SkittyDoogle build thread: HPD Supercharger installed plus many more mods.

EDIT: Due to high traffic and interest on my build, those who would like to see more frequent updates can now follow me on my Instagram page @SkittyDoogle
Originally I thought no one cared for this build, but the traffic here has been overwhelmingly positive and people local to me have loved it too. 😊

This’ll be my first post on the forum. This is also only the beginning of the modifications this car will go through so I might update once the next upgrades are made.



MODS PRIOR TO SUPERCHARGING:

• HPD Suspension
• Mugen NR17, Formula Silver, +48
• Maroya Brake Cooling Panels

SUPERCHARGER MODS:

• HPD supercharger kit
• Rotrex Traction Oil
• Spoon Sports baffled oil pan
• HKS LA (Light Action) clutch and flywheel kit
• MFactory helical limited slip differential
• MFactory 4.928 final drive
• C-West CFRP gauge pod cluster
• 60mm ProSport Premium EVO gauges (wideband, oil pressure, boost)
• Zeitronix ECA-2 kit w/ 52mm gauge and carbon cauge pod (forgot who made the pod)
• Mugen stainless steel cat-back sports exhaust system
• J’s Racing stainless manifold test pipe (circuit converter)
• FEEL’S carbon fiber ECU case
• KTuner Flash Pro V1.2

I had left it in the hands of King Motorsports to do all the work. After the modifications done it feels and sounds like a completely different car. I could rave all day about the quality of King’s work on it and the level of detail they put into the car.



OBJECTIVES OF SUPERCHARGING:
Turn the CR-Z into its ultimate form with as many parts from Japan as possible with no expense spared. Make the car go, stop and handle on the track while staying useable every day of the year in all climates and temperatures. And make it capable of using high octane fuel and E85.



CHALLENGES:
Many companies have stopped producing certain parts for these cars, such as Mugen and FEEL’S, so some parts had to be substituted or changed. Ordering from Japan can also be a huge hassle due to long shipping times by sea or expensive shipping by air. This was compounded due to the coronavirus pandemic where the oil pan was stuck in transit for over a month and a half when EMS temporarily halted operations.



BENEFITS OF SUPERCHARGING:
At the wheels it makes 182 horsepower on 93 octane and 192 horsepower on E85. It’s now comically loud for a tiny four cylinder. Due to the damn near straight piped exhaust it screams, pops and bangs everywhere it goes. One time I saw a kid drop his scooter to cover his ears as I blasted by. An unexpected benefit was now the hybrid battery charges extremely quickly and holds a high level of charge almost all the time. The differential is an enormous help because even in 1st and 2nd gear at full throttle the car struggles for traction. If it were open diff it’d be an uncontrollable mess in low speed corners.



DRAWBACKS OF SUPERCHARGING:
The exhaust is unbearably boomy at low RPM, below VTEC. It’s so loud that on long trips at 65mph+ I have resorted to using the earplugs I use at shooting ranges to protect my hearing. KTuner also doesn’t allow flex fuel capabilities, so I must jump the junction box so the fuel pump spits all of the remaining fuel into a bucket before I flip the fuel map. Also, If you upshift just under 4k revs it has a one second rev hang that’s super annoying so it’s difficult to make smooth shifts. Due to the nasty salty northern roads I had to coat the Mugen cat-back exhaust to prevent



SIDE NOTE:
Along the way of ordering parts from Japan the most surprising find was the Mugen cat-back exhaust. While techically I got it from King Motorsports it’s still produced in Japan. However, the built quality is off the charts. Ever wonder why Mugen parts are so expensive? They make every other welder look like a CHUMP. Each weld aside from the hangar welds are almost jewelry-level craftsmanship. My father, an engineer for 40 years and in charge of welding at several companies, has no idea how they managed to do what they did. Mugen laser engraves the production date, engine designation, part number, lot number and their logo... twice, on four pieces; two on the resonator and two on the muffler. Absolutely stunning to say the least. I really wish I didn’t have to put a coat over it.