Xendric Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Hi I've decided to go FI and from the research I did here and on my350z.com, I've decided to go with the Vortech SC kit, as it appears to be safer and capable of the power I want. I've managed to get soem decent deals from the States, but I'd like some feedback if I could get it from a trader on this forum or anywhere in the UK. If anyone is selling a used kit, I'd consider it, though I'd prefer a new kit. Please advise. Cheers Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekman Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I am really curious as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 He's not in the UK but Adam from Z1 is trusted trader on this site and will no doubt do you a good deal. Vortech's are few and far between in the UK and most UK sellers are likely to have little real-world experience of the product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I am also looking into this. I will be getting mine from Adam at z1performace. Working out about 4k with the current exchange rate and allowing a few hundred quid for import tax and duty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmJak Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I had looked into the Vortech, but just out of curiosity why are you choosing it over say the Power Enterprise Twin Turbo kit? How about Envy? Think they sell the Vortech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I had looked into the Vortech, but just out of curiosity why are you choosing it over say the Power Enterprise Twin Turbo kit? How about Envy? Think they sell the Vortech. Because after reading many posts that compared a SC installation vs a turbo installation, I gathered that the SC is softer on the engine parts, puts down the power in a similar way to the stock motor, is cheaper to buy AND install. The turbo configuration will give more TQ down low, will be a far better platform if you plan to strengthen your internals and go for bigger numbers (more than 500hp). So after these pros and cons, I've decided to go with the SC. If I did go with the turbo, I'd pick up APS though. It's by far the most complete and best quality kit out atm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I'd pick up APS though. It's by far the most complete and best quality kit out atm. Complete.....Possibly Best Quality Kit..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djtimo Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I'd pick up APS though. It's by far the most complete and best quality kit out atm. Complete.....Possibly Best Quality Kit..... Ok alex may be not as good as HKS but far better than the Gready kit and has better turbos than the PE kit and is also water cooled which IMHO is the best way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Why is the HKS better? I'm not very experienced in this kind of stuff, so any insight would be appreciated. I've read the Vortech kit is more reliable than anything, and also cheaper. The downside is you can't go higher than 400whp, which is awesome for now, but it'd be good to know I could go higher if I chose so and also upgraded the internals. I live in Greece and the temps here get really nasty in the summer. I was told air/air intercooler is better than water chargecoolers. Is that true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Utter rubbish. Chargecooler is always preferable to an intercooler, it's just more expensive and needs more space to install. Given your location, that's what I'd be going with, even if it means going with some custom fabrication. Tbh unless outright power is your thing, then the difference between how each setup will apply the power is more important than anything. Do you want something that feels like a larger NA engine, or something that gives you a proper kick in the back when it kicks in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Why is the HKS better?I'm not very experienced in this kind of stuff, so any insight would be appreciated. I've read the Vortech kit is more reliable than anything, and also cheaper. The downside is you can't go higher than 400whp, which is awesome for now, but it'd be good to know I could go higher if I chose so and also upgraded the internals. I live in Greece and the temps here get really nasty in the summer. I was told air/air intercooler is better than water chargecoolers. Is that true? Alex, the HKS system that has been mentioned is the twin turbo set up and is the best manufactured stuff on the market and that is what I am running at the moment mate. The HKS supercharger kit is the Rotrex and I had that on a previous Z and it worked well with considerable more torque than the ATI Procharger C2 set up that I had on another Z. You will not have temperature issues with the supercharger but you will have with a big power T T set up. (Serious heat soak) Air to air is the way to go IMHO. Superchargers will not produce the boost to give power over 400. If you go supercharger now and find that you want more power then you will have to go T T at a later date with internals etc etc etc etc etc etc. On both types of install proper mapping is key. Cheers, Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekman Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I live in Greece and the temps here get really nasty in the summer. Dont think we v got the roads in Greece for anything more than 400bhp on the rear wheels....went there last year in my maserati that had 390bhp and i could not drive without the ESP on...and temp was around 30 degrees (September) with no rain....I drove in Athens as well and never managed to accelerate hard on a traffic light..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I believe a Rotrex type is good for that instant kick, but it doesn't deliver higher up in the revs, right? TBH 400whp sounds awesome now. It'd be the fastest car I've owned and really not much could stand alongside you, unless you happen to run into something super fast. Which definitely sounds great right now. Maybe later I choose to go with a TT setup, but I believe I won't keep the car that long. Maybe 4-5 years I reckon. Also, the power delivery of the SC seems more accessible for the road (note, I never go to the track). As Greekman said, the roads here are on the slippery side, especially in the summer months when the temp is upwards 40 degrees. So, even though I'd love a kick in the back from a turbo, maybe with a SC you can put the power down in a more controllable way in the twisties. In the straights, I'll probably miss the extra torque of the turbo, and I'm pretty sure a supercharger feels less powerful than a turbo at the butt-dyno. Another good point I've gathered in my research is that with a SC the car behaves like a much more powerful factory 350z, while with a turbo it kind of alters its character. Not so important, but I think whoever said that has a point. I'm not sure yet, TBH. I'm defintely leaning towards the Vortech because it's cheap, reliable and easy to install, but I haven't been convinced 100% yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 One thing to take into account is that I'm sure with a vortech you can return the car to stock if needed which you can't with a TT.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Also, the power delivery of the SC seems more accessible for the road (note, I never go to the track). As Greekman said, the roads here are on the slippery side, especially in the summer months when the temp is upwards 40 degrees. So, even though I'd love a kick in the back from a turbo, maybe with a SC you can put the power down in a more controllable way in the twisties. Which is why I'd go for an SC setup for track work and TT for the road, as you're never pushing as hard and the turbo would make lighter work of long straights. @Alex: Can I ask why you'd go for an intercooler over a chargecooler, given that the chargecooler will be hugely more effective at controlling temps? Is there some specific reason (like maybe lack of space to fit all the required pumps and barrels and bits), or just personal preference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Also, the power delivery of the SC seems more accessible for the road (note, I never go to the track). As Greekman said, the roads here are on the slippery side, especially in the summer months when the temp is upwards 40 degrees. So, even though I'd love a kick in the back from a turbo, maybe with a SC you can put the power down in a more controllable way in the twisties. Which is why I'd go for an SC setup for track work and TT for the road, as you're never pushing as hard and the turbo would make lighter work of long straights. @Alex: Can I ask why you'd go for an intercooler over a chargecooler, given that the chargecooler will be hugely more effective at controlling temps? Is there some specific reason (like maybe lack of space to fit all the required pumps and barrels and bits), or just personal preference? Just what I heard the other day really. Not a personal preference, I'll go with whatever is more efficient and safe. Do you think a chargecooler is better at keeping the temps down? I'm pretty sure my brother (who owns a highly modded Lotus Esprit v8) noticed a substantial improvement in temperatures when he changed his chargecooler with an air intercooler. Maybe it was something else? I dunno Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 A chargecooler is more efficient at removing the heat as it's a water-based system, working in a similar (well, identical) way to the radiator that keeps your engine cool. Water is a more efficient conductor of heat than air, and a CC setup is particularly better suited to hot climates as you won't suffer from heat soak anywhere near as much as an IC setup. Granted that's less of an issue with an SC car than a TT one, but it's still a better solution in most cases. The only downside is cost and space needed. Be interested to hear about your brother's setup on the Esprit, got any more details on what he did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Does Vortech come with a chargecooler, because that's what I think I read? My brother's setup... off the top of my head: V8 motor Forged pistons and rods Race ECU Ohlins coilovers Bigger intercooler AP Racing brakes Lotus Motorsport intake and exhaust. I might be off a bit, but that's basically his setup. The car now works at 16psi producing a little more than 500hp at the flywheel. It's also lightened a bit by using carbon fibre panels in the interior and exterior. The Esprit is already a light car, so it's wickedly fast. The weak link of the whole setup is the gearbox, which I think is getting replaced one of these days with a Quaife custom box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Ah, if he just replaced the radiator of the chargecooler for a larger one that could well explain the decreased inlet temps. Isn't the Esprit 'box a Renault one? I seem to recall reading that somewhere when I was doing my research into buying one, which sadly never happened in the end as I saw sense and realised my pockets were sadly not bottomless. Money no object though, I'd have a Sport300 in a heartbeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xendric Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Yes, now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure it's manufactured by Renault. It sucks mate, trust me. Even in stock form as a factory v8, I can clearly recall my brother cursing under his teeth every time he shifted. Lever throws are long as hell too. Gear linkage failing. Synchros made of butter. Such a great chassis, yet such weak transmission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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