Okay, I am new to the SC and turbo section, but I am not new to the .org. I have looked around for quite some time now, and I am beginning to get the itch even more for forced induction. I have a few questions, and any amount of volume that can be answered, would be greatly appreciated. I don't care if it is long...that is fine....
1. My car is a daily driver. I have a 1999 SE-L 5spd. Could I SC or Turbo it and not have to worry about it not being dependable as a daily driver?
2. Can I even get a turbo being a 99? I know that there are no ECU upgrades for my year yet...I don't know if that governs it.
3. Realistically, what is more bang for the buck considering the dependability and all.........turbo or supercharging?
4. How much can easily be obtained in hp from each (SC & Turbo) realistically and what are the total costs to get it that way. Maybe list different stages for me or something.
5. Which brands of each are the best? I know there are a few....Turbokinetics(F Max).....Stillen.....Vortech(I think this is the one Stillen sells).
6. Can I instal by myself or with my older brother that has a turbo VW Golf and knows a great deal about cars?
7. How long of an install is each?(without messing with the clutch, unless necessary while I am in there messing around.)

I know this is a lot of stuff. I appreciate anything that you can throw my way. Thanks again...

 

Whats more reliable for a daily driven car. Simple a Supercharger. Its is also much cheaper!

 

Supercharger kit, ACT clutch and a walbro fuel pump is all you need to get rolling.

 

I'll take a stab, although the best advice I can offer is to just read everything! If you're not familiar with turbos, read up on www.howthingswork.com. A lot of stuff won't make sense right away but eventually you'll start to get it. It took me a while but now I usually understand what everyone's talking about.
SC has been proved dependable. Turbo could be too one day once they're more common and everyone gets all the kinks worked out, but right now I definitely wouldn't turbo my car and expect it to get me to work every day.Yes. Once you reach a certain HP level you'll need to replace the stock injectors and MAF, with the most common replacements coming from a late model 300ZX. 95-98s can get a JWT ECU specifically programmed to control the bigger injectors and MAF, so it's pretty much plug-and-play for them. However for 99 and newer, there are some other things you can do to reach your HP goals.My take is that you get a S/C if you want a fast car you can drive every day and don't want to break the bank. You go the turbo route if you've got a bigger wallet and alternate transportation. The turbo has more potential for serious power, but it costs a lot to get there and is still somewhat uncharted territory. The supercharger is limited by the amount of boost it can produce before it spins too fast.Stillen sells the S/C kit which includes a Vortech supercharger. PFI makes a turbo kit. There are other turbo kits but many(relatively speaking) have the PFI kit and are happy.He should be to answer this depending on his level of knowledge. My initial guess would be yes on the S/C, probably on the turbo.I'll defer to the experts on this one...



I'm in a similar situation, where I crave boost (from reading this damn forum too much) but need a dependable daily driver. I sound like the perfect candiate for a supercharger. However I've also seen a handful of members sell their superchargers and buy turbos. Superchargers achive maximum boost at redline, while turbos reach full boost somewhere in the mid-range. Superchargers use some amount of power from the engine to make boost, while turbos use the exhaust. It seems to me from a performance point of view, turbo wins hands down. But as a daily driver, the S/C takes the cake. So my current plan is to stay N/A and mod as much as I can, until I can afford to get a beater and turbo the max. Also by then there should be even more people with turbo maximas that I can learn from.

 

absolutely a s/c. if theres a problem you can bypass it till you get it fixed.
and doesnt cost as much.

 

Thanks, guys, for all the comments. I am reading all I can to learn. I don't have the money right now to get another car as my main transportation, so I will just have to consider the S/C for now. I appreciate all the help.

Anyone else?

 

you dont even need a Walbro fuel pump, the SCer kit comes with a fuel pump already. The inline is far more reliable then the Walbro. If your Walbro goes out your stuck. If the stock one goes out, the inline will get you home

 

...and if your aux pump dies you'll fry the engine once you boost. I think the Walbro is the only way to go.

 

Someone here in Atl boosted w/out the aux and had his stock and did not detonate. So aux is fine if you dont have money for a Walbro.

 

If you think its safe to push 60+ psi through the stock pump for any extended period of time, then good luck.

There's no reason not to get a Walbro.

 

Ive done it. Remember my 98 was SCed. I was pushing 100PSI FP, with the inline aux pump, nothing happened. I drove to and from the track many times. Track was over 110miles away. On the way to the track we use to race on those long country roads. Prior to me going to Walbro I asked was it worth it. Answer was stay with the aux. The walbro I just got it very cheap from a Nitrous guy running too rich.

 

You're missing my point.

With the stock pump and aux pump...if either stops working what happens? Blown Engine.

With the Walbro...it it stops working what happens? Car stops running.

Which would you prefer.

In addition to being able to support more power, the Walbro makes installing the SCer a whole lot easier and cleaner. For the $100 a new one costs, there's no reason not to get one. The stock + aux may work, but it doesn't make nearly as much sense as the Walbro.

If $100 is too much to spend on a fuel pump, you'd have to re-consider boosting alltogether.

 

You said:

I'm sure the stock pump couldn't sustain close to 100psi.

 

How is the Walbro able to sustain more power? Explain.

 

but then you need something that needs to dial down the stock fp at idle

 

The walbro flows more fuel.

If you dont have the money for a Walbro, dont stress it out. Stillen put this kit together. I am sure if they felt like the walbro was better then that is what they would have sold you.

He is right about the install being much neater. On my 95 I have a aux pushing over 10PSI since I installed 3.125 pulley. I highly doubt it will croak on me. Instead of investing in a Walbro, I invested in SAFC2 to tune the bish

 

cool, sounds like a good idea, Jay.

 

I couldn't get more than about 62-64 psi out of the stock fuel pump when I used it in my fuel injector test rig.

 

how do you test all this stuff?

i mean, do you feed a certain amount of voltage through the pump and measure what it produces?

 

Makes sense. That what the nitrous guys found the "real world" limit of the stock pump to be.

Do you know how man lph the stock pump can flow?

 

well just to drop my facts on you i have been boosted with the v1 since 99, which has been 75,000 miles and the whole time i have had the aux fuel pump. but i would say the walbro is the way to go and the way i will soon be going as well...... everyday driver. been boosted since my 99 max had 6,000 miles on her

 

i think the walbro is a option but not a mandatory one. i had a s/c since 96 with nitrous 60 shot dry. i used the aux pump that comes with the stillen kit up until 3 mths ago never had one fuel issue. i have recently upgraded to the walbro only because i am now pushing way over the limits, and just want to be safe not sorry. but if your pushing regular
boost nothing to heavy, then its your option. but stillen knows there ****
they dont make the s/c kit to blow up your car, they just keep it street legal to ...

 

Thanks for the comments, guys.
That is helpful to know, vortechpower, about how long you have been driving with it sc'ed. I would like to see the same results. Unfortunately, that is only about 3 years for me. ha ha

 

I am itching just as Brudaddy is. No cash right now but I want to learn as much as I can before I do this!

My goal: my 95 gxe 5spd as a FI daily driver with enough PSI to get me to around 260-300 whp. Based on what I read above, SC is the way to go FOR ME.

1) What needs to happen to make this happen?
2) How much is this going to cost me? Kit,install, maintenence?
3) Is this feasible with a high mileage car- It will have over 130,000 by the time I attempt this.
4) Is it hard to replace a belt in the middle of a highway in the desert? How much does a belt cost?
5) I have very little experience with engine modding. I have changed my plugs. That's it. Is FI way over my head? I am willing to learn but I need someone to teach me hands on. I am in Albany, NY for the moment but will probably be in Northern Cali next year.
6) Based on the above, where is a safe place to get it installed/maintained if I can't find an org member near me to help?

As Brudaddy said above, any answer no matter how long is greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

 

no advice? Come on guys...

DaveB's thread was useful, anything here to add to that?

thanks

 

1. Basically the stock with a 3.33" pulley will get that goal, maybe an afc to get the a/f right.
2. Since your in MY, I would call Maximum Tuning. Good price and he has done many installs.
3. 130,000 is fine
4. just carry a stock belt in your trunk with a ratchet and extensions. thats easier than trying to replace the sc belt.
5. You're going to have to learn, i didnt know when i started.
6. Again, Maximum Tuning in LI

 

What's up big jay,
I haven't been able to call you and agravate the $hit out of you lately . Hope everything is going alright for you. When you get back me and frosty were talking about maybe driving up to ATL for a weekend so we could check out the car scene. I don't remember if i told you but i took the car to the track and ran a 14.3 @98 w/ 19" rims, full interior, untuned, and on the stock auto tranny. Just wanted to say what's up. Take care of yourself over there and return home safely.

Chris

 

Yeah SC is a much easier and probably cheaper route. Turbo is much better for all out power, but for a "bolt on" system that you can install in a few days, Stillen SC is the way to go. I want to go Turbo but I am willing to have a daily driver at least for the install.

 

You are never gonna go turbo. You'll probably wreck your car again before you get the kit put together . Just kiddin felt like a little black on black crime

 

Slimer you rule. Thanks. What is the approx cost of install and approx cost of the most efficient supercharger kit.

thanks.

 

there is only one supercharger kit. a new one is $3500. used you can probably find one around here for about a grand less.

Can you install one yourself? (i mean, are you mechanically inclined?)

If not, Maximum Tuning in LI has done many installs in NY. He did my VB and my suspension.

I don't know how much it would cost because i did mine myself. it was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.