Build Spotlight: Henry's 573-whp 370Z proves there's more to boost than a supercharger
A supercharger is a relatively straightforward way to make a Nissan 370Z considerably more entertaining.
At least, that's how the project usually begins.
Then come the fuel-system modifications, additional cooling equipment, drivetrain considerations, engine management and the realization that doubling down on horsepower has a tendency to expose every weak link in the original plan.
Henry L's supercharged 370Z is an excellent example.
Documented by California's Z Car Garage in April 2021, the build developed from a relatively mild Sport Touring model into a 573-wheel-horsepower street car.
It retained the Nissan's VQ37VHR engine and seven-speed automatic transmission.
And despite the dramatic increase in power, its owner wanted something that remained comfortable and enjoyable to drive.
That's a rather different engineering challenge from simply chasing the highest possible dyno number.
Starting with the chassis
Henry brought his recently purchased 370Z Sport Touring to Z Car Garage in 2019.
He already had plans to add forced induction, but the shop initially concentrated on improving the chassis.
The first round of modifications included KW Variant 3 coilovers, adjustable SPC control arms and Hotchkis anti-roll bars.
That provided additional flexibility in suspension setup and alignment before substantially increasing engine output.
It's a sensible sequence.
The standard 370Z is a capable sports car, but its original suspension configuration was designed around production compromises involving ride comfort, tire wear, durability and cost.
Adding adjustability allows a builder to choose settings better suited to the intended use.
More importantly, suspension development becomes much easier when the car isn't simultaneously dealing with a major change in power delivery.
Henry also experimented with exhaust configurations and installed a carbon-fiber-and-Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel.
But the main event was still ahead.
A Stillen supercharger and much more
With approximately 12,000 miles on the odometer, Henry was ready for boost.
Z Car Garage installed a Stillen centrifugal supercharger system.
The Stillen kit itself had previously received California Air Resources Board exemption for approved applications and configurations.
However, Henry's eventual combination went considerably beyond a standard installation.
The shop upgraded the fuel system with a CJ Motorsports Stage 1 return arrangement, billet pump hat, Injector Dynamics 1300 cc injectors and a high-capacity Walbro fuel pump.
A SpecialtyZ flex-fuel system allowed the car to operate with different fuel blends when supported by the appropriate calibration.
A Zeitronix display was installed in the original dashboard clock location.
That detail fits the project's philosophy rather nicely.
The instrumentation became more useful without making the cabin look like somebody had emptied an electronics catalog onto the dashboard.
Cooling the whole package
Forced induction increases the importance of managing temperatures.
Compressing intake air raises its temperature, while the resulting increase in engine output can place additional demands on the lubrication and cooling systems.
Z Car Garage addressed those requirements with a Soho Motorsports air-to-air intercooler, a thermostatically controlled 25-row Concept Z oil cooler and a Stillen transmission cooler.
The latter is particularly important given the car's seven-speed automatic.
Transmission heat management becomes increasingly relevant when drivetrain output increases substantially beyond the factory configuration.
The team also installed a Fast Intentions billet flexplate.
That component connects the crankshaft to the automatic transmission's torque converter and must tolerate the increased mechanical loads associated with the modified engine.
None of these changes is as visually dramatic as a supercharger sitting in the engine bay.
But they're part of what separates a complete forced-induction build from an expensive collection of parts.
Three dyno results tell the story
Once the supporting systems were in place, Z Car Garage calibrated the engine using EcuTek management software.
The shop documented three particularly useful dynamometer results.
In naturally aspirated form, the 370Z produced 316 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque at the wheels.
Supercharged and running on 91-octane gasoline, it produced 501 wheel horsepower and 370 lb-ft of wheel torque.
With an E75 ethanol blend and the corresponding calibration, the result climbed to 573 wheel horsepower and 426 lb-ft.
Those figures describe the shop's measured chassis-dynamometer results for this particular build.
They should not be confused with Nissan's factory crankshaft horsepower ratings.
Nor should the difference between the gasoline and ethanol results be interpreted as the effect of fuel alone.
The shop documented a developed forced-induction configuration using a Vortech V-3 Si compressor arrangement, upgraded fuel delivery and separate engine calibrations.
The complete package determines the result.
Still, the figures demonstrate how far the VQ37 platform can be developed without replacing the engine architecture entirely.
Building around the automatic transmission
Many heavily modified Z builds begin with a manual transmission.
Henry's car took another route.
He retained the seven-speed automatic and developed the engine around its characteristics.
That introduced additional considerations involving transmission cooling, torque delivery and the strength of associated drivetrain components.
The Fast Intentions flexplate and additional transmission cooler addressed parts of that challenge.
However, Z Car Garage's original report should not be interpreted as a universal durability certification for every similarly modified Nissan automatic.
The shop documented one functioning combination.
Its long-term reliability would depend on use, maintenance, calibration and operating conditions.
For Henry, though, retaining the automatic was central to the car's personality.
He wanted substantial performance without abandoning everyday usability.
A relatively restrained appearance
The finished Z didn't need an elaborate widebody conversion to communicate its performance.
Henry and Z Car Garage selected 19-inch Rays Volk Racing TE37 Ultra Track Edition II wheels in Blast Black.
The documented sizes were 19×9.5 inches at the front and 19×10.5 inches at the rear.
The exhaust system also evolved.
An earlier Armytrix arrangement eventually gave way to an ARK Grip cat-back system paired with Motordyne ART pipes.
The owner preferred the deeper sound and comparatively restrained appearance.
That combination reflects a recurring theme throughout the project.
The goal wasn't simply to install the most visually dramatic components available.
It was to create a car that felt special when driven but remained recognizable as a 370Z.
The difference between power and a complete build
Henry's car is interesting because of the systems supporting the horsepower figure.
The supercharger is the obvious centerpiece.
But the fuel delivery, intercooling, lubrication, transmission cooling, engine calibration and chassis work are just as important to understanding the finished result.
Without those supporting changes, the engine's additional output would become much harder to use consistently.
There's also a useful distinction between an approved aftermarket component and an approved complete vehicle configuration.
Although Stillen's supercharger system has received emissions exemptions for specified applications, that doesn't automatically establish the emissions legality of Henry's complete combination of aftermarket fueling, exhaust components and ethanol calibration.
The full vehicle configuration would need to be evaluated against the applicable requirements.
Z Car Garage's 2021 report documents a successful, enthusiast-oriented build.
It doesn't establish the car's current specification, ownership or long-term reliability record.
What it does demonstrate is a thoughtful approach to modifying Nissan's naturally aspirated V6.
Start with a capable chassis.
Add power.
Develop the systems needed to support it.
And remember that a car intended for real-world driving has to do considerably more than produce an impressive number on a dyno.
Henry's Z managed 573 wheel horsepower without abandoning the idea of being a usable street car.
That's a much more interesting achievement than simply installing a supercharger.
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