More Vortech Problems
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,469
Likes: 716
From: Black Forest CO
I talked to Mark at RMCR about the aftercooler sizing a month or so ago. He said that based on his experience the aftercooler that we works fine up to 14psi or so.
I fired up my car last night. You sure can see what's going on with the belts much better with the the head unit and aftercooler out of there. Everything looks fine except as you noted the front edge of the belt is in contact with the flange on the tensioner pulley. I am going to take a fender washer or two, drill out the hole to the correct size and make some shims.
I fired up my car last night. You sure can see what's going on with the belts much better with the the head unit and aftercooler out of there. Everything looks fine except as you noted the front edge of the belt is in contact with the flange on the tensioner pulley. I am going to take a fender washer or two, drill out the hole to the correct size and make some shims.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,469
Likes: 716
From: Black Forest CO
Originally Posted by Yano
Of the guys in the area I have put up the best E/T with the low 5lbs of boost I was running, a 12.0x Some of the guys have FI and are running 6-9lbs of boost and I think the next fastest guy was Mark at 12.5 and then the poor pickle with 9lbs of boost and his 13.3 
(so he was on street tires) 
(so he was on street tires)
Originally Posted by Yano
Thought I would throw my .02 in here.
One cool thing about the RMCR kit was I called them up and said this thing is making a horrible sound. He came to my house started the car, and said yep bad bearings in the vortech. He then cut the belts that run the 8rib pulley to the SC. Started the car back up and took my car to his shop. I thought that was pretty cool. Broken Vortech but could still drive my car as if it were stock. Where Mark had to spend $168 and have his car towed, a simple pocket knife and I could be back in business.
One cool thing about the RMCR kit was I called them up and said this thing is making a horrible sound. He came to my house started the car, and said yep bad bearings in the vortech. He then cut the belts that run the 8rib pulley to the SC. Started the car back up and took my car to his shop. I thought that was pretty cool. Broken Vortech but could still drive my car as if it were stock. Where Mark had to spend $168 and have his car towed, a simple pocket knife and I could be back in business.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
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Originally Posted by VortechC5
I talked to Mark at RMCR about the aftercooler sizing a month or so ago. He said that based on his experience the aftercooler that we works fine up to 14psi or so.
Everything looks fine except as you noted the front edge of the belt is in contact with the flange on the tensioner pulley. I am going to take a fender washer or two, drill out the hole to the correct size and make some shims.
An additional .030 shim under each tensioner spacer may be needed also.
Last edited by MelloYellow; Oct 9, 2004 at 04:25 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 52
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From: Loganville GA
In response to VortechC5's question -- nope, no warning at all on that idler. I had double/triple checked belt alignment and wear after that first belt shred in March. No sign of dust or any wear at all. Took it to Atlanta dragway, ran it once (track prep sucked). No sign of belt wear, no dust. Drove it for a week and pop...there she goes. I didn't hear any noise, just suddenly started smelling burnt rubber in the cockpit for about 2-3 minutes (I was close to home, no other indications of a problem) and then I lost the power steering and pulled it over.
My theory that the bearing might have caused the belt shred in March is based upon shop talk with some tuners. From what i'm told, that idler going bad isn't uncommon on cars that are run up in the higher RPMs -- but nobody has found a good high-RPM replacement for it yet. GM just prefers to sell new ones (and PS brackets when those bend as a result of the idler locking up).
My theory that the bearing might have caused the belt shred in March is based upon shop talk with some tuners. From what i'm told, that idler going bad isn't uncommon on cars that are run up in the higher RPMs -- but nobody has found a good high-RPM replacement for it yet. GM just prefers to sell new ones (and PS brackets when those bend as a result of the idler locking up).
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,469
Likes: 716
From: Black Forest CO
MeloYellow, I just finished shimming the tensioner pulley. It looks much better now. If you don't mind I would like to send you a picture and see if the clearance from the belt to the flange looks about the same as yours does. If it is ok please PM me your email address.
I just looked at that idler that MrBill had problems with. On my car it has a dust cover on it. Maybe I'll replace that too just in case...
I just looked at that idler that MrBill had problems with. On my car it has a dust cover on it. Maybe I'll replace that too just in case...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
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Note: The Tensioner Idler Dust Covers may have been revised by Vortech. I ordered some new ones. The new ones were larger and black and don't fit very well.
Am going to see if I received the wrong part.
My original kit had thinner silver dust covers, which I prefer to use.
Am going to see if I received the wrong part.
My original kit had thinner silver dust covers, which I prefer to use.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 4
From: az
Stock 6 rib. I don't know the pulley diameter. I will look tonight. It made about 9.5 pounds of boost at 94 degrees ambient temp. I will know more in a bout two months when it cools down. I want 12 pounds but I am willing to compromise for not have blown belts. That's the price I am paying for making the wrong choice.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: Grove City Ohio
Mine did the exact same thing at the Z06 Fest in BG. I was at Beach bend when the belt granaded. Put a hole in my hood liner as well. I've been fighting this crap since DTE put the Vortech on my Z. My car has ate about 5 belts total. You really have to watch hitting the rev limiter. I think it starts oscilating as it hits the rl and jumps off the tensioner.
The guys at Dynotech have been great about working through the problems. Phil sent two of his guys all the way from Ft. Wayne, Ind. to Bowling Green, Ky. to fix all the stuff the belt took with it. I'm on my third set of spacers now, so we'll see if it stays together THIS time.
Here's Tim and Jeromy out front of the Hampton Inn putting my car back together:
Tim had to splice all the wiring back together for the AH and ALB systems. I'm still finding chunks of belt in strange places.
They even brought a bearing press with them to repair any pulleys that got messed up.
The guys at Dynotech have been great about working through the problems. Phil sent two of his guys all the way from Ft. Wayne, Ind. to Bowling Green, Ky. to fix all the stuff the belt took with it. I'm on my third set of spacers now, so we'll see if it stays together THIS time.
Here's Tim and Jeromy out front of the Hampton Inn putting my car back together:
Tim had to splice all the wiring back together for the AH and ALB systems. I'm still finding chunks of belt in strange places.
They even brought a bearing press with them to repair any pulleys that got messed up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
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After the new spacer setup noted above I can beat on the setup without problem. Bounce off the rev limiter and run it hard in general.
Only when I get on it very hard can I find the smallest trace of belt dust. Almost non-existant even then. Am finally starting to feel confident with the setup.
Only when I get on it very hard can I find the smallest trace of belt dust. Almost non-existant even then. Am finally starting to feel confident with the setup.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,241
Likes: 21
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Originally Posted by jak112460
You have sold anyone reading your post, on not buying a Vortech blower. I know that if I had read your type of posts before I bought my Vortech, I would never have bought a Vortech blower.
This mess of his is a nightmare.. makes you not want to mess with the car at all.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,469
Likes: 716
From: Black Forest CO
I am not 100% sure what I am going to do with mine. Right now I have the car running without the supercharger on it. All the bracketry is still on. I just pulled the head unit and aftercooler.
I am waiting on a quote from RMCR to see what it would cost to convert to their setup. Hopefully I will know next week and then I will make a decision on what to do.
My car feels like a dog after having boost for a year and a half and now I have none. Living and driving at an altitude of 7000 feet doesn't help the situation at all.
I think that I am suffering from boost withdrawal if there is such a thing...
I am waiting on a quote from RMCR to see what it would cost to convert to their setup. Hopefully I will know next week and then I will make a decision on what to do.
My car feels like a dog after having boost for a year and a half and now I have none. Living and driving at an altitude of 7000 feet doesn't help the situation at all.
I think that I am suffering from boost withdrawal if there is such a thing...
Last edited by VortechC5; Sep 17, 2004 at 08:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,469
Likes: 716
From: Black Forest CO
They don't have a website. You can call them at 719-574-0625 if you want. Ask for Mark. He won't be there over the weekend but will be back on Monday working on Yano's car.
Last edited by VortechC5; Sep 17, 2004 at 09:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
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You're so close to having the setup corrected. No promises, but beating mine pretty hard right now and it's holding great. Give it some time.
I know how you feel tho.
This is the nature of FI tho, esp. SC's.
I know how you feel tho.
This is the nature of FI tho, esp. SC's.