For my '93SC400, sounds like best "bang for buck" would be a nitrous upgrade.

How does this system work? Is it legal? Can I find someone to sell me one/install one? Is it something that has to be replaced every so often? Do I either have it "turned on" or "turned off"?

As you can see, I'm a non-techie who does not really understand NOS.

I guess the only other upgrade worth considering for major gains would be a supercharger, which I hear from this forum may be out this summer...

Thanks!

 

Good questions
NOS is great for power and yes definitely best bang for the buck. But with NOS you dont have a lot of leway for screwups, if you run it wrong or something fails, it's very possible to pop a motor while it's activated.

Nos is legal to use as a power adder, atleast I dont think people get arrested or ticketed for having it. NOS is farely easy to install, but you may want someone to help you or have it done professionally for you. NOS is filled in the bottle and creates a pressue, NOS is very cold, creating hotter and stronger combustion in the cylinder thus creating more power. You turn the bottle to open it and activate it, and there will be another switch that sprays it into the intake piping at wide open throttle(only time it is activated and ran!).
Depending on how you much you use it, you will have to refill the bottle, using it regularly will result in a refill every week, which will result in about $40 a pop for refill. When not wanting to or intend to use it, you can take the bottle out of the car. When you want to then put it in and turn the ****! You have to be careful, if the bottle gets to hot(above the 1200 degrees) then it can explode.
Good luck
Scot Hail

 

Thank you so much for your quick response. This is truly a great forum!!!

For those SC400 owners (or 300) who have had a Nitrous system installed, where did you buy it? Was it a complete kit? Designed for the Lexus?

Also, where do you recommend I have it installed safely? I want someone who fully understands what they are installing and exactly how to hook it up optimally.

Not a project for me!!!

Thanks!

 

hey man, dont be discouraged by what I wrote. You should be able to get a EFI NOS kit that will run 50-150hp for around $550-600. I would go with the Nitrous Express Kit, it is good and makes good power. Too bad I wasn't there to help, I would do it for you.

for 6 pack of beer

Scot Hail

 

6 pack beer MINE lol ,., well ok here is N2O ,, ahh NX (Nitrous Express) do have a kit stage 1 that I am VERY intrested in only want 75hp shots... anyways I went to the local dealer here they said NX ran a lean system,, but to be honest I didnt trust em because they had NOS products and they didnt have one SPECIALY for the Lexus,, I recone a Leane or rich mixture is only made with using the Seleroid and how much boost you really need ,, but guys if you hold your horses for a little longer and check this site out .. www.venom-preformance.com ,,, they offer a computerized N2O system which is said to be a little safer cheers

 

Check this link out. http://tnmotorsports.com/nos.htm It has some links to good information on nitrous. When a kit is made for a car, all that is saying is that the kit comes with the proper fittings to tap into the fuel supply, and plumb the nitrous. The solenoids, nozzles, etc... are the same for each application of a kit. (A Top Gun kit has the same main parts for each application)


You will need to decide if you want a dry or wet kit. After you decide that just, about any kit/manufacturer should be fine.

When you start playing with nitrous for your first time, make sure you take it slow. Start out with a small shot, get used to the feel, and how the car reacts to it.

Also when you price a kit, make sure you factor in the cost of the extras that make it safe/nice to live with. Need a bottle guage, a fuel pressure guage would be nice, bottle heater, some run hobbs switches in case FP drops, a remote bottle valve, upgraded fuel systems for higher power levels, etc...

Anyone can sell you a nitrous kit, or you can order one yourself and probably save a few bucks. Since you don't have any experience with it, I would find someone to help you install it. Don't just take it somewhere where the person does not want to let you see what it takes to install it. Find someone to teach you how to install it. That way you can mess with it later, take it out if you need to.

good luck,
if you have any more questions go to the site in my sig. and go to contact and you can e-mail my brother. He has been working/racing with nitrous for years. He currently has a Lincoln Mk7 that runs mid 11's on nitrous. But he has done nitrous installs on about everything.

 

I was just on the GS forum and Gene had this info posted...... It appears to be relevant to our posts... So I copied and pasted it here...
____________________________________________
Finally got a call back from Greg @ Venom. The tenative date of release for a GS4 kit is 60 days from now - something about a change in management within Python ( uh-oh!? ) setting things back for that amount of time. They don't sell direct to the public but gave me the name of their #1 dealer ( in Lexington, NC ) - *** Imports. Talked to the owner ( Mike ) & he said that the typical Venom kit went for $1300 with nothing else to buy ( don't need a bottle warmer as the software allows for that somehow, etc ). Using the power granted by all of ya'll as a Super Moderator ( yeah, I'm SURE that helped!! ), I talked to him about a group buy. He needs a minimum of 3 GUARANTEED ( read: money up front ) & then he'll work some numbers for us. He's also gonna light a fire under Venom & contact me when things shape up & I'll pass things on to all interested parties. Jusy joking about the sarcasm of being a Mod - it's truly an honor to be selected & I'm proud to be of service to everyone!!
_____________________________________________

 

Here's the follow up...
_____________________________________________
Well, U can forget about the anti-blowup guarantee for sure!! FWIW - the Venom software is what makes the kit so appealling to me as it makes the system ALMOST idiot-proof!! Greg explained that their kit has it's own ECU-type module that monitors all the engine functions necessary for safe nitrous injection instead of relying on fixed jetting like on the NOS or NX kits. These style kits are OK as long as U KNOW that the engine & it's systems ( fuel, spark, etc ) can handle the power you've dialed in. In the case of the GS where there's some question as to the fuel delivery capability, the Venom module will allow nitrous to be injected ONLY when it's determined that there's sufficient fuel/spark/air flow to properly & safely utilize the nitrous. I recall that he told me that the user does have a range of nitrous power from which they can choose but that the module has the final say in exactly how much is sprayed. In other words, if U choose a 50-100 range of power, the module determines the maximum power that the engine can handle & dials that in. It might be the full 100 HP at low rpms ( where fuel pressure & flow is not working at high duty cycles ) but as the rpms rise, it may lower the nitrous flow to the 50 HP level or completely shut the system down if it can't sustain even that power rating - better to lose a race than a $15k engine, right? ). Sounds almost too good but they've been out for awhile - just haven't seen the demand for a Lexus kit until recently. Will stay in touch with them every few weeks & pass it on to all interested parties.
__________________
Gene Reed
ClubLexus Electronics Moderator
_____________________________________________

Thanks Gene,

The Ikon

 

Which is the idea kit(dry or wet) for the Lexus?

What if a bottle warmer is not used? I noticed the bottle exploded, after a bottle warmer was left on. It's on the site 1stLex just refered to... That's very, very dangerous!!!

I thought if a bottle exploded it would just burst open, or cause some damage around the bottle area... but to blow up a car! hmm. re-think re-think, re-think.

 

The Ikon


Dry dry dry ,, most peopel I talked to used a Dry system on their Lexus,, Direct port is too risky and harder to install ,, the Dry System is the easiest and probably be installed with less risks of runnin a lean mixture... I would recomend Dry ,,,

Wet Systems are mostly used with Superchargers and Turbochargers where they spray the N2O Mix with fuel from the same nozzel into the intake.

 

BBD,


With my experience, I would have to differ with you here. Dry systems are notorious for running lean. Infact most dry systems will always burn lean at high rpm w/o upgrading the injectors to larger ones. While wet systems have a seperate fuel supply and can be jetted to EXACTLY what you want (in terms or richness) and will keep that constantly. Yes, wet systems are much harder to install and tune up, but they are most importantly - RELIABLE! You get what you pay for. I have run both types (not in a Lexus though) and will NEVER use a dry system EVER again. Blown up too many air boxes and mass air units on simple 50 hp shot kits before, and refuse to mess up my Lexus with a riceboy dry kit. Yes they are cheap, but your car isn't!

If someone does decide to go dry, keep the shot to under 75 hp, and get the kit that has an upgrade for the fuel pump and larger fuel injectors.

Don't get the single wet fogger kits either, unless you plan on keeping it jetted small. Direct port is the way to go. Fogger nozzels are 30-40$ each (and you would need 8) so a direct port system isn't much more, but don't forget to call NOS and size you solonoids and jets (they will need to know what fuel pressure you are running). Nitrous is not that difficult to install if you know what you are doing. I found it cheaper to buy the parts individually and custom make it to your needs, rather than to buy one of the universal EFI kits. Call one of the manufactures' tech support lines; they offer great advice.

My recomendation - find a used wet kit for sale in the paper from some mustang or camaro owner that has blown up one too many motors. They sell locally for around $175-$250 used. Basically you are only wanting the bottle and the primary lines. Then call up NOS and get a parts list for a direct port setup for your needs. Then take that list to your local NOS dealer and buy the parts seperatly. You would most likely be able to retain the used solonoids too. Its a lot cheaper then buying a kit new.

Good luck,

Keith

 

On the exploding bottle incident it is rare. The solution is, I beleive it is NX bottle warmer, that is controled by a pressure guage. Once a certain pressure is reached it shuts off. When the pressure drops it turns on. My buddy has this on one of his systems, and I'm pretty sure its the NX.

The wet vs. dry debate has been on going for years. Each has their pros and cons. I personally like wet systems, just because that is what I have had the most positive experiences with. Keith is right though. If you want reliable high horse nitrous go with direct port. But on a daily driver Lexus i would not see where you would be wanting to spray 300 through it though.

 

I agree with both your opnions ,, yes, but someone like me on my GS400,, I really do not want nor need more than 75hp am looking for something between 50 and 75,, Venom racing which I am waiting for.. NOS, NX both have the system wet dry direct to fit your needs.. but Direct port i think would be a little much for what am looking for ,,, yes the direct N2O boost is a little bit more modern than Wet or Dry systems but most of teh people I know with Direct have 150+ HP shots wooot ,,, I dont think the LExus gear box would take that .. Auto trans is a bitch when commin to highpreformance machines you really have to know what you are doing and how much dosage you are going to push out,,

But yes if you go with any N2O boost its recommended highley to have a better fuel pump. to use with any of them systems..

just a Question ,, WHY id direct port more reliable if you say it is ,, and can Direct port be controlled with 50-75 hp shots ??

 

BBD,
Direct port systems are more reliable because as you probably know with the typical wet system fuel can puddle in the intake, because the fuel suspended can fall out of suspension working its way through the intake. With direct port you put one nozzle as close as you can to the head. Each cylinder is going to get the exact same amount of nitrous + fuel. You therefore avoid the problem of running one or two cylinders lean when you start running big shots.

As far as I know it is not possible to spray a 75-100 on a direct port. I'm not sure but I'm thinking the smallest shot that each nozzle can do is somewhere around 25-30. direct port should be considered a race only setup.

For what you are wanting to do, I think the dry setup should work fine. I'm not familar with the Venom stuff. Is it a add on ECU or do you reprogram your current computer. I wonder if there is a way to trick the current system to increase the fuel flow like a FMU on mustangs. Or add a Kenne-Bell boost a pump.

On the GS400 I don't see why you could not run at least 100 without any problems. Or are their fuel systems already close to maxing out. The engine could take more as long as the fuel can keep up.

 

well N2O ,, (NOS is only the largest manufaturer of N2O systems ) .... is a Steriod like Turbo and Superchargers they all have its good and bads ,,, and with all if not installed properly can do damage to the engine ....

Install it properly test it out in small dosage and increase slowly until you find something that would not harm you or your engine ,,