Review GTM Stage 2 Supercharger
06-27-2012, 12:20 AM
#1
GTM Stage 2 Supercharger
First off, I'd like to thank Frank and Suzanne Hill at Hill's Garage in Baltimore Maryland. His mechanical skills are second to none and I have never seen someone so precise, skillful, and knowledgeable about cars the way he is. He really goes out of his way to make sure the customer is always happy with the outcome. It doesn't matter if you're getting an oil change, or looking to shred tires with forced induction, he'll take care of you. I have gone to multiple shops in the last 4 years of me owning my G37, but I have been going to Hill's for the last 3. At this point, I have spoiled myself and don't let anyone else touch my car because both Frank and Suzanne care. It's hard to find exceptional customer service nowadays, but I've been fortunate enough to find it.
Their tuner, Frank Smith is one of the best in the business. He has a huge reputation in the Dodge Viper, Porsche, and other extremely high horsepower platforms. Now he's completely annihilating the Nissan / Infiniti, making great numbers! Their tunes are guaranteed, without questions. The amount of power he has been able to extract from the VQ motor is crazy to say the least.
Lastly, special thanks goes out to Sam @ GTM. He's always willing to help out and answer any questions I have / had about the build. If anyone has ever talked to him over the phone, you can vouch, he really does take his time in explaining to the customer, even if you didn't buy it from him. Who else can you honestly say goes out of their way to help someone even if it's not their product? Sam, you have my business now and in the future!
Now, on to the build...
Infinti G37s (6MT) 510whp / 370ft-lbs on 93 Octane 10.5 - 11 psi
Parts:
GTM Stage 2 Supercharger Turn-Key (custom tune)
19 Row Oil Cooler w/ ThermoStatic Plate
HKS Spark Plugs
JWT Clutch / Stock Flywheel
CNT Resonated Test Pipes
Invidia Gemini Exhaust
DynoTune Boost / Air Fuel Digital Square Gauge
Z1 Motorsports Aluminum Driveshaft
TWM Performance Short Throw Shifter
I was going back and forth trying to decide which route I wanted to go. After many phone calls to Sam, we both decided the Stage 2 Supercharger kit was the best option for me. I wanted something "stealthy" and quiet. If someone drove next to me, I didn't want the car to scream "I HAVE 500WHP!" I hit the nail on the head! Aside from the TurboSmart blow off valve venting to atmosphere when you hit boost, you really can't tell the cars supercharged, just the way I like it. You hear a very mild whistling noise, nothing like the Vortech kits I've heard in the past. This makes daily driving very enjoyable and professional. If need be, you can turn the windows up and you won't really even notice the charger. This is great if you're trying to throw someone off guard when you mash the gas pedal, or if you're taking your grandmother to bingo.
I didn't know what to expect when driving the car. Everyone told me, "It's like driving a stock car, but with a lot more power." At first, I didn't understand what that meant because how can you slap 200hp+ onto a car and it drives like stock? Well this is where it really surprised me. The car is very tame under normal load, which means ANYONE can drive this car, but when you start laying into throttle, you better hang onto your @$$ because the charger is yelling at you to give it more. It's crazy has linear the power comes on and throws you into the seat without any give. In my eyes, the ultimate sleeper.
I thought I was going to have issues with traction because having that type of power is worthless if you can't hook it. To my surprise with 285s in the rear I can hook 2nd gear without a problem. 1st gear is a nice show-off gear, but if you really want to hook and haul, 2nd feels great, 3rd even better. The amount of profanity that came out of my mouth as well as friend's, could have reenacted scarface 3 times. It was that crazy at wide open throttle.
Videos:
I had to take them with my Android phone, sorry about the shakiness. I guess you could say I was a little excited. :P
I'll be working on driving videos over the next couple weeks... stay tuned. Thanks!
Their tuner, Frank Smith is one of the best in the business. He has a huge reputation in the Dodge Viper, Porsche, and other extremely high horsepower platforms. Now he's completely annihilating the Nissan / Infiniti, making great numbers! Their tunes are guaranteed, without questions. The amount of power he has been able to extract from the VQ motor is crazy to say the least.
Lastly, special thanks goes out to Sam @ GTM. He's always willing to help out and answer any questions I have / had about the build. If anyone has ever talked to him over the phone, you can vouch, he really does take his time in explaining to the customer, even if you didn't buy it from him. Who else can you honestly say goes out of their way to help someone even if it's not their product? Sam, you have my business now and in the future!
Now, on to the build...
Infinti G37s (6MT) 510whp / 370ft-lbs on 93 Octane 10.5 - 11 psi
Parts:
GTM Stage 2 Supercharger Turn-Key (custom tune)
19 Row Oil Cooler w/ ThermoStatic Plate
HKS Spark Plugs
JWT Clutch / Stock Flywheel
CNT Resonated Test Pipes
Invidia Gemini Exhaust
DynoTune Boost / Air Fuel Digital Square Gauge
Z1 Motorsports Aluminum Driveshaft
TWM Performance Short Throw Shifter
I was going back and forth trying to decide which route I wanted to go. After many phone calls to Sam, we both decided the Stage 2 Supercharger kit was the best option for me. I wanted something "stealthy" and quiet. If someone drove next to me, I didn't want the car to scream "I HAVE 500WHP!" I hit the nail on the head! Aside from the TurboSmart blow off valve venting to atmosphere when you hit boost, you really can't tell the cars supercharged, just the way I like it. You hear a very mild whistling noise, nothing like the Vortech kits I've heard in the past. This makes daily driving very enjoyable and professional. If need be, you can turn the windows up and you won't really even notice the charger. This is great if you're trying to throw someone off guard when you mash the gas pedal, or if you're taking your grandmother to bingo.
I didn't know what to expect when driving the car. Everyone told me, "It's like driving a stock car, but with a lot more power." At first, I didn't understand what that meant because how can you slap 200hp+ onto a car and it drives like stock? Well this is where it really surprised me. The car is very tame under normal load, which means ANYONE can drive this car, but when you start laying into throttle, you better hang onto your @$$ because the charger is yelling at you to give it more. It's crazy has linear the power comes on and throws you into the seat without any give. In my eyes, the ultimate sleeper.
I thought I was going to have issues with traction because having that type of power is worthless if you can't hook it. To my surprise with 285s in the rear I can hook 2nd gear without a problem. 1st gear is a nice show-off gear, but if you really want to hook and haul, 2nd feels great, 3rd even better. The amount of profanity that came out of my mouth as well as friend's, could have reenacted scarface 3 times. It was that crazy at wide open throttle.
Videos:
I had to take them with my Android phone, sorry about the shakiness. I guess you could say I was a little excited. :P
I'll be working on driving videos over the next couple weeks... stay tuned. Thanks!
Last edited by Staples; 06-27-2012 at 02:06 AM.
06-27-2012, 02:18 AM
#4
Administrator
Awesome!! Congrats man 
06-27-2012, 02:34 AM
#6
Administrator
Are you getting a lot of wheel spin in first & second?
06-27-2012, 09:42 AM
#9
Looks nice! +1 for Hill's Garage, Frank installed my stage 1 kit and did an exceptional job. Very clean and precise.
I like that little square gauge, did you go with the wide band O2? (did you have to buy the LC-1 controller)
I like that little square gauge, did you go with the wide band O2? (did you have to buy the LC-1 controller)
hop on a plane!
