What's it like to push a button and immediately gain 150 extra horsepower? I was sure it had to be something akin to hitting the afterburners on a fighter jet, with pilot and passenger thrown back into the seat by the increased g-forces as we took off in a cloud of tire smoke. Expecting just such a wild ride, I met up with San Diego resident Al Stad and his juiced '99 Corvette to go for a little testdrive. Al's Vette runs a stock bottom end with a Morgan Motorsports Stage II head and cam package, as well as an NX twin-nozzle wet nitrous system that adds a 150hp shot of fast gas. With a full bottle and an empty stretch of road, it was time to get acquainted with horsepower in a bottle.
The bottle end of this system...
The bottle end of this system sports a few helpful items. The pressure gauge (A) allows Al to monitor bottle pressure, which the bottle heater (B) keeps at an appropriate level. This system also sports a remote opening valve (C). Al also uses octane booster for an extra measure of power and safety (D).
Al's system is governed by an rpm-activated window switch. The juice would come on at 3,000 rpm (avoiding tire spin while launching) and cut out at 6,000 rpm (avoiding the Vette's factory rev limiter). We hit the road and did a few laps while the bottle heater brought the gas up to pressure. Once there, Al opened the bottle valve (the system has a remote switch), armed the system, and stepped on the gas. And what happened next ... well, we weren't thrown back in the seats like F-16 pilots, and we didn't fishtail all over the road.
We did, however, rush forward in one hell of a hurry. The Vette pulled hard, right up until we hit 6,000 rpm and the gas charge burned away. In that instant, a 400-or-so horsepower car turned into a 550hp fiberglass stampede. A mid-12-second car became a high-10-second car--instantly. It wasn't savage or out of control, but we felt every bit of that power increase, and it was exhilarating. Al told me about another nickname for nitrous oxide. "Some call it drugs," he said, "'cause you can get addicted to it." Willing to risk getting hooked, we went and did it again.
The Nitrous Works two-stage...
The Nitrous Works two-stage Power Wing system represents another variation on the theme. The kit uses a wide-open throttle switch and a momentary switch to control the activation of two nitrous stages. Dividing nitrous delivery into two or more stages can lessen the shock on the driveline and reduce wheelspin while launching.
Edelbrock's newest nitrous...
Edelbrock's newest nitrous offering is the Edelbrock/Glidden Series 2, a competition system said to bring big horsepower gains with a lack of engine damage.
One of the keys to the Edelbrock/Glidden...
One of the keys to the Edelbrock/Glidden system is the Series 2 nozzle designed to go with it. Again, all the manufacturers featured here have created nozzles that optimize fuel atomization.