I've got a few questions about buying a car that already has a s/c equipped... More specifically a forged LS6 with stock bottom end and a Novi 2000 with about 5000mi on it.

-How reliable can these setups be if they are not tracked but just street cars?

-Do you think I have to worry about spending a lot of money to rebuild the s/c anytime soon?

-The setup can reach ~800HP on the stock bottom end, is this safe?!

-Can these cars be driven into the city without worry of overheating?

I know every setup is different but just general answers are what I'm looking for!

Thanks in advance for any help

Nick

 

Okay... Is it a forged bottom end or a stock bottom end?
800 hp on a stock bottom end is trouble for sure.

As long as the super charger was installed and tuned properly it can be driven daily. The large intercooler may cause some issues in stop and go traffic on a summer day.

Just remember any car with 800 hp is going to require more maintenance than a stocker.

 

From what I understand the engine is forged, but with the stock crankshaft?

 

See answers below

 

"-The setup can reach ~800HP on the stock bottom end, is this safe?!
If the bottom end is forged then you should be OK with a good fuel system and good tune."

What about with a stock crank?

 

Very reliable as a street car and track car.
My blower is going on 5 years with heavy drag strip use. Still going...
All depends on the tune, contact ECS. 609-752-0321
Yes, you can drive in the city. Depending on the conditions, and radiator, water pump, fans, fan settings...etc...

Its all in the tune, contact ECS..... It their setup.

 

The stock crank is pretty stout. A lot of people rebuild with forged pistons & rods, but leave the stock crank. I forget the number thrown around as highest HP a stock crank will support, but you should be fine with good fuel & tune.

As a precaution, I installed a DeWitt's radiator and C5 fan upgrade when my supercharger was installed. I have no trouble in San Diego summer traffic....

Good luck.......

 

I believe the car I'm looking at was built/tuned by ECS. So I guess I really shouldn't worry then...???

I'm feeling a little more re-assured after reading these replies!

 

When you say stock bottom end are you referring to the crank (only). If so then no problem. Now if it is just forged pistons and stock rods I would be concerned. I have seen some bent stock rods that came out of a motor that was using forged pistons. The car was making around 600 rwhp.

When you say the setup can reach 800hp, for SC hp changes, either the pulley has to be changed or a restrictor is in place. Just because the kit is capable of making 800 hp doesn't necessarily mean that it is tuned around 800hp or is making that much. A lot of people get hung up on hp levels with FI as that is what sells kits. vs. a hp level matched with traction (good tires and throttle management). A few years back one of the Supertuner shootouts...one of the lowest hp cars won the contest because it didn't break anything and it got traction. So from a reliability stand point it did very well.

My setup has made over 800 rear hp/tq, and over 100 rwhp on a dyno (vid example in sig) than what I have actually driven the car at. I tried driving my car once at (15-16# boost) 745/675 rear hp/tq and it was not as tractable or fun to drive trying to manage the throttle and get traction even with 335/18 Toyo Proxes tires. My car is SD tuned for 18#s boost, but I drive it at 9#s meaning that it is not tuned for (detuned) around the 9# boost setting, it makes between 575-600 rwhp (seen differences on various dynos types) and it is a lot of fun to drive as I can get traction in almost all of 3rd gear and most of 4th...which on the street is going well over the speed limit.

But keep in mind too that traction also has a lot to do with the power adder being used..whether it be NOS, Turbos, Positive Displacement (roots) Blower, or Centrifugal Supercharger. I have driven (owned) all of the above on different cars and motorcycles. In just comparing the way turbos develop power vs. the way Centri Superchargers, Centris make have higher peak hp levels and it is a little easier at the higher hp levels to drive a Centri powered car with good tires and throttle management. This is because of the linear fashion Centris make power.....they build boost over the RPM band vs. turbos spooling at the low boost threshold (full spool) to max boost. So don't just look at hp numbers because it depends on the power adder...NOS is especially hard on things cause it hits all at once...thankfully there are window switches.

If the motor does in fact only have forged pistons and the rods and crank are stock (compression test or leak down recommended to confirm cylinder health if buying), confirm the tune...good afr, no knock (good tune), and you are not too greedy (trying to make 800 hp). I would say you could drive the setup around on the street at the 600 rwhp and be OK. If you take it to the track (strip)...the weakest link is going to present itself.

The guy I knew (Don) bent his stock rods while we were at the strip and he thought he lost some fuel pressure (ran lean) but he also had a CCW drag setup. I always thought because he was getting max traction (no wheel spin) all of the load was on the drivetrain and motor...and it simply bent his stock powder rods..which I believe are only said to be good up to 500hp.

 

Im in the same boat as the OP...its a built/boosted Z (built by ecs) or a H/C/I car. It will be my only mode of transporation but wont be driven everyday as I walk to work. It will just be a city, highway, traveling car that sees little, if any, track time.