A&A Vortech install questions
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
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From: Bridge City Texas
A&A Vortech install questions
My question is aimed at owners who have already installed superchargers on their cars. Owner that have experience in what to do and what not to do.
What are some of the things you would do different or upgrades you would have done while/before you installed the kit?
What are some of the things you would do different or upgrades you would have done while/before you installed the kit?
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I would have went with an a&a kit right from the beginning instead of the other guys
... looks like you have that covered though
... since going from a base kit with meth I have added a new clutch, secondary drive, 10 rib upgrade, a secondary fuel system that should support roughly 1k rwhp, and my next big mod is a tr6060 swap... if you are crazy like some of us it might be a good idea to upgrade some of that stuff from the get go and do it once, it will save you time and money... it really all depends on what you want to end up with in the end... some people are totally fine with 550rwhp and in that case you probably won't need much more than what your kit came with... what are your current mods and goals?
... looks like you have that covered though... since going from a base kit with meth I have added a new clutch, secondary drive, 10 rib upgrade, a secondary fuel system that should support roughly 1k rwhp, and my next big mod is a tr6060 swap... if you are crazy like some of us it might be a good idea to upgrade some of that stuff from the get go and do it once, it will save you time and money... it really all depends on what you want to end up with in the end... some people are totally fine with 550rwhp and in that case you probably won't need much more than what your kit came with... what are your current mods and goals?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge-Chicago Illinois
Think about doing a balancer, much easier to do it while the kit is being installed than a afterthought. AC belt while doing the balancer. Also think to update the power steering pulley and updated alt bracket. While your at it check your tensioners and idler pulleys.
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Bridge City Texas
I would have went with an a&a kit right from the beginning instead of the other guys... looks like you have that covered though... since going from a base kit with meth I have added a new clutch, secondary drive, 10 rib upgrade, a secondary fuel system that should support roughly 1k rwhp, and my next big mod is a tr6060 swap... if you are crazy like some of us it might be a good idea to upgrade some of that stuff from the get go and do it once, it will save you time and money... it really all depends on what you want to end up with in the end... some people are totally fine with 550rwhp and in that case you probably won't need much more than what your kit came with... what are your current mods and goals?
... looks like you have that covered though... since going from a base kit with meth I have added a new clutch, secondary drive, 10 rib upgrade, a secondary fuel system that should support roughly 1k rwhp, and my next big mod is a tr6060 swap... if you are crazy like some of us it might be a good idea to upgrade some of that stuff from the get go and do it once, it will save you time and money... it really all depends on what you want to end up with in the end... some people are totally fine with 550rwhp and in that case you probably won't need much more than what your kit came with... what are your current mods and goals?
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Think about doing a balancer, much easier to do it while the kit is being installed than a afterthought. AC belt while doing the balancer. Also think to update the power steering pulley and updated alt bracket. While your at it check your tensioners and idler pulleys.
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Bridge City Texas
Think about doing a balancer, much easier to do it while the kit is being installed than a afterthought. AC belt while doing the balancer. Also think to update the power steering pulley and updated alt bracket. While your at it check your tensioners and idler pulleys.
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
Oh ya might as well do a cam at that time to
While my car has been down waiting on my bullets to get here I took the time to grease all the pulleys and change both belts. Kinda wanting to change the water pump before the sc gets installed. My car has 80,000 miles on it so I also thought about a new balancer as well.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
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From: Park Ridge-Chicago Illinois
these are all good points... powerbond or jegs make better balancers than the oem units for not a lot of money or you can spend more and get an innovators or something like that... if you think you're going to want to run an 8 or 10 rib belt in the future it might be a good idea to go ahead and get whatever balancer you want and you can run your 6 rib belt on it until you upgrade the rest of your setup... the factory power steering pulley is composite and can come apart and take things out with it, the ls2 pulley is only about $20, made of metal, and also has access holes to take the pump off without having to remove the pulley... I didn't think about the newer alternator bracket design but that is another thing to consider... if you end up wanting to switch to a secondary or direct drive then you will have to cut off the part of the bracket that is stronger so it wouldn't be worth upgrading to if you're going to cut it later on, but with 500rwhp you shouldn't need a secondary drive... you should be able to easily hit your goal of 500
While my car has been down waiting on my bullets to get here I took the time to grease all the pulleys and change both belts. Kinda wanting to change the water pump before the sc gets installed. My car has 80,000 miles on it so I also thought about a new balancer as well.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
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From: Dayton Ohio
I used the 8 Rib Jegs OD balancer and LS2 Power steering pulley.
Under 600rwhp you will be fine on stock blancer with A&A bracket all 6 rib but it is a nice upgrade ( can be used with 6 rib or 8rib set ups) however you may want to check with A&A as the bracket spacing may need to be spaced out to clear the 8 rib balancer. The lS2 power steering pump is really nice as well.
Definitely get the Caspers, Lingenfelter, or Ractronix Wire harness for the fuel pump as well.
Under 600rwhp you will be fine on stock blancer with A&A bracket all 6 rib but it is a nice upgrade ( can be used with 6 rib or 8rib set ups) however you may want to check with A&A as the bracket spacing may need to be spaced out to clear the 8 rib balancer. The lS2 power steering pump is really nice as well.
Definitely get the Caspers, Lingenfelter, or Ractronix Wire harness for the fuel pump as well.
Last edited by PEETYZ; Apr 22, 2015 at 05:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
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From: Bridge City Texas
I used the 8 Rib Jegs OD balancer and LS2 Power steering pulley.
Under 600rwhp you will be fine on stock blancer with A&A bracket all 6 rib but it is a nice upgrade ( can be used with 6 rib or 8rib set ups) however you may want to check with A&A as the bracket spacing may need to be spaced out to clear the 8 rib balancer. The lS2 power steering pump is really nice as well.
Definitely get the Caspers, Lingenfelter, or Ractronix Wire harness for the fuel pump as well.
Under 600rwhp you will be fine on stock blancer with A&A bracket all 6 rib but it is a nice upgrade ( can be used with 6 rib or 8rib set ups) however you may want to check with A&A as the bracket spacing may need to be spaced out to clear the 8 rib balancer. The lS2 power steering pump is really nice as well.
Definitely get the Caspers, Lingenfelter, or Ractronix Wire harness for the fuel pump as well.
ISIS SUCKS FAT CHOAD
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,124
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From: Earth, United States
If I was installing a base kit on my car, I'd add a secondary drive and a 10 rib blower belt system (modified)
Some might say that's crazy but here's the thing. If you ever really want to push your combo hard then it's already there as far as the belt system goes.
Also a reason I'd skip the 8 rib and go 10 rib blower belt drive system (modified) is because when it's said and done, it's about the same price.
Some might say that's crazy but here's the thing. If you ever really want to push your combo hard then it's already there as far as the belt system goes.
Also a reason I'd skip the 8 rib and go 10 rib blower belt drive system (modified) is because when it's said and done, it's about the same price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
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From: Central Florida
Listen to these guys, the kit is only part of the cost! Evan if you don't go big hp soon stuff is going to break if you drive it hard. My balancer went out right a way after install and it was brand new GM. It's really hard not to mash the pedal down. You should see my brand new gm rubber couplers warped and stretched after 3000 mi. So if you buy anything new make sure it is overkill so you don't buy it twice like me!
Good luck
Good luck
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
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From: Bridge City Texas
Listen to these guys, the kit is only part of the cost! Evan if you don't go big hp soon stuff is going to break if you drive it hard. My balancer went out right a way after install and it was brand new GM. It's really hard not to mash the pedal down. You should see my brand new gm rubber couplers warped and stretched after 3000 mi. So if you buy anything new make sure it is overkill so you don't buy it twice like me!
Good luck
Good luck
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 422
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From: Palatine IL
Might have been an earlier fuel pump install but I just swapped in the pump that came with my kit I got last year. While the pump that I got installed differently than what the A&A instructions said, it's actually easier now. There is some re-pinning for the wire connector but with a micro screwdriver I was able to release the OE wires/connector and get them in the new connector.
ISIS SUCKS FAT CHOAD
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,124
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From: Earth, United States
There's always an issue with either blower kit as it pertains to the belt system when you spin the blower hard enough. It's a you get what you pay for type of thing. That's not me knocking either kit as both offer upgrades for those who want to push the envelope.
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if you keep the boost/hp levels lower you should be fine... I don't think you will have any problems at all if you're only aiming for 500rw... I made a little over 700 on a 6 rib without any slippage but I might have been pushing my luck... I had to fix a leak from my front cover seal so I figured if I was going to take the balancer off again then I was not putting a stock one back on... I was originally going to get an 8 rib and a friend of mine ended up talking me into the 10 rib for the same reason mvp stated, cost is the same and if I ever end up needing the extra ribs then I already have them... the higher end balancers are not cheap and not something you would want to buy twice if you don't have to... you know yourself better than we do though, if you think you will be content with 500, even 600, you will be fine with the 6 rib setup... the hotwire harness is basically a heavy gauge wire ran straight off your alternator to the pump to help prevent voltage loss through the factory wiring
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
I can't speak to the belt slippage, I was talking about the couplers if you do replace... get better than stock and balancer ...get a good one so you only buy once. Mine wobbled pretty quick. I also wasted money on a cheap stall converter because I thought all I wanted was a better rear gear ratio!
Next thing I know, I buy a supercharger, new motor, new trans........
Next thing I know, I buy a supercharger, new motor, new trans........
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
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From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Agree on the balancer... trick flow / summit have one (same balancer/different colors) that is < $200 that is still way better than the stock one
My stock one failed in literally 5 minutes.. and when it did the AC belt came off and broke the connector to the AC clutch, so I had to change the AC clutch too.. on top of it being even more difficult to pull everything apart the second time because I had to work around the SC
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-c2501
My stock one failed in literally 5 minutes.. and when it did the AC belt came off and broke the connector to the AC clutch, so I had to change the AC clutch too.. on top of it being even more difficult to pull everything apart the second time because I had to work around the SC
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-c2501