I just sold my 96 Z28 w/ 20,000 miles on it. I installed an ATI Procharger w/ a 3 core air to air intercooler at 19,000 miles. I installed larger injectors and followed the directions for the blower install step by step. I adjusted the fuel pressure correctly and was very easy on the motor. One day it was about 80 degree's outside, I had about 19,700 miles on the car. I threw the throttle to the floor, fuel pressure increased with boost perfectly. It burned the tires from a 35MPH stomp for about 10 feet. When I came to a stop sign I noticed smoke was exiting my valve cover breather like a train. I broke a piston. Everyone I spoke to on camaroz28.com said blowers were fine on an LT1, especially at only 8psi and an upgraded 3 core intercooler. After my motor blew I posted my problems on the page and tons of people spoke up with the same issue. My thoughts are never to run a blower on a motor w/ more the 9.5:1 compression

 

sorry to hear that, man I would be pissed off @ the manufacturer (ATI) for not putting out a warning that this might happen. I know that equiping any car with aftermarket products like superchargers, that is no way that they can claim that nothing will happen, but if it was "tested" to be safe then there is a problem with the product & the manufacturer must somewhat responsible to uphold that. Hey got a way you can remedy that..... Buy a Lightning it comes with a blower from the manufacturer and has a warranty .

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99' SVT Black Bolt #3443
330.0 cid All Blown

Engine Mods
PSP Filter
PSP Custom Chip

Other Mods
Clear Corner Lenses
Painted Calipers

**Millions have seen Lightning
Few have ridden one**

 

Eeldreth,

Sorry to hear about your Z. But at the same token, you have saved my butt. If got a 96 LT1 and was considering the ATI kit, but was scared about the high compression. Anyhow, I've got some questions for you, please give me your email, I'm at Peteb3@home.com

 

ATI is notorious for pulling that same kind of BS. They have marine kits that are hand grenades waiting to happen yet they continue to proclaim you can add it to a totally stock motor and gain 10 mph. I know many (so many that they are considering a class action law suit) that have installed the ATI procharger in a marine application and broken their motor within 50 hrs of use. Usually it's top end problems but there have been piston, rod and crank problems as well.

There are reasons professionally built blower motors cost big bucks. You don't simply bolt on a blower and drive away. All of the reputable motor builders that make blower motors change the internals before the blower goes on. Sure, there are bolt on kits but if you really want a performer that will live you have to replace or certify the pistons, rods, crank, valves, valve springs and probably the cam. You need to make sure the valves are seated properly (a 3 angle valve job at the minimum) and you need to modify the ignition timing and fuel delivery. You can't do it for the $3000, regardless of what some of the kit makers say.

I know some of you out there have bolted on Vortec's and the like and will jump up and say I'm wrong. Talk to someone who makes a living building motors that win races and you'll change your tune.



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Mark Whatman
mwhatman@worldnet.att.net

• 99.5 White Lightning (stock)
• 99 Buell S3 Thunderbolt (not stock!)
• 98 F-150 Lariat (Flowmaster)
• 96 26' Velocity Offshore Race Boat (far from stock!!!)

 

Wow....I hate hearing this but it usually happens more often than you care to imagine! I have installed 5 Vortech units on LT-1 cars and they aren't the most fun. I don't like the fact that I have to tap the oil pan in front of the crank. I have seen others make some pretty serious mistakes including wiring the fuel pump backwards. All in all...sure the car will go much faster, but be prepared for some serious maintenance issues in the coming future. Mounting the LS-1 unit seems to be a real bitch. I have a friend who just can't wait for me to install it in his car when they are available......if they aren't already yet....

Oh well...I will keep my lovely stock setup!

Paul

[This message has been edited by PBGas (edited 12-31-1999).]

 

I hate to hear of someone losing there motor.
I am a Powerdyne dist. and have installed them on LT1 camaros, mustangs, 1st gen lIghtnings. I have also installed a ATI blower on a mustang, What a piece of ****, THIS IS THE NOISIEST BLOWER I HAVE EVER HEARD. I can not stand to drive this car, it is a pain to work on all the blower tubes and really does not put out that great6 of power. The blower pulls good for 2 to 3 runs then the car gets hot and loses lots of power. The LT1 has 10.25 compression stock and powerdyne uses 4.5lbs for a 85hp gain on a stock motor. They do sell a 6lb kit, but do not recommend it on a stock engine due to the pistons that the engine comes with. They are hyperutectic and can't hold the pressure. I would guess this was the failure of the LS1.


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99 Red lightning
97 Cobra convert
93 Black lightning
84 Gt-350

 

In another thread here I mentioned the difficulty of supercharging the high compression GM engines. I definitely stick by those thoughts.

My truck runs a stock short block, but everything else (custom cam, ported Twisted Wedge heads, computer tuning, fuel delivery, etc) is all optimized to support the supercharger. The truck has been making 400+ (currently around 500) rwhp for 2.5 years and 50K miles, gets 16 mpg with 4.10 gears, has every ounce of its payload and towing capacty intact, and starts and runs fine any weather.

I definitely agree that to extract real benefits from a power adder (of any kind) you have to optimize the system for the power adder. And I definitely don't like the idea of superchargers on high compression engines. Just my opinion, of course.

Later!
Jeff S.
SVT Lightning #74 in '95
11.92@115.2 on radials, driven daily
http://nloc.org