Ehhh -- OEM tune skews way rich (11:1 AFR) so that helps, but you could be causing microdamage to the pistons and other reciprocating parts you will not find out about for a while... you won't necessarily grenade the motor all at once.

I'd at least look into 1 or 2 step colder plugs (and lots of tuners swear by copper ones, although I think stick with iridium and colder... ask Z1?) and if you are running 91, find 93 or higher when you plan to spray. You might look up a blending chart and add a 1/4 tank of 100 pump gas if you can find it to nudge up the AKI.

Winter temps in Michigan will help too.

Good luck!

I was planning on going one step colder with my plugs in the spring, possible GTR plugs.

Quite possible true about the micro damage, but I plan on doing an engine rebuild in two years so I can accommodate high boost. I could tear down the engine and post pictures then.... But if there are any micro fractures it really wouldn't show.

My car is out only Spring through Fall so the winter temps don't help too much :p

Very good to hear! The only reason I would start low at 35 and work up is to monitor AFR through the rev band. If I'm in the green, then I'd step up. I'm glad to hear we're running rich to begin with.

If you guy's don't mind a few more questions: :)

Jordo: Are you saying that the engine could be detonating and thus could be causing damage? Or something else?

Are you guy's running any kind of controller and or safety cut-off (window switch, progressive, solenoid cut off with fuel pressure, AFR min/max cut off)?

What's the drivability like at a 100hp shot? Are you primarily doing roll-on hits or out of the hole straight line?

Thanks guy's!

--D

--Are you guy's running any kind of controller and or safety cut-off (window switch, progressive, solenoid cut off with fuel pressure, AFR min/max cut off)?

The Zex unit I have only activates at wide open throttle and the unit monitors nitrous and fuel mixtures to make sure I don't lean out.
Here is the Zex kit that I have.. My car is an automatic so I don't exactly miss shifts in my car. I would highly recommend a window switch for your Nismo.


--What's the drivability like at a 100hp shot? Are you primarily doing roll-on hits or out of the hole straight line?

I've done both, hole shots and rolls. 100hp directly out of the hole is quite aggressive and results in blowing your tires away in 1st and 2nd. A progressive controller would be beneficial if you are always using it from a dig at the drag strip.

100hp roll has A LOT less shock on the drive train. The car's exhaust note jumps up a few octaves and roars to life. You will feel like you are getting shot out of a gun. It's pretty ridiculous how fast the car runs. I would be tempted to say that my Z would hang with a C7, at least between 20 - 120 (and then the C7 would keep going with out me).

As for drivability... I really don't like the fact I can't use the power all the time like a turbo or super charger. I can't imagine using nitrous on a road course or a drivers situation with lots of turns, the power comes on too abrupt. On that same token, having all the abrupt power is awesome in a straight line. Hell, I was able to get a 12.5 in the quarter mile spraying which could have easily been low 12's without the excessive wheel spin I had. ... Yes a progressive controller would have been optimal. :)

One thing you might not be taking account for are the nitrous fills. Each fill will run you 40-60 dollars unless you are crazy and own your own filling station like me. Even owning your own filling station has a price tag.

I hope that helps. :tup:

^ Excellent post Gbrettin. That's the kind of review I was hoping for.

I live in norther New Mexico. We have excellent mountain roads and a lot of flat-out straight 'how fast can she go'...uh...opportunities! ;)

When I first got the Z I was very impressed with the straight line power, but as most here on the FI side of the house feel, a 'hold on to your hat' blast coming out of a turn is lacking a little. Twins is something I would relish but with two girls in private school, one getting ready for college, and a wife who doesn't understand that 600hp is 'better'...Well let's just say TT isn't gonna' happen. :)

Hence No2. For around $2k with tune I can run 100hp safely, and get the effect I really want. That is to say, a slingshot blast roll-on.

I'm looking at the Maximizer 4 controller that Nitrous Express sells. I like the idea of having all the No2 tuning options it allows via laptop. Skip a gear, progressive, AFR monitoring, fuel pressure, bottle pressure...Seems like a tinkering dream! LOL!

You're right about the fills. That's the one thing that I have yet to research. Being in Santa Fe, I doubt there is a local fill...I have a feeling it will be 60 miles south in Albuquerque...If so then a fill station might be in the mix. What made you decide to go with a fill station? Convenience and cost? How much per pound are you paying for a fill?

Again thanks for the response!

--D

Make sure you get a bottle warmer for your tank. You will be able to get consistent spray due to bottle being regulated.

--What made you decide to go with a fill station?
My buddy owns a performance shop and he wanted to get into nitrous refills. I purchased the filling station and he is marketing nitrous installations with refills for 40-50 bucks, I forgot the exact amount.

We are going to mobilize the refill station and take it to US 131 a few times in the coming year. We'll see how that goes.

--Convenience and cost?
Convenience for sure, we have the only N2O fill station in town and I fill up at cost. The large tank is about 200-220 bucks + rental per month. The large tank holds 100lbs. My tank is 10lbs so I can get 10 fills per tank.

--How much per pound are you paying for a fill?
100 / tank size. 20 - 22 bucks for my tank. ... so 2 bucks a pound.

This is very informative and thanks for posting. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay in full for the entire setup with install included? I'm interested in doing this as well and luckily I live minutes from Z1 and could probably get them to do the entire setup, but would just like to know a ballpark figure before hand so I know what to expect. I like to do rolls and never drag and there mainly on long stretches from 60-150 mph, what gear would be best to spray in and will a window switch automatically turn this unit on and off while I'm running?

Just a heads up, if you guy's are planning on using the Zex system with the NMU, you can not run any progressive controller with it(straight from Zex, its not meant to run progressively). The only option is to run their ZEX 82085 Traction Control Window Switch if you can find one. I was lucky enough to locate one, but it cost me $400.00. I do believe they have one more left, at least when I purchased mine.

I didn't pay for my installation, I traded some services for the labor. I can't imagine the install would be too terrible expensive though. As for the Nitrous kit its self, I paid nearly what was posted on the Zex site. I think the it was around 1,200 for all the items shipped.

Sorry to revive an old thread but I was curious what shop you ended up going with? I'm in Albuquerque and have been looking for a good shop. I've heard good things about NM imports and the times I was there skylines and GTRs covered the lot, Motiva on the other hand has obtained the slogan "motiva blows cars up" between my friends and the majority of people I've been around