Supercharging "pulling the trigger"

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Hey guys...so I am finally going to pull the trigger so to speak and I have been speaking with Chris at ECS about their Novi 1500 S/C package. I also want to get some LT headers with it...so over all the car will have full Borla exhaust and AR Lt's with the S/C from ECS. I don't want meth or anything crazy just some more getty-up. This being my daily driver I am just wondering how the reliability is with the forced induction...either way I am doing it...I just want to know if their is anything up front I should do to give it a long healthy life? And I don't want to have to upgrade suspension and things...Active duty Navy with three kiddos so budget is important lol. Is this a practical setup? Thank you for your time. Oh btw car has 64k miles on it all fluids have been changed and maintenance kept up very well.

[Unreal]

Thank you for your service.

While that combo has been proven to be reliable, shit happens. Even stock motors blow up. If money really is tight, I would strongly consider something else. Clutch, axles, diffs, etc can all have issues as you start to add power, and can be expensive to fix.

ECS/LT is a great combo, but when people are talking about kids and a budget, it makes me cringe to think of what can happen if it pops. It shouldn't, but no one should be modding unless they are ready to replace a motor at any given time.

[failshift]

*raises hand*

Shit happens. I saved up. Working 80-90hrs a week. Paid for my blower cash. All my new gauges. Intake. Everything cash. Then 600mi after install needed a new engine.

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Wow that is scary! Don't get me wrong I have enough to buy a new engine if this happen...been saving the pennies right for a while now but I can say this has been a dream of mine my whole life and I do know it is costly, but is it more of a money pit than it is worth? Or can I s/c with good success and longevity? That is one of the main reasons I contacted ECS for the right professional expertise to do the job. I want to eventually pass this car on to my son. And thank you for your support. I serve willingly and happily because of my family and their support!

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Originally Posted by failshift

*raises hand*

Shit happens. I saved up. Working 80-90hrs a week. Paid for my blower cash. All my new gauges. Intake. Everything cash. Then 600mi after install needed a new engine.

Might I ask what happened? Sorry that happened to you.

[failshift]

Originally Posted by Navy Chief MoonsSS

Might I ask what happened? Sorry that happened to you.

Freak circumstance. Bent a connecting rod in half at 565rwhp only 8 psi

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Originally Posted by failshift

Freak circumstance. Bent a connecting rod in half at 565rwhp only 8 psi

Ouch! And that required a whole new engine? I am not the smartest when it comes to this stuff I was hoping maybe something like 550-600 myself and also hoping to keep boost low around 5-6 in order to add her but not strain the engine. Should I upgrade the rods then to make this safer? And btw I really respect the fact that you worked long hard hours in order to realize your goal/dream and again I am sorry the freakish things happened. I thank you for your responses and hopefully I can get my dream car with longevity and reliability *very humble face*

[Gearheaded]

Originally Posted by Navy Chief MoonsSS

Ouch! And that required a whole new engine? I am not the smartest when it comes to this stuff I was hoping maybe something like 550-600 myself and also hoping to keep boost low around 5-6 in order to add her but not strain the engine. Should I upgrade the rods then to make this safer? And btw I really respect the fact that you worked long hard hours in order to realize your goal/dream and again I am sorry the freakish things happened. I thank you for your responses and hopefully I can get my dream car with longevity and reliability *very humble face*

Sometimes it requires a new engine, sometimes they can machine the engine and save it, everything is circumstantial.

Honestly have you thought about just a cam? You make between 460-500 depending on the cam and it definitely adds some pickup. It'll save you money as well. Obviously it's not sub 600rwhp, but it is a huge pickup for less than 3k usually.

Just a thought.

Don't get me wrong, I'll all for FI. I'll be either adding a blower to my car or buying a ZL1 here in the near future, I haven't decided yet, but I'll definitely be doing FI. Just a temporary thought for you until things get a little less tight or you pick up a beater.

[avido]

Originally Posted by Navy Chief MoonsSS

Ouch! And that required a whole new engine? I am not the smartest when it comes to this stuff I was hoping maybe something like 550-600 myself and also hoping to keep boost low around 5-6 in order to add her but not strain the engine. Should I upgrade the rods then to make this safer? And btw I really respect the fact that you worked long hard hours in order to realize your goal/dream and again I am sorry the freakish things happened. I thank you for your responses and hopefully I can get my dream car with longevity and reliability *very humble face*

don't be so scared. it's plenty of people with more then 10 psi on stock bottom end without problem. there is someone who has 19psi from the lsa conversion without problem. boost doesen't always mean blow the engine

[Todd808]

I have a magnuson, 6 psi boost. Long tubes. 30,000 miles. Although I just bought the car, I know the previous owner. And the car. The supercharger has been on for 15,000 flawless miles already. 100's of 1/4 passes on drag radials and many high speed runs. This car could be a daily driver and was, but now it's a weekend warrior. Oops, I forgot though. The stock clutch did not last long. Got a monster stage 3 in there now j believe. Have to check the receipts to verify.
Supercharging power curves are awesome !!

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Thanks for the responses...and yes I have thought of just the cam and in order to do that right...upgrade the heads and springs and alp that stuff is still around 5k $...so nother saving money on that...it is in most people's thought that it is under 3k and I guess it "could" be but I don't want it to bite the dust because of a cam without the right stuff either. And that's what I am hoping as far as daily driver...I have 3 vehicles so if I need to I CAN keep the miles off of the Camaro...but lol where's the fun in that? I bought the monster in order to have fun and show it off...from my roots I don't want problems hince why I am avoiding meth and all of the above 650 rwhp world. I just want a reliable few pounds of boost...I mean factory cars come wIth this now a days...thank you again for your opinions and thoughts.

[Navy Chief MoonsSS]

Originally Posted by Todd808

I have a magnuson, 6 psi boost. Long tubes. 30,000 miles. Although I just bought the car, I know the previous owner. And the car. The supercharger has been on for 15,000 flawless miles already. 100's of 1/4 passes on drag radials and many high speed runs. This car could be a daily driver and was, but now it's a weekend warrior. Oops, I forgot though. The stock clutch did not last long. Got a monster stage 3 in there now j believe. Have to check the receipts to verify.
Supercharging power curves are awesome !!

Thank you lol and quick question ...is that if you are beating on the clutch? I am not planning on getting forced induction and becoming"Rambo" or anything lol just more power without the 1/4 or pushing it at the line even...I have never been a fan of 0-anything because that hurts the car...I am more of a fan of pulls like 50-100 (also hurts the car) but less.

[failshift]

Originally Posted by Navy Chief MoonsSS

Ouch! And that required a whole new engine? I am not the smartest when it comes to this stuff I was hoping maybe something like 550-600 myself and also hoping to keep boost low around 5-6 in order to add her but not strain the engine. Should I upgrade the rods then to make this safer? And btw I really respect the fact that you worked long hard hours in order to realize your goal/dream and again I am sorry the freakish things happened. I thank you for your responses and hopefully I can get my dream car with longevity and reliability *very humble face*

It was cheaper for me to buy a LSX crate engine than it was to have mine fixed properly (stroker) because doing the stroker. I would've ended up needing a few more things for the power I would've ended up at.

[Unreal]

Start from the ground up. Tires, wheels, suspension, bushings, etc. That will easily eat your $5k budget up. You will want/need all that stuff anyways when you add power.