Some forum members have cautioned me to beware the strain that a ProCharger could place on a C6 such as a blown out differential, damaged transmission, ruined pistons, etc. It seems to me that keeping the original tires will not allow so much of the added power to put too much strain on the drivetrain as to cause damage, and that normal street driving is not likely to cause internal engine damage. But that begs the question: have any ProCharger owners who do not track their cars have any experience or knowledge of mechanical failures of an expensive nature caused by (or suspected to be caused by) the ProChargers that weren't covered by GM warranty?

So far, every ProCharger owner has said nothing but high praises about their experience with the blower and the great performance gains they've gotten, but none has said anything about damage to the car due to the added HP. Please weigh-in on this topic to help me decide if ProCharging is the way I should go or not.

 

zero issues here... unless you include Tire damage
Jeremy

 

Main engine issues with any forced induction system is the risk of a blown head gasket or damaged ring lands from the increased combustion pressures and possible detonation. If you keep the boost low, should be no problems.

 

 

What would be a safe PSI to boost it to? And what sort of HP gain could I expect (if you know) from that amount of boost?

 

Here you go -- a safe, honest, stock motor by ECS: link

Beware, though, as the temptation to seek more power will be there.

 

Just out of curiosity, these people warning you of SC problems...do any of them have any experience with them? You know you can destroy a differential, clutch or transmission in a stock C6 if that is your intention. As far as blowing a head gasket, if you plan on running that much boost you will not have stock internals.

 

C6Jeff -

Sorry for opening up a can of worms, but the more advice and info you get, the better.

Howard

 

You will be fine at any power level as long as you get into gear calmly. If you do 4k rpm clutch drops then you will have problems with sticky tires. Less issues are reported by owners of autos. Do the mod.

 

Having an A6 precludes me from any sort of clutch drops. I'm really starting to believe that a responsible driver can enjoy the extra oomph of a ProCharger w/o necessarily doing his car any harm.

 

The LS2 is designed and built to sustain 400HP/400TQ for the 3/36 warranty period + ??% overbuilt.

Chevy engineers went to the LS6 for a reliable 505HP instead of building the internals of the LS2, shouldn't that tell us something? Keep in mind that the trans. and diff. original designs ('97?) were for a 350HP/350TQ and haven't had any major design changes since.

 

I havent done a blower but I have gone turbo, a few strokers, head/cam etc and as I chime in here Im talking about adding power generically, not the procharger specifically. In general as long as your on stock tires and dont drive abusively things tend to hold up. Your tires will be your "fuse" so to speak. There is a catch or two here though. Your stock driveline was designed to be just strong enough to hold the stock power. Things like your clutch will have a shorter lifespan. How much shorter depends on how much power and again your driving style. Also there are times where you will just hook better than normal. All it takes is one good hook to find your weakest link. Bone stock C6s have popped their diffs out on the strip. In some cases wheelhop was a factor but in others, as verified by witnesses, there was no wheelhop. At any rate there is no denying that more power is going to make this easier to do. On the engine end C5s have been holding up nicely under low boost and I dont see any reason (on paper) why the C6 would not have a similar longer term outlook. Most of the venders seem to be running a little less boost and more conservative tunes to make up for the increased compression. The proofs in the pudding and will have to wait a while before we have high milage FI C6s to really be able to answer the engine longevity question. Hopefully I havent scared you off of the mod but my experience tells me that adding significant power is going to cost money somewhere in between the pavement and the engine. Hopefully dimished tire life for the most part combined with a moderate reduction in the lifespan of some components. IMO the way to mod is to have a goal, figure out how you want to get there, then determine what is not going to hold up based on your usage. Street driving on stock type tires is not the same as strip usage with DRs. A little research will tell you what parts are not going to make it and its cheaper to change em up front then after you break them because often times the broken part creates more damage your going to have to fix. You then build it backwards. From the wheels to the engine. Its not a popular approach on this forum but IMO its how you get there with the least frustration and lowest costs over the long haul.

 

Where is the best place to buy a pro-charger?

 

I understand what you are saying, but look at the c4 that was a 350 making 225-250hp when it could easily handle double that amount. These engineers are forced to build something VERY conservative because of EPA, Insurance, etc... Even the 505hp Z06 is not near the potential of that engine, 6 bolt mains, forged rods and pistons, that motor could easily handle 800hp. I have done tons of research on these pro charger systems and I have yet to here one person having any problems with this LS2 motor, and I know guys running 10-11 psi.

 

I can't wait to buy one!

 

Yes, the motor can handle it. What about the clutch / auto tranny, differential, halfshafts, cooling system? What about the accessories if you raise the rev limiter by 500 rpm? Nothing wrong with doing serious mods. As we say in project management: just be sure you include everything in the scope of work and budget forecast before you secure funding.

 

I have an ATI Procharger on my 05 Z51. No problems. I did put a bracket that reduces stress between the trans and differential. If you don't turn up the boost too much you shouldn't have any problems. The block and heads will handle it. If you turn up the boost too much, you can do piston damage. Clutch will eventually wear out from hard launches but you could have that problem with any mods. One thing I suggest is, if you add a procharger, add a fuel boost system. It will ensure you will not run lean. That could cause internal problems. I run a boost guage and fuel presure guage.

 

Summary: ProCharging is not likely to damage my car if I don't use too high a boost, don't strain the drivetrain by using real grippy tires and driving irresponsibly, and don't track the car. I can enjoy the extra oomph whenever road conditions permit and get the satisfaction of knowing I have a bad-*** car that few others can keep up with, all for under $10K.

If only Chevrolet would listen and offer us a supercharger option, they'd sell a ton of them!