. But I was getting the same psi with the one from the stillen kit


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Where did you get the pressure source for your boost gauge?

Also where in the system is the bypass valve?

Pressure source is from the bpv vacuum line. The bpv location? below the charge pipe.. Linking it to the blower inlet


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I pressure tested the system from beginning of the charge pipe. It held 18 psi without leaking...

The only two possible issue left that come to mind are fueling or belt slip.

How tight should the belts be? They are pretty damn snug.

What is the best way to test for a fueling issue? Fuel pressure regulator and a wideband?





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Check the boot on the blower that goes through the front cross member into the front charge pipe. Mine didn't have enough room at first and would actually collapse the boot when the blower is trying to get boost. I cut away a bunch of that steel and got rid of my issue. Look up 10$ DIY smoke machine. use the hose going into a mani from the BPV. smoke it, see if you have any leaks.

I'll take a look at that. You're referring to the "cactus" looking thing on the turbo inlet that connects to the 90 degree pipe and y-pipe to the intake filters, correct? And yeah it was a pretty tight squeeze there going in...


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Yah dude, check that thing. It might look like its ok, but inside it has a step up in the boot to direct the air into the blower. its only has a 3/4" -1" clearance inside that boot. if that thing is collapsing, youll get low boost. Also when your in there, theres a AC line right under your blower, it rubbed a 1/4" mark into the volute on my blower. Cut some 5/8" hose in half, wrap the ac line with it and zip tie it.

Well expressed and it is this thing! :icon18:

Well explained EVO! :tiphat:

Thanks for the clarification! A/C lines were taken care of from previous stillen G3 installation. I appreciate the help form everyone!

Also, I meant blower.. Not turbo.. still new to the world of superchargers.

Update: I moved the boost gauge source to the nipple between the throttle bodies and got a reading of 7-8 psi at ~7k rpm!

Lets hope a custom tune gives me more power as I am having buyers remorse and regret not going BP turbo.

The custom tune should do the trick. It is not the same as TT but it is still plenty fast. My other car is a nitrous 437 sbc putting out more than 700hp and I don't feel like my Z is a turd after driving the nova. On the dyno you'll see what it it putting down and how linear the power can be.

Glad to hear you figured it out!

The same here :tup:

Glad you got it figured out, Buys remorse :/ You always have it if your expecting mid 400's.
Just be happy with low 400's :)

Updates! 395 hp and 293 tq on a Dyno Dynamics. The googles (and tuner) said they read pretty low compared to dynojets.

So I had 323 hp on the baseline pull with the stillen tune. It was running at an afr of 9:1 WOT..... Thanks a bunch stillen, that is some horse s***.

The car feels great now and I'm pretty happy with it. Got my summer tires back on. Oil cooler installed. Spl diff bushings going in this week. Heading to The Dragon this weekend!!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...f9e850749c.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...4b32b3f1dc.jpg


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Much better. I bet it feels much more stout. lol