Im looking into getting the stillen supercharger. It looks a heck of a lot easier to install than the custommaxima.com turbo kit. could a common car guy install this, or would it have to be professionally installed? and, is the supercharger as complicated as the turbo kit? i know with the turbo kit you have to have blow off valves and guages and tons of other confusing crap. do you have to have this with the supercharger? i know the turbo would probably give a lot more HP, but i dont want to spend that much. is the supercharger worth the $3500? any input is appreciated. thanks!

 

I love having a supercharger. I found the kit install very straightforward, even pretty easy compared to other things I've done. But if you haven't been around engines much it might be better if you have it professionally installed, because it is possible to make mistakes that could take out your blower or your engine.

The Stillen supercharger kit is much simpler than a turbocharger setup, even compared to a non-intercooled turbo. Tuning a supercharged engine is quite a bit simpler than a turbo'd engine, too. But when it comes to area under the power curve, turbo wins.

You have got to have two gauges: 1) exhaust gas temperature and 2) fuel pressure. These two gauges will help you monitor your fuel delivery under boost, which is critical if you want your engine to survive. A boost gauge is nice, but not absolutely necessary like the egt and fp gauges.

A blow off valve is not as important with a SC compared to a TC. SC people get them for the sound they make more than anything else.

 

I think the S/C is pretty hard compared to the turbo. If you have the proper tools...if you are a wrench monkey, go for it but you will find out why shops charge what they charge. Its not rocket science but its like a piece of cake neither...patience..
stephenmax..you think a turbo is harder to install?

 

does the stillen come with detailed instructions? my dad is really good with cars and his friend is a mechanic (although neither of them have installed a supercharger) but i think we might be able to tackle it. how hard was it to hook up the guages? thats the part that confuses me. also, will this put so much stress on the engine that it wont last very long?

thanks for the input!

 

save a grand and buy a kit from someone here on the org. They are selling v2 sc kits even.

 

If you have never installed a SCer and your very mechanically inclined you should be able to do it in 2-3 complete days. If your bad you can do it in a day and a half. If your a SCer maniac you can possibly do it in 8-10 hours. I ve done it in 4 hours w/minor help from my 15yr old brother.

 

these are the 4 major events of instaling SC. IMO it is easier than turbo because you dont have to deal with exhuast piping and clearance (from what I've seen on Kevin's turbo install) I would take at least 5 days to do everything slowly and corretly for first timer.

1.reroute power steering fluid line
2.add oil feed line and drain back plate
3.tap FMU and fuel pump to the fuel system
4.install SC to the engine and install intake and charger pipe.

and you have to include time to double check your work, test drive, belt alignment, other minor adjustment (oil drain back tubing) here and there....


oh, get set of gear wrenches...it helps, trust me.

 

I've never done a turbo installation, but it seems like it would be more difficult because of the more complex intake path if you have an intercooler, and you have to deal with routing the exhaust to the turbo as well.

 

wow. i had no idea it was that involved. does anyone know how much (ball park) it would cost to have it installed professionally? thanks again.

 

2 shops told me $500 and done in 2 days

 

1. yes, it comes with step by step instructions but some things can seem cloudy if you never worked on a car before..and i think the hardest part to me was which fuel lines were which and that took ten mins to figure out... and the alignment of the belt..
2. you just have to run them into the car to the gauges and hook them up just your avg hose connection..
3.absolutely , it would add extra stress, but if you dont abuse it.. you will get yaers of satisfaction i know i have, over three yrs...

 

I know I have seen the answer somewhere to this..............
Is a FMU needed if you have a JWT ECU running their boost program on 370cc injectors?

 

Nope. You don't NEED an FMU. Actually - JWT says DEFINATELY DO NOT use an FMU.

But I think that's just a liability thing with them. I can't see any reason one would not be able to run an FMU.

I have the 370's, JWT ECU, and a 2.87" Pulley. I'll be Dynoing with an AFC to tune first. if that doesn't do enough, then I'll be putting my Cartech adjustable FMU back in and seeing how it goes.

I'll let everyone know my results after this is all done.

But since I'm getting married in 2 months, and I still need to install my 3" exhaust, it may not be until summer that I've got everything analyzed.

IanS

 

OK i was pretty sure, thanks!

So you are running the boost 370 program and the only true issue is the back firing right?
That still concerns me.

The JWT ECU is kinda sold to us like we should not have any worries or need to do tuning(AFC or FMU)? That is how Ben made me feel.
Can JWT help you with that issue?
how much boost will you be pushing?
With the JWT, can you just put in whatever pulley you want, how is JWT suppose to "program" for all these variables and say tuning is not needed?

EDIT: do you have a BOV?

 

MAJOR tunning is not neccesary because the ecu can ajust 100% the fuel going out through the injectors

all it does is read how much air is coming in with the MAF and then sends the apropriat fuel going out using the 370cc injectors

fmus are used because the stock injectors are to small and would be maxed at low 200's hp range on stock fuel pressure thats why FMU's are used but the ecu has no control over FMU's

the only tunning a car with a jwt ecu would need is just fine tunning to sqeez alittle extra HP out of it

 

so after time, his ECU will realize it is running too rich when he lets off of the gas pedal and it runs too rich and backfires?

 

It's been a good 200 miles - still VERY rich.

If you have a Cartech FMU you can adjust Fuel pressure by boost on the fly - which makes it much easier to tune with than a Vortech FMU...

The Cartech not only is used to help with the smaller injectors, it is used to fine tune flow under boost. Which is why i will use it if need be.

Apparently however i am also rich because the JWT ECU is tuned for the stock fuel pump, and I'm running a Walbro pump.

IanS

 

Hey ian!!! wassup!!!! i finally slapped my MEVI on it sits purty...its not running right now cuz I am not done yet. So would you think my next step would be tt z injectors? or ecu? I have the same setup as u but not much.
V2
2.87
CAI
water injection ( not set up yet
MEVI
what next ole wise one?

 

wow - you're running a 2.87" pulley on stock injectors!?!?!?

You need both - the ECU and the Injectors before you get all boost happy with that pulley.

Or at least an FPR and Adjustable FMU to control the extra fuel - which comes out to almost as much as an ECU anyway.

Glad to hear the MEVI's coming along!!

IanS

 

i am not that boost happy...much... i also got the walbro pump does that count too. So i should get the injectors, and the fpr next and the ecu last right? ...oh congrats to your marriage!!!
thanx fo yo info yo
Tay

 

You can't run the Injectors without either a FPR or ECU.

You should probably get all of those things at once and run off like a 3.25" pulley until then.

 

you can run the 370cc injectors with just the FPR and a 4:1 FMU. that's what mardigras did.

 

That's basically what I was saying - but the ECU will give him a raised redline and better tuning across the band. Even Marti has gone JWT.

An Adjustable FMU is also better than a 4:1 FMU - no discs to change and easier tuning.

 

All this S/C talk. I can't wait. Never thought about one but now I want it. 5 speed, S/C, JWT ECU, injectors. Yep just need about $7500. LOL

 

So I should get the FPR next huh? Is it east to install?

 

Nono - you should get at a minimum the ECU and the Injectors first (you have to do it at the same time anyway) - then get the FPR if you are running rich.

If you want to tune your boost and you think the ECU then isn't doing it's job up there, get an adjustable Rising Rate FMU.

Injectors are far easier to install than I thought they would be - but then again - they were sent to me in tthe fuel rail. I just had to drop them in.

ECU is a piece of cake if you get one of those tiny ratcheting screwdriver things to get at the angles

FMU is easy....just drop it inline with the fuel return

FPR - looks easy enough. Haven't actually done it - yet.

IanS

 

Will JWT program the ECU for whatever base FP you want? IE - 40ish psi for guys with a Walbro and no FPR? Could save you the cost of a FPR...

 

Good question - not sure - I bought mine 2nd hand from someone who just happened to have the exact mods I was putting in....didn't want to wait 12 weeks.

IanS

 

guys know any place besides the junk yard where i should get the injectors? damn they are espensive.about $150?!?!when replacing the injectors, do I have to take out the manifold? what is the site for the ecu again? thanx again for these info, u da man, ian

 

Heh - lucky for me I barted for mine by trading tampamax an MEVI + Install Kit.

 

dayim I am jealous

 

Er...."bartered"...