LT1 bottom end and supercharging
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 9
From: Wiesbaden
LT1 bottom end and supercharging
Hello all, looking for opinions and experience here: I am stationed and live in Germany and wanted to save my pennies to buy a positive displacement supercharger but I spoke with Geiger Cars in Munich (huge american dealership with all high end cars Chevy, Ford, Dodge) and they said they used to supercharge the LT1 and sell but wont do it anymore because 5 out of 7 blew up. The contributed it to the fact of higher speeds here for longer periods of time. They said in he States "no problem" since the speeds are lower and only occasionally do we get higher speeds (racetrack). What are your thoughts?
BTW - Yes when I drive I am normally between 100-160 mph on the autobahn (where allowed and safe etc. etc)
BTW - Yes when I drive I am normally between 100-160 mph on the autobahn (where allowed and safe etc. etc)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 339
You probably got good advice. Sustained high speed drives with a blown stock bottom end LT1 is gonna be risky. I would at least do pistons as a minimum. Rods and maybe even crank if you’re really gonna beat on it.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 237
Likes: 78
From: San Diego CA
I don't know how common that is with boosted LT1s but I've seen it on enough modern cars of all makes that it would be my first concern with boosting one of these engines.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 830
From: Brighton Mi
I see a lot of guys here running track days with boost on LT1's that would be much more intense than squirts in the autobahn.
@brunothemellow runs a procharger and he beats on his lt1 pretty hard from what he says
You can never be too sage, but like the OP says, bottom end is pricey, but so is blowing up the motor....
@brunothemellow runs a procharger and he beats on his lt1 pretty hard from what he says
You can never be too sage, but like the OP says, bottom end is pricey, but so is blowing up the motor....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
DOD = Displacement On Demand = 4 cylinder mode while cruising
You can eliminate it two ways , if you are cracking the motor open there is a kit you can buy and install to eliminate DOD and all its hardware or you can turn it off in the tune
A Diablo or a Range Device can turn it off in the tune easily
Dave
You can eliminate it two ways , if you are cracking the motor open there is a kit you can buy and install to eliminate DOD and all its hardware or you can turn it off in the tune
A Diablo or a Range Device can turn it off in the tune easily
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; Apr 22, 2019 at 08:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 9
From: Wiesbaden
DCasole thanks for the clarification, however please correct me if I am wrong; mine is a Z51 manual 7 speed and should only go to 4 cylinder mode when I select ECO. Which I never do here 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,728
From: Atlanta GA
Racer
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 73
From: Idaho
I see a lot of guys here running track days with boost on LT1's that would be much more intense than squirts in the autobahn.
@brunothemellow runs a procharger and he beats on his lt1 pretty hard from what he says
You can never be too sage, but like the OP says, bottom end is pricey, but so is blowing up the motor....
@brunothemellow runs a procharger and he beats on his lt1 pretty hard from what he says
You can never be too sage, but like the OP says, bottom end is pricey, but so is blowing up the motor....
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 657
From: DFW Texas
Hello all, looking for opinions and experience here: I am stationed and live in Germany and wanted to save my pennies to buy a positive displacement supercharger but I spoke with Geiger Cars in Munich (huge american dealership with all high end cars Chevy, Ford, Dodge) and they said they used to supercharge the LT1 and sell but wont do it anymore because 5 out of 7 blew up. The contributed it to the fact of higher speeds here for longer periods of time. They said in he States "no problem" since the speeds are lower and only occasionally do we get higher speeds (racetrack). What are your thoughts?
BTW - Yes when I drive I am normally between 100-160 mph on the autobahn (where allowed and safe etc. etc)
BTW - Yes when I drive I am normally between 100-160 mph on the autobahn (where allowed and safe etc. etc)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 849
Likes: 112
It is a different framework completely, when you are above 120mph and going between that and 150-160. Half the reason that some risky setups in the US work on these and other cars is that they sit in the garage not running. No risk there.
When you actually are going to use the car for more than 1/4 mile at a time, the requirements change.
When you actually are going to use the car for more than 1/4 mile at a time, the requirements change.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,965
Likes: 6,770
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
They know what of they speak. Do you think GM spent all the money necessary to upgrade the Z for blown duty because they had nothing better to do with their resources. Check a listing of all the differences between the two C engines. :yesnod If not yet convinced, then do the same with any company that sells comparable blown and normally aspirated engines:
Last edited by Avanti; Apr 24, 2019 at 07:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 9
From: Wiesbaden
Once again guys thanks for the advice:
Avanti I dont quite understand what your saying, but thanks anyway
I may go to Geiger to get an optimization tune now that I have installed the AFE Momentum intake.
Avanti I dont quite understand what your saying, but thanks anyway
I may go to Geiger to get an optimization tune now that I have installed the AFE Momentum intake.