I am very dissappointed with the Dyno results from my V2 Supercharger.
232 wheel hp @ 5900 rpms & 218 ft-lbs torque
Any insight into what's going on here is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
My current setup at the dyno:
** V2 SC with 3.33" pulley
** 18" Enkei RS6, 30psi pressure in front tires.
** Budget Exhaust Y-pipe.
** Stock exhaust & catalytic converter.
** Stock spark plugs.
** Stock FMU disk & BOSCH bypass valve.
** 95 degrees ambient temperature & car was running for 1.5 hours before I pulled into the dyno shop.

The boost gauge consistently reads 8 psi. I was sitting in the car during the dyno & I did see 8 psi of boost! I was expecting 265-270 hp. Where did those 30 ponies go?!!

My engine compression test was just fine before the SC was installed. I've driven another SC'd Max with almost 300Hp to the wheels & comparatively my car feels (butt dyno) equally fast!
Will these additional mods get me to the 265-270 mark? I really don't want to swap SC pulley to a smaller one.

(1) Greddy EVO or Apexi cat-back exhaust. (they say 20 hp right here!!)
(2) 1 step colder spark plugs. (about 4-5 hp?)
(3) smaller diameter 16" or 17" rims (8-10 hp??)
(4) Cold Air Intake for the blower. (5 HP??)
(5) Intercooler (forget it...way to expensive for my wallet)

Please don't tell me to add 35 shot of Nitrous.
The objective is to figure out why my numbers are lower than other boosted Maxima's.

 

Here they are for comparison:
This is the best I could get so far. I'll continue to look.
-------------------
1997 Maxima, Ben
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Manual Transmission, Stillen Intake
Link: http://www.tardsite.com/maxima/engine.htm
Dyno: 249 fwhp

1997 Maxima, JGadlage
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Automatic trans, Y-pipe, Greddy cat-back.
Link: http://www.geocities.com/jgadlage/my-max.html
Dyno: 255.5 fwhp

1996 Maxima, VBX Maxima
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Manual Transmission, Y-pipe
Link: http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/mymax.html
Dyno: 242 fwhp

1998 Maxima, Billy
Mods: Supercharger, 3.48 pulley, Cattman Y, RT Cat, Greddy cat-back
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...&threadid=45978
Dyno: 250 whp, 233 ft/lb.

1997 Maxima, Skimax (when he was auto)
Mods: Supercharger , Auto Tranny, stock pulley, custom 3 inch y, bpipe, greddy evo muffler,
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...&threadid=45978
Dyno: 246 whp, 230 ft/lb

1996 Maxima, VaporsSMX
Mods: Supercharger, Auto Tranny, stock pulley, Stillen catback
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...&threadid=45978
Dyno: 244 fwhp, 228 ft/lb.

1997 Maxima, Jane97SE
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Automatic Transmission, Y-pipe, cat-back
Link: 4th gen Turbo Kit
Dyno: 230 fwhp

1999 Maxima, SighMax
Mods: 3.33" pulley, budget Y, Greddy catback, 17" rims
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=70189
Dyno: 276.0/251.7

2000 Maxima, DMan_2KMax
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Automatic Transmission, Y-pipe
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...percharger+dyno
Dyno: 245 fwhp

2000 maxima, My 4DSC
Mods: Supercharger, Stock Pulley, Manual Transmission.
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...&threadid=45978
Dyno: 247 fwhp

2000 Maxima, Y2KevSE
Mods: 3.125" + everything!
Link: http://maxima.cardomain.com/id/y2kevse
Dyno: 288.3 whp and 246.9 ft-lbs. torque @ 9 psi

2001 Maxima AE, 20thdriven
Mods: Supercharger, 3.33" pulley, Manual Tranny, Greddy EVO cat-back.
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...threadid=130580
Dyno: 297fwhp, 244ft lbs torque.

2001 Maxima AE, jhans114
Mods: SC, 3.33" pulley, SuperAFC, 5 spd, HKS cat-back, HKS Twin Power Ignition,
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=92006
Dyno: 298fwhp 246lbs torque.

 

you have a 99 SE-L which is Cali Spec.. so your numbers are going to be considerably lower than everyone else.. check the dyno's of Tony aka 1MAX2NV .. his dyno numbers are also low.. he has a Cali Spec 99 SE-L..

i think your numbers are perfectly fine for a CALI Spec 99 SE-L .. worst off you have stock exhaust..

 

Check this..

1MAX2NV - 99 Cali Spec SE-L AUTO
228.6 hp -- 259.3 tq
with 100 Shot of NOS

vs

SX7R - 99 Fed Spec 5spd
295.30 hp --- 384.90 tq
with 100 Shot of NOS

99 Cali Specs are very weak for some reason..

 

darren!

 

Appreciate that info Sprint...but I should not be Cali-spec.
I bought the car in Illinois & it should not be California.
Are you saying all SE-L's are Cali-spec?

Also, will a cat-back exhaust help gain 30 wheel horses?!
I am comparing my car with SighMax's dyno. His setup is EXACT same as mine except for the Greddy exhaust...

Thanks!

 

Whats up Bobby? We need to get together sometime I want to see your car. Anyways not all SE-Ls are cali-spec mine is a fed spec but I believe most are cali-spec. Also they do sell cali-spec maximas brand new at dealers here in IL, dustyroads has a cali-spec.

 

just because the car was bought in illinois doesn't mean it isn't necessarily cali-spec. It could have easily been shipped there or whatever...

 

Hey!
We should definitely get together. I am getting together with Derrick tomorrow around noon at my house. Wanna hang with 2 supercharged Maxima's? My HP numbers seem low, but I am still faster than "the freak"!...

What is the best way to find out if my car is cali-spec or not?

 

Is one of those kits a wet kit and the other a dry one? SX7 is a 5spd and Tony has a auto. I think SX7 did a whole lot more tuning too and has some other mods. Comparing those power differences to the emmision stanards has very limit merit.



dashingMax, you said you have a budget exhaust right? I think they only make fed spec Y-pipes so you must have a fed spec car. Cali and Fed cars dyno right about the same so that's not the problem. When is the last time you changed or inspected your plugs? When is the last time you changed your fule filter? These 2 places is where I would look first. A nice cat-back exhaust system would probably give you about 15 FWHP. I think with a 3.3 dia. pulley you are supposed to change the disc out too.

 

I changed my plugs about 3 months. They are OEM Nissan NGK plugs with stock heat range. I am planning to install 1-step colder plugs this week...
I replaced the fuel filter with OEM Nissan fuel filter when I installed the SC, which was 2 weeks ago.
With the 3.33, the stock FMU disk & belts work just fine. I could be running rich with my setup. Don't know this for a fact because I did not put it on a wide-band O2.

I don't understand the difference between my car & say SighMax's car...
**********
1999 Maxima, SighMax
Mods: 3.33" pulley, budget Y, Greddy catback, 17" rims
Link: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread...&threadid=70189
Dyno: 276.0/251.7
**********

 

I appologize Mr. All knowing.. i am sure you will be able to figure out his problem.. since you have better ideas than i do...

 

I think all SE-L's are Cali spec. Your exhaust is a factor in the lack of hp. I am going to 2 3/4 inch piping to a turbo style muffler. See if you like the exhausts from Tunabe or Tsudo.

 

1) Get a better cat back exhaust and test pipe or better cat. (bigest gainer for you)
2) CAI for SC is good also.
3) Does the dyno you go to have a wide band O2 sensor? If so get an AFC and fine tune the air to fuel ratio.
4) If you have a cali spec y pipe that leaves the front pre cat intact, swap to a fed spec front exhaust manifold and fed spec y pipe.
5) Cali spec motors have a swirl valve built into the lower intake plenum. If you can swap in a non cali spec lower intake manifold it will help some also.

 

 

Look right above the front header (if you can with the S/C). If you have 4 sensors, you have Cali-spec. If you have 2 sensors, you have Fed-spec.

 

Bobby dash, (Damn that's a cool name )

Just wondering why you didn't go with Nigels turbocharger. Did you see the numbers he's putting out!? 350HP AND 350TQ @9psi. The price isn't too much more expensive then stillens either. It seems MUCH more efficient in making power and more importantly torque. (please, no jokes Jeff or joO other displacement haters ) I don't understand why people aren't getting his kit when it pretty much owns stillen's supercharger power wise...

 

how do you tell if its cali spec or not

 

 

is that for 4th gen too?? got pics?

 

yes.. for pics.. look at 1MAX2NV engine pics

 

Now I don't feel so bad about my cruddy numbers.

But comparing to Jane97SE above, which is exactly equal to my car, minus pulley size, I should be getting more hp.

Jane with stock pulley = 230hp
Me with 3.25" - 231hp.

Now I absolutely know something's wrong, and I am probalby really getting only 6PSI, like my gauge says. (I knew it wasn't broken!)

Thanks for putting those numbers up. It confirms my suspicions.

After CatBack, SC Rebuild (or swap) is on the way.

IanS

 

Yes.
Look, 4 sensors. I have Cali-Spec.

 

YES I HAVE TWO SENSORS MY CAR IS NOT SLOW!


*edit at least not the slowest one

 

what about 5th gen? 5th gen cal spec slower than 5th gen fed spec?? this applies to all maximas or 4th gen only?

 

quit whoring up this thread.

 

press report to moderator if you have a problem

 

his asking good questions, whats the problem?

 

You need to see the A/F ratio curve from a wideband o2 sensor. Or at least install an EGT gauge. Given there was little to no tuning involved that is a good number without a high flow catback.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dashingMax
[B]
With the 3.33, the stock FMU disk & belts work just fine. I could be running rich with my setup. Don't know this for a fact because I did not put it on a wide-band O2.

I don't understand the difference between my car & say SighMax's car...

 

Dont' forget me!!!

1997 Maxima, Cheston,
Mods: SC, 3.25, Manual Tranny, Greddy SP1, normal air filter, stillen ypipe, rt cat

Dyno: 276 fwhp, 251 ft/lb


why i think your dynos are low:

1. you have stock exhaust. change to a high flow catback
2. you NEED one step colder plugs if you want to prevent detonation.. if you dyno is jiggitty that might be one reason.
3. and your rims are probably hella heavy...

i have since switched to a custom CAI and will be putting in an IC..

--ches

 

that's gotta be a huge bummer... spend that much cash on a supercharger and not be 100% satisfied with it... yet! good luck getting everything working the way you want it!

 

You'll pick up another 30hp+...
My 5th gen only dyno'ed 238hp at the wheels with stock exhaust and stock pulley V2...
Went from 14.4 to 13.8 with exhaust...

 

My car is definitely NOT Cali-spec.
Also, I have BudgetExhaust down-pipe, which is ONLY available for non-Cali-spec Maxima's...

 

Thanks! There is a popular DJ in Chicago called Bobby D. I've had ask or sometimes assume I am that DJ. We must also look similar...

The reason for choosing SC over Nigel's Turbo are:
(1) No installation instructions.
(2) No proven long term reliability.
(3) Price...For what I was looking for in terms of power was 250-260 HP at the wheels. I assumed that I would not require an aftermarket exhaust & Intercooler if I went with the SC. IC install itself would run me $500 + 1000-1200 for the IC & exhaust.
(4) Tuner recommendation: Maybe my installer did not want to mess with Turbo but he recommended that SC will be much easier to install & maintain.

Thx

 

I hope & pray that your assessment is accurate. This is exactly what my tuner recommended. If you look at my dyno graph, the HP actually goes flat or barely at a 3 degree angle past 5200 rpms. Comparing mine with other dynos, their graphs keep pushing up, up & up...all the way to redline. I do have a tiny spike at 5.9-6.0k rpms but it comes back down (could be spark plugs for this spike, but not sure).

Also, my dyno run is only upto 6200 rpms. Could that be an issue... Other dyno's go upto atleast 6500 rpms!

I called my installer & also talked to the the main tuner at the dyno shop. Both tell me that my stock exhaust is choking past 5200 rpms. According to them, I should see the following differences:

*Aftermarket exhaust = 25 HP
*step colder plugs = 5 HP
*smaller diameter rims = 5-10 HP

When I asked that in a NA Maxima, cat-back only delivers 4-5 HP at the most, they gave an example of some Turbo Eclipse that gained 100 HP between 3" turbo-back exhaust & some AFC tuning...

Do you all agree that for Boosted applications, cat-back will make such a BIG difference?!

Thanks guys!

 

I was soooo very happy with the SC. I felt like that guy in Titanic, "I'm the king of the world", everytime I punched it past 4000 rpms. I should not have dyno'd. As they say:
'Ignorance is bliss'

 

im pretty sure it says it
on the plate on the hood

 

bump!

 

don't worry! stop worrying! everything will be all right.

i had low dyno #s when i was on the 3.48.... but i had lotsa problems then..

just get a good exhaust, a new hi flow cat, and you should be set.

just dont think the SC will be the all mighty powerhouse...

and besides. most boost gauges have a 0.5 psi error anyway.

 

Does anyone on this board have any actual numbers from before and after CatBack on an SC?

(I don't mean Y-Pipe, JUST CatBack).

i find it hard to believe it makes a 25-20hp difference.
(Or do you all mean CatBack + Y = +25-30hp???)

IanS