Difficulty level for installing AA kit?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
Difficulty level for installing AA kit?
I am most likely going to get a AA kit for my 08 c6 and wanted to hear the opinions of people who have installed their own kit by themselves. I am pretty knowledgable about cars and work on all my toys. I have a lot of tools in my garage. So how difficult is the entire install from 1-10? How long did it take? Did u run into any snags? Can you drive your car once finished to the runner or does the car not run right? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
first time working on a vette, it took me two days to install an A&A kit.
since then ive removed it then added a cam then reinstalled, which took me two days as well.
and about to switch cams again and remove the a&a to go TT.
I feel if i had to do just an install now, i could do it in a day, no prob
-Carl
since then ive removed it then added a cam then reinstalled, which took me two days as well.
and about to switch cams again and remove the a&a to go TT.
I feel if i had to do just an install now, i could do it in a day, no prob
-Carl
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
Pinning the crank is the harddest part. You have to remove a bunch of car bits, use a 6 ft breaker bar, drill a hole into tour crankshaft, then put it back together. It's not hard, but there are a lot of things that have to be removed, minister with first.
For my next SC I would gladly pay 400 to 550 for some one to do it for me. All the other bits are fun. It's the crank pinning that I dred tho.
My 2 cts
Chad
For my next SC I would gladly pay 400 to 550 for some one to do it for me. All the other bits are fun. It's the crank pinning that I dred tho.
My 2 cts
Chad
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,502
Likes: 82
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,502
Likes: 82
Pinning the crank is the harddest part. You have to remove a bunch of car bits, use a 6 ft breaker bar, drill a hole into tour crankshaft, then put it back together. It's not hard, but there are a lot of things that have to be removed, minister with first.
For my next SC I would gladly pay 400 to 550 for some one to do it for me. All the other bits are fun. It's the crank pinning that I dred tho.
My 2 cts
Chad
For my next SC I would gladly pay 400 to 550 for some one to do it for me. All the other bits are fun. It's the crank pinning that I dred tho.
My 2 cts
Chad
Drop the cradle...lift the engine...pin the crank in under an hour
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,502
Likes: 82
The car will run but will be extremely rich. Your ECU will think it still has the stock injectors and will fuel the car based on stock injectors and will run like crap. If you have to drive it to the tuner you are better off to leave the stock injectors in, drive it easy and swap the injectors out when you get to the tuner.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
The car will run but will be extremely rich. Your ECU will think it still has the stock injectors and will fuel the car based on stock injectors and will run like crap. If you have to drive it to the tuner you are better off to leave the stock injectors in, drive it easy and swap the injectors out when you get to the tuner.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
Thanks guys for all the help. Honestly if I have the know-how to do it, i'd rather do it myself. To me, nobody cares as much about my car as me and won't be as careful as I am about everything. Also to me $500 is a lot of money for something I could have done myself with patience.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
Thanks guys for all the help. Honestly if I have the know-how to do it, i'd rather do it myself. To me, nobody cares as much about my car as me and won't be as careful as I am about everything. Also to me $500 is a lot of money for something I could have done myself with patience.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
I'm in the "self contained" camp. I had an engine let go and a spun berring created a lot of metal flakes. The added $1200 t-trim repair bill was mor salt on an open wound engine repair bill that was not fun.
If I did it again I woul simply buy spare SC oil and take the extra 10 min during the engine oil changes to do it.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 581
Likes: 10
From: NJ
Thanks guys for all the help. Honestly if I have the know-how to do it, i'd rather do it myself. To me, nobody cares as much about my car as me and won't be as careful as I am about everything. Also to me $500 is a lot of money for something I could have done myself with patience.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
Also what do you guys think about the procharger D1? Since it is self contained I dont have to worry about oil pressure to the supercharger and will save me some time on the install because I dont have to pin the crank. I wanted an AA kit but if I could get another used cheaper kit that would be better.
As for used, remember there is always a chance it was beat to sh*t and you will have problems. If you can, buy a new blower so you are at peace.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
I don't actually know any prices its just 71'AirStrike said he'd pay someone $500 to do it for him next time and I assumed. For $1500-2000 I would gladly do it myself. Thats way to much money on installation.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
Link to A&A instructions... http://www.aacorvette.com/pdf/aa_c6_instructions.pdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 4
From: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
I love working on my car but I wouldn't feel comfortable trying something like that myself. I wish I had the know how to tackle the install. I agree that $2k is a lot for an install but I would think most shops ask for 2 or 3 days for an install. If I could install it myself I would probably buy one of the kits and do it. Oh well I will probably go FI at somepoint and have ECS do it all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,389
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
The D1 procharger is a bad *** piece of equipment and will support more than necessary levels of power if you give it the resources to do so. That being said, even if not recommended, you should pin the crank on a SC install. That's just my .02.
good luck w/ it all
good luck w/ it all
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
Thanks, I'm really excited about it.Depending on how much I sell my dirtbike for, I may go new or used. Hopefully I can find a good used D1 and buy all the other parts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
I love working on my car but I wouldn't feel comfortable trying something like that myself. I wish I had the know how to tackle the install. I agree that $2k is a lot for an install but I would think most shops ask for 2 or 3 days for an install. If I could install it myself I would probably buy one of the kits and do it. Oh well I will probably go FI at somepoint and have ECS do it all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 23
From: Santa Barbara CA
Get a self-contained Vortech blower (V3) if you buy an A&A kit. It is something like a $150-200 upgrade usually. Reduces install time and isolates the engine oil from the blower, which is huge to me and well worth the cash.
Pinning the crank itself is easy. It's taking out the steering rack that takes the time. Mine was a lot tighter thanks to my Z51 package and the power steering lines that snake around the rack. But it really is just a R&R and isn't hard if you can turn a wrench. FWIW, I've heard in more than one place that you can get the balancer bolt off without removing the rack.
It took me a lot longer than 2 days to install mine, but I was super meticulous with everything and pretty much worked only on the weekends in 4-5 hour sessions. But I also replaced the radiator, installed a meth kit and ran into a few problems. I wouldn't be scared to do it, though. Like you said, nobody cares about your car as much as you do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Gboro/H-point/Reidsville NC
I think your over your head! If you haven't studied enough to know that a blower install is 12-1800 you have no clue. And the other coment you made about NOT to pin the crankshaft. Shows you havent done your homework. You cant install a blower and NOT pin the crank.The TQ from the blower will spin that damper clean off.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Miami Florida
I think your over your head! If you haven't studied enough to know that a blower install is 12-1800 you have no clue. And the other coment you made about NOT to pin the crankshaft. Shows you havent done your homework. You cant install a blower and NOT pin the crank.The TQ from the blower will spin that damper clean off.