C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

A question about forced induction

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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 06:34 PM
  #1  
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Default A question about forced induction

Alright, I have a 1991 convertible with a new L98 17,000 miles ago, but it's not quite enough.

I'm deploying soon and will have some extra cash when I get back. I'm not looking to build a drag car, but I want to put some extra power under the hood.I'd like to stay below 400 hp so I don't blow up my rear end as easily. I don't think that will be hard to stay under, but if I go over, oh well.

I'm leaning towards an intercooled supercharger and I wanted to hear some different opinions on it. I don't know much about forced induction and so a good deal of research is in order, but I've got a whole 8 months before I can start on this anyway. My main concerns are finding out what I need to replace internally to reduce broken stuff, and finding out what else I can replace/remove to improve the efficiency of this possible supercharger.

Things that have come to my mind:

Throttle body
Intake manifold (is it worth replacing if I don't port the heads?)
Ported heads (is this a must in order to be worth supercharging the engine?)
Headers (definitely being replaced)
High flow cats (definitely)
High flow exhaust/mufflers(definitely)
Crankcase ventilation
Tuning
Injectors (what can the stock injectors handle?)
Intercooler (where the hell am I going to put it?)

The questions in parentheses are just what immediately follows in my mind when I think about the particular part.

I feel like I'm heading in the right direction, but I figured I'd ask those of higher knowledge on the subject before I went off the wrong way.

This post got rather long, but I wanted to try and explain as best I could what I'm thinking about and try to find out if it would be something that would suit what I want.

Thanks
Nathan
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 10:50 PM
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First -- much thanks for your service to this country.

Second -- My experience with FI has netted me two lessons. 1) FI is expensive 2) FI is expensive. Granted this has been my first and only FI project so I may have made "rookie" mistakes as I have done most things myself and I consider myself to be a good mechanic. I now have a forged 383 due to problems running boost on my OE L98 with less than 50,000 miles. If I had it to do all over, I think I would have tried nitrous first. If your engine is stock and makes 250 hp, you should be able to run a 100 shot which would keep you under 400 hp and will be much cheaper than going FI.

Others may have a different take on things but no matter how you go about it, to have a dependable FI setup is expensive and time consuming.

Stay safe, our prayers are with you.

90Indy
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by enrgizerbunny
Alright, I have a 1991 convertible with a new L98 17,000 miles ago, but it's not quite enough.

I'm deploying soon and will have some extra cash when I get back. I'm not looking to build a drag car, but I want to put some extra power under the hood.I'd like to stay below 400 hp so I don't blow up my rear end as easily. I don't think that will be hard to stay under, but if I go over, oh well.

I'm leaning towards an intercooled supercharger and I wanted to hear some different opinions on it. I don't know much about forced induction and so a good deal of research is in order, but I've got a whole 8 months before I can start on this anyway. My main concerns are finding out what I need to replace internally to reduce broken stuff, and finding out what else I can replace/remove to improve the efficiency of this possible supercharger.

Things that have come to my mind:

Throttle body
Intake manifold (is it worth replacing if I don't port the heads?)
Ported heads (is this a must in order to be worth supercharging the engine?)
Headers (definitely being replaced)
High flow cats (definitely)
High flow exhaust/mufflers(definitely)
Crankcase ventilation
Tuning
Injectors (what can the stock injectors handle?)
Intercooler (where the hell am I going to put it?)

The questions in parentheses are just what immediately follows in my mind when I think about the particular part.

I feel like I'm heading in the right direction, but I figured I'd ask those of higher knowledge on the subject before I went off the wrong way.

This post got rather long, but I wanted to try and explain as best I could what I'm thinking about and try to find out if it would be something that would suit what I want.

Thanks
Nathan
http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=982

Please take a look at the above system. I would add the headers and exhaust, then install the above system.

Here is a link to the ProCharger application guide.
http://www.procharger.com/pdf/appGuide.pdf
Check out pages 19 and 20. Bob
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 11:20 AM
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I'd contact blower works as well. They are a sponsor here and most C4 supercharger guys seem to like their stuff.
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 01:47 PM
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Seeing the procharger kits is what revived my idea of using a supercharger, since I looked around google and really couldn't find anything. Checked vortec's site and kenne bell to find nothing. At that point the idea was to just get a performance cam...until this popped up.

Things like if I have to replace the fuel injectors concern me. The engine got 5 new ones before I bought the car, and I saw how much they cost individually on the bill. Apparently the new engine didn't include new injectors radiator hoses, power steering hoses, etc. Just a new block, heads and all internal components within that region. It has the original valve covers though!

I'm probably going to have about 10 grand laying around but I don't want to dump all of it in my car, just a nice portion.
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by enrgizerbunny
Seeing the procharger kits is what revived my idea of using a supercharger, since I looked around google and really couldn't find anything. Checked vortec's site and kenne bell to find nothing. At that point the idea was to just get a performance cam...until this popped up.

Things like if I have to replace the fuel injectors concern me. The engine got 5 new ones before I bought the car, and I saw how much they cost individually on the bill. Apparently the new engine didn't include new injectors radiator hoses, power steering hoses, etc. Just a new block, heads and all internal components within that region. It has the original valve covers though!

I'm probably going to have about 10 grand laying around but I don't want to dump all of it in my car, just a nice portion.
The ProCharger system I showed you above does not need larger injectors unless you are going to run 12 psi. At 10 psi the ProCharger supplied fmu (fuel management unit) is sufficient. Bob
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 04:51 PM
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With out touching the short block or the heads, $10,000 may get you through. With the L98 you may not be satisfied with the results.
Perhaps Nitrous may be an alternative?
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Old Oct 6, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #8  
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From: Cherry Point North Carolina
Default Save some cash with a custom intercooler?

I was thinking about it and if I could find a core, fabricating the rest shouldn't be a problem. I have a good friend who does excellent work welding aluminum. But where would be a good place to put it? I thought about putting it in the radiator shroud between the condenser and the radiator, but when the AC was running it'd be air +10 degrees the ambient outside temperature going across it. Perhaps I could move the condenser when I replace the compressor in the coming weeks?

Where do you all have them placed?
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Old Oct 7, 2009 | 05:50 PM
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I am really pleased with the Blowerworks kit, and you probably don't need to replace the stock exhaust to get close to your goal.
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