Well, some of you have been following our nitrous installation this winter. The basics are we are have a 2004 Corvette coupe with bolt-ons and an IHRA Pure Stock legal stock lift/duration cam. Yank SS4000, 3.90, ARH 1 & 7/8", ... NA car made 372 to the rear wheels and has gone a best of 11.58 @ 114 with a 1.50 50'

We added a Nitrous Outlet wet plate kit along with a NANO system. NOS RPM WOT controller, LNC 2000, FPS, etc.

With 62/36 (150) it made 512 to the wheels however Stephen at East Texas Muscle Cars aborted the run because of a lean condition. We put more fuel in it by going up to a 39 fuel jet but it didn't help. Tried to go to 52/31 (100) and it made 492 (120 over NA) but was stilll lean. Long story short we figured out the stock fuel pump couldn't keep up and it wouldn't allow a steady AFR so we never made a complete full pull. I picked up a Kenne Bell BAP and will add that and go back.

Kudos to Stephen at East Texas Muscle Cars and Brandon at Nitrous Outlet. Stephen pulled plugs, cut them apart, sent pictures to Brandon, called Brandon on the phone ... These two worked on trying to tune this thing for almost 5 hours on and off when I know it was my fault for not having the fuel system up to par to be able to go 500+ to the wheels. Both of these gentlemen went above and beyond "normal" customer service and I sincerly appreiciate all of their efforts.

If you have any tuning needs go see Stephen in Longview, Texas and for your nitrous needs call Brandon. We'll add the BAP and head back over soon and I know we'll get it in the 520'ish range safely.

Scott

 

Looking good get that BAP installed asap
What are you expecting for ET with the nitrous

 

Hey.....word to the wise.

A larger pump will cost you less than a BAP w/hot wire kit. And its not a Band-Aid.

The BAP w/hot wire will only get you so far (if you ever do heads and large cam + the n2o...you will be back in the grey area), then you will need a pump anyway. Do it right the first time and it will ALWAYS be cheaper in the long run.

Example........drop in a Walbro E450.......and it is rated for 700~gas and 850~E85, cost less than $150 bucks.

 

It's been 11.58 NA in perfect air on a well prepped track. I hope that on a 150 shot it will go 10.4x-10.5x.

Scott

 

Good advice. Stephen had a KB BAP and hot wire kit at the shop that only had about 400 miles on it and he gave it to me for a fraction of what they cost new. I'll do the install. We are going to go H/C on the next round and will hope to be in the 600 rwhp range and "they" say the BAP will be good to then but I agree we'll be in the grey area as you say. At that time we'll add a better fuel pump and use the BAP only for nitrous hits. Does Walbro make a pump for the '04? My finding is that the last year of the C5 is a weird year and I haven't seen a fuel pump for our specific year. There are many issues that are unique to the '04 that don't exist on the '97-'03.

Scott

 

Scott,
You are going to end up with a pile of power.

What are your plans for controlling it?

Speaking from limited experience, nitrous is brutal on drivetrain parts. It's a step function in the torque curve.

Are you going to use some sort of progressive controller?

Ron

 

No Ron, no progressive controller. We plan to hit it with 150 right away. I think you're wise in saying we'll eventually have drivetrain issues. Our thought is this: we have a goal of running solidly in the 9s and still be street legal. The nitrous and H/C combination should get us comfortably there. If (ok, when) the transmission and/or differential goes we'll upgrade. We have no plans of selling the car as Wendy and I very much enjoy racing together (she actually drives the car) so when something breaks we'll just have to beef it up. Hopefully, eventually, we'll find all the weak links and address them. Also, the kit can spray 400 so if the shortblock goes we'll have to go iron block and forged rotating assembly there and spray more.

Scott

 

When I hit my nova with 150 out of the hole it went on the rear bumper. That cured me of my nitrous interest.
Fortunately, corvettes don't wheelie much.

Have fun

 

Thanks Ron. Sending you a PM regarding your bar.

Scott