[Build Thread] -- Journey to 700+ WHP [Supercharger]

[cupcakez]

Update:

- Scheduled to have the E85 Flex Fuel Kit & CJM S1-E, as well as relay kit (so wires don't melt), 525lph fuel pump, and CJM Billet top hat installed this Friday.

- Scheduled to have it DYNO-TUNED for the first time ever with the e85 the next day (21st of December) by Eugene (ByThaBay forum user).

Going to have some serious power gains! Can't wait to see the numbers on a finally working vehicle after 2 years of disasters!

Stay tuned folks!!

[cupcakez]

Sad Update:

- Last night, the bottom end of the Stave IV rebuilt IPP engine started to give out for unknown reasons at the moment.

- Decided after much, that enough is enough with me and this engine's problems -- so I talked with Adel and gave him the option to take my engine in the current state in exchange for a stock engine (2014, 19k miles for $800 before taxes / shipping) swapped ALONG with all of the current add-ons I have on the IPP block into my car.

- He will be doing the labor to swap everything over to the stock engine and put that into my car, since he agreed to take this offer.

Since he is willing to deal with the engine and take care of it and fix it (whatever may be wrong with it), then he can reap the rewards of a potentially heavily built performance engine.

Let's be honest: I don't need a built engine. Never have. Reason why I bought this rebuilt engine was because Nissan had offered me a REMANUFACTURED stock engine installed into my 2015 Red Z back in 2018 February for $8000.

At first I was about to take that deal since I was in a bind and needed a car for work, but decided against it and cancelled the order (as I hadn't paid for it at the time). So I decided for that amount of money I might as well go for a rebuilt engine...I mean who wouldn't in that case?

I had no intention of getting a rebuilt engine until the very last thing of my build but I was forced to replace the engine somehow due to the stillen canned tune destroying my stock 2015 engine within 5 - 6 months of hard driving it. I also don't need a rebuilt performance engine for my end game power goals anyways) as you have all seen already; there are plenty stock blocks making 700rwhp+ safely. I'm also supercharged, so there's no reason to have a way overkill of a performance engine if I'm not ever going to use that potential to the fullest.

It's honestly better in someone like Adel's hands who has the knowledge, skills and perseverance to deal with any and all mechanical issues that come his way and who has a turbo car that can make use of a high performance engine such as this one -- where as I do not.

It's hard to pin point what the cause is, but we will drain the oil and look at the lower oil pan to see if we notice anything of significant information that can lead to what may have caused the issue of whatever is broken / breaking on the bottom end of the engine. There have been many hands on the engine in the past, but none that has opened up the bottom end of the engine or anything like that. I've kept up on the oil maintenance an average of 3k or less every change.

Looking back at the last 2 years, I've made a lot of mistakes via ignorance, lack of knowledge, etc. Through it all, I can say I'm pretty satisfied that I did go through everything that I went through so far -- met a beautiful Z community (you guys), met some really nice people IRL, got introduced to two people in real life who are almost always there for me when I need them despite my endless car issues, etc.

My tuner (ByThaBay) is amazing. He's always been there for me when he could -- going out of his way even just to help me out when he doesn't need to. He gives me knowledge of things I never knew, and teaches me how things work, answers questions about tuning, mechanic issues, etc.

Either way, my decision is final and the engine is now going to Adel to deal with in exchange for a stock 2014 engine being put into my car.
The big difference is only 1 person is touching the installs this time, not 50,000 people. And this 1 person is very trustworthy -- as I trust him with everything when dealing with my car.

Next update to come soon -- regarding the cause of the bottom end giving out.

cupcakez ~~ out.

[Martijn_b]

You really dont have any luck with this do you. Sorry to hear.

Just make sure you now run a conservative tune and inform your tuner about the engine swap. I agree that he is a super helpful guy to deal with!

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[Rusty]

What do you think happened?

[cupcakez]

Originally Posted by Rusty

What do you think happened?

I wish I could tell you. I don't even know where to start to think what happened to it. Too many variations that I can't pick @_@ Too difficult to pin point where the cause is since so many things has happened to the vehicle in the last 2 years that ... well. I lost count lol

All I care about is a running engine (built or not, I don't give a damn) that runs as close as I can get to 700 RWHP WITH an air filter (current KN conical air filter or topgunz upgraded air filter, whatever one, doesn't matter to me).

All I ask for is one thing:
(1) Safely running engine that won't blow on me no matter how hard I push the thing with my current FI set up at 13 psi with e85 as as daily driver
(2) That the above /said/ engine will hold safely 600 - 700 RWHP as an end goal without breaking.

I will properly maintain the engine doing frequent oil changes, raise the damn car so I stop scraping and putting my bottom parts of the car in danger, and I will even keep the engine bay clean.

Money is not a factor for me as long as I know I can have a safe running fast car with the above specs (to me, it's fast). I will happily pay off my bills for an entire year or even 1.5 years if it takes that long if I am able to have the 2 things I ask for.

["Z"en]

Originally Posted by cupcakez

I wish I could tell you. I don't even know where to start to think what happened to it. Too many variations that I can't pick @_@ Too difficult to pin point where the cause is since so many things has happened to the vehicle in the last 2 years that ... well. I lost count lol

All I care about is a running engine (built or not, I don't give a damn) that runs as close as I can get to 700 RWHP WITH an air filter (current KN conical air filter or topgunz upgraded air filter, whatever one, doesn't matter to me).

All I ask for is one thing:
(1) Safely running engine that won't blow on me no matter how hard I push the thing with my current FI set up at 13 psi with e85 as as daily driver
(2) That the above /said/ engine will hold safely 600 - 700 RWHP as an end goal without breaking.

I will properly maintain the engine doing frequent oil changes, raise the damn car so I stop scraping and putting my bottom parts of the car in danger, and I will even keep the engine bay clean.

Money is not a factor for me as long as I know I can have a safe running fast car with the above specs (to me, it's fast). I will happily pay off my bills for an entire year or even 1.5 years if it takes that long if I am able to have the 2 things I ask for.

Our stock engine is sturdy. With 93-above octane, proper tuning, and regular maintenance, you should be safe for the boost your having.

[cupcakez]

Originally Posted by "Z"en

Our stock engine is sturdy. With 93-above octane, proper tuning, and regular maintenance, you should be safe for the boost your having.

I am really happy to hear that honestly. I mean I've seen plenty of stock engines hold up that are dailies that run 600 - 700 rwhp safely. And even driven hard more often than not too.

Especially that 831rwhp stock engine..lol. Gives me tons of hope.

I'll be using e85, having proper tuning, and I will definitely have oil changes every 3k miles or less for regular maintenance up keep. So it sounds like after the engines in by wed of next week (before new years is adels goal) I should be good to go lol.

Let's hope my luck doesnt get worse

[JARblue]

Originally Posted by "Z"en

Our stock engine is sturdy. With 93-above octane, proper tuning, and regular maintenance, you should be safe for the boost your having.

.... "should" being the operative word

[madwi]

Wow. You good sir are a glutton for punishment. Good luck with the next iteration.

[Martijn_b]

"All i ask for is 700 rwhp on a stock block to be reliable and beaten on a daily basis"

Something doesnt add up here. Am I the only one seeing it? Or the only one not knowing about 700rwhp stock block cars driving reliable for say, 3 years?

You cant keep doing this to yourself. Especially not if you're doing it on borrowed money (just my personal opinion). Why dont you just settle for reliability and call it a day at a nice solid 550-600 hp?

^comes from a good heart - I just want you to enjoy the car and not worry all the time about stuff breaking and pouring more money into it





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[Hotrodz]

Originally Posted by Martijn_b

"All i ask for is 700 rwhp on a stock block to be reliable and beaten on a daily basis"

Something doesnt add up here. Am I the only one seeing it? Or the only one not knowing about 700rwhp stock block cars driving reliable for say, 3 years?

You cant keep doing this to yourself. Especially not if you're doing it on borrowed money (just my personal opinion). Why dont you just settle for reliability and call it a day at a nice solid 550-600 hp?

^comes from a good heart - I just want you to enjoy the car and not worry all the time about stuff breaking and pouring more money into it

I don't know anybody that is doing 700whp on a stock block as a dd. Mine ran for five years between 500 and 600whp. I track it the last three years of its life. If you run at 700whp on a stock block you will keep on getting what you keep getting.

[redondoaveb]

He's not going to get to 700whp. Probably mid 600's but the torque will be below 500ft.lbs and it's a sc'd set up so the power isn't going to hit hard like a turbo car so the motor should be fine. It's his auto trans that will probably cause him problems.

He could do like I did and install a wastegate and ebc. Then he can run it at low boost as a daily and only use high boost when the need arises.

[TopgunZ]

You repeatedly state you want a safe daily driver yet you are still asking for numbers that are far above the average SC build. You need to choose what you want. Most guys are perfectly happy with 500whp and 400wtq. The guys that come into this forum are a vast majority of the guys that like to push it to the limits, including yourself. So your thought process is skewed. If you can't be happy with a safe "average" build then you are rolling the dice. If your willing to pay to play then go ahead and give her hell. Just don't hang your head low when something doesn't go your way.

[cupcakez]

Originally Posted by TopgunZ

You repeatedly state you want a safe daily driver yet you are still asking for numbers that are far above the average SC build. You need to choose what you want. Most guys are perfectly happy with 500whp and 400wtq. The guys that come into this forum are a vast majority of the guys that like to push it to the limits, including yourself. So your thought process is skewed. If you can't be happy with a safe "average" build then you are rolling the dice. If your willing to pay to play then go ahead and give her hell. Just don't hang your head low when something doesn't go your way.

No you're right - and you have a good point. I can't have A and B when A and B don't naturally go together. With that being said, I will say this:
- Whatever my car outputs after I get it back sometime this week and after the re-scheduling of the dyno day in mid January is what I will be happy with.

I think you're right. When I felt that E85 for the first time in combination with the current SC setup I have, I was really enjoying it and thought that I would be happy with whatever final result the dyno day in mid-january will leave me with.

If that means I'm rolling the dice then I'll take responsibility for it and go with it.

I've made a mental resolve that if this breaks again by some chance, then I will just move on, lol -- and either sell the entire car for what it is at that point for a really good deal to someone else or I will just part it out and sell the parts individually, pay things off then start from square 1 again with a different vehicle (this time I will do minimal modifications to it and if I do modifications, will do heaviER research before doing so) xD

Either way though, if I were to do it all over again, I would have to say no because I like all of the good things that came out with the bad events I put myself through!

[cupcakez]

So my car's FIRST DYNO DAY finally occurred today.

Huge Credit to: Eugene (My amazing tuner) + Adel (My amazing mechanic) for making this happen. I honestly don't know where I'd be without both of them in this journey!

The Good, the Bad, the Neutral Summary

o WHP: 442
o WTQ: 374
o P.S.I: 12.5
o RPM: 6200

o AFR on log: 12.2
o Corrected AFR: 8.5:1

o Supercharger Head Unit: V-3 Ti Centrifugal Self Lubricating Head Unit
o Crank Pulley Diameter: 5.75, Stock Crank Pulley
o Pulley Setup: 3.0" Direct SC Pulley || 3.2" Jackshaft SC Pulley || 2.87 (9psi) Jackshaft Serpentine Pulley || Stock SC Idler Pulley ||
o Engine: Stock Q50 Engine @ ~19k miles
o Transmission: Stock 7AT from 2015 370z Base Model @ ~54k miles

o Injectors: 1050x ID
o Fuel Type: E85, but more accurately, about E75 at the time
o Fuel System: || CJM S1-E || Zeitronix Ethanol Analyzer Kit || 525 Walbro ||

o Tuner: Eugene @ ECUTEK
o Mechanic: Adel (Only known person in CA who owns a G37 with Husam's GTR Twin Turbos)

o Location: Concord, CA
o Dyno Machine Owned By: The Racer's Line
o Temperature: 51 - 54 degrees Farenheit

Eugene limited the RPM's through the tune at 6200 because he found that the 1050x ID's on E85 (More accurately, about E75 content at the time) was maxing out well past 90% duty cycle if going past 6200 RPM's.

The car actually made 14 psi in the upper RPM's with the setup it currently has, but at the same time we ran into the issue of fuel running out in the upper RPM's so that's why what happened today and what the results is, is what it is, for safety reasons!

This is a problem, but a good problem for once! Just something I need to upgrade in the future if I want to have the car reach it's full potential with the last 1300 RPM's to play around with. The lower RPMs will stay the same regardless, so that's done and done!

Apparently the coupler on the supercharger headunit blew off during a pull so Adel had to come in and save the day to fix that issue, which he did.

We ended up using more time than planned for on the dyno machine only because of the mishap with the coupler and all that, but overall, I am extremely happy to have a working vehicle and to have a fairly fast vehicle for what it is at the moment, also knowing that it is way more capable and has more potential to be unlocked and played with if, and when, the injectors change from the current 1050x ID to 1300x ID.

I had a few options to work around the running out of fuel issue:
(1) Cap the rev limit through Eugene's tuning a tad above 6200 RPM and make the car as best as it can.

(2) Keep the 7500 RPM limit but take away timing, but actually this option is no good too because you can't lower timing if running out of fuel, as that won't help. The fuel needs to be at the right spots!

(3) Upgrade to better injectors and send it, but that is obviously not going to happen because of obvious reasons (on the clock for dyno time, don't have 1300 IDs on me or over there, and the install would take time as well, so this option was obviously not going to happen!

So I talked to a lot of respectable people and most said they would cap the rev limit and pretty much tune it to the best possible at that point, which is what we ended up doing and came up with these numbers!


Anyone have thoughts? comments? I think overall it went really well and just knowing that I have a vehicle with more potential is more than enough for me, haha.

For now, I will enjoy the car as is, take way better care of it once I get it back next week, and ... start being financially responsible once I get it back for the year of 2020!

So far, I think it's a great start for me for the year 2020 in terms of my vehicle, considering all the issues that it had in the last 2 years!