GTM Supercharger-My Test Drive Impressions
 

I thought i would start a thread to document my impression and build for those interested in this kit..first off i'd like to state that im not a GTM or Stillen fanboy..i've never purchased any products from either vendor.

On saturday i was invited to drive Sam's supercharged 370...for some reason i expected the car to be at least a little "rougher" or have some hiccups as compared to a bone stock 370..but that was not the case...

It started up just the same as my stock Z and idles exactly the same as my Z...when i got on the throttle the increase in power was immediately felt..from a dead stop you can feel the car pulling even at low rpm all the way up to redline..it feels like the car doesn't want to stop pulling!..

It feels different from a turbo car..the power feels VERY linear to me as opposed to waiting for boost to kick in...also i found it very interesting that at higher rpm (5k n above) the car actually felt SMOOTHER than my stock Z:confused:...i wasnt expecting this at all:tup:..

While i was hammering on it i tried to find something about the setup that i didnt like...i couldn't find anything..I'm seriously impressed.

I'll update the build as it progresses..

Sweet, wish! That's what I wanted to hear. So they are using your car for CARB testing? In for updates....:tup:

Cool, congrats on the purchase! It feels like it doesnt stop pulling because it technically doesn't, since peak power is at redline. You are always making more power up until the point you shift.

When do you plan to install?

In for updates.

based on reviews like this, seems like a supercharger is the route i'd go if i do FI later on.

in for updates x 2

My TT setup is the same way.. starts and idles normal you wouldnt even know it was Turboed untill you hit 3k and you feel the surge start and by 4k the tires break loose all the way into 4th! S/C or TT with GTM you can't go wrong.. the tunes Sam gives you make the car a dream to own! :tiphat:

thanks fellas!..yeah im really surprised how good Sam's car felt...actually it feels so much more solid/smoother than mine..its kinda hard to put it in words but Nissan might learn a thing or two from Sam..haha!

yeah i agree...i ran out of pavement before i could max 4th but i felt the tires break loose in 3rd while approaching redline..its scary fast:tup:

SubScribed

:tup:..i did my research and read through all the supercharger posts and came to the conclusion that the GTM kit was the one for me..i like the fact that they use a Rotrex charger which is lighter, more efficient and sits lower on the engine..also, i found no negative feedback from any of the GTM customers and i see why after i drove Sam's car..its awesome:tup:

This is awesome for you. Did they say how long it will take to complete. Don't forget to post pics.

thanks!..it should take a couple weeks to get done..all i have is my crappy phone pic but here it is..

^^ Nice AZZ Nismo, i love the wheels

thanks man:tup:..i think im the only guy with the Mag Blue CE's at the moment..+22fr/+12rr..

a nismo? Crap. I gues we still won't have any accurate dyno results.

:icon14:
Not sure how a Nismo changes anything....

haha yeah dreamer is correct..it doesnt change anything.

Any idea how much power Sam's car is making? I was looking at the GTM Stage 2 or the Stillen w/ 9lbs pulley. Leaning more toward GTM because I want to be hooked up out the door and be able to make the drive back to TX. Hopefully, they worked out the issues with the F.I. LTHs..............

As far as i know they are still working with the LTH not a solution yet. And trust me after GTM does the install the car will be good to go. I know i drove 2300 miles in 24 hrs after my install with zero issues

How about noise?

So low end grunt is much more immediate? I'm debating between SC and TT since most of my driving doesn't involve going past 3k, and I don't redline this car often etiher as a daily driver. The sound of a TT'd car is just sick though. :)

Fixed:tiphat: ... :iagree: I'm in the same thought process right now. I'm sill leaning towards S.C. for price if nothing else. Both TT and SC seem to react very well with the VQ37VHR. I'm also hoping the GTR manifold and cover conversion that GTm is working on isn't to much. I'd love to have GTM stage 2 SC and that manifold.

Sorry for the rant...but it makes me :excited:

If you get a turbo theres no way you're not going above 3k :rofl2:

AS soon as i get the stage 2. I will let you know how it works. Its going to be some time till he ships it too me.
Z

In terms of whine and belt noise Rotrex and HKS (Similar designs) are pretty quiet. Over an exhaust system I would say you would hardly know its there except for the bypass valve noises. Anyway this is my experience driving in my friends 350Z with the HKS system. Probably Shumby could chime in on whether that's the same for him but G's have a little more sound deadening vs. Z.

They don't make the same power as a regular coupe. I don't know how that extra power is made so its entirely possible that the tune change that comes with FI would negate the nismo's extra factory power.

The power from a Nismo comes from the tune plus exhaust changes.
Supercharger plus tuning with eliminate anything Nismo did from factory, the exhaust might help versus the standard coupe exhaust but not by much.

i didnt ask him directly but its making 400hp+...i believe he posted some dynos on his thread.
Yes, the low end power is there..kinda feels like somebody stuffed a V8 into the Z!..if your primarily driving on the streets this would be a great option...oh btw the bipass valve on GTM's kit sounds sick as well..people will probably think your TT anyways:icon17:

correct again..little difference if any at all.

Is the low end power there for both the SC and the TT or is it just the SC? Would be nice if the TT also has low end power.

i cant comment on the TT kit..perhaps dreamer can chime in on that..

Ok I thought it might be just the tune.

Thanks for the clarification.

I have not driven the TT 370z yet, need to ask JB.
I think the torque on the TT comes in a bit later, peak TQ, which is why people say the SC has the better bottom power but of course the TT will win at the top.

Our shop demo car is running on 91 gas tune making anywhere from 388 RWHP to 429 RWHP depending on ambient air temp .

Sam

i wish gtm had a pay plan or a credit card company to pay for this. i dont think i can ever save enough to buy this outright.

they probably would get a ton more sales if they had a financing option for the whole turbo kit + install

Ah, yes that's what I wanted to know. :tup:

You guys are right about TT... it's hard not to keep it below 3k. I'm just being conservative with my driving habits in N/A form ;)

And/Or group buy on both the TT kit and SC kit.:tup:

oh i forgot to state how clean the GTM SC setup is a well...you pop the hood and everything looks stock except the intake pipes which look exactly like a cold air setup..super clean!!..the rotrex charger sits in front of the motor and low..it has its own oil cooler as well..i prefer this to the Stillen setup which sits high on top of the motor..besides lowering the center of gravity we all know that heat rises...Sam's setup is optimal imo.

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