I got a prompt reply to the email I sent to Alpine Developments. These guys are for real! I particularly like the part where he says ECU modifications probably won't be necessary, but if they are it won't be a problem.


Jesse:

First off, please accept my apologies for not replying in my normal timely manner, but we have been inundated with inquiries since returning from the SEMA Show.

Second, I also must apologize for this lengthy form letter, but because of the shear number of Nissan inquiries I've received just in the last two days (congratulate yourselves---over 50 inquiries!!), I would be here through all of the Thanksgiving holiday if I tried to answer each one individually. So, I'm trying to answer all of your questions (even anticipated ones) with this one reply as best I can.

I'll begin by giving you some background on who S.A. Alpine Developments Inc. is ('cause most of you are wondering "just who the hell are these guys, and where did they come from?"). Alpine Developments has been in business over 22 years based out of S. Africa, making O.E. compliant turbo charger and supercharger kits for, and serving all of Africa, the middle East, Europe, Asia Minor, southern Asia, Australia and New Zealand, both in the aftermarket and O.E. (with Nissan, Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, Hyundai and many others). Only within the last six years has Alpine started using the Eaton superchargers (the ONLY O.E. approved supercharger, used by Ford, Pontiac, Buick, Jaguar, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Aston Martin...). We're the guys who make half of the applications for TRD! No other manufacturer in the world has more experience in forced induction applications than Alpine Developments has.

Here's a little background on me, hopefully to reinforce what I bring to the table, and why Alpine hired me to run their U.S. operations here. In the late 70's, I was the California factory rep for Blaupunkt (division of Robert Bosch). In the early 80's, had my own company called Pacific Motoring Accessories in San Diego and was an exclusive importer for companies like Zender, Momo, Alpina, ABT, Otteniger, etc., and prototyped a Magnacharger (forerunner of the Eaton supercharger) on VW Rabbits. In the mid 80's to early 90's, was the designer/engineer-sales/marketing guy for Xenon (urethane ground effects manufacturer). Then, for 8 years was the VP at Turbo Magazine/Import Tuner Magazine/Today's Truck & SUV Magazine (Import Tuner was my idea!), then went to Y-Visionary (which already had Drag Racer Magazine) and started Street Trucks and Import Racer Magazines. Then I retired! I came out of retirement to handle the banner advertising for Speedoptions.com, and waited for over a year for Alpine to get it's funding together, and viola! Here I am in a position to "rock" the forced induction market here in the states!!!!

I won't bore you folks with all of the different applications we are currently in development on, but focus just on the Nissan applications that NISMO wants, and you've expressed an interest in.

2.5L (I4) Nissan `01-`03 Altima/`02-`03 Sentra SER V-Spec Aqua-cooled Turbocharger Kit

We are scheduled to start development of this application next week. We will be using a Mitsubishi turbo (don't know what size yet), and it will have a self contained "Aqua-cooled" intercooler. We still don't know yet, but hope this can be installed without any ECU management, but have access to the new "encrypted" ECU technology if needed. We anticipate seeing at least a 70-to-80 hp increase minimum with the basic kit, and plan to offer "official" stage one, and possibly stage two upgrades once it has passed CARB certification. This kit (if all goes well) should be available by the end of Feb.`03.

3.5L (V6) Nissan `01-`03 Altima/Maxima/`03 350Z/Infiniti G35/I35 Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit


We plan to start development of the 3.5L Aqua-cooled supercharger on a 350Z (has the lowest hood clearance) sometime near the end of December. This kit will probably be using the Eaton MP90 (new 5th gen.) roots type blower, with the self contained aqua-cooler system, with the heat exchanger built in to the intake plenum (like our 2.7L Hyundai application). Running about only 5-lbs/psi of boost, we should be able to produce close to 60-hp gain at the wheels, hopefully without any ECU management (but can if needed)! As with the above application, we will develop a stage one, and possible stage two "official" upgrades once the kit has been CARB certified as well. If all goes as planned on this application, look for it's availability around the tail end of April `03.

3.0L (V6) `95-`99 Nissan Maxima?

We had not planned on doing an application for this vehicle, but after the last several days worth of e-mails, may have to concede a strong need for this application. If the flood of inquiries for this model continue, we WILL look at doing something for this vehicle, but because of all of the other projects currently in development at this time, realistically, could not even begin until sometime in late April. So, keep those inquiries coming!

Price?

Although it's way too early to set a price on these applications, we don't anticipate any of these kits selling for more than $3200 suggested retail (the 1.8L turbo kit should be less than $3000), and that includes everything you would need to install yourself!

Shipping & Packaging

We are now using Fed-Ex Ground Service as our regular carrier, and have found them to offer not only better care and handling of our products, but in most cases, are less expensive than UPS. All shipments will be insured at their retail value. All of our systems are pre-assembled as much as possible, and shipped complete in one box (typically 28"x 18"x 18" w/hand-grip cutouts), and average in weight between 50-to-90-lbs, with custom Styrofoam packaging to insure our products arrive intact.

Warranty

All of our non-CARB approved applications carry a "1-Year / Unlimited Mileage" warranty against defects in materials and workmanship (unless otherwise specified). Any omission or addition of parts, deviation or modification to our kit from its original intent, design, and installation instructions, or any additional modifications that may affect the performance and reliability of our kit as intended, will void this warranty.

We are still hammering out the fine print at this point in time, but anticipate having a "3-Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train" backed by Dell Financial Services (same people who back GM's warranties) in place before the end of this year. A Dell Financial representative or an "Authorized Alpine Developments Installation Facility" (which you can apply for) will be the only ones who can sign off on this. This may include and cover "official" upgrades from Alpine Developments . Details on this will be forwarded to you when this has been finalized.

Even more good news...we will be offering an optional "extended warranty" on the basic kit (no modifications at all) that can be purchased at the time of purchase of our kits, or up to 90 days after purchase of our kit, that will match the remaining factory power train warranty as long as the vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it. (The price for this will vary depending on the length of the factory warranty being matched, but don't anticipate it being more than an extra $200-to-$300.) The details of this are not all set yet, but as with the other warranty, will have to be "signed off" by a Dell Financial representative, or "Authorized Alpine Developments Installation Facility". We should have all this in place by the first of the year, and should be available to existing owners prior to it being available! Unfortunately, any upgrades (even our own "official" upgrades) will not be covered by this extended warranty package. Again, details on this will be forwarded to you when this has been finalized as well.

I am already on several "Hyundai", and now "Toyota" websites, but don't think I will have the time to post on each and everyone (besides, there are only two full-time employees here now, plus the owner from S. Africa and one engineer/technician) and would appreciate if you could post this letter on your sites for me, to pass this information on to those who've not e-mailed me yet!

Again, thank you for your tremendous response, and you should congratulate yourselves! (who says your voice can't be heard?). I will keep all of your inquiries in separate "Nissan" folders, and send you any new "updates" to all of you on each application mentioned above when we have any more information to pass along. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us if you should have any other questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing back from you all soon!

Stephen M. Belanger
Sales & Marketing
S.A. Alpine Developments, Inc.
7581 Acacia Avenue
Garden Grove, Ca. 92841
sbelanger@alpine-developments.us
www.alpine-developments.co.za
Ph (714) 379-8066
Fx (714) 379-8166




WOOHOOO everyone get ready to be boosted!!!!

~ Jesse

 

I got the same reply. I like that! He sounds sincere, and he definitly knows that there is a market out there. You 3.5l guys are going to get your sc soon, but us 3.0l guys need to keep sending the inquires in!

 

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

He say's the gains will be at about 60 HP. I will be honest that is really not that great. I wonder how tunable these SC units will be? Being a roots type blower it will have a hard time really getting that nice peak power #'s. I may have to stick to my guns and go turbo soon.

 

I know what exactly what you mean emax95, but there's always a way around. I remember reading an installation process in Import Tuner magazine about the pros and cons of installing the SC from stillen. Now the cons of it was low gains of HP. The pros was (if I remembered) that they found and alternative way by changing the trim in stillens SC. They switch the stock trim to a trim that's called the S-trim. After that switch, they also added an air-to-air intercooler which even provided even more hp gains. Now not tweaking the SC turned out to be 80 hp @ the wheels, but adding the S-trim and intercooler made exactly 100hp @ the wheels, 20 hp difference but heys, there's always a possibility of upgrading an aftermarket piece.

Btw, the installation article was done on a 97 maxima se.

Wow, companies and people are on the process of making both turbochargers and superchargers. I'd go for the turbochargers for high end hp and that wooooshhhhh sound. But it doesn't matter, just as long as both turbochargers and superchargers are made for 2k and above, then there's no reason to complain about.

-Rey

 

personally i would rather have a turbo then a supercharger. but hey beggers cant be choosers

 

The only reason I would go with the SC instead, Ethan, is that it might prove to be more reliable than a Turbo....Just My .02 ...

 

Kloogy is right. Also you want to look at the fact that this SC is being developed by an experienced company that is throwing a warrantee into the mix.

 

It definatly has it's pro's but i'm looking at this from a differnt perspective. If I go with a form of FI I want a 120 WHP gain


IIRC roots type blower's do not take well to smaller pulleys(ie. more boost). I know from vehicles like the Xtera swapping the pulley does not help them much.


I could be wrong about this whole thing though. This is just what I have heard.


2k3MmaximaPwr, your comparing to totaly differnt types of SC's here. One is designed for low end and the other is more geared for top end. Vortech blowers are easaly up-gradebel, the same can not be said for a root's type blower.

Again, could be wrong

 

This is 100% correct.

 

Maybe would could get a pre-ordered group deal?

 

He mentioned NISMO I wonder if Nissan is gonna rebadge these packages and sell them through dealers, aka TRD.

 

If they do, add another 1K to the price !

 

Sixty horespower. Not alot, but definitely better than nothing. No bottle to refill, no boost lag. Very serviceable and reliable. Warranty attached. Too much power would result in horrible 60ft times since P245 tires are about the limit you can run on this car. For a 5 psi kit, 60 hp is pretty good. Plus our compression ratios are 10.3:1 I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything over 6 psi.

Jesse

 

5 psi and 60 horse isnt too bad, and my guess is he's being conservative with his estimates

I personally think a PROPERLY designed turbo kit can be as reliable or more reliable than a Supercharger if the proper care is taken to maintain the turbo(s)

for three years, my old 240, fully built pushing ~400~hp ran without a single problem, and within a year or two on the org, I've seen countless Maximas throw their supercharger belts... and some people like seem to have a knack for shredded, hopping belts

 

As I look threw some of the post guys are never satisfied. "I wish they made this I would rather have that", no one just saying I'm glad. I was praying that they would manufacture a SC or Turbo kit for the 3.5l engine so bad and now it's here. So what it may not be able to easily upgraded. So what it's not this and that. It's not a turbo with this much boost blah blah blah. Just be thankful that these companies are developing these products for our car. For along time us 3.5l guys were like damn those 3.0l guys with the stillen SC kit. Now a kit is in the works for us and people are still complaining.

A supercharger in the engine is worth two turbo's on the shelf

 

You seem to not realise theres 2 turbo kit's currently available

 

I guess I should do a search. emax you have a site or something like that?

 

I just sent him an email for us.......

Let him know how much we want to play too. Write to him!!!

 

I've gone from roots type in my old cars to my current centrifugal setup in the big bad max...

The roots/intake manifold-mounted blower is crazy fun right off the bat as you get your full boost and torque much earlier in your power curve; with a centrifugal if you can't get yourself to high rpm's right away, you're not going to see as much power until you do (this really applies more to autotragics since you can just downshift in a manual.. but you get the idea).

One thing I think many will agree on : you will see even more major traction issues with a roots blower on a FWD car, especially with a Maxima - even moreso the 3.5VQ. My tires go through hell already when I flip down a gear.. but heck tis the price you pay for having FWD

With regards to pulley size on a roots blower, I strongly disagree; at one point it will be up to the driver to handle the extra power, so although the car may not go any faster, it certainly gives a great power boost. I'm sure you can find many dyno sheets that demonstrate differences of the popular (yet older generation) Eaton M90 supercharger running from factory 3.8" to 3" or maybe less (for those who think its 16,000rpm safe operation speed is only a suggestion ).

Just my $0.02! I'm sorta jealous right now though.. makes me wanna go back a few months when I was trying to decide whether to get a 2K2 or stick to my Y2K