Supercharger Decisions
 

Well I've been reading a lot over the past few weeks since I got my Z about superchargers. I originally was gonna go with the Stillen 'cause it's a widely recognized name, looks good, and seemed very compact with the air to water integrated cooler. However, I have been reading a lot of negative opinions about their kit. Mainly I believe due to the fact that it is limited as far as upgrading and making serious power. So I looked to the GTM superchargers but I guess there has been sketchy business with one of their prior employees and very long delivery times. So..what to do. Ive been reading some threads about Stillen with air-to air conversions, however, they seem to use a stripped out Stillen manifold.

My thoughts are to cobble together a hybrid kit. Utilizing the Vortech SC and mount from the Stillen and the intercooler and piping from the GTM. (or similar IC and piping). I'm not sure if the Vortech SC is a better option as far as the blower goes but I like that it's mounted up top. (Easier to install, work on, straight route for cold air intake/filter. I would clock the SC downward so as to route piping more directly to the IC and avoid having to take off the overflow tank as in the Stillen kit. Maybe starting with the canned tune for the Stillen and having it tuned from there?

Any thoughts? maybe it's been done this way before?

Just buy the Stillen kit and Topgunz's air to air kit. GTM is gone.

I know GTM is gone but now they are Gamma Motors. Same products. I' wasn't going to buy the GTM kit just the IC and piping. It'll be similar to Topgunz but I don't want to use the Stillen manifold.

You'll have to have custom piping made to mate the gamma stuff with the vortech setup. At that point why not have whoever is making the piping do all of it and cut gamma out of the loop?

I wasn't necessarily going to use Gamma IC and piping. besides I'm not sure they'd sell me just that stuff. I found another IC that is similar and a good price.

Dang, I was just looking at some pics on Topgunz thread and it looks like it would be a tight fit to run the driver's side intake piping past the Stillen SC.

Yup. If the stock manifold was useable, id have done it.

Makes sense I guess. It didn't even occur to me how big the Vortech is. I suppose that's part of the reason Stillen made their own as well. OK then, question answered I guess. Ill look into Topgunz setup

Well, technically there's a way to do it, but it would be crammed and wouldn't use common piping. Not worth it unless you are going with a v2 and built motor

Just sucks cause there's not a lot of options for superchargers for these cars. I would just go with GTM supercharger but I think their design to put the SC low down with the intake facing rear sucks. So your air filter is right near the headers and close to the ground. Would have been better in the same location as Stillen unit and its small enough you might be able to get around it with piping like they do with their twin SC. Their twin supercharger is cool but I could build the motor and get a twin turbo for about the same cost

You can get a twin turbo kit with that money and throw the rest on supporting mods which are a most. You don't need to build the motor with a twin turbo set up if you're aiming for 450-500whp which is plenty. Now higher than that is a hole different ball game.Just make sure who ever tunes the car do it right and you'll be good to go.

Having had both (super/turbo) on my Z, I wish I would've just gone turbo from the start and saved a lot of $$$. I got a great deal on a Stillen SC kit a couple years ago but had a mechanical malfunction that sent me towards the turbo....for just a little more $$ it is totally worth it to go turbo. Nothing wrong w/ SC IMO, but having had both on my car....turbo FTW

GTM/Gamma stage 1 kit had a better filter location but had a pretty major downside, one of the pipes getting the air into the SC had an over 90 degree bend. The engine bay is tight and fitting the SC in either spot will create downsides in design which then puts limitations.

If I did it all over again I would of went turbo, no questions.

I agree fully...