Any downsides to procharging a Z51?
#1
I am so close to ordering a procharger that I figured I better ask about the downsides if any!
I will ask about tires in a new thread.
I've seen the whole roots vs centri convo, it seems like for autox, daily, and track days the centri makes a bit more sense to me. Keeping the boost low in low RPMs...
I will ask about tires in a new thread.
I've seen the whole roots vs centri convo, it seems like for autox, daily, and track days the centri makes a bit more sense to me. Keeping the boost low in low RPMs...
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 06-21-2018 at 02:19 PM. Reason: Merge Posts
#2
The primary downside is that your powertrain warranty is toast.
#3
#4
True, that. As long as you understand anything that might go wrong, however unlikely, will be a repair coming out of your pocket, I see no other major downsides.
#5
Not that nothing could ever happen of course.
#6
Le Mans Master
So I am sure I will get the bug again but I will have to think long and hard about it ...
Dave
#7
Just an FYI , I was close to doing the same thing ... except I was looking at the EForce .then I dropped a valve.....$14,000 in parts later all covered under warranty. If it happened a month later ......
So I am sure I will get the bug again but I will have to think long and hard about it ...
Dave
So I am sure I will get the bug again but I will have to think long and hard about it ...
Dave
Now you have me worried!
#8
Things to consider. Your adding lots of power and heat. That wears down engines quicker on a road race course. And your giving up your warranty as stated above. The quickest way to find a weak link is live at 4K to redline for 30 min at a time. I would stay NA or buy a 17+ Z06 if you want to go on a road race course with confidence. It’s nice breaking at the track and getting your car fixed. Sucks spending 10k to lose your warranty and then break something. For autocross and drag racing I would be a lot less nervous. But anything can happen once you start adding power.
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dparenti (07-22-2018)
#9
I would echo the comment of rb185afm, if you are serious about doing track days, I would stay away from aftermarket forced induction (and as I say this, I am currently installing an A&A kit on my Z51). When I drove the Z51 out at Ron Fellows, it was so close to overheating the whole time, it shut down the air conditioner the entire time I was driving it, if it had a supercharger on it, it would not have been able to handle the extra heat. I don't plan on tracking mine, so I am hopeful I won't run into cooling issues, but sustained track driving in any kind of warm weather would definitely take it over the edge. I would go for the 17+ redesigned Z06 if you want stupid power on the track, I personally was quite impressed with the stock Z51 on the track though.
Last edited by only9balls; 06-21-2018 at 05:25 PM.
#10
Le Mans Master
Not worth it for me to lose my warranty , I will drive the snot out of it stock and then when I get close to the end of my warranty is when I will start piling on the mods ....that's what I did with my C6 ...
Dave
Dave
#11
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Bonneville Salt Flats, 223mph Aug. '04
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Sorry, but I don't boost any "stock" n/a engine without adjusting the static compression ratio accordingly and going with all forged internals.
Have others done differently and survived? Of course. But, you asked... All the best.
Have others done differently and survived? Of course. But, you asked... All the best.
#12
#13
Le Mans Master
you can blow anything up if you push it to hard...
Dave
#14
OP here.....annnnnddddddd
i got one!
Here's hoping for the best!
As for track, I live in MN so the temps are not even close to Ron Fellows on vegas. I will keep the charger at 7psi which should be good enough.
I can always take it off if it causes problems!
i got one!
Here's hoping for the best!
As for track, I live in MN so the temps are not even close to Ron Fellows on vegas. I will keep the charger at 7psi which should be good enough.
I can always take it off if it causes problems!
#15
Absolutely no downside to it.
#16
Procharger makes many levels of boost. I blew my Firebird Formula engine by running a Vortech supercharger making 6 pounds of boost. So often if you are running too much boost you risk blowing the engine unless you get it rebuilt which can both be expensive but perhaps also hard to find a shop to reliably tear down your engine and rebuild it. I can remember too reading a magazine where another guy, with a stock Firebird engine was running 6 pounds of boost. I knew it was a time bomb but the article made you think if the guy was running that much boost (really a lot) you could too!!! Of course the fuel you are using is important such as E85 as opposed to premium gas.
I would say the best thing to do would be to take your car to a reliable shop where they know how much boost your engine can take.
I would say the best thing to do would be to take your car to a reliable shop where they know how much boost your engine can take.
#17
Yeah I will be around 550 which is nothing close to what this thing can take on stock internals
#18
Le Mans Master
#19
Last edited by ptalar; 06-21-2018 at 11:38 PM.
#20
If you keep it to 550 you will probably be ok. Anymore and you risk damaging engine. There is a thread discussing this and also illustrating the differences between the LT1 and LT4 engines. There is a reason the LT4 has different metallurgy and stronger parts to withstand the extra 190 hp. https://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...harger-my.html