Direct/flip drive compilation
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
Direct/flip drive compilation
This may not be the place to ask but I assume pretty much everyone with a blower has one.
I have the Cartek version. I'm currently having issues I am not happy about at all.
I have searched, just want to make sure I know about all my options out there.
So far, Cartek and a war with some guys in Texas is what I have found. What are my options? Opinions and links much appreciated. I do not like parts failures and companies that do not stock replacement parts. I do not like having my car down for no reason. I'm actually repairing and making a part on the lathe so I can get on the road and I'm disgusted.
I have the Cartek version. I'm currently having issues I am not happy about at all.
I have searched, just want to make sure I know about all my options out there.
So far, Cartek and a war with some guys in Texas is what I have found. What are my options? Opinions and links much appreciated. I do not like parts failures and companies that do not stock replacement parts. I do not like having my car down for no reason. I'm actually repairing and making a part on the lathe so I can get on the road and I'm disgusted.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 48
From: NCM Lifetime#2195 Bulverde, Texas 78163
St. Jude Donor '13
That is the other two out there. What issues are you having? I heard of the "jackshaft" pulley coming apart at the bearing a couple of years ago. I have had no issues with my DP direct drive. I think both a great upgrade.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
Thanks. I checked both the sites and didn't really find anything. I'm most interested in the bearing/pulley design more than the routing.
The Cartek design is kinda scary. The 4 to 6 rib is completely bearing dependent. There is inherently a considerable amount of stress on the outside of the pulley from the alt tensioner. Basically, if the bearing fail, the pulley can become a ping pong ball under your hood. That is what has happened to me. The pulley has no more than 10,000 miles on it. The inner diameter is 40 mm. They came loose. I have machined the inside of the pulley to accept 42mm but the bearing now has a larger inner diameter. Now we are making a new inset to accommodate it. Basically recreating the same poor design.
I'm waiting for them to get another pulley in to send me. I will them install the new one and keep mine as a spare. My car has been down for 5 days. I have a regular job and lack the time to design another system from scratch. I can not stand things I can not control and parts failures due to design.
That being said, I have nothing against Cartek and will pay the price for another pulley, but I'm shopping.
The Cartek design is kinda scary. The 4 to 6 rib is completely bearing dependent. There is inherently a considerable amount of stress on the outside of the pulley from the alt tensioner. Basically, if the bearing fail, the pulley can become a ping pong ball under your hood. That is what has happened to me. The pulley has no more than 10,000 miles on it. The inner diameter is 40 mm. They came loose. I have machined the inside of the pulley to accept 42mm but the bearing now has a larger inner diameter. Now we are making a new inset to accommodate it. Basically recreating the same poor design.
I'm waiting for them to get another pulley in to send me. I will them install the new one and keep mine as a spare. My car has been down for 5 days. I have a regular job and lack the time to design another system from scratch. I can not stand things I can not control and parts failures due to design.
That being said, I have nothing against Cartek and will pay the price for another pulley, but I'm shopping.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I don't have any issues with my Cartek -
What generation do you have?
And what part is messing up, specifically?
Thanks,Matt
What generation do you have?
And what part is messing up, specifically?
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
Thanks. I would appreciate that. I figure everyone is doing basically the same thing, but I want something that has a fail safe as well as readily available replacement parts. I also like when people care enough to return a call.
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ISIS SUCKS FAT CHOAD
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 53
From: Earth, United States
This may not be the place to ask but I assume pretty much everyone with a blower has one.
I have the Cartek version. I'm currently having issues I am not happy about at all.
I have searched, just want to make sure I know about all my options out there.
So far, Cartek and a war with some guys in Texas is what I have found. What are my options? Opinions and links much appreciated. I do not like parts failures and companies that do not stock replacement parts. I do not like having my car down for no reason. I'm actually repairing and making a part on the lathe so I can get on the road and I'm disgusted.
I have the Cartek version. I'm currently having issues I am not happy about at all.
I have searched, just want to make sure I know about all my options out there.
So far, Cartek and a war with some guys in Texas is what I have found. What are my options? Opinions and links much appreciated. I do not like parts failures and companies that do not stock replacement parts. I do not like having my car down for no reason. I'm actually repairing and making a part on the lathe so I can get on the road and I'm disgusted.
As stated kartek has the flip drive and Dallas performance has the direct drive. There have been people who have had issues with the flip drive hence the reason Dallas performance developed the direct drive (which is a better version of the flip drive). I have the direct drive and it has not given me any trouble what so ever. I highly recommend it to anyone who's in the market for such a piece. As for the A&A secondary drive it seems like a nice piece but it hasn't been out that long and there isn't a ton of guys running them so I don't have much to say about it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
As stated kartek has the flip drive and Dallas performance has the direct drive. There have been people who have had issues with the flip drive hence the reason Dallas performance developed the direct drive (which is a better version of the flip drive). I have the direct drive and it has not given me any trouble what so ever. I highly recommend it to anyone who's in the market for such a piece. As for the A&A secondary drive it seems like a nice piece but it hasn't been out that long and there isn't a ton of guys running them so I don't have much to say about it.
Speaking of mine, not yours. Would like to see the design. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
The 4 to 6 that powers the power steering/ alternator. Ping Pong. Could not tell you which design. Car is very new to me. Can't tell you the time on the setup. I can only tell the mileage. I'm waiting on a bundle of receipts from the prior owner to come in the mail. There very may well be a new and improved design since mine. The only thing I got from Cartek is that they may get some on Wednesday and it is $165 for a pulley.
After a long while my Spring Loaded Tensioner on the Alt/Pwr Steering started to deflect wanting to make my belt walk on the Alternator Pulley!
Solution:
I went with the newer style Gen II updated tensioner from CARTEK that is a manual tensioner and it is a lot more solid, no issues with it at all (however I never did throw a belt on the original Gen I tensioner)
I would talk with CARTEK and get the Gen II updated tensioner from them and you won't have any issues anymore!
I realize it is not your fault and it sucks to get your Vette and have to do a change but at least it is not too much of a small easy fix!
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 793
Likes: 3
From: Scotland UK
Do you have any objective evidence that one kit is better than the other, beyond people having issues (since I don't know the quantity of each kit sold)?
On a related note, does anyone know what the claims on the FD patent are? I'm interested to see how this shakes out if/when the patent is granted.
FWIW - I run a FD with the latest manual tensioner and have had no issues.
On a related note, does anyone know what the claims on the FD patent are? I'm interested to see how this shakes out if/when the patent is granted.
FWIW - I run a FD with the latest manual tensioner and have had no issues.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 32,266
Likes: 35
From: Somewhere between mild insanity and complete psychosis
IIRC ECS also has posted about having a similar setup that uses 6-ribs instead of 4 for the accessories.
Hate to sound like a cheerleader, but when it comes to building AND racing these supercharged C5 & C6 setups and truly putting them to the test, they really don't have a peer.
I definitely would NOT use the same vendor again if your unit not only failed, but they also cannot provide you with replacement parts leaving you to MAKE YOUR OWN while the car sits.
I understand your frustration. Belt issues are a PITA and I didn't start out with an ECS Head Unit bracket, I ended up with it after belt slipping, squeeling, and eventually tossing issues.
Hate to sound like a cheerleader, but when it comes to building AND racing these supercharged C5 & C6 setups and truly putting them to the test, they really don't have a peer.
I definitely would NOT use the same vendor again if your unit not only failed, but they also cannot provide you with replacement parts leaving you to MAKE YOUR OWN while the car sits.
I understand your frustration. Belt issues are a PITA and I didn't start out with an ECS Head Unit bracket, I ended up with it after belt slipping, squeeling, and eventually tossing issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,859
Likes: 4
From: Greensboro NC
Anyone running an old GEN II A&A bracket and switched to the latest bracket version? Just now getting my winter build running. At the tuner and have belt slip at 5psi. It is a Gen II A&A Procharger bracket running a D1 with an 8 rib set up. Not sure if I want to go the flip drive route. Was thinking upgrading to the latest A&A Procharger bracket might do the trick.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
It sounds like you might have the original Gen I Flip-Drive! and the Spring Loaded Tensioner on the ALT/PWR Steering belt! (Yes/No)
After a long while my Spring Loaded Tensioner on the Alt/Pwr Steering started to deflect wanting to make my belt walk on the Alternator Pulley!
Solution:
I went with the newer style Gen II updated tensioner from CARTEK that is a manual tensioner and it is a lot more solid, no issues with it at all (however I never did throw a belt on the original Gen I tensioner)
I would talk with CARTEK and get the Gen II updated tensioner from them and you won't have any issues anymore!
I realize it is not your fault and it sucks to get your Vette and have to do a change but at least it is not too much of a small easy fix!
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516
After a long while my Spring Loaded Tensioner on the Alt/Pwr Steering started to deflect wanting to make my belt walk on the Alternator Pulley!
Solution:
I went with the newer style Gen II updated tensioner from CARTEK that is a manual tensioner and it is a lot more solid, no issues with it at all (however I never did throw a belt on the original Gen I tensioner)
I would talk with CARTEK and get the Gen II updated tensioner from them and you won't have any issues anymore!
I realize it is not your fault and it sucks to get your Vette and have to do a change but at least it is not too much of a small easy fix!
Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516
We did the best we could today to fix the pulley. We put a grove in it for a snap ring. It was just too jacked up and the pulley broke. It was to be a temporary fix to a God awful design, but it did not work out.
Doug a ECS seemed very professional and is trying to get me something. I also had a nice guy pm me with another solution. I'm just going to put the car in my shop and throw the cover on it for another week. You would think we could do better than this in this day and age of technology and overnight mail.
Make sure you realize the amount of service and the quality of product you are getting when you place an order or drop a car at CARTEK. F@##ing A$$holes
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 48
From: NCM Lifetime#2195 Bulverde, Texas 78163
St. Jude Donor '13
After research, It is an early design but has been upgraded. It does not change the fact that the original design of the pulley or hub is crap. People with no mechanical knowledge whatsoever could look at it and tell you that it is destined for failure. A professional and stand up company that cares about reputation should send out a new design for free to everyone with an apology letter. CARTEK does not even return a call. They do not care about customer service.
We did the best we could today to fix the pulley. We put a grove in it for a snap ring. It was just too jacked up and the pulley broke. It was to be a temporary fix to a God awful design, but it did not work out.
Doug a ECS seemed very professional and is trying to get me something. I also had a nice guy pm me with another solution. I'm just going to put the car in my shop and throw the cover on it for another week. You would think we could do better than this in this day and age of technology and overnight mail.
Make sure you realize the amount of service and the quality of product you are getting when you place an order or drop a car at CARTEK. F@##ing A$$holes
We did the best we could today to fix the pulley. We put a grove in it for a snap ring. It was just too jacked up and the pulley broke. It was to be a temporary fix to a God awful design, but it did not work out.
Doug a ECS seemed very professional and is trying to get me something. I also had a nice guy pm me with another solution. I'm just going to put the car in my shop and throw the cover on it for another week. You would think we could do better than this in this day and age of technology and overnight mail.
Make sure you realize the amount of service and the quality of product you are getting when you place an order or drop a car at CARTEK. F@##ing A$$holes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
Yes. I will first thing in the morning. I know that the kits look very close in design, but I did not call him for fear that a slight difference in parts alignment would put me back where I am at. Thanks much.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
I'm all but positive that the alignment won't be an issue. I've sold and installed almost every version there is and the bases all seem the same thickness, which would force the remaining parts to be equal dimension.