Stillen Supercharger reliabiity

irondoc · 02-01-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk

I spent $5500+ install for about 50whp. Pretty sure a SC will outperform that dollar per hp quite easily. Keep in mind, most people with FI spent money on supporting mods also. The kit may have cost $6k, but they also may have purchased a CBE, HFC or TP's. Most also do their own custom tuning which is another expense. That 6k all of a sudden looks like 9-10k after it's all said and done.

I agree with this, however, if you talk to Stillen they will tell you that their expected 390-420 whp is with the SC kit only (includes CAI). They actually advise against up front addition of headers, HFC's, exhaust etc, as those things complicate the tune.
In that case, other additions, are unnecessary, and purely per taste.
I have a NISMO exhaust because I like how it SOUNDS, and LOOKS.

SS_Firehawk · 02-01-2013, 03:44 PM

I was quoting my Delta from NA mods, not FI. Stillen's tune is trash, with or without HFC's exhaust, whatever. All I'm saying is what most guys here are doing. Modifications to your exhaust will gain more horsepower 99% of the time over stock in NA or FI, it's not just for taste. How did Shamu push 450whp with PPE headers and stock Nismo exhaust if it's just for taste. How did he improve that by 30whp when he replaced the Nismo exhaust with the Litespeed one? Yes, I'm sure it's been retuned, even outside of that, it's a considerable improvement. I bet Stillen would sing a different tune if you asked them if it's okay to add their HFC's and CBE to their SC kit. All they are trying to do is simplify the process for the masses. That doesn't means it is the better way to do things. Please don't take this as me being brash Iron, because your statement is fairly accurate, I'm just expounding on the whole topic a bit.

irondoc · 02-01-2013, 04:24 PM

SS - I did misinterpret your initial statement. No doubt this tuner stuff can turn into a bottomless pit no matter what road you choose - SC, Turbo or N/A. I don't really know exactly how Shamu got to 478 other than the 9psi pulley - but I sure would like to know, and I am sure I will find out - slowly but surely over the next 3 years.

Still 395 is such a big gain over my stock (with NISMO exhaust) 274 that I am quite happy for now. I still have some work to do on my in car sound system so any further mods will be pushed back likely until summer 2014.
Bottom line - I love this car - and the crap we can do to it to make it even more fun.

SS_Firehawk · 02-01-2013, 04:35 PM

Yeah, by the time I'm done, I'll have $18k sunk into the car... Not including rims, body work, or interior mods. Busy paying it all as we speak. 395whp would provide plenty of hooligan fun. I justified my purchase to my Wife by saying I have to keep up with the Jones's (Porches, Mustangs, Camaro's, and Corvettes). Better than buying a new one because I wanted more oomph. The other part was to help get the Twin supercharger kit out the door so we can finally get some results! Guess it's my way of giving back... by being a test dummy.

irondoc · 02-02-2013, 03:14 PM

SS - Nice that the wife gives a s**t about keeping up with anyone. I for one will be looking forward to your reports on the GTM Twin SC set up. Looks amazing, and looks like a very involved install.

SS_Firehawk · 02-02-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irondoc

SS - Nice that the wife gives a s**t about keeping up with anyone. I for one will be looking forward to your reports on the GTM Twin SC set up. Looks amazing, and looks like a very involved install.

Luckily I won't be doing it. Kinda wish I was there though, love learning. I think this has to be one of the most expensive ways to get results lol. Sometimes FI makes us do crazy things.

elperuano · 02-02-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk

Luckily I won't be doing it. Kinda wish I was there though, love learning. I think this has to be one of the most expensive ways to get results lol. Sometimes FI makes us do crazy things.

Ur right about that. U have lotta money into your Z. I truly hope the end result exceeds ur expectation. U damn sure deserve it.

irondoc · 02-02-2013, 08:33 PM

[QUOTE=dansracing;2142735]

Quote:

Originally Posted by irondoc

Very well said. The only real point in reading these forums is that there are so many opinions. Those opinions are based on many different circumstances and attitudes. There are posters from the age of 15 to 50, and those that will never be happy and those that will never have enough power. And of course those who think that if you don't do it like they did it then it is wrong. The great thing is that you can read through all of that and pretty quickly determine what is BS and what you can actually use. The bottom line is your car is unique to you, and your wants are not what others may be wanting so don't get caught up in the negativity. Since this is a "Stillen" thread, I will proudly say that I just ordered my Stillen SC and it's on the way. I am completely happy with my decision and have done enough research to satisfy me. My expectations are in line with what I know about it and I plan on being okay with it. If its not, then I will change it.
Thank you for all of the info that I have absorbed from this and other threads and to all of you who just state your experiences and not just come in here to bash a product that may not have worked out for you.

Dan, Though you may end up going nuts with 9-10 psi pulleys, and other ways to get up close to 500whp, the initial Stillen tune will make such a big jump in power over your NISMO it will be startling. This is by far the fastest car I have ever owned. I have learned that I get much better acceleration with the traction control turned off. When on, it kicks in constantly and every time the squiggly lines show up the engine backs off on the throttle. The only problem is it is way too easy to leave tread on the pavement. You will have a blast. Who is doing the install and when do you expect it to be ready?

irondoc · 02-02-2013, 08:40 PM

[QUOTE=elperuano;2141180]It's amazing that the inferior Stillen kit still gets this much play.

...Once people realized Stillen tune was garbage...

Elperuano - Just wondering here. Not challenging you or talking trash - I just want to know what exactly is "garbage" about the Stillen tune? Is it optimizing power output? Is it reliability? Why is the tune bad in your opinion?

dansracing · 02-02-2013, 09:29 PM

[QUOTE=irondoc;2144884]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansracing

Dan, Though you may end up going nuts with 9-10 psi pulleys, and other ways to get up close to 500whp, the initial Stillen tune will make such a big jump in power over your NISMO it will be startling. This is by far the fastest car I have ever owned. I have learned that I get much better acceleration with the traction control turned off. When on, it kicks in constantly and every time the squiggly lines show up the engine backs off on the throttle. The only problem is it is way too easy to leave tread on the pavement. You will have a blast. Who is doing the install and when do you expect it to be ready?

Kit is supposed to show up this Tuesday. I have to send off the intake tube for powder coating and expect it back the following week, maybe Wednesday. If all goes right I will be sucking some serious air by Feb. 18. I will give a full report with pictures.
I don't see myself messing with the pulleys for more gain. I want to leave the system as is. If I ever do anything, I would look at Meth injection. A guy in our group who has the Stillen SC just had the Meth kit installed last Thursday. HUGE improvement. He has a 350z and has been running the Stillen kit for about a year with no issues at all. He was making 375 WHP. Adding the Meth Kit, it jumped up to like 423.
His work and my work will be done by J Tran Studios in Houston. They are experts on our cars and the tuner Johnny Tran is very good. They have done tons of FI work and countless tunes, specializing in the Nissan Z.

elperuano · 02-02-2013, 11:01 PM

[QUOTE=irondoc;2144892]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elperuano

It's amazing that the inferior Stillen kit still gets this much play.

...Once people realized Stillen tune was garbage...

Elperuano - Just wondering here. Not challenging you or talking trash - I just want to know what exactly is "garbage" about the Stillen tune? Is it optimizing power output? Is it reliability? Why is the tune bad in your opinion?

Well the power output is pretty bad, drivability is bad... Just from what I've read over time on other forums and this one. I don't think I can think of more than 2-3 Z's that stayed with the Stillen tune. A canned tune isn't best for every car. Any FI added to the car should always have a personal tune for ur specific car to make the best out of it.

elperuano · 02-02-2013, 11:04 PM

[QUOTE=dansracing;2144932]

Quote:

Originally Posted by irondoc

Kit is supposed to show up this Tuesday. I have to send off the intake tube for powder coating and expect it back the following week, maybe Wednesday. If all goes right I will be sucking some serious air by Feb. 18. I will give a full report with pictures.
I don't see myself messing with the pulleys for more gain. I want to leave the system as is. If I ever do anything, I would look at Meth injection. A guy in our group who has the Stillen SC just had the Meth kit installed last Thursday. HUGE improvement. He has a 350z and has been running the Stillen kit for about a year with no issues at all. He was making 375 WHP. Adding the Meth Kit, it jumped up to like 423.
His work and my work will be done by J Tran Studios in Houston. They are experts on our cars and the tuner Johnny Tran is very good. They have done tons of FI work and countless tunes, specializing in the Nissan Z.

That's a good shop there. You're in good hands.

dansracing · 02-03-2013, 06:42 AM

[QUOTE=elperuano;2145051]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansracing

That's a good shop there. You're in good hands.

I feel that way as well, and your post is spot on above. The canned tune is not for every car, maybe no car. I think they just take a stab at it and send a map with the kit. I opted out of it and saved money on the overall kit.

gussyturbo z · 02-05-2013, 07:20 PM

The stillen tune sucks it lasted a week in mine and had to get it custom tuned.

dansracing · 02-05-2013, 09:33 PM

Stillen gear arrived today. SC kit and a 25 row oil cooler. Intake tube goes off to the powder coater tomorrow. I am going to do a little paint work on the intake plenum while waiting. Hope to get it in the shop for installation by late next week.

02-01-2013, 03:44 PM	#107 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	I was quoting my Delta from NA mods, not FI. Stillen's tune is trash, with or without HFC's exhaust, whatever. All I'm saying is what most guys here are doing. Modifications to your exhaust will gain more horsepower 99% of the time over stock in NA or FI, it's not just for taste. How did Shamu push 450whp with PPE headers and stock Nismo exhaust if it's just for taste. How did he improve that by 30whp when he replaced the Nismo exhaust with the Litespeed one? Yes, I'm sure it's been retuned, even outside of that, it's a considerable improvement. I bet Stillen would sing a different tune if you asked them if it's okay to add their HFC's and CBE to their SC kit. All they are trying to do is simplify the process for the masses. That doesn't means it is the better way to do things. Please don't take this as me being brash Iron, because your statement is fairly accurate, I'm just expounding on the whole topic a bit. elperuano and FernDiggidy like this. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

02-01-2013, 04:35 PM	#109 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	Yeah, by the time I'm done, I'll have $18k sunk into the car... Not including rims, body work, or interior mods. Busy paying it all as we speak. 395whp would provide plenty of hooligan fun. I justified my purchase to my Wife by saying I have to keep up with the Jones's (Porches, Mustangs, Camaro's, and Corvettes). Better than buying a new one because I wanted more oomph. The other part was to help get the Twin supercharger kit out the door so we can finally get some results! Guess it's my way of giving back... by being a test dummy. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

02-05-2013, 07:20 PM	#119 (permalink)
gussyturbo z Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dallas/ Ft. Worth Posts: 180 Drives: Nissan 370z grey Rep Power: 13	The stillen tune sucks it lasted a week in mine and had to get it custom tuned. swiss370Z, Nut_N_Much and FernDiggidy like this.

02-05-2013, 09:33 PM	#120 (permalink)
dansracing Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 183 Drives: 2012 370 Nismo Rep Power: 13	Stillen gear arrived today. SC kit and a 25 row oil cooler. Intake tube goes off to the powder coater tomorrow. I am going to do a little paint work on the intake plenum while waiting. Hope to get it in the shop for installation by late next week. Nut_N_Much likes this. __________________

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02-01-2013, 04:24 PM	#108 (permalink)
irondoc Base Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 99 Drives: 13 370 6MT sport tou Rep Power: 13	SS - I did misinterpret your initial statement. No doubt this tuner stuff can turn into a bottomless pit no matter what road you choose - SC, Turbo or N/A. I don't really know exactly how Shamu got to 478 other than the 9psi pulley - but I sure would like to know, and I am sure I will find out - slowly but surely over the next 3 years. Still 395 is such a big gain over my stock (with NISMO exhaust) 274 that I am quite happy for now. I still have some work to do on my in car sound system so any further mods will be pushed back likely until summer 2014. Bottom line - I love this car - and the crap we can do to it to make it even more fun.

02-02-2013, 03:14 PM	#110 (permalink)
irondoc Base Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 99 Drives: 13 370 6MT sport tou Rep Power: 13	SS - Nice that the wife gives a s**t about keeping up with anyone. I for one will be looking forward to your reports on the GTM Twin SC set up. Looks amazing, and looks like a very involved install.

02-02-2013, 08:40 PM	#114 (permalink)
irondoc Base Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 99 Drives: 13 370 6MT sport tou Rep Power: 13	[QUOTE=elperuano;2141180]It's amazing that the inferior Stillen kit still gets this much play. ...Once people realized Stillen tune was garbage... Elperuano - Just wondering here. Not challenging you or talking trash - I just want to know what exactly is "garbage" about the Stillen tune? Is it optimizing power output? Is it reliability? Why is the tune bad in your opinion?