View Poll Results: How's your motor doing after your supercharged...
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll
Supercharger to Engine Reliability Poll
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
It's fairly normal to only have failure on one or two cylinders, and the rest look fine. And it can happen without obvious signs of detonation, since it usually requires sustained detonation to produce a typical detonation signature.
There's a threshold where detonation and excessive combustion temperatures don't blow off metal, but can produce enough heat to butt the ring end gap and pull off the ring land, especially on stock emissions engines with narrow ring gaps. Anything can happen after that, when you've got loose metal floating around in the combustion chamber, maybe being squeezed in the small quench area where there isn't enough room for it.
I've got seven years on my stock longblock ECS supercharged engine. I probably didn't go with the cheapest tuner, or the one who told me everything I wanted to hear, but no regrets.
So what I'm suggesting is that it very well may have had something to do with the tune.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Aug 10, 2012 at 07:32 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Tucker Georgia
Water got in the cylinder and cracked the block? Maybe you broke a piston, and that cracked the block.
It's fairly normal to only have failure on one or two cylinders, and the rest look fine. And it can happen without obvious signs of detonation, since it usually requires sustained detonation to produce a typical detonation signature.
There's a threshold where detonation and excessive combustion temperatures don't blow off metal, but can produce enough heat to butt the ring end gap and pull off the ring land, especially on stock emissions engines with narrow ring gaps. Anything can happen after that, when you've got loose metal floating around in the combustion chamber, maybe being squeezed in the small quench area where there isn't enough room for it.
I've got seven years on my stock longblock ECS supercharged engine. I probably didn't go with the cheapest tuner, or the one who told me everything I wanted to hear, but no regrets.
So what I'm suggesting is that it very well may have had something to do with the tune.
It's fairly normal to only have failure on one or two cylinders, and the rest look fine. And it can happen without obvious signs of detonation, since it usually requires sustained detonation to produce a typical detonation signature.
There's a threshold where detonation and excessive combustion temperatures don't blow off metal, but can produce enough heat to butt the ring end gap and pull off the ring land, especially on stock emissions engines with narrow ring gaps. Anything can happen after that, when you've got loose metal floating around in the combustion chamber, maybe being squeezed in the small quench area where there isn't enough room for it.
I've got seven years on my stock longblock ECS supercharged engine. I probably didn't go with the cheapest tuner, or the one who told me everything I wanted to hear, but no regrets.
So what I'm suggesting is that it very well may have had something to do with the tune.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,592
Likes: 1,710
From: Converse TX
I went from 319 RWHP to 749 to 771 RWHP. I dropped in an A&A 347, West Coast LS6 heads chambered to 72cc, 9.25 compression. DS1C. I ran the snot out of it. Did over 190 mph at the Texas Mile. Put 20+ k on it and when I wrecked it my motor was running strong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
I am running close to 600 to the wheels with 12 lb boost. A
excellent tune and meth are the key. I guess I have about 5
years on the motor. Oh yea I never get hot and I live in
Florida, that helps too.
excellent tune and meth are the key. I guess I have about 5
years on the motor. Oh yea I never get hot and I live in
Florida, that helps too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Tucker Georgia
5 and 7. What indications of air distribution or cooling problems would you look for? What would indicate a tuning issue to you?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
2000 LS1 was supercharged at 107k miles with a used Procharger D1 kit February of 2007. I sold the car in September of 2011, she had 134k miles but the old motor was tired. Was using oil, one of the rings was shot, but she had a hell of a run for never having touched the longblock.
I'm onto bigger and faster C5s now.
I'm onto bigger and faster C5s now.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 573
Likes: 7
From: Greensboro NC
627 rwhp with a V3 and Cam. It's like any other modification, if drive it reasonably and respect the power at hand, it will last. I've had mine on road courses and snuffed several weekend warriors from the dig with no issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
True! the Tune has a TON to do with it. You can run 525-575 RWHP for a VERY VERY VERY long time on your stock motor. What it comes down to really is boost level and tune. If we do a build and we put it t 7-9 PSI ill tell my customer to drive it ANYWHERE and dont worry about it, when you start getting over 10 PSI your really pushing a stock motor. Not saying it wont last , but thats alot of boost on the motor that was not made to handle that much.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,767
Likes: 19
From: East Texas
the ring gap gets bigger with wear 
when the rings get hot and the gap closes and but up the piston cracks and you loose ring lands 
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
Likes: 88
From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
East Tx Muscle Cars: when you start getting over 10 PSI your really pushing a stock motor. Not saying it wont last , but thats alot of boost on the motor that was not made to handle that much.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
this is an excellent thread. i am considering a stock 03 with 38k for a supercharger. i want 500 hp but NO reduction in reliability. I can get the car for about 18-19k i think and I will have another 7-8k in total mods to the motor and clutch. i want to get the work done myself rather than buy a modded car. just think I will trust it more if I start at mile 1 with the mods. keep the stories coming guys...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Supercharged at 23k miles, Installed by a professional shop that used to reside in Houston (MTI)...10 psi, made 604rwhp originally. Added meth (non meth dependent tune) and it made 622rwhp.... At 27.5k miles it broke ring lands on #5 and #7. Always watched the wideband and never leaner then 10.8-11.0......
The rebuild has tuned into a 6 month long, $30k build odyssey...
Many live, many don't, even with every safety precaution taken and good tuners involved...
Knowing what I know now, I wouldnt go over 7-8 psi on a stock motor and definitely have meth. I still think the stock hypereutectic pistons are ticking time bombs... Just WAY too many LS1s/LS6s have killed #5/7 pistons.
You also have to look at how its driven.... Most of the guys getting 20-30k miles boosted on stock engines are NOT running them hard.... Going through the gears once or twice a month and just about anything will live.... But if you pound on it every weekend they are on borrowed time... Time means nothing and even miles don't mean a lot....whats more important is the usage.
The rebuild has tuned into a 6 month long, $30k build odyssey...
Many live, many don't, even with every safety precaution taken and good tuners involved...
Knowing what I know now, I wouldnt go over 7-8 psi on a stock motor and definitely have meth. I still think the stock hypereutectic pistons are ticking time bombs... Just WAY too many LS1s/LS6s have killed #5/7 pistons.
You also have to look at how its driven.... Most of the guys getting 20-30k miles boosted on stock engines are NOT running them hard.... Going through the gears once or twice a month and just about anything will live.... But if you pound on it every weekend they are on borrowed time... Time means nothing and even miles don't mean a lot....whats more important is the usage.
Last edited by ajrothm; Aug 15, 2012 at 09:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 142
From: Iowa
Reading some of these posts is terrifying. 
Really makes me wonder about the reliability of my own motor with the A&A Kit on it running at 10psi (572/482). It's too late to go back now, but I can't help keeping my fingers crossed until I get the chance to swap in a built bottom end.
Really makes me wonder about the reliability of my own motor with the A&A Kit on it running at 10psi (572/482). It's too late to go back now, but I can't help keeping my fingers crossed until I get the chance to swap in a built bottom end.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Reading some of these posts is terrifying.
Really makes me wonder about the reliability of my own motor with the A&A Kit on it running at 10psi (572/482). It's too late to go back now, but I can't help keeping my fingers crossed until I get the chance to swap in a built bottom end.
Really makes me wonder about the reliability of my own motor with the A&A Kit on it running at 10psi (572/482). It's too late to go back now, but I can't help keeping my fingers crossed until I get the chance to swap in a built bottom end.
But meth on it at that power and dont totally DOG the car with a good tune. You should be good man. Robert
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
Likes: 88
From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
Supercharged at 23k miles, Installed by a professional shop that used to reside in Houston (MTI)...10 psi, made 604rwhp originally. Added meth (non meth dependent tune) and it made 622rwhp.... At 27.5k miles it broke ring lands on #5 and #7. Always watched the wideband and never leaner then 10.8-11.0......
The rebuild has tuned into a 6 month long, $30k build odyssey...
Many live, many don't, even with every safety precaution taken and good tuners involved...
Knowing what I know now, I wouldnt go over 7-8 psi on a stock motor and definitely have meth. I still think the stock hypereutectic pistons are ticking time bombs... Just WAY too many LS1s/LS6s have killed #5/7 pistons.
You also have to look at how its driven.... Most of the guys getting 20-30k miles boosted on stock engines are NOT running them hard.... Going through the gears once or twice a month and just about anything will live.... But if you pound on it every weekend they are on borrowed time... Time means nothing and even miles don't mean a lot....whats more important is the usage.
The rebuild has tuned into a 6 month long, $30k build odyssey...
Many live, many don't, even with every safety precaution taken and good tuners involved...
Knowing what I know now, I wouldnt go over 7-8 psi on a stock motor and definitely have meth. I still think the stock hypereutectic pistons are ticking time bombs... Just WAY too many LS1s/LS6s have killed #5/7 pistons.
You also have to look at how its driven.... Most of the guys getting 20-30k miles boosted on stock engines are NOT running them hard.... Going through the gears once or twice a month and just about anything will live.... But if you pound on it every weekend they are on borrowed time... Time means nothing and even miles don't mean a lot....whats more important is the usage.
I think and hope I will be more on the safe side of the dark side
. I take mine out usually on weekends for car shows or going on trips (vacation). For me I don't consider what I do playing with it hard. In fact the car has never seen 6,000 rpm's. I owned a C4 prior to the C5...5500rpm's feels like it is screaming cause the C4 topped out at 4500rpms. So much of my driving I find that I am shifting before that 4500 figure. Of course every now and then I bring it up 1000 more and shift at 5500rpms. But yeh that's it for me...just have had no feelings as to why push it to the 6000 redline.
Last edited by XtremeVette; Aug 16, 2012 at 11:26 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
stock LS6 going strong at 10PSI + single nozzle meth -stock (except valve springs)
10K + miles
18 standing mile runs to 180mph
aprox 24 1/4 mile passes
60 mile SORC open road race (all at 5,000 +rpm)
Car sees 6500rpm on a regular basis, limiter set at 6700rpm
10K + miles
18 standing mile runs to 180mph
aprox 24 1/4 mile passes
60 mile SORC open road race (all at 5,000 +rpm)
Car sees 6500rpm on a regular basis, limiter set at 6700rpm