Successfull Tracking with Forced Induction??
 

There are a few threads on different forced induction kits. I am interested but... In my opinion, its not worth it unless you are able to track your car with it. Any input from anybody who successfully tracks with any type of forced induction?? In Importuner or Modified they tracked a twin turbo 370 and had to add some crazy fabricated cooling system. In another article I read, they had to fill the window wash fluid with ice water and aim it at the oil cooler....wtf

Forced inductoin on the 350Z/370Z for track use is extremely challenging and expensive to pull off. The cooling capacity of the oil and coolant heat exchangers needs to increase by 4-5 times over factor levels in order to reach a steady state temp equilibrium at a safe level. It's a simple heat in/heat out equation, but adding that level of cooling capacity would be challenging on a street car. This isn't something that would fit neatly into a street car without significant fabrication, and removal of many front end components such as your AC.

On my 370Z Nismo which is still NA, I hit 270F oil temps even with an oil cooler, in just 5-6 laps at Road Atlanta on a hot day. With FI I wouldn't make it around 1 lap. The rate and level at which you overheat is directly related to lap times and how aggressive you are behind the wheel, YMMV.

Are these heat issues only occurring in FI'ed VHR engines? Does the HR also exhibit the same issues when proper cooling (oil coolers, radiator, etc.) is used?

I know it's the oil temps that are causing the problems. However, could a larger capacity radiator make any difference?

There are no issues with water/coolant temperature even while tracking the 370z. The oil is the only real core issue regarding fluid temperatures and a larger radiator won't make an appreciable difference to the oil temps.

The article is in October Modified called "Chasing Godzilla". It explains what was needed to track the twin turbo Z. They had to build a "Nascar style" cooling sytem. Seems if you want to track with the VQ engine, stick to bolt ons and weight reduction. Damn

^^ Isn't that the 370Z that Forged Performance built?

I bet you most of the people who own Zs and want to TT or SC them have never ever reached the limits of their cars on a track. Its like some stupid wet dream you have... oohhh I wanna TT it so i can go FAST! Let me tell you this -driving on a track is wayy more fun when you and the car and communicating. What I have found is normally - FI'd cars tend to have a non linear TQ delivery causing some very funny moments mid corner. It will take you 10 times more seat time to get warm and comfy with a TT'd 370 on a track as compared to an NA one. When I was at infineon, the Z could not have been more predictable through the corners - something I am not willing to compromise for a second in the quarter and more passing power on the freeway. My 2c tho :)

TT are definitely heaters but what about SC? I'm assuming the heat generation issue would be a little less and perhaps a bit more manageable. The low end torque would take some getting used to but exits to the track out would be kind of fun.

I find myself standing on the gas going into the "short" straight at Pacific Raceways and would love to bump the speed up sooner rather than wait some distance for it. Of course how I set up on the corner (prior to) has a lot to do with how long it takes to wind things up.

This discussion is also relative to where one tracks their car. Some courses are better suited for big power, whereas others are pure and simple corner management. My 2 cents :tup:

That depends on the setup though. I'd take a centrifugal SC over TT any day for circuit type racing.

I agree with the exception of SC applications. Look at the TQ curve of every supercharged z34 thus far. It essentially looks like a stock curve only higher on the graph. FI isn't the problem TT is. That being said HP=Heat. The only way to sustain the kinds of power we are talking is with massive oil cooler(s) and a larger oil reservoir. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but you're probably looking at something like an 8-10 qt oil change.

I understand how a TT or SC is going to cause a ton more heat, but how does the GT-R, for example, pull it off?

Well there you are talking about a car that was designed by nissan to be driven at those speeds - I am sure the forged GTR is quite modified in the cooling areas :)

A stock turbo is going to be easier to upgrade and manage for heat etc

Okay but the factory doesn't have magic powers to cool an engine, so if a stock vehicle has turbos it has those same issues as ours when you add FI to it. So either our cooling options are relatively poor or it's overkill...and I don't remember the GT-R having a "nascar sized oil cooler"...

...that's what I'm not understanding. If I go FI it's going to be for the track, and if I have to mod the pants off of my car to do it I'm getting rid of it and getting a used GT3 or GT-R....

The GTR was designed from the beginning for FI. Compression ratios, internal parts, cooling system, everything is designed from the get go to work together. Its definitely not the same as adding it to a non FI car.

I had to de-supercharge my C6 for the exact same reasons once I tried tracking it, it just couldn't keep the oil cool enough.

If you really want FI for the track and are going to get another car, that white one in modified magazine is for sale, and for a lot less than a used GT3 or GTR, and its a fully sorted track car.