415ZR1

Has anyone done a linear solenoid actuator conversion for the secondary butterflies?

Got the plenum pulled for RC injectors and to fix inop secondary actuators and vacuum leak. The vacuum leak and the inop secondaries was caused by a failed secondary vacuum port actuator solenoid.

Looks like it would be an easy fix to just delete the vacuum acuators and use electric linear solenoids to pull the butterflies open. So what am I missing? Surprised that it hasn't already been done and marketed.

rhanselman

There was talk several years ago but no one has done it (that I know of)...

Would be nice... or maybe you should just get rid of them all together...

415ZR1

Leaning towards removing the secondaries. Did a forum search...not a lot on the subject. Would you have a link? Seems like I remember something about EES doing something with removing the secondaries.

May still do the electrical secondary linear solenoids just for fun. It looks like such an easy fix...two $20 solenoids, one three dollar relay, some wire, little fab work for brackets to hold the solenoids...

90 Corvette ZR-1

it's not worth it on a 350

DDSLT5

How are you going to have the ecm trigger them?

DDSLT5

Who gave you the floor?


Bitch.


Pete B.

90 Corvette ZR-1

ZR1Pete

Yank them out.

Took my secondaries out of my 350 LT5 with huge head ports,it idles and drives better then ever.

Oh,i should mention it also picked up 10RWHP.

I don't know why Chevy even put then in.

All the myths about loosing low end torque is just that a myth, i lost nothing,just gained HP.

On a 415ci, i wouldn't think twice.
Just send your prom to Marc H. and he will take care of the programing.
Freeze plug # 555-108

Good Luck.

jabrun

If the ECM can trigger an electric vaccum solenoid why couldn't it trigger an electric relay.

MrCrowley

I have helped "several" people remove their secondaries. I have spent hours on the phone also emailing bin files, just trying to help people. I did it to help those who wanted to try it and didn't make a single penny off of it. If I am burning a chip for someone I don't charge anything extra either if they want them removed. I tired to promote it on my website but since I didn't make a single penny off of it I figured I might as well give it away. So......

Let me know if you want to do everything yourself and I will go through it all with you at no charge.

Mike

415ZR1

Bingo.

Just thinking at the keyboard...

The secondary port vacuum solenoid is triggered by the ECM. Instead of a triggered solenoid tripping vacuum, will use the same trigger signal to actaute a low current relay to provide a relatively higher current (around 2-3 amps) to each of two solenoids in place of the vacuum actuators. Cost wise, a cursory look on-line, probably could throw a kit together using retail available items for about $60 - $70. Only fab work is devising two mounts to hold the solenoids in place of the vacuum actuators. Probably can re-use the existing brackets with modification.

The current pieces are around $100 each for the vacuum actuators and around $45 for the secondary vacuum port actuator. All are discontinued items according to various GM parts sources.

Most linear solenoids have a 25 million cycle life expectancy!

rhanselman

Those are some wise words...

415ZR1

I'm working on a 415.

Seems to me that a 350 (or 415) with secondaries programmed out will always run better than a 350 with

partially opened secondaries (actuators not going full travel),

half of the secondaries open (I have had each of both sides fail on different occasions...one bank with butterflies open, the other closed),

no secondaries will open (my current secondary vacuum port actuator failure) or

stuck in limp home mode with the ECM limiting operation to 3000 RPM (haven't had that one yet, but read about it here on the forum).

There are several things on the ZR-1 that I always thought were exceedingly hokey. At the top of the list...the valet key, the secondary concept (complexity for the sake of complexity?), vacuum actuators for the secondary system (with an aux vacuum pump needed?...maybe that should have been a clue to use linear solenoids) and torx fasteners.

65ZR1

I have often wondered why the secondary system is so complicated and unreliable. GM usually does anything the cheap way and this is anything but. The only problem with using the linear actuators is what do you do about the secondary vacuum sensor? You cant just fool it by hooking it to engine vacuum because it falls too low at times. Can it be programmed out?

415ZR1

The secondary vacuum sensor is a glitch in using the solenoids. Haven't looked at that yet, but if it is simply a vacuum operated on/off switch, then it could be as simple as unplugging and adding a jumper across the terminals or just simply unplugging.

NHRA397

what's BS ? explain

jaymitchell01

I believe the original purpose of the secondaries and valet key was so that the ZR1's fuel economy would be good enough to avoid the gas guzzler tax. I think we all have seen the MPG with our keys on and/or valet key disabled. Thats one great thing about the corvette, its always had good gas mileage for a sports car.

Aurora40

Lotus did the same thing on the 1991 Elan also. Except those butterflies are in the open position by default, and vacuum closes them. And they don't have two injectors per cylinder.

I assume they must have felt they were worthwhile in some way, possibly emissions or fuel economy related.

415ZR1

Okay Mike,

I'm game...let's get rid of some butterflies. The plenum is already removed.

Do you want to continue off forum?

90 Corvette ZR-1

fine, I was wrong. who ****ing cares