Can it handle it??
 

I have an '09 Nismo 370Z and am considering installing the new supercharger system from Stillen. My question is how many out there have experience with this kind of modification and how do the rest of the system components on the Z handle the added horsepower and torque? I definitely like the idea of the added power but don't want to turn my Z into a breakdown and repair nightmare.

:confused:

Before everyone else pounces on you, I highly recommend using the 'Search' feature on the forum.



You've been warned. :wtf2:

And search gtm supercharger while you're at it

Yes, tons of information on FI and 370Z in this forum already. To give you the ultra-high level overview: the consensus seems to be that the stock block is safe to 450ish WHP. This is at best an educated guess based on the smallish number of FI 370Zs out there with significant mileage. The GTM stage 1 kit makes about 400ish WHP and the as yet to be released stage 2 makes 475ish WHP. I have seen the Stillen kit make in a range of 400-475ish WHP, though some of the higher numbers were with custom tunes and upgraded SC units. I have driven the GTM stage 1 car and loved it, and I plan to go stage 1 or potentially stage 2 once I can find a car to buy.

I should add that another concern with FI 370Zs is cooling. The engine tends to run pretty hot. Plan on investing in an oil cooler and potentially upgrading other cooling system components. The stock clutch seems to hold up pretty well, but will need replacing eventually so count on that as well.

Don't get that junk go Twins you'll be much happier...

Do not get the Stillen kit!!! Go GTM.

the bias on the forums is so strong, it's sad.

I agree, especially bad when it is coming from people who have no personal experience with either option.

I have a 2010 nismo (7000 miles) with a GTM stage 1 SC. I had it installed recently and really like the kit. My only issue was that it took about two months for GTM to send it out, after I paid for it. (I haven't posted the info in the finished build section yet, but will as soon as I have time). I got 390.3 WHP with 323.4 FtLb of torque at 7000 rpm on a Dyno Dynamics dyno (It was 90 degrees that day). I also installed a oil cooler, resonated test pipes, and got a custom tune.
My car was totally transformed by these mods. It is a blast to drive. The SC kit fits the car so well, it almost looks stock. I believe your car gets cut up a lot more with the Stillen kit. As far as reliability, time will tell. My advice would be to think carefully about which kit you pick, do your research, find a good tuning shop, and go for it. A large increase in power will always = less longevity, but I think having a car that stands out from the rest is worth it.

GTM FTW. and yes, i am bias.

What experience do you have to have to recognize junk. It was junk in the 350Z era. I've been around more than enough to know. Seen it first hand.

I have no personal experience eating crap but I know to stay away from it.

The term "junk" is being used in this thread, please can someone elaborate on what exactly is junk about the stillen kit?

The tune that comes with it is obviously not the best tune you can get, they are going after that CARB approval after all so its certainly not as aggressive. People run it never the less and their cars work perfectly fine. Some people have experienced drivability issues (after the car is warm for example), but the same is true for GTM kits as well, its all about the tune there. I personally wouldn't run any unit without a dyno tune but that comes from bad experiences with canned tunes.

The vortech V3 is a great blower and multiple power levels are attainable by changing pullies/impeller. In stock form it makes similar power to a stage 1 gtm, when modified it has made numbers closer to the new stage 2 gtm. The limit to power with this blower is what the engine and IC setup can handle, not the unit itself. Is 400-500hp "junk"?

The intercooler is a very efficient air-water setup built into the intake manifold, this is probably the only "weak" point if you wanted to run big power with this car (more power then the stock block can handle). The compact design makes it incredibly easy to install and no FMIC blocking air flow to oil coolers/radiator. Another benefit is the lack of heat soak when stopped as the water is constantly being pumped through the heat exchanger/IC.

wow

I agree. I don't have anything bad to say about GTM, but I don't like when people hate on something they don't have first hand experience with. Stillen has been around for a long time and have a relationship with Nissan/Infiniti with dealers installing their kits...so i wouldn't say their kits are junk. Are there pros/cons of each kit? Yes...but I wouldn't say one or the other is junk.

roughly $7-8k for 282 ft lb torque. Price to power ratio sucks. Junk is not an accurate term, maybe lackluster would be better. The car runs, it is stable, it will pull good numbers on the dyno....but due to the low torque, the low end power is only just slightly more than a stock 370. The GTM kit, however, seems to have better torque numbers from what i read.

I have run my car down 1/4 mile against stock 370's and i only beat them by .3 seconds. Granted, if i were using slicks, i may get a full second faster.

http://www.the370z.com/forced-induct...tml#post968221

-an interesting comparison of the Stillen and GTM kits.

Op requested info and experience on Stillen? Not a comparison between two kits.

Keep on topic!

I really hate getting sucked into these stupid arguments, but if you are going to quote facts, lets get them right. The turn key is $6300. lower torque numbers compared to twin turbo, sure, all SC kits make less torque. if you're referring to RCZ's dyno of 390hp/290tq, that was on a very low reading mustang, which he put down 256hp and a bit over 200tq stock. on a dynojet he put down 445hp/335tq in near 100 deg florida heat with the same setup.

comparing different cars/dynos is apples to oranges, my point is the kit obviously makes good power, and is capable of even more (squeeze did 470/360 before maxing out his MAF's).

When I was considering kits, I was on the fence about what setup to go with, i chose the stillen because I got a great deal on it, but I would be equally as happy with a GTM kit. I am not some fanboi, im just being pragmatic here.


what most people don't know about that setup is that one of the injectors that was in use on the stillen kit was bad, later confirmed by deatchwerks that it failed the flow test.

Sorry no one likes my terminology. I just don't put gravy on it. It's my way of singling out the better system. When one unit is more superior than another, then that's what it is. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. Some of you guys act as I insulted you personally. Plus along with some of the bad customer service reviews I've read here about Stillen.

I just want people to have the best system when spending there hard earned money. And from what I've seen there's still plenty of people who are new to all this and just jump on the first kit they see without doing the long research they should. I've seen first hand a Stillen kit placed on a 350 and produce NO additional numbers. NONE. I also don't feel yu have to have a personal experience with a particular part to make a judgement call. Research, comparisons, and other reviews will allow for someone to make a fair judgement call.

So out of respect for all of you guys and the sake of myself, I'll no longer comment here. PM me if you'd like to discuss further. I'll call you if you like.

first of all $7-8k is what I spent for the kit and installation. And no, i'm not referring to RCZ's numbers...i'm referring to mine which were 390whp/282tq. And FYI, was the same dyno that RCZ had his tuned. So i say from experience with the Stillen kit, that the torque IS a negative factor with the kit. Even on the dynojet it's only getting 335 lb torque. This kit doesn't get any power unless you are in the high rpm range unlike what i've heard from others that have the gtm where the power comes on in the low end.

ok, $8k installed is different, I thought you were referring to the cost of the kit. your numbers were close to RCZ's then, did you dyno your car stock on that dyno? As for 335tq being low on a dyno jet, compared to what? From what I've seen the GTM stage 1 SC put down similar torque (just look at the dynos GTM provides, +90 tq over stock), and looking at graphs it comes on in the same manner (linear of course). The only time ive seen the SC kits making more torque was with stock cats, which apparently won't last long due to the power/pressure? Looking at the facts I don't see how these kits are not comparable.

wow, what a mess!

Osiris: i think you need to upgrade to a TT kit if you're not satisfied with those power.

unfortunately i don't have a stock dyno. I can only base my statements by the experience i've had with the kit on my car. As far as the torque goes, maybe 282tq (mustang dyno) is all that can be expected from this kit. Either way, the performance i am seeing now was not worth what i spent IMO. Barely pulling away from stock 370's down the 1/4 mile and on some, um, "spirited" highway pulls with other stock 370's was not worth that 8k. And i have videos that show me vs stock z's. But at the end of the day, if i could go back and do it over again, i'd do it differently.

If i had the money i probably would.

don't worry, you're not the only one. i'm sure everybody would had done it differently if we'd all knew what we were doing in the first place. just think this is a good starting lesson.

As someone who has had both kits on my car I can tell u there is a night and day difference between the two kits. Who cares if u get big numbers on a dyno if it drives like crap?

Church!

I got a Stillen sc, car makes 455whp and traps 121mph on the quarter. To answer your question, the rest of the car handles the added power nicely. You probably wont even need a clutch for a long time. I have 0 drivability issues.

The reason for the low torque is the rib set up that stillen uses on the back of the blower and bracket.This causes slight belt slippage ,and the power to come on later in the power band.

can you elaborate more on what the "rib setup" is? Can it be changed or modified in some way?

Take a look at my thread http://www.the370z.com/forced-induct...ercharged.html


There is a picture of what the cog pulleys look like in there also you can look at my dyno graph.When you look at the graph look at the how soon the WHP and torque come in,not just the peak numbers.

That could very well be the impeller Squeeze...I don't think my belt is slipping...

It's funny how it how mentioning "Stillen Super Charger" always seem to incite arguments.

Just look at the tags in this thread to see the maturity level of some of the forum members. For some people libel is more important than logic.

If anything, I think just having Stillen SC as an option benefits the Z community for the better. It may or may not be the best option, but at least the option is out there.

On another note, I don't know how the Stillen's customer service reputation got so tarnished, but from what I have read, they respond to complaints and problems pretty well, especially on this forum.

^ I can agree on that one Mike, Some are more interested in libel.

All rib set up's have slight belt slippage the only way to avoid this is to run a all cog set up.This means on the front of the bracket as well,witch is something I would not do with this system.As far as the impeller goes it does add power under the curve,and peak boost.One thing it does not do is spin the blower faster this can only be done by changing the pulleys.The Stillen 8 pound pulley is the same size as a vortech 3.12 pulley there 9 pound is around 2.80.

The Stillen Supercharger uses a big pulley on the back this causes the blower to spin slower witch means boost comes in slower. I could show you a few dyno's from 350z's that use the same blower without the impeller.That have a better power band with more torque some with more peak power.All without the impeller.

We all know that Stillen made the kit around the carb tune.Vortech did the same thing with the 350z with the same unit.

how much can be gained in the low end?

FYI, I measured my 9 PSI pulley and it is right around 2.8". Do you know the size of the pulleys on the back of the bracket and the SC? My car is in having new brake rotors and coilovers installed so I can't measure it right now.

It all depends on witch cog pulley set up you went with.

I'm not sure of the size of the stock pulleys that Stillen uses I took mine off and threw them in the trash. The biggest cog pulley you can go with is a 34 tooth jackshaft ,and 34 tooth supercharger pulley.

FYI if your going to switch to cog pulley set up make sure you order a 35mm supercharger pulley. The supercharger pulley lines up slightly off from the Idler and jackshaft pulley.