All Stillen Supercharger Owners Report Here
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 1
From: Mid-West
What was your boost poundage? I've only ever been able to get 7lbs in my set-up - with a daily average of around 4.5 or so.. but I'm doing a pulley bypass so I get slippage above 5500rpm :/ And I'm pretty certain my levels are way within safe for the stock internals. Isn't the Stage 4 only possible of around 12 or so?
If it's higher - man I'm doing something VERY wrong! ;B
If it's higher - man I'm doing something VERY wrong! ;B
I had them rebuild my engine with studs instead of bolts and went Arias Pistons and Eagle Rods I believe. I also went down in compression since I was planning on going turbo'd boost instead of this Weak Sauce Stillen. Even though at times I may bag on this SC'r I still love the sound. Power is pretty weak though. Its still nice to be able to beat a stock BMW 335 every once in a while. I've had the car for 10 years now. I'm 36. When I bought this car I was all about doing everything to it I could. Don't get me wrong. I still love accelerating as fast as I can and if the opportunity ever presents its self, I'll go Vortech. Not sure about investing to Stage IV though.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 1
From: Mid-West
I know this is over a one year post, but this post has some great info that I don't want to lose. Thanks CLRH20.
Fellow Stillen owners. I have solved the problem.. finally.
To clarify my personal situation - I had a mixture of parts all causing noises. Although I've also replaced 4 pulleys for varying reasons - they are not the core of the issue I'm on this thread talking about. And below is the solution.... finally.
Here we go, the squeal, the main one. The infuriating one. And no doubt the one that ALLLLLL other Gen 1 Stillen Supercharger owners have likely fought, or are still fighting to this day, is belt squeal. Specifically the Power Steering and Alternator Belt.
On the Stillen Supercharger kit setup, an additional lower 1.8" 'Fenner Drives' tensioner pulley is installed between the main accessory drive pulley (the one that's replaced with a double wide to accommodate the main supercharger drive belt) and the power steering pulley. The addition of this pulley required that the belt length be extended with the use of an aftermarket belt. Stillen supplies that belt with the kit and as a replacement part purchase item. It is a Gates brand Micro V-AT belt. Specifically the 060500 (6 rib, 500mm length).
This belt is the problem.
Now, Gates makes some of the best belts. We all agree on that. But regardless of this fact, and NO MATTER HOW you tension the this belt, you will always - in some manner get belt squeal. Be it eventually a few weeks or months down the line (for only the very lucky few) or right away (for just about everyone else) in both cold and hot scenarios regardless of tension adjustment.
The problem is related to the composition of the flat side surface material. It is rubber.
And here's the rub.
Stillen has changed the location of the that lower 'Fenner Drives' 1.8" pulley in later revisions of the kit's production. New kits allow you to use the OEM belt of the original length (I think it's a 480mm belt? I'll have to go look again) manufactured and sold by Nissan. AND THIS IS THE KEY.
It might sound silly, I know - and even I glazed over all the misc comments posted up on this forum and others with one responses like "are you sure you're using the NISSAN brand belt"... because obviously that wasn't an option for most of us. WE HAD to have a longer length belt.
And that's when it hit me.
Stillen changed THEIR KIT to facilitate the use of the OEM Nissan belt. Why do that?
Here is why:
The Nissan belt's outer surface material is CLOTH! It's a treated cloth mesh build that eliminates squeal suffered by RUBBER topped belts.
So, for old manufacturing run Stillen Supercharger kit owners, temporarily you can install the stock Nissan belt on your car simply ignoring that lower 1.8" pulley completely - and when you get the extra money contact Stillen and purchase the updated pulley assembly (it's the one that replaces the timing cover on the passenger side - the black convex thing there).
Currently I'm running this way with the supercharger still functioning. I'm sure under some hard acceleration settings there might be some boost slip because not as much of the belt is being pressed against the accessory drive double wide pulley which is what gives drive power to the supercharger main belt. But under everyday driving and (for me at least) up to around 5lbs of boost I've seen no issues or slippage what so ever.
That my friends - is that.
To clarify my personal situation - I had a mixture of parts all causing noises. Although I've also replaced 4 pulleys for varying reasons - they are not the core of the issue I'm on this thread talking about. And below is the solution.... finally.
Here we go, the squeal, the main one. The infuriating one. And no doubt the one that ALLLLLL other Gen 1 Stillen Supercharger owners have likely fought, or are still fighting to this day, is belt squeal. Specifically the Power Steering and Alternator Belt.
On the Stillen Supercharger kit setup, an additional lower 1.8" 'Fenner Drives' tensioner pulley is installed between the main accessory drive pulley (the one that's replaced with a double wide to accommodate the main supercharger drive belt) and the power steering pulley. The addition of this pulley required that the belt length be extended with the use of an aftermarket belt. Stillen supplies that belt with the kit and as a replacement part purchase item. It is a Gates brand Micro V-AT belt. Specifically the 060500 (6 rib, 500mm length).
This belt is the problem.
Now, Gates makes some of the best belts. We all agree on that. But regardless of this fact, and NO MATTER HOW you tension the this belt, you will always - in some manner get belt squeal. Be it eventually a few weeks or months down the line (for only the very lucky few) or right away (for just about everyone else) in both cold and hot scenarios regardless of tension adjustment.
The problem is related to the composition of the flat side surface material. It is rubber.
And here's the rub.
Stillen has changed the location of the that lower 'Fenner Drives' 1.8" pulley in later revisions of the kit's production. New kits allow you to use the OEM belt of the original length (I think it's a 480mm belt? I'll have to go look again) manufactured and sold by Nissan. AND THIS IS THE KEY.
It might sound silly, I know - and even I glazed over all the misc comments posted up on this forum and others with one responses like "are you sure you're using the NISSAN brand belt"... because obviously that wasn't an option for most of us. WE HAD to have a longer length belt.
And that's when it hit me.
Stillen changed THEIR KIT to facilitate the use of the OEM Nissan belt. Why do that?
Here is why:
The Nissan belt's outer surface material is CLOTH! It's a treated cloth mesh build that eliminates squeal suffered by RUBBER topped belts.
So, for old manufacturing run Stillen Supercharger kit owners, temporarily you can install the stock Nissan belt on your car simply ignoring that lower 1.8" pulley completely - and when you get the extra money contact Stillen and purchase the updated pulley assembly (it's the one that replaces the timing cover on the passenger side - the black convex thing there).
Currently I'm running this way with the supercharger still functioning. I'm sure under some hard acceleration settings there might be some boost slip because not as much of the belt is being pressed against the accessory drive double wide pulley which is what gives drive power to the supercharger main belt. But under everyday driving and (for me at least) up to around 5lbs of boost I've seen no issues or slippage what so ever.
That my friends - is that.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 1
From: Mid-West
Hey Bud, long time no talk. Hows things been? I've been on this Supercharger for quite a while now. Bought it back in 06,07? You got rid of yours pretty quick. I've been thinking about it, just not sure the best route to go.... Go stage iv? Or dump the whole thing and go Vortech? I just don't want to drop a few more thousand into this car. Family precedence took over. However to go to stave iv for a few hundred would be worth it to me. Thoughts? PM me.... 
I would...I saw your car getting tuned at Church's, but didn't get a chance to stay and see the results 
BTW, there really should be a separate thread for the old Stillen kit for the DE and the new Stillen kit for the HR...two totally different supercharger kits, constantly getting confused....
BTW, there really should be a separate thread for the old Stillen kit for the DE and the new Stillen kit for the HR...two totally different supercharger kits, constantly getting confused....
Hey Bud, long time no talk. Hows things been? I've been on this Supercharger for quite a while now. Bought it back in 06,07? You got rid of yours pretty quick. I've been thinking about it, just not sure the best route to go.... Go stage iv? Or dump the whole thing and go Vortech? I just don't want to drop a few more thousand into this car. Family precedence took over. However to go to stave iv for a few hundred would be worth it to me. Thoughts? PM me....
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
Hey Bud, long time no talk. Hows things been? I've been on this Supercharger for quite a while now. Bought it back in 06,07? You got rid of yours pretty quick. I've been thinking about it, just not sure the best route to go.... Go stage iv? Or dump the whole thing and go Vortech? I just don't want to drop a few more thousand into this car. Family precedence took over. However to go to stave iv for a few hundred would be worth it to me. Thoughts? PM me....
I love mine still - simple, good torque increase, amazing sound and it's a "looker" with the hood down and when you pop it open to show people. If you can get one in good condition for cheap.. it's sort of a no brainer. go for it!
On the other hand, if you're looking for 'BIG GAINS ZOMG!!!!!' then, look elsewhere because you'll be stupendously disappointed if only looking for more ponies at high rpm.
I sort of look at like this. Supercharger is flat out more enjoyable for city driving with all the stop and go and generalized driving. Turbo is more enjoyable if you track in a straight line all the time. Each in it's right place.
On the other hand, if you're looking for 'BIG GAINS ZOMG!!!!!' then, look elsewhere because you'll be stupendously disappointed if only looking for more ponies at high rpm.
I sort of look at like this. Supercharger is flat out more enjoyable for city driving with all the stop and go and generalized driving. Turbo is more enjoyable if you track in a straight line all the time. Each in it's right place.
probably because they made no real power and everyone that had one got rid of them.
