I bought the car about 6 months back in almost perfect condition. Only problems are purely cosmetic. I'm seriously thinking about supercharging it, but I'm not corvette savvy by any means. I was just wondering what I have to do before supercharging it so I don't blow something up within the first week. Also, if you have input on brakes, or suspension or anything like that feel free to share. I'd love to know everything I can before I start.

 

If I were you, this is what I would do.
1) Get it in your mind that this is going to be expensive.
2) Purchase headers.
3) Remove engine, and take it to a GOOD builder in your area. Have the bottom end rebuilt to handle the extra demand of the supercharger. If you are expecting over 450hp, go with forged rods at least. You will definitely require different pistons, to make up for the increased compression.
4) Have heads ported to take advantage of the increased volume of air.
5) Do required mods to fuel system, and get a good tune.

All in all, you are looking at $3500 at least prior to the supercharger. When starting these projects, anticipate spending double what you originally plan.

 

You can put on a supercharger, intercoolers, bigger fuel pump and probably larger injectors and do nothing to the bottom end of the engine, exhaust, tranny rear end or suspension if you keep the boost low (6 to 8 pounds. This will give you about a 50% increase in HP and torque and if you do not abuse the car it should hold up quite well.
To get the max out of the supercharger you would need to do headers, exhaust, and build the bottom end of the engine and beef up the clutch and/or the tranny at a minimum.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest you can contact Tom at Wong's Performance in Vancouver, Washington. He is the northwest guru on Corvette performance and tuning.

 

Take a look at my bulid thread over in the FI section

Vortech S-trim, 383 forged, AFR heads, custom cam, EM headers, Canton Pan, accusump, rear mount oil cooler

Suspension all rodends, Penske coilovers, DRM link mounts

 

I don't think I would ever do forced induction on a stock bottom end lt1. It's not built for it, and will not hold up.

 

Go do some reading on the forced induction forum in the C4 section.

 

If the engine has less than 50k miles on it I wouldn't hesitate. More than 50k it depends on the engine, more than 100k I probably would expect problems from supercharging it, except mine which has 105k and is spotlessly clean under the intake. and holds 60 psi oil pressure at idle, it is probably still tight enough.

 

What part do you think would fail?

Mines got 150k and I wouldn't hesitate to throw some boost at it.

 

LT1s throw rods fairly easily. Ask me how I know.

 

Is that a fact? "LT1's throw rods pretty easily"? This is news to me. Yours must have thrown a rod, that's ONE...

 

http://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-mo...hrown-rod.html
That's another.

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32245
There's another.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/i...3000443AAEayG4
There's another.

You cannot possibly say LT bottom ends are as strong as other SBCs.
Please don't be a troll. There's enough critics on here already.

 

This is a c4 section myth. If you ask this in c5/6 forced induction, you will find many people running stock bottom ends making 700+ rwhp.

Mine (93 lt1 6spd) has been holding up fine -though i did lower static compression ratio to 9.7:1 thru bigger chamber afr195 comp port heads.

Im pushing 13 psi boost at 6000 rpm on a p600b.

i made 510 rwhp at 5400 rpm . Theres prob an extra 20 or 30 rwhp if i spun it higher, but i ran out of time on the dyno.

Also..i dont spin the crap out of it either....6000rpm and im done.

the key is tune and meth/water inj failsafe (ie. If meth/water system fails to inject, it stumbles your fuel inj. preventing you from going into boost).

Ive put 12000 miles on this setup. Ive autox'ed it. Drag raced it. Dyno pulls, etc

If/when i break something no big deal,, ill be prepared with a grin

 

Tom, It is a relatively well known fact that the LT1s had weak bottom ends. Often times the rod bolts stretch causing engine failure.
Check out: http://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-mo...ottom-end.html

 

Is this camaro or b-body site hearsay?

Remember corvette lt1's have 4 bolt mains

 

I'd like you to tell me how I'm being a troll or a critic please. This, coming from a guy who can't get his engine running and is too lazy to check for spark.

I've been a contributing member here for 8 years. Troll, I am not, thank you very much. *I* would be OK putting boost on mine. I'm not a troll for asking what part you think would break.


EDIT: And here is an FYI for you: your examples #1 and 2 were spun bearings....not "thrown a rod". Good one. 3rd example was from "answers.yahoo"?? LOL!

LT1 bottom end is the same stuff as any other SBC of the era.

 

Bingo. Did you even read the thread that you cited as your example?? Those guys are spinning over 6500. LT1 limiter is 5850. The OP's limiter is 5850.

 

RPM is what makes them spin a bearing, the rod bolts are weak

I've seen it twice

The pistons are what fail under boost

I redid my whole engine and I quit happy with it

 

Bingo. You don't hear about TPI/L98's spinning bearings b/c they won't go 6500 RPM. The LT1 is no weaker than any other SBC...what you see are more instances of over revving the stock bottom end, b/c w/that intake, you can and still be making hp.

A supercharger/turbo doesn't change the RPM range it simply jacks the tq curve UP. Put on a 'Charger, keep boost mild, feed it the right tune, and keep the RPM below 5800, and it ought to work.

 

I would boost one in a heart beat and I wouldn't hesitate to go right up 6500 RPM with the proper oil. You won't spin a bearing unless you beat the crap out of it with too much timing. Just my .02

 

Definition of Troll:
In Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response.

You have consistently been insulting to me on this thread and my other one. On here you have called me "lazy" because I have not checked for spark.
1) You don't know me or my schedule. You may have hours a day to throw around on whatever you want. Not everybody has that luxury.
2) Checking for spark per your instructions requires 2 people. So now I have to find another person who's schedule lines up with mine.

For the record, checked for spark via your method a few days ago and there was plenty. I did not update the forums because I have more to do with my day than browse the forums. When the time allows, I will.

Troll you are for causing discord per definition above, not for asking a question. If you want to put "boost" on your car go for it. I would not, and I am free to voice my opinion. If you want to pose an argument, don't throw around insults to prove your point. It only makes you look stupid.

Touche. However, last I checked bearings are in the bottom end. I said they have a weak bottom end. And if you read, somebody already agreed that the rod bolts are weak. And it doesn't matter what the source is from. If somebody threw a rod on yahoo, they threw a rod in real life.

I will not hijack this thread answering to your vendetta any further. If you want to continue with rude and invalid arguments PM me.