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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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If it was a name brand and installed by a trusted, top notch vendor then I would consider it. I would want to see all receipts for the materials and work. Would also depend on how many miles on the car and what was done in connection with the S/C install.
I did. '02 Z06 with 19K on the clock and a Magnuson Supercharger and in mint condition. It runs awesome and I haven't had any trouble at all. In regular driving you hardly know it's there and I still get close to 30 mpg on the highway cruising. But stick your foot in it and Oh my.
Back in 2005, I bought a supercharged C5 from a Forum member. I asked lots of questions about the install, got a bunch of pics, and I wound up going to CA to buy it and drove it back home. 13 years later, Istill have the car and I have never had a problem with it. The blower is a Vortec S2 and is set p for 7 lbs of boost. That boost pressure is low enough to not hurt the engine internals but still delivers 450HP at the wheels. And I consistently get 30+ MPG when cruising on the freeway.
The install was done by a reputable shop in the seller's city and the car was even featured on the shop's website. So in my particular case, I think I got a good deal on the car and it has turned out to be very dependable.
Depends on the car. How does it present itself, are there any issues. Does the car come with documentation, receipts, etc? If it's a car that's showing obvious signs of wear and tear, no documentation, no paperwork to back up the work done, run, don't walk away. If there's a solid history, the car is clean and well maintained, I wouldn't hesitate if it was what I was looking for.
What Josh says...it really depends.
Some have the power & never really dip into it...others can break anything by looking at it.
Papers dont mean much to me, if the work was a hackjob a reciept doesnt meant much to me. You can usually tell if you look/listen well enough.
What about the owner? How does he keep himself, home, etc? Let him drive you around for awhile before you take a turn it says a lot.
If you want to supercharged Corvette it’s the way to go....you will save lots of money, just look for the right car. Most of the time it will be like getting a free Corvette if the work was done properly.
If I ever sell mine someone’s going to get a hell of a deal based on the money that it cost to build the car
good luck
oh and you won’t have to worry about everybody and their brother trying to race you, you may not even notice them.
and another thing I know nothing of this “still get 30mpg” stuff, mine is nowhere near that and I don’t care. Lots of fun......
My answer would be “no” if you plan on driving it hard and its not fully built because something will break...
Last edited by Forcedvert; Sep 1, 2018 at 09:23 AM.
After one installs the stupidcharger there is a long list of upgrades to do along with it. Lacking other upgrades your increase power will destroy the stock drive line (transmission, brakes …). Then there are cooling concerns and concerns about who did the installation and tune with those mail order parts.. Ask yourself why someone would add a device like this to a car that already has 350-400 HP. Perhaps they do track time, beat the snot out of the car or just like driving like the Duke Boys in Hazard county. Run don't walk away when you see one for sale.
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Originally Posted by DDaaryl
NEVER!
After one installs the stupidcharger there is a long list of upgrades to do along with it. Lacking other upgrades your increase power will destroy the stock drive line (transmission, brakes …). Then there are cooling concerns and concerns about who did the installation and tune with those mail order parts.. Ask yourself why someone would add a device like this to a car that already has 350-400 HP. Perhaps they do track time, beat the snot out of the car or just like driving like the Duke Boys in Hazard county. Run don't walk away when you see one for sale.
Ask yourself why someone would add a device like this to a car that already has 350-400 HP. Perhaps they do track time,
Because they are slow and boring?
know tons of guys that drive normal as anyone else they just run a little harder up an onramp, doesnt hurt a thing.
Now if th e owner didnt have an "ear" and relied on the rev limiter to tell him when to shift...i can see your point.
Why not? As long as the car is in good condition, runs right, and doesn't show any issues i would. Hell, i wish i bought a s/c one so i wouldn't be looking at doing mine
Even if things are goofed up it’s thousands cheaper than starting from stock, esp on a car so rapidly depreciating.
Hard to swallow spending $6k+ trying to do it right (that’s self installing) on a car worth a little past double that.
90% of what you’ll hear negative is from people who’ve never driven much less owned a boosted car. I’ve had quite a few that I personally have installed centrifugal superchargers on. I’ve never once been upset. Cars behave near stock. Make tons of power and just come alive. Keep the boost limit safe and a solid tune and they’ll live a very, very long time.
”but it’ll tears up mah drivelines!?!?”
GM junk is 20yr old garbage. Dry rot and age tear up things. Bottom dollar sourced bearings tear up things.
There’s not much better to do than to throw anitquated parts in the trash can when it comes to a c5.
You know! Those POS calipers that like to spread under high heat and load and rotors that can’t make it through a track day without cracking? Freaking highly engineered spaceship parts man. About the only thing they’re good for is street driving.
Whats that? You’re just driving your blown car around on the street where crazy cooling and brakes won’t matter? impossible!!