STILLEN 370Z Supercharger System - Announcement!!!

Kyle@STILLEN

Nope...You're pretty much right on...

Don't get me wrong, just like a factory prepared car, if you can get a custom tune for your car then yes, you will be getting the most power possible. However, the tune that comes with our supercharger is no different than the tune that comes from Nissan. It is a pre set tune that will work perfectly fine for 99.9% of the owner's of these cars. If someone is building themselves a track car, then yes, they will want to pay a little extra to have a custom tune done specifically for their car. Each car/engine is a little different and every person adds their own exhaust, or exhaust and high flow cats, or long tube headers...the of possible variables goes on.

In order to achieve CARB legality we have to supply a locked tune. This is just like any O.E. car or aftermarket parts manufacturer. The tune must be pre-programmed and locked down. That tune is 100% safe and reliable for the car and will give great power and reliability. If someone wants to gain more power or custom tune for their other aftermarket parts combinations, they can do a custom tune on their own.

Xan

Seems like a pretty solid approach to me.

Could you also let me know which version you guys are using? (V-3 SCi-Trim or the V-3 Si-Trim)

stormcrow

That sentence really bothers me as this can't be further from the truth. No canned tune can be 100% safe, especially when force inducting a car that is normally aspirated from the factory. Even a custom tune for the car will never be 100% safe.

No offense, but any vendor who will say that their tune is 100% safe is basically lying.

Xan

Obviously it's only safe as any tune can be safe... Even the OEM tune can cause problems.

I don't think it's worth to have a full discussion on this, but when done with safety in mind, done correctly (correct install and within the limits of what the engine components can handle) and you look at how you can compensate for items that could damage the engine, a supercharger setup like this is a pretty safe bet.

You might not want to take my word for it and I'm not saying you should, feel free to disagree.
But maybe my statements have some more credibility if I told you that I have worked at Jaguar (uk), where my team was responsible for the calibration of the V8 engines, this included the NA and SC engines. So I've spend my fair share tuning engines for performance, safety, mpg and emission. And I know what it takes to break an engine and how to ensure they are reliable...

stormcrow

My reply, which I thought was clear, was in regard to Kyle's statement that the Stillen tune was 100% safe. It seems you have some experience in tuning, certainly much more than I as I profess to have none, and you must agree that Kyle's statement is not factual?

MMC Racing

You have it a little backwards actually. Most canned tunes are extremely conservative while custom tunes are running closer to the edge and are more sensitive to temperature and altitude.

But yes, nothing is 100% safe when it comes to modding.

stormcrow

Not true at all. Custom tunes, if done properly, are designed for the actual car and the actual conditions it is being run under. No canned tune, no matter how conservative, can come close to the safety factor of a solid custom tune. I don't know what tuners you use, but any that would put you on the ragged edge with a custom tune without being asked to do so is no tuner I want to have touch my car.

Zsteve

Ive had canned tunes on my last 2 turbo cars with various mods and never had any problems with the engine or anything other than a blown diverter valve which when it blows you buy an aftermarket one thats meant to hold the boost anyway.

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2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

blackflag

Mike

by definition Jeremy, every car comes from the factory with a canned tune. It is safe, but leaves some on the table, which is why we do aftermarket tunes. There is no reason why a canned supercharger tune can't be just as safe, although it too will leave a little on the table.

__________________
NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

stormcrow

Mike, I understand what you are saying. But, as I stated above, when speaking of an OEM 'canned' tune on a production vehicle calibrated by the manufacturer, this is not an apples to oranges comparison to a canned tune for an aftermarket forced induction kit developed for an N/A motor. To make this even a remotely close comparison, aftermarket F/I application developers would have to put in the same amount of R&D in their calibrations that Nissan has put into creating the ECUs for our cars. And even if that were the case, which it is absolutely not, it would still be an unfair comparison as the car was released OEM normally aspirated.

And I think people are misunderstanding me. I'm not saying that a canned tune is necessarily bad. I am saying that it is not as safe as a custom tune and that stating that a canned tune is 100% safe is an utter myth.

One other thing I have been contemplating. The safety and reliability of any tune depends on the competency and skill of the calibrator. Personally, I don't even know the name of the individual responsible for the tune going out with these kits. Who are they? What are their credentials? None of these questions are ever asked. No one ever asks this of GReddy or HKS or Vortech, etc., either. From experience, I think we should start asking simple questions such as these of all vendors.

blackflag

There are calibrations done at the companies (OEM) and everything else (sketchy). That's just how it is.