Supercharger decision
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 661
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From: Ca.
Supercharger decision
Those of you who have had a supercharger install, after reading many reports of needing to replace the clutch, flywheel, etc. along with possible radiator upgrade and the addition of 40-50 extra bounds of weight, are you happy you installed the supercharger or do you wish that you did not install it? I am thinking about having one installed, but do not want to do it and then wish I had not installed it, $8,500 later. That is the approximate cost of the s/c install and clutch,flywheel, etc.
AKA "The CLOWN"
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,261
Likes: 13
From: Chicago South Suburbs
I don't know if this will help but, I just ordered an ECS Novi SC600 kit last week and I can't wait to drive my car boosted. I have an A4 now and it is still stock, I hope I don't blow it up this summer as I have spent 8k on my car so far. Yes you will fry your clutch sooner or later, and I will fry my trans, It all depends on how hard you drive it. I have talked to a bunch of people with S/C on there cars and they all have told me that they could not even think of N/A car.....They say once you get boosted.....you will never go back!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
Those of you who have had a supercharger install, after reading many reports of needing to replace the clutch, flywheel, etc. along with possible radiator upgrade and the addition of 40-50 extra bounds of weight, are you happy you installed the supercharger or do you wish that you did not install it? I am thinking about having one installed, but do not want to do it and then wish I had not installed it, $8,500 later. That is the approximate cost of the s/c install and clutch,flywheel, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Those of you who have had a supercharger install, after reading many reports of needing to replace the clutch, flywheel, etc. along with possible radiator upgrade and the addition of 40-50 extra bounds of weight, are you happy you installed the supercharger or do you wish that you did not install it? I am thinking about having one installed, but do not want to do it and then wish I had not installed it, $8,500 later. That is the approximate cost of the s/c install and clutch,flywheel, etc.
I put my ProCharger on in 2001 and never looked back, yes it adds about 70lbs to the front but you will never notice it.
Yes I broke my A4 so what $hit happens to sports cars.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat, there's just something about a boosted car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
I have also read about having to replace clutches after FI install.
I also understand under normal throttle FI vehicles drive as if unmodified - you only see the additional power under heavy throttle.
So as long as you take of under normal throttle - wouldn't your clutch not be affected ?
I also understand under normal throttle FI vehicles drive as if unmodified - you only see the additional power under heavy throttle.
So as long as you take of under normal throttle - wouldn't your clutch not be affected ?
AKA "The CLOWN"
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,261
Likes: 13
From: Chicago South Suburbs
Your kidding right?
I put my ProCharger on in 2001 and never looked back, yes it adds about 70lbs to the front but you will never notice it.
Yes I broke my A4 so what $hit happens to sports cars.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat, there's just something about a boosted car.
I put my ProCharger on in 2001 and never looked back, yes it adds about 70lbs to the front but you will never notice it.
Yes I broke my A4 so what $hit happens to sports cars.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat, there's just something about a boosted car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,401
Likes: 1,143
From: Dyer, IN
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
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From: Springhill FL
I loved my procharged C5. I drove the hell out of it though and kept upping the boost. The parts I broke were no fault of the car. I knew what I was getting into 
You will absolutely need a clutch and not the cheapest one you can find. Buy a good clutch with an overkill torque rating and save yourself some headaches. Its just too much work to keep dropping the driveline to install the next better clutch and hope "this one" holds.
Edit- Wanted to point out. In all the miles and passes down the track, I never had an engine problem. It never failed to start right up and make power. The usual issues are from the flywheel back(depending on your powerlevel and the wieght of your foot)
You will absolutely need a clutch and not the cheapest one you can find. Buy a good clutch with an overkill torque rating and save yourself some headaches. Its just too much work to keep dropping the driveline to install the next better clutch and hope "this one" holds.
Edit- Wanted to point out. In all the miles and passes down the track, I never had an engine problem. It never failed to start right up and make power. The usual issues are from the flywheel back(depending on your powerlevel and the wieght of your foot)
Last edited by MawneeC5; Feb 5, 2011 at 01:59 PM.
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From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
The two extremes I can think of are car we put an ATI head unit system on a C5 maybe 7-8 years ago which at that time had 105k on it, recently it came back for a cam and meth (against our recommendation) at 225k along with a roll bar so he doesn't keep getting kicked out of tracks. The car went threw a trans in that time, but thats about it besides tires-brakes-normal wear items.
And Shawn-2003VETTE- has surpassed 1,200 track passes this year on his original stock engine. He has a blower cam, alky kit, and our SC kit. He has won pro classes, and drives to and from the track, along with holding the the fastest stock bottom end LS1 Corvette record at 9.73/142.
Not everyone gets these kind of miles/usage out of their builds, but it is not uncommon to get many trouble free miles with heavy usage from our supercharger kits.
And Shawn-2003VETTE- has surpassed 1,200 track passes this year on his original stock engine. He has a blower cam, alky kit, and our SC kit. He has won pro classes, and drives to and from the track, along with holding the the fastest stock bottom end LS1 Corvette record at 9.73/142.
Not everyone gets these kind of miles/usage out of their builds, but it is not uncommon to get many trouble free miles with heavy usage from our supercharger kits.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 27
From: Magnolia Greens NC
I've had what you see in my Signature since December 2005, and as "lucky" puts it best: it's how you drive the car....I'm still on the 2002 o.e.m. clutch, & really enjoying the FI $$ well spent...the thrill is there (when I want it)....I spent my youth at Drag Strips...no need to go back with this Vette..that's a good place to "break'em". it loves the back roads at full boost a lot better!........
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Ca.
I have a 240ZV8 Scarab car, that I built for the Silverstate Race in Nevada years ago. Today just to see how it compared to the Vette, I took both out to a deserted road and ran them one at a time with a stop watch. I launched both cars at 40 mph in second gear. The 240Z was quicker. Sooooooo here comes the supercharger. I should have known, because when I ran the 240 at Thunder hill raceway, the stock Vettes could not stay up with it. It is lighter, lower, more aero, and more hp. It was in 1999 that I ran it against the Vettes, and was hoping the 2002 would stay with it. Our Vette was .6 seconds slower. Once I install the s/c things should change.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/2...240zv8.jpg?o=1
http://media.photobucket.com/image/2...240zv8.jpg?o=1
Last edited by mooney201; Feb 6, 2011 at 12:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Last year I did H/C after running for 9 years with the stock heads and cam.
As some others have mentioned it does depend somewhat how you drive it but most of it is in the tune.
The only problem I have under boost is keeping it in a straight line.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
From: COVINGTON LA
supercharger
I had a procharger in my 04 vert and totaled it, bought another 04 vert this time I'm going with ECS supercharger it has on cooler that will parallel the dewit radiator. The procharger has two small coolers on either side of the radiator.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
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From: San Diego
The next blower upgrade I'm going to go with, is a YSI. Just need to make sure everything else can handle the power it'll put out.