Hey everyone, I've been doing some reading around the subforum and trying to consolidate all the stuff that I've found. So here's the situation...

I have a GT350 right now and I love the car but I'm kinda used to that power range so I'm seriously considering maybe picking up a used C7 Z51 and throwing a Procharger on it. I'm just craving power. So my questions are in terms of durability and longevity at reasonable boost levels. I don't need an all out monster but stepping up the ladder. A safe jack of all trades in terms of streetability and track. Don't need to be the fastest kid on the block, just the one having the most fun. So with all that said, it seems like:

1. We're not 100% what the long term effects of boost will be on the direct injection system. Also it seems like the DI system has been kinda hit or miss...?

2. About 600 RWHP seems to be pretty safe with a good tune and not overly aggressive timing before having to crack open the engine for fully forged pistons. Although I think I saw a thread where someone mentioned that a tuning shop has over 100,000 miles on a stock longblock running like 11lbs of boost?

3. Prochargers are definitely cheaper than Mustang kits. Yeesh...

4. Spark plug thoughts?

5. Any fuel system issues such as pumps going out?

6. Wanting to keep things streetable, how are factory cats holding up to the extra oomph?


Fire away, guys. Thanks!

 

Why procharger? I'd consider ECS and a&a'a kits as well if you're going centri.

It's been done for years now. 600rwhp is safe. Use a good tuner with experience with FI DI engines and it'll be fine.

 

We love the Procharger kits. IMO best kit on the market.

 

No issues with 600whp... Honestly if that's your goal I'd get a takeoff Z06 blower. PD blowers are just more fun on the street for the power levels youre looking at. You can get an entire setup for under $3K and enjoy.

 

It dramatically reduces the longevity of the rear tires.

 

Aren't ECS kits Paxtons rebranded?

 

Well played.

 

I wouldn't call it "rebranded" necessarily. The head unit is made by Paxton and the brackets, hoses, and the rest of the kit put together by ECS.

Similarly, A&A uses Vortech head units, Procharger uses ATI head units (though I believe ATI owns ProCharger), and Magnacharger and Edelbrock use TVS rotors.

 

No. Head unit is from Paxton but everything else is from ECS.

 

Not quite, there are some pieces that aren't made by ECS; for instance, the blow-off-valve is made by TialQ. Procharger uses a procharger bypass valve (less noise), or you can opt for the Big Red BOV for that PSSSSHHHHHH sound. A&A lets you choose between a quiet bypass valve and a loud blow-off valve.

A&A kit uses a proper replacement harmonic balancer/dampener (made by Innovators West) while ECS uses a bolt-on pulley which simply clamps to your stock balancer.

ECS's kit adds plastic air dams to the bottom of the car to direct air up and into the intercooler. Procharger includes a new bottom radiator plastic shield with air dams on it. A&A's kit, however, uses an air dam welded to the top of their intercooler instead of adding scrape-ables to the bottom of our already low car, like ProCharger and ECS kits.

Procharger's kit doesn't require manhandling the ABS module like A&A and ECS - they've designed their bracket in such a way that the head unit is mounted without interfering with the stock location of the ABS module, so no bending of the lines is required. The ProCharger kit also comes with a canned tune to help save money. Procharger offers two intercooler configurations: vertical or horizontal.

 

Sounds like each has some strengths and weaknesses. I didn't think about the balancer either. No issues?

 

We offer different BOV options for loud or quieter, we also have the balancer option, it's just not necessary for most builds. It's easier for the installer, especially the DIY'r, and there have been zero failures to date that I am aware of.
The air dam that we add is a factory air dam from GM, same height as OEM.

 

I believe I am 15K miles on my ECS kit.

Tune is the important part. 640rwhp with meth/ECS, no headers. Daily driver in the warmer months and I drive it pretty aggressively.

 

Go for the 3 mod combo. Blower, headers, meth injection. Will net you 700rwhp. 10psi all day with no issues here. If you do this combo, keeping the cats is not a good idea as with meth you risk melting the cats and causing the motor to go boom. Ditch the cats and your GTG.

 

I would love to do headers, it's definitely my favorite mod do to but inspection is starting to become a hassle for me in my area. How would the factory cats hold up to maybe 8lbs on a sensible tune that's not pushing the timing too hard?

I know that the current Mustang cats hold up pretty well so long as you don't go buck wild on the timing but Ford uses 1 big ol' honkin' cat per bank rather than using two separate substrate containers.

 

If you cant ditch the cats due to inspection, then you really shouldn't do meth. That being said, your best bet is to do an A&A entry level kit with typical timing adjustments for nkn-meth setups.

 

BooSSted,

Merry Christmas! Can you supply me with where I can purchase the entire Z06 takeoff kit. Sounds like a good deal

Thanks

 

In my opinion if ur worried about long term longevity and reliability then u shouldn't even be adding anything to ur car ... and if u only lookin at 600whp there is plenty of stock reliable z06s under warranty for same price it would prolly cost u to start modding the z51.... I'm at 700whp and I beat on it non stop and haven't had any mechanical issues.... just a couple things coming loose and needing adjusting but overall it's pretty solid

 

Merry Christmas man, you can check the classified section here to find some take offs. You'll need some adapter plates, and a quality speed shop should be able to hook it all up.