NSX FAQ

Forced Induction

General Info

What Do I Need To Know About Forced Induction?
Forced induction is an extremely involved and technical topic. It is far beyond the scope of this document to explain every aspect of these systems and how the affect a vehicle. However, it is necessary to have at least a fundamental understanding of the issues involved if you are going to understand how these systems relate to the NSX and to evaluate the pros and cons of various systems.
In short: Air + Fuel

Power. More air and fuel

more power. The goal of adding forced induction to a car is to add more air and fuel, and thus create more power. Both turbochargers and superchargers force air into the intake manifold under pressure. The most fundamental difference is that a turbo is powered by a turbine driven by exhaust gasses from the engine, while a supercharger is powered by a belt driven by the engine.
I strongly recommend a lot of additional reading and research if you are seriously interested in adding forced induction to your NSX. You need a basic understanding of these systems before you can ask intelligent questions or make an informed decision. Below is a recommended reading list to get you started.
General Information

 Turbo and Superchargers Explained
 Turbochargers and Superchargers
 Blower Basics
 Difference between Turbo and Super
 Miata.net - Forced Induction
 Forced Induction Glossary
 Just A Little Boost

Turbochargers

 How Stuff Works Turbochargers
 How Turbochargers Work
 Turbocharger Basics
 Turbocharger Basics #2
 Turbochargers - Design
 Turbocharger Information
 What is a Turbocharger?

Superchargers

 Common Types of Superchargers
 Superchargers 101
 Supercharger Basics
 Powerdyne Supercharger FAQ
 Procharger FAQ
 Paxton Supercharger FAQ
 Whipple Supercharger FAQ

Books: “Automotive Supercharging and Turbocharging Manual” by John D.Humphries, 1992, ISBN 0-85429-880-0 (printed in England by J.H. Haynes & Co.) Medium technical, it clearly explains the fundamentals.

Supercharger Kits for the NSX

Over the years there have been a number of supercharger ‘kits’ for the NSX, some of which are no longer in production but may still be found on cars for sale. Here is the list of those that are no longer in production:

Superchargers no longer in Production

  • Gruppe M SC – see also Gruppe_M_Supercharger
  • Comptech_Supercharger – The original Comptech Supercharger is no longer produced as Comptech went out of business. However, an improved variation of this design is now available under the CT Engineering brand name
  • Basch_Boost_Supercharger – This centrifugal-based supercharger system was developed by Mark Basch in Phoenix, AZ and was originally designed to modify the stock ECU fuel maps via a ‘piggyback’ system from Split Second (S/S). This kit was popular for a while in the early 2000’s but has had a mixed owner history with some owners experiencing engine failures. Later, some systems were re-worked to use aftermarket engine management systems (AEM and FIC) with success.
  • Boostzilla_Supercharger – This centrifugal-based supercharger system was developed by Dali Racing Dali_Racing as an alternative to Basch Boost but was never installed in large numbers.

Currently Marketed Superchargers

  • CT Engineering – As of the fall 2011, the only currently marketed superchargers for the NSX are variations of the CT Engineering system that are sold and installed/tuned by the following two primary vendors:
    • Driving Ambition – who advertises their systems and related options here
    • ScienceofSpeed – who advertises their systems and related options here and a recent user experience with a 2.3 Whipple and Stage 1 build can be found here

Turbo Kits for the NSX

Over the years there have been a number of turbocharger ‘kits’ for the NSX, some of which are no longer in production but may still be found on cars for sale. Here is the list of those that are no longer in production:

Turbochargers no longer in Production

Currently Marketed Turbocharger Systems – as of fall 2011 are:

  • Angus – who advertises his single turbo AP-X systems here – long term experiences discussion thread is here
  • Driving Ambition – who advertises their single turbo system and related options here
  • LoveFab%2C_Inc. – who advertises their single turbo systems and related options here
  • Prospeed – who claimed to have a single turbo system here but it is not shown on their site here
  • ScienceofSpeed – who advertises their twin turbo system and related options here and user’s build experiences here and here and here
  • STMPO who reportedly had a single turbo system but it is not currently shown on their site here

Enough Technical Mumbo Jumbo – Which one is best???

This is like asking which car is best. There is no one answer that is right for everybody. Every aftermarket forced induction option has it’s own set of pros and cons. And in fact whether a specific issue is viewed as a pro or con may depend on your point of view! You must spend some time to educate yourself about these systems and define your priorities in order to make an informed decision about the best forced induction option for you.

Turbo vs Supercharger

here is one Prime thread which attempts to compare various Turbo and Supercharger systems

Turbo Considerations

Supercharger Considerations

Sample Installation Pictures


Performance