katana

[charliex]

around the same, the fuel only really changes drastically when you're on boost, off boost they're not much different to NA cars, otherwise think teen prom nite.

the driveability is good too, spent a lot of time smoothing it out

[Matt in Houston]

I have had the 2006 Katana on for around 8000 miles...

No problems at all, other than needing a smaller belt than came with the kit.

I'm also waiting on an intercooler solution and ready to pull the trigger asap.

Get a Katana and you'll wish you did it sooner.

[elise/europa]

My experience is around 27 mpg on highway with my girlfriend on passenger (mean driving very slow). In the same context with NA set-up, I reach one time 35 mpg.

On everyday purpose, with cups everywhere, since the car is more powerfull, I am close to 20 mpg, and with NA, it was more like 23 mpg, sound similar.

But in term of drivability, the car is much better, don't need to rev the engine all the time.

Since I like to calculate everything, I am calculating all the time my fuel consumption... OK, sound stupid...

Originally Posted by trav34

what kind of fuel mileage & everyday driveability could be expected from the new, yet to be named, intercooled supercharger kit that is forthcoming as compared to the katana?

[xcusemi]

Thank you for all the reply. I will be pulling the triger within the month or so and will deefinitely have Charlie tune on this kit. Because of Cahrlie tune, this is the reason I am picking this kit over BWR. Thank for all the hard work Charlie!!


By the way, I know how to do some basic maintainence, I dont know how hard is to do the installation of this kit myself. I dont recall seeing post step by step on how to install this kit. How is the instrcution on this kit?


Regards

[plastique999]

Regarding those with the Katana, what other modifications e.g. headers, intake? best compliment the S/C?

[char]

Has anyone else with a katana had a problem with the alternator bracket failing?

For the time being, the kit/install is under warrenty (installed last spring ... and yes, I like the power). But mine will have it's fourth (!) alternator bracket installed later this week. It was last replaced 2 weeks ago, and I wanted to make sure that it was truely fixed, so I pushed it hard at the track Saturday. It lasted less than 2 hours (spread over 4 sessions).

I'm beginning to worry. I can't be the only one who likes to accelerate hard out of corners. It starts with a stumble on exit, ... as if the rev limiter is kicking in. Then, after a comuple more corners, the power drops off dramatically and the battery light comes on. When I park in the pits, I can smell rubber when I lift the engine cover, probably because of the belt slipping.

I'm told that this is a unique problem, but something is not right. It's either a design flaw with the alternator bracket, or a problem with the install....

Your thoughts?

[scottyb]

Just changed my oil yesterday and did my 15,000 inspection and re-torqued everything. I made sure to check my alternator brackets and they are absolutely perfect. I bet for some reason you must have something flexing or improperly installed that is causing all your failures. I suggest you talk with Turbo Phil since he is the guy who made those brackets and did all the research.

[Zinhead]

A guy I was tracking with had a Katana. He complained that the brackets holding the supercharger broke. When he notified to S111, they sent him replacement brackets of the same design.

I understand that at some point in the run, S111 redesigned the brackets. Has anyone else has this problem?

[ZTEC]

I have had my Katana kit since December with a half dozen track days and no failures to speak of regarding the Katana kit!

[Phx Cobra]

I have also been considering the Katana.
Aside from the base install and CharlieX tune, what else can be done to boost the output? Pully? Does a larger exhaust compliment it more then on a N/A car? Intake?

[Darth G-F]

No problem with my Katana.
I did about 5000km and 3 track days since the install.
Everything is working perfectly.
Let us know why your alternator bracket keeps failing. There must be a reason.

Regarding mileage. On the highway, I'm doing pretty much the same as stock. In the street always in boost, that's a different story.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by Zinhead

A guy I was tracking with had a Katana. He complained that the brackets holding the supercharger broke. ....
....Has anyone else has this problem?

There was an incodent of one fella in particular that had a shop install the kit. For some reason, that shop has had the only failed brackets out there and always on the same car. I even spoke with installation tech and reviewed what he was doing. With well over a hundred kits out there, I've only supplied 4 replacement brackets to Sector after I did the initial design revision (which was after about 10 design revisions before they ever went on the market).

1 was to myself (I had the very first design attempt at these-Of course the stuff on my car is always at the prototype level), 2 were to person referenced above (Still can't see why his car is having the issue), and 1 that installed the locking plate on the wrong side of the bracket, which obviously caused misalignment. IN the few instances where there has been a problem, Sector has been very good about getting parts shipped out. If there's a problem with a part, just drop them a line. That's part of the cool thing about using a place like Sector111. They provide great service...

Best,

Phil

[char]

Originally Posted by turbophil

There was an incodent of one fella in particular that had a shop install the kit. For some reason, that shop has had the only failed brackets out there and always on the same car. I even spoke with installation tech and reviewed what he was doing. With well over a hundred kits out there, I've only supplied 4 replacement brackets to Sector after I did the initial design revision (which was after about 10 design revisions before they ever went on the market).

1 was to myself (I had the very first design attempt at these-Of course the stuff on my car is always at the prototype level), 2 were to person referenced above (Still can't see why his car is having the issue), and 1 that installed the locking plate on the wrong side of the bracket, which obviously caused misalignment. IN the few instances where there has been a problem, Sector has been very good about getting parts shipped out. If there's a problem with a part, just drop them a line. That's part of the cool thing about using a place like Sector111. They provide great service...

Best,

Phil

Thanks for the response Phil. You are correct, both Sector 111 and the installer have been very good about replacing the part ... but we need to find out why it's breaking, so that we don't have to keep replacing it. As I understand it, the bolts are shearing off.

I tracked the car 20 plus days last year with no problems ... and just as much this year after adding the katana, with no problems other than the bracket. The car is still under warrrenty and gets regular dealer maintenance.

Something must be causing this...

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by char

Thanks for the response Phil. You are correct, both Sector 111 and the installer have been very good about replacing the part ... but we need to find out why it's breaking, so that we don't have to keep replacing it. As I understand it, the bolts are shearing off.

I tracked the car 20 plus days last year with no problems ... and just as much this year after adding the katana, with no problems other than the bracket. The car is still under warrrenty and gets regular dealer maintenance.

Something must be causing this...

Char,

You're right about the bolts-- which is amazing, as they're OEM grade bolts and the other two brackets I replaced (one of which was my own) were not due to breaking bolts. Yours is the only one that is doing that Since your case is so rare, I have to look at the installer or the car, as the problem seems to be unique to your car. I nkow it's not your use as there are several users that put 20 track days a year ont he kit, so that's not all that unusual...

When I spoke with the installer, I found that the torque sequence wasn't being done correctly, which I later found was a problem with the instructions- not with the installer (However, that still doesn't explain why nobody else is havign the problem). Hopefully you now have the last set of brackets that you'll ever need. Your car has been a bit more of an annomoly rather than a massive issue. Nevertheless, I sure don't want you to miss a single day at the track due to something I could have done better!

Best,

Phil

[Bavarian Motorist]

Hooray for Phil!!!



And sector111... who supplies useless goodies that I keep buying left and right

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

And sector111... who supplies useless goodies that I keep buying left and right

Ha, you and me both!

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

The only problem I have is that it is not enough and I'm thinking of adding the Charlie kit on top of the Katana for another 30rwhp.

You know with a 3.2" pulley, the correct tune, open up the intake with a 3" tube and a K&N filter, along aftermarket exhaust, you'll have your 30whp extra. You probably already have the exhaust- so just the pulley, tune, and intake...

Just say'in....

Best,

Phil

[Darth G-F]

Originally Posted by turbophil

You know with a 3.2" pulley, the correct tune, open up the intake with a 3" tube and a K&N filter, along aftermarket exhaust, you'll have your 30whp extra. You probably already have the exhaust- so just the pulley, tune, and intake...

Just say'in....

Best,

Phil

Are you talkin about EFI by any chance?

[turbophil]

Not necessarily. Just a tune. How you get it is up to you. Charlie can tune it or you can tune it.
The EFI is just one route, and the route I chose because I'm into such things. Charlie probably has a tune in his database or can have him do a custom tune based on your mods or desires...

I found nice torque and HP gains on a custom tune by dropping the pulley a touch (extra 1.5 psi boost) and tuning for the bolt-ons and still well within a "safe" zone on pump gas...

Best,

Phil

[Matt in Houston]

Originally Posted by turbophil

You know with a 3.2" pulley, the correct tune, open up the intake with a 3" tube and a K&N filter, along aftermarket exhaust, you'll have your 30whp extra. You probably already have the exhaust- so just the pulley, tune, and intake...

Just say'in....

Best,

Phil

Well you pretty much described the I/C kit....minus the exhaust...and plus more money, but its sometimes hard to put a price on safety/reliability. I will feel much better knowing that the I/C is back there doing something to combat this Texas heat. Plus, it looks cool...

I'm just glad there is an easy upgrade path for the Katana and Charlie's tunes to back it up.