Stillen Supercharger Kit Installation cost?
 

Hi. I recently have been considering putting the Stillen SC on my car and I asked for a quote from a well respected Tuner garage in Houston. I am also going to have the clutch/flywheel/csc upgraded at the same time. Oil cooler also. So they e-mail me back a quote of 22 hours labor for the SC install. I ask is that labor estimate including the clutch? She e-mails me back and says NO that is just the SC install! Stillen's website quotes 12 hrs for a DIY install. So I find 22 hours for a well appointed shop a bit much. Then she sends me the itemized quote and it showed 23 hrs for the install! Plus, a lot of "extra" charges tacked on. So I called Stillen directly and they only quote 16hrs total for the install with 125.00 pre SC dyno/ 125.00 after SC dyno. Crazy. Anyone have a good shop for this type of work in TX?

Subbed. I'm considering doing something similar and will need to find a shop in San Antonio.

Every shop have their own method on tackling situations. It may be outrageous but either deal with it or find another shop.


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Sounds to me like they just don't want to do it. If you really want it bad they will do it for you. I would keep looking for another shop. Check with a local speed shop and see if they have a recommendation.

Me, I'm doing it myself next weekend!

The thing is, I can do it myself but I kinda wanted to get it done "professionally" so there's no problems with leaks and what not. Mainly I need to have the clutch CSC problem taken care of and I'm not crazy about doing it in my driveway on jack stands. So I was gonna do it all at once at a shop. Looks like I may be doing both myself. I read in CSC thread about having the Nissan dealer do the clutch install but I really can't see them being cool with installing Non Nissan parts

the clutch you should have a hoist or a shop to do that.

But the hardest part of the whole stillen kit is bolting down the manifold, still not that hard. And modifying the fuel pump, everything else is super easy.

I'm in San Antonio and will probably go the SC route, I'm going to have JMS do it. Quality shop and great people.

If you are one of those people that know how or is brave enough to tackle the job; I say do it. For the $$ spent on a shop installing the kit; can buy a lift! So maybe buy a lift and install the kit yourself? Sound like a win win to me. Heck, Tbatt has a nice affordable Ranger QuickJack. It's a little low on the lift but place it on a few planks of wood and you can get more height.

YzGyz

I dont think 22-23 hours including a custom map is that bad

I think 12 hours would be a rushed job

You should go to the tuner you trust for work like this in my opinion.

If you think we could knock it out in a weekend, I'd be willing to help. I've got a lift and I work pretty cheap.

Edit - I'm talking about the SC, not the clutch job.

They're probably padding their numbers if they haven't done one before. First time always takes longer.

:iagree:
There are a few of us in town who are around to help and have some experience with installing/tweaking.

to be honest, you don't even need to lift the car off the ground to do the install.

atleast I didn't have to.

No, but it's a hell of a lot easier when you don't have to spend 10+ hours leaning over. Getting it up a couple of feet will save your back.

That's well overpriced. Do they own their own dyno? The shop clearly hasn't done one, or just doesn't want to do it and figures if the customer is willing to pay, then they'll bite the bullet and suck it up.

We quote out any SC install 14-17 hours as you do not have to drop the motor. Anything more such as your clutch (3-4 hours) or upgraded fuel that is nto part of the kit itself would be itemized.

The stillen kit comes w/ a tuner version which will get the car started. The actual tune/dyno time should be a completely different quote (forced induction we quote 4-7 hours depending on the complexity of the fuel/mods)

OK. I e-mailed the place back and told them that Stillen only quotes 16 hrs for install and then she e-mailed a "new" quote of 16 hours. She said she previously was including labor for fuel return? I figured maybe she was quoting me a twin turbo install by mistake? Anyway, I've gotten three estimates so far from places here in TX. I may just say the hell with it and do it myself. Then have it custom tuned later. Problem is my CSC seems to be in the process of taking a dump so I don't know if the car will make the drive to Houston or San Antonio

I myself would get the clutch sorted out by a reputable shop and then tackle the SC install. Unless you have help, it could be a real task to pull the tranny and even harder to get it back in! It can be so much fun lying on your back with 75 pounds of dead weight that just won't line up to go in. Been there, done that. Legend has it that the Z has a demon bolt that must be removed too.

Good luck either way! Doing it yourself has a certain amount of stigma and it makes me appreciate it more, especially when the job increases the fun factor! It maybe difficult but in the end it has the same benefits as getting a vasectomy, you can screw(boost) all you want without worry.......

Go to JTran if you want it installed, although I have a feeling you're talking about them...

In Houston though... You have a HUUUUGE family. Host some parties, buy a ton of beer, install it with the guys

Agreed that you can install the Stillen kit yourself with the car on the ground. I spread out my install over a few days, working a few hours each day. I custom mounted a larger water intercooler, and also installed an oil cooler and radiator at the same time. I think it took me a week in total, but that included a couple days of not really doing anything on it. If you have the skills to do it (no special skills or tools required), then I'd strongly suggest you do it yourself and take your time. Aftermarket forced induction is some fiddly stuff, so if anything comes up, you'll have the confidence to fix it yourself. If you have a shop do it the first time, you will be going back to the shop countless times anytime something weird happens. In the end, it will cost you a lot more than just the initial install cost. Just my thoughts on it.

Yeah go ahead and do it yourself. I need a slot open so they can install my turbo kit. Driving a stock car sucks.

Anyone know why the Black Stillen kit is 600.00$ more!? Is it ceramic coated or something or just painted?

It's just black powdercoated. Not ceramic or heat deflecting or anything special. But heads up - If you plan on doing anything to the pipes or compressor housing, like getting those parts powdercoated yourself, or heat resistant coated, Stillen HAS denied warranties. So if painting the parts is on your future roadmap, just get the black kit and preserve your warranty.

OK thanks for the heads up.

Installing a Stillen SC in Texas is a different project than installing one in California using a canned tune, because of summer heat/humidity. FWIW, I think it would be worth the extra time for a special tune, and someone local to stand behind the installation.

--ZOM

Hi,

I just got quoted $3750 to get the following installed:
Topgunz Stillen SC
CJ S1E Fuel System
Fuel Injectors 1050X
Boost and AFR Gauges
ECUTEK Dyno Tune

Let me know if this is a fair price.