Neither is necessarily needed per se... however, the catch can is highly recommended on any C7, whether they are forced inducted or naturally aspirated. The catch can just has to do with catching the oil vapors passed through the PCV system to keep them from depositing on top of the valves and eventually "coking" there, causing loss in performance and longevity of the motor (this is because the car is a direct injection, all DI cars really should use a style of catch can). If you are going to boost the car though, most people feel the standard catch can systems won't properly evacuate the pressure from the boost and therefor feel you should have a breather system. IMO...FSP has the only system I would recommend for boosted applications. It seems to have the best of both worlds, being a catch can and a breather in one set up, and at a decent price!

Now the meth is a different story. If you install just the supercharger, and maybe even headers, you would still be perfectly safe running the car without meth so long as the car is tuned mildly and for 91 octane. Just make sure you always get good gas and at least 91 octane. Now if you really want to get the full potential of the SC system, then you would def want to use meth so that you could push the tune a little more to account for the added octane of the meth, adding more timing and netting more horsepower. Meth can also be a great fail safe, even if you don't want to lean on it. For my instance, I have 93 octane pretty readily available where I live. I will probably have the car tuned aggressively for 93 octane, but will have the meth there just in case I ever get bad gas or if I get in a situation where maybe only 91 octane is available. Plus the meth helps to keep the IAT's down and helps to keep the motor clean inside. So is meth NEEDED...no, but for the cost of a meth kit (install will probably be more than the kit itself), it is a great added safety...so long as you know how to keep up with it and keep meth in the system! I also suggest that if you get meth, have them also install the IAT breakout so that if something ever happens to the system or you run out of meth, the car will fall flat on its face and go in limp mode, rather than allowing the car to continue running strong and end up with detonation.

 

At what rpm do the centrifugal style blowers start pushing noticeable boost?

 

Those were the thoughts I eventually came to regarding the catch can/breather and the meth. Not that much extra $, and better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Just in case.

Instead of a limp mode, would it be possible to just cut it back some so it's a normal driver instead of limping home? Depends on the tune?

 

Very possible. Just depends on how your tuner wants to do that, and how much time they want to take to make that happen. But very doable. When you get creative the factory ECU can do some neat things.

 

So I am having Jordan at JDP order and install the ECS supercharger, American Racing headers, methanol, and the catch can/breather set up

Lots of reading and asking questions to get me to this point, but I think this will accomplish what I'm looking for out of my Corvette.

I'll let you know how it goes when I get all done (hope to have parts in and shop openings before Thanksgiving).

Thanks to everyone for all your opinions expressed and knowledge shared. I feel like I've learned a lot on here!

 

Which breather tank did you decide on?

 

fsp

 

You've made the right choice on the meth and breather.. you won't regret it!

 

From what I've determined...it sounds like it comes on around 2800-3000rpms. Before that, the car just acts like it is still stock. Which to me sounds great for good street manners!

 

You'll need to let me take a ride in it when it's done!

 

My setup feels totally like stock when just driving normal. The sound and feel are very tame. I am using a stock exhaust setup. Manners are extremely docile unless you get your foot in it. At around 2400 and up it starts boosting and the meth arms at 4 to 5 grand and takes off. Great feel and a sleeper. I am so happy with the ECS supercharger and meth kit. Sorry I built my N.A. Camaro which I still own, if I had to do it all over again I would just throw a S/C in it.

 

Deal!

 

This is what I'm hoping for. Cautiously optimistic it turns out similar.

 

I believe this is how most of them act with this setup. It's how mine acts..

 

Wouldn't E-85 cool the engine down?

 

It happens very late in the intake track, but yes.

The issue with E85 in the C7 is the limitations of the fuel system.

 

Correct. E-85 is consumed much quicker than gasoline so it requires the fuel system to be able to flow about two to three times the amount it currently flows and the C7 fuel system can't handle that in its stock form.

 

I see about 20-35% depending on the car/cam/boost level.