Preparation for the STILLEN supercharger

Josh@STILLEN

Wanted to give an update on the progress of the STILLEN supercharger, as well as a dyno sheet of the kit. As you are aware our initial installation has been our automatic G37 with large show wheels.

Over the last couple of weeks, the car has been up on the dyno, finalizing the tuning, and more recently, and importantly, tuning off the dyno (for drivability and loaded performance). We’ll have some pictures and videos of the driving tests put together soon. Below is a dyno sheet run of the CARB-planned kit on the automatic G37.

3rd Gear Run - G37 AT - 500+hp / 422whp - CARB-Planned Kit



Dyno testing and tuning is only a small portion of what goes into the engineering behind a STILLEN supercharger system. Tuning on a dyno versus under load on the road and track are two very different tasks. Also, dynos can’t really simulate race track experiences and how the car responds to heat, oil breakdown, increased operating temperatures and long duration load. Sure, it’s possible to come up with theories on the performance of vital components such as intercoolers and oil coolers but theory does not compare to experience and testing.

A dyno can’t tell you what the airflow looks like through your vital coolers when the car is on the track. Or how many laps you’ll be able to complete before your car goes into limp mode. It has always been a priority of STILLEN to offer a supercharger that can complete every minute on the track, not to mention survive on the street in hot conditions.

As we mentioned before, we have been undergoing extensive drivability testing, both around town, as well as being pushed to the limits and beat on in a test track environment:

• Repeated high speed runs in excess of 140mph
  
• Temperature monitoring (just a few of the many data points we collected during our testing)

• IAT pre and post intercooler under hard driving conditions

• Engine Oil under hard driving conditions

• Intercooler coolant under hard driving conditions

• Transmission performance under hard driving conditions

• Effects of airflow to new coolers without impeding flow to radiator under hard driving conditions
• Transmission stability – starts, cornering, up and down shifts under loads
• General drivability - part-throttle, full-throttle, stops, starts, different loaded conditions

We are quite satisfied with the early performance of the G37 and are now in the process of installing the planned CARB-stage kit onto the company 370Z 6-speed as well as documenting and developing the step-by-step instructions for the kit. Obviously the manual Z will be a more efficient chassis with less driveline loss, and we’ll post those dynos as they are available. Performance increases of 5-10% are common between manual and automatic vehicles.

A note regarding CARB: In order for a supercharger kit to be submitted to CARB for approval, everything about the kit must be completely finalized, including instructions, bill of materials (parts list), tuning, pulley size, peak boost, etc. Once that information is looked at, a testing session is granted at an approved facility. Nothing can change from the original bill of materials once submitted. We’re unable (as anyone would) to say that we’re CARB pending until that submission has taken place.

That being said, we have a long history with gaining CARB approval, including the STILLEN Superchargers for the Nissan 3.5L, 4.0L and 5.6L engines, and anticipate no delays in gaining approval for this system.

We are flat out in building our first batch of production components, prepared for its release, including the intake manifold castings, machining, supercharger units, components, etc. and are on track for shipped fully tuned supercharger kits in early April.

There will be stages above the CARB planned kit, with a built-in upgrade path without requiring a compressor change... unless an extremely high horsepower goal is in mind, which we can plan for up front depending on your ultimate goals for your build.


(And this isn't an official press release.. we'll have that as we finish the proper testing/tuning/drivability.. but that's coming soon.. things will move quickly from this point.)