A&Q about 350Z
Q:
How is your APS system holding up More? How long have you been driving on it?
A:
Standby for an update on my own setup. If I told you the coincidences that have delayed me every step of the way, you wouldn't believe me anyway. It is hard for me to believe it myself. Things like people getting the flu after the snowy weather in chicago delaying me all winter (don't trust the stock tires for the trek from MD to Chicago) and vacation schedule delays. I have now been messing around far too long trying to get the deal changed so that I go with the 3.5 " test pipes into 3" dual exhausts instead of the original plan before the install. In the long run, these bigger exhausts will make it a better setup and worth the delay. I am slow and methodical and under no pressure to get this done by any certain time, but even I do not want to hear the excuses anymore, ha. At this point I should get all this done and then talk about it.
On the lone positive note I can see at this point, I did cut a light with a .000 second reaction time several weeks back at the track. If anybody cares I will post the slip. Yes I know there is an element of luck to doing that, but at least I have one thing to smile about. Hopefully persistence will eventually pay off.
Post Edited (May 11, 12:33pm)
A:
If anyone is even remotely interested, what are your opinions about this scenario. I figure I can run twin turbo boost on my stock internals engine for probably 50,000 to 70,000 miles at the power levels I will be running before having to rebuild the engine. Maybe more maybe less there are no guarantees. That would give me some time before the expense of the rebuild. Vs. building the bottom end of the engine now at the install. That does give the advantage of the engine being out of the car for the turbo intstall anyway - building now costs maybe $5400 extra - saves maybe $600 or so. There are advantages and disadvantages either way, but I would like to see how long the stock 350Z internals hold up considering I will have my engine tuned by arguably the best tuner in the U.S. for the turbo system I have. So I have pretty much decided to go with the stock engine internals for now. I have to make a decision and I have vacillated back and forth several times while I have been lollygagging around on the exhuast setup and getting scheduled for the install.
A:
Well...you have to measure your risk versus return. Your risk...destroyed engine. In the long run, do you think you can accumulate enough cash during the interim period, coupled with the amount you would save now, to rebuild when it blows up? Of course, the wild card is, when does it blow up. On the flip side, if you rebuild now, are you guaranteed to get a significantly longer life out of your engine...are there warranties that accompany the rebuilt engine? If you say it will cost $5,400 now, are you saying it will cost $6,000 if you don't rebuild now and wait until the engine dies?
Ahh...so many questions. I think the VQ is a pretty solid engine, but was not built for turbo power. If it was me, I would rebuild if I had the cash. It would just give peace of mind after I get all the work done knowing I could run her hard and she would be built to take it. But thats my opinion.
Good luck either way what an exciting time in your Z's life, huh?
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
There is only about $600 I'd save now (from pulling the engine out of the car then since they already pull the engine out of the car for the turbo install) building the engine vs. rebuilding the engine later. Of course you have to consider travel and towing if I build later to get the car back to the shop. I am saying it will cost $5400 now vs. $6000 later except for more cost to tranport the car back to the shop. That may be sevaral hundred more dollars depending on how bad the engine is toasted. (can it get back by driving it vs. shipping it?)
Building the engine does not guarantee a much longer life, but that should occur. I will build with much stronger pistons (forged) and rings for turbo environment (lower compression ratio a bit), much stronger forged rods (our stock rods are forged just not real strong for forced induction), and ARP head studs. This setup should be much stronger for forced induction and should provided more engine longevity.
There is a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty on the built engine with the twin turbos installed - all work done at the same shop. Warranty is a big plus.
Yes, it is exciting. Like an athlete getting ready for the a big competition or a big boxing match.
I would also run about 60 more hp to the wheels if I build the engine now with this stronger engine vs. running the turbo kit on stock engine internals. (That is about the limit of the fuel system in the turbo kit.)
I plan to run 450 hp to the wheels on the stock engine (about 540 hp at the engine) with the turbo kit vs. just over 500 hp to the wheels (a bit over 600 hp at the engine) with the turbo kit if I build the engine now. The latter hp figures are about all the power you can run on the kit's fuel system safely (the kit's fuel system is already upgraded over stock a good bit with bigger fuel injectors, upgraded fuel pump, and a fuel return system). Either power figure should run pretty damn hard. I have had a prior turbo car with about 400 hp at the wheels and this is pretty fast for a street car. It will pin you to the seat pretty good. I love those g forces!
In a way I'd like to see how long the stock engine does hold up under that power - a warrior should die in battle and be given a fighting chance, but yes it'd be nice to have confidence with the stronger engine and 12/12 warranty.
A:
More Power, if you get a good tune by an excellent tuner, your engine should last a long time [50k+ like you mentioned]. Also, the more power you have, the less you will drive your car unless you have an extremely strict schedule such as long drives to work and it's your only car. You'd think as you put money in to it you'd want to enjoy it more, but 50k on a very high horsepower [450-500+] modified car usually takes 8-10 years.
Every situation is different, but that is the general trend.
If it is only saving 600, just do what you can with the stock motor. It will give you additional time and experience to judge what final power levels, after the rebuild, you want to reach and what it will take to get it there.
VERY RARELY do people get it done 100% how they want it the first time when going from basically stock to FI and double stock horsepower. Most people don't get it 'perfect' until the 3rd or 4th time.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT
A:
Thanks for the excellent advice. Yes, I think I will stay stock engine internals now and see what the stock engine can do. It deserves it's chance to do battle with those pesky Z06s, ha. That's what it was brought into this world for. We all get old eventually but it'd be wasteful in way to take out the stock internals without even trying them under forced induction. The tuner is supposed to be the best in the U.S. for this kit. Damn the torpedoes.