I've read as much as I can stand to read on running meth on an N/A motor and now I think I'm ready to buy a kit.

My setup is a H/C LS2 with a slightly bumped CR. I also have a ported FAST/90 and a VR CAI, in case those alter the installation any. At first I plan on installing the kit as is and see how it runs. Then eventually I'll stop by one of the many great LS tuners in my area and possibly add some timing. I'm fairly competent so I was planning to do the install myself, unless I get a good deal on an install and tune from a local tuners.

As far as I can tell, there are 3 popular kits. Snow, AEM, and Alky. I would like some feedback from those of you who have installed and/or used any of these kits. (or others I may not be aware of)
So now that you guys have had the kits for awhile, which would you recommend? Any regrets or things you wish you had done differently? Any problems I should be aware of? I've read some stories where the controller had meth spraying continuously and hydrolocked the motor! However, I don't know if that was an install error or not.

I plan on using the WW tank, since it has a level sensor. Is there anything else I'll need? I'd like a complete kit and not have to run to the auto-parts/hardware store in the middle of the install. I'm looking for a clean hassle-free install, minus the usual knuckle-busting expletives.

Thanks

 

You need to tune from the start, or the car is going to run rich with the added meth.

I'm still of fan of using the window washer fluid tank to serve a dual purpose since vet owner really don't use it for window washer fluid anyways (this about the last time you had to fill the tank, if every, since we don't drive in the rain). Plus the fact that when the tank does run low, you going to get a the warning in the factory gauges (again, the one warning light that most vet owners have never seen, since they don't use the window washer fluid to get the tank low enough to see the light come on anyways).

As for NA, will gain you some HP since you can push timing (and the added steam), but is the light gains worth the cost of the kit and meth for you if the car is only going to be used mostly as a DD?

Blown, that is a whole different story since it's the insurance that you don't get detonation to destroy a motor, but in N/A, you just using it to push timing instead (read gains at full tilt boggy mostly).

Now food for thought,
since you are using a CAI to prevent timing lose from hot air forcing a timing retard, and the meth is used to prevent timing retard and push timing, how much power are you now preserving with the CAI system?

As for the pro's of meth, great way to keep the engine clean inside; hence steam cleaning it every time you run the motor.

 

Thanks for the info Dano.

Alky seems to be the most popular and complete kit according to the FI guys so I'll probably go with them.

Does anyone else want to chime in on their experiences with N/A meth? I thought there were more guys running meth N/A....?

 

Full blown kits pre-made are nice since you don't have to order from dozen vendors/make parts, but you can put a kit together for a lot cheaper.

Do a quick search on Meth DIY kits, and you so realize that is all comes down to how you are going to control the meth amounts.

Granted that you want it to ramp up the pump pressure at higher RPM's over just a constant spray flow across the board, but you want the system controller simple with the real control/safe guards in the tuning instead. That way, if the Meth system fails, the engine will not just continue to run like it's still working with the advance timing and cause damage.

On a NA motor, this is done with fail safe back to the IAT tables, since if the kit fails, then the IAT temps will rise, and the car will go back to pulling timing back to old OEM levels instead (making more power mostly with the meth on NA since you can push the timing farther advanced without detonation knock problems in motor. The steam gives you a little more power, and cleaning effect is just an added bonus.)

So bluntly, this all come back to the tuner, and see what system he is comfortable with tuning /has had the best results.

 

I have no desire to piece together a kit. I believe Alky's kit is complete and includes a controler.

I sent an email to ECS and they said they haven't done an N/A meth set up. They obviously have a lot of experience on FI so I figured they were the ones to go to. I'll have to give them a call and discuss it. Cartek hasn't responded to my email yet. Next I'm going to give Tune Time a call. I'd like an experienced tuner for this.

 

Shado, have you read this thread?

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lications.html

I've never tested it. At my track I can and do buy race gas if I want to bump timing a bit, I scan every run with hp tuners. It seemed to me the incremental gains for the meth would come at a pretty steep price for relatively marginal gains. I might be wrong, let us know how you make out.

 

I've read it several times and it's what prompted me to consider meth. I agree, I'm not sure it's worth it yet either. Which is why after almost 2 years of thinking about it, I still haven't done it. I need that extra push and it doesn't look like I'm getting it. There doesn't seem to be many people chiming in, which makes me think there aren't as many N/A builds running meth as I originally thought. Plus the fact that my preferred tuners aren't giving me a positive response in regards to it makes me think of scrapping the entire thing.

On a side note Mr. JoeG, when you add race gas at the track, are you always adjusting timing with it or do you just add it to your original tune first and see how it responds? Do you pick up anything without adjusting for the added octane?

 

I tuned my car on the dyno on a decent weather day. There are diminishing returns for adding more timing, at a point you don't add power with more timing. I get there and then back off a few. Sometimes, on really cool nights, I will get a hint of knock (I scan all runs). Not often as I don't run that much timing When I do I add a gallon of race fuel and it takes care of it.

If this was a great mod people would be jumping on it. The fact that you basically don't see it in practice is telling.

 

 

Having an N/A LS2 w/meth myself, I can tell you...it's worth it if the build was designed with it in mind.

When my meth is turned down it won't pull past 4k smoothly. When it's tuned on the money, hold on to your hats!!

It has made 538 to the tire in its current trim -
RPM H/C, LG Longtubes, FAST intake, NW 102, Airaid, RPM Vacuum setup, Meth inj.

 

Those are great numbers! How much did you pick up just from the meth?

If I may ask, in what way is you car built for meth? Adding meth is an afterthought for me on a 6+ year old build, so meth was never considered.

 

I believe compression is up to a point where the meth is needed to prevent detonation...but you would have to talk w/Charlie about that to be certain.

I believe in stock heads/cam the meth was worth 10-15 hp.
From what I understand - the meth makes for a cooler/more dense intake charge and ability to advance ignition - due to the octane boosting properties that methanol has.