Supercharging advice - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MikeLA2011ss · 07-16-2011, 11:25 PM

What's up everyone, so I am going with a centrifigal supercharger set up, I keep hearing the weak point in an ls3 is the valves, what is the max psi or max hp an ls3 can run safely? I hear 12 psi and under all the time, I also hear no more then 650 hp and psi doesn't matter... I already have full bolt ons

Camarowguy · 07-17-2011, 12:12 AM

Weak part is the connecting rods and high compression with weak pistons.

calbert1999 · 07-17-2011, 12:29 AM

I have a ProCharger installed and although the engine IAT's and all were good, engine still cracked up inside this past week. Only, took 1 1/2 months. We used all brand new top of the line accessories in the heads. Medium size custom grind 3 pin. blower CAM and still kaboom.
Word of advice; Save yourself some serious stress and stay stock or forge the engine first, then get a supercharger or figure out a way to go no more than 5psi. of boost (seems pretty useless to go that low though).
I ran 7.5psi. at 6400rpm. which is very modest (rarely hit more than 4500rpm.), and as you know centris provide boost based on RPM's. Upon inspetion so far a bent valve, now need to tear down the entire engine to figure out what went wrong. Not good at all.
Everyone believed this LS3 engine could handle <10psi. yet lot's of stories of cracked up engines. The only guys that don't have busted engines are the ones that bored them to 416ci. or 427ci. and forged the internals.
I thought I could have things done well below the 10psi. and wait until next spring to have engine stroked and forged.

CC Performance · 07-17-2011, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camarowguy

Weak part is the connecting rods and high compression with weak pistons.

What he said and add in pump gas as well... Look around before you make a decision... First thing I would do is forge the bottom end, then save for a fuel system and humongous intercooler.. then get the s/c

compression, iat's, pump gas and lean conditions ... you should do reserch on all that

a meth kit will help

*DGthe3* · 07-18-2011, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeLA2011ss

What's up everyone, so I am going with a centrifigal supercharger set up, I keep hearing the weak point in an ls3 is the valves, what is the max psi or max hp an ls3 can run safely? I hear 12 psi and under all the time, I also hear no more then 650 hp and psi doesn't matter... I already have full bolt ons

Moved to V8 Forced Induction ... might get you a few more replies than Camaro5 Fest discussions

GMRULZ · 07-18-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calbert1999

I have a ProCharger installed and although the engine IAT's and all were good, engine still cracked up inside this past week. Only, took 1 1/2 months. .

If this was on the stock rotating assembly, you were pushing some serious horsepower through it. I`m not suprised something let go at that power level. Sorry it happened to you, definetly sucks.

To the OP stay around 550rwhp and you should be fine on the stock motor, but boost is a finicky animal, some stay together for a long time, others die early.

honeybucket99 · 07-18-2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calbert1999

I have a ProCharger installed and although the engine IAT's and all were good, engine still cracked up inside this past week. Only, took 1 1/2 months. We used all brand new top of the line accessories in the heads. Medium size custom grind 3 pin. blower CAM and still kaboom.
Word of advice; Save yourself some serious stress and stay stock or forge the engine first, then get a supercharger or figure out a way to go no more than 5psi. of boost (seems pretty useless to go that low though).
I ran 7.5psi. at 6400rpm. which is very modest (rarely hit more than 4500rpm.), and as you know centris provide boost based on RPM's. Upon inspetion so far a bent valve, now need to tear down the entire engine to figure out what went wrong. Not good at all.
Everyone believed this LS3 engine could handle <10psi. yet lot's of stories of cracked up engines. The only guys that don't have busted engines are the ones that bored them to 416ci. or 427ci. and forged the internals.
I thought I could have things done well below the 10psi. and wait until next spring to have engine stroked and forged.

Damn, I hate to hear that; silver lining is you get to rebuild now and make more power. I know those are hollow thoughts at present, but hope you get it put back together sooner rather than later.

JANNETTYRACING · 07-18-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeLA2011ss

What's up everyone, so I am going with a centrifigal supercharger set up, I keep hearing the weak point in an ls3 is the valves, what is the max psi or max hp an ls3 can run safely? I hear 12 psi and under all the time, I also hear no more then 650 hp and psi doesn't matter... I already have full bolt ons

Hello Mike, I have a ton of Experience with Centrifugal Supercharging using Vortech Superchargers since the early 90s.

We currently have an LS3 Stock Long block that puts down 800 RWHP on 100 octane unleaded race fuel, owned by Bigdog.

Vortech YSI supercharger
Vortech optional Cog drive
JRE Rough Idle blower cam
2 inch long tube headers
Magnaflow 3 inch exhaust.
1000 cc Injector Dynamics injectors
ADM dual fuel pump system
JRE custom Tuning.

Centrifugal superchargers are Easier on Parts as the boost is Linear with Engine RPM.

We have Hundreds of supercharged cars running around with 6-10 PSI for years and years drag racing and daily street driving.

Give me a call and I will Hook you up, I have a Polished V3 Vortech system in stock.

GQ4life has about 40,000 miles on his and He is NOT easy on it by any means

Ted.

gl2filmerguy · 07-18-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JANNETTYRACING

Hello Mike, I have a ton of Experience with Centrifugal Supercharging using Vortech Superchargers since the early 90s.

We currently have an LS3 Stock Long block that puts down 800 RWHP on 100 octane unleaded race fuel, owned by Bigdog.

Vortech YSI supercharger
Vortech optional Cog drive
JRE Rough Idle blower cam
2 inch long tube headers
Magnaflow 3 inch exhaust.
1000 cc Injector Dynamics injectors
ADM dual fuel pump system
JRE custom Tuning.

Centrifugal superchargers are Easier on Parts as the boost is Linear with Engine RPM.

We have Hundreds of supercharged cars running around with 6-10 PSI for years and years drag racing and daily street driving.

Give me a call and I will Hook you up, I have a Polished V3 Vortech system in stock.

GQ4life has about 40,000 miles on his and He is NOT easy on it by any means

Ted.

Everytime I read horror stories, I think " Theres no way I'm boosting my Camaro now." Then you reassure me again thats it's ok to do it, just do it right lol. Thanks Ted!

Scott@Bjorn3D · 07-18-2011, 09:34 AM

Yeah boosting is scaring me away from it. I may just go longtube headers and LS3 conversion with 3 bolt CAM and call it a day.

JANNETTYRACING · 07-18-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott@Bjorn3D

Yeah boosting is scaring me away from it. I may just go longtube headers and LS3 conversion with 3 bolt CAM and call it a day.

Don't Be Scared, when done Properly it is as Reliable as any other factory car on the road.

caper · 07-18-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JANNETTYRACING

Don't Be Scared, when done Properly it is as Reliable as any other factory car on the road.

when you say "properly", does that include being forged? or are you saying this based on a stock bottom end? i also am looking forward to a modest amout of boost at some point, so i am reading more and more about it. thanks.

JANNETTYRACING · 07-18-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caper

when you say "properly", does that include being forged? or are you saying this based on a stock bottom end? i also am looking forward to a modest amout of boost at some point, so i am reading more and more about it. thanks.

Not necessarily, it depends on power goals, in this Case NO.

Modest boost is 6-8 PSI which could net you 500-550 RWHP Easy and Reliably.

We built hundreds of Stock Bottom end Supercharger packages over the last 20 years.

Ted.

epstein · 07-18-2011, 12:50 PM

i ts picking a good combination and having realistic goals.... Then having Confidence in your tuner and his goal..... Some are in it for sheer Horsepower numbers others have your cars health in mind....and a few rare ones balance both... At the end of the day ....stick to what you said .... dont add anything else and Trust your tuner....You start tweaking without him ......and your begging for it..... This winter Ill be taking the next step and forging and Once again going to my tuner for his magic touch

Brian

07-16-2011, 11:25 PM	#1
MikeLA2011ss Drives: 2011 TT 416ci Camaro Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lafayette la Posts: 130 View My Garage	Supercharging advice What's up everyone, so I am going with a centrifigal supercharger set up, I keep hearing the weak point in an ls3 is the valves, what is the max psi or max hp an ls3 can run safely? I hear 12 psi and under all the time, I also hear no more then 650 hp and psi doesn't matter... I already have full bolt ons

07-17-2011, 12:12 AM	#2
Camarowguy Drives: 2011 imperial blue SS, black 92 RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denham Springs Posts: 2,580	Weak part is the connecting rods and high compression with weak pistons. __________________ 2011 imperial blue SS/RS a6 12.43@112 vararam, tune, jba cats, magnaflow axle back, self ported tb, under drive pulley, NO headers, Stock tires. 1.87 60ft. Stock tires. SOLD :( 2000 1500 silverado extra cab SOLD :( 2017 Silverado 5.3 all stock 2004 5.7 GTO 78mm turbo

07-17-2011, 12:29 AM	#3
calbert1999 Camaro SS Lover Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Black IOM Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario (Canada) Posts: 2,863	I have a ProCharger installed and although the engine IAT's and all were good, engine still cracked up inside this past week. Only, took 1 1/2 months. We used all brand new top of the line accessories in the heads. Medium size custom grind 3 pin. blower CAM and still kaboom. Word of advice; Save yourself some serious stress and stay stock or forge the engine first, then get a supercharger or figure out a way to go no more than 5psi. of boost (seems pretty useless to go that low though). I ran 7.5psi. at 6400rpm. which is very modest (rarely hit more than 4500rpm.), and as you know centris provide boost based on RPM's. Upon inspetion so far a bent valve, now need to tear down the entire engine to figure out what went wrong. Not good at all. Everyone believed this LS3 engine could handle <10psi. yet lot's of stories of cracked up engines. The only guys that don't have busted engines are the ones that bored them to 416ci. or 427ci. and forged the internals. I thought I could have things done well below the 10psi. and wait until next spring to have engine stroked and forged. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS, P1SC SuperCharged Livernois LSX429ci., 1 7/8" LT Headers, full 3" MBRP exhaust, SPI built/tuned, a total

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07-18-2011, 09:34 AM	#10
Scott@Bjorn3D Drives: Kami, 2013 2SS LS3 Luvin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eufaula, Alabama Posts: 6,427	Yeah boosting is scaring me away from it. I may just go longtube headers and LS3 conversion with 3 bolt CAM and call it a day.

07-18-2011, 12:50 PM	#14
epstein Account Suspended Drives: SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Transplanted from NYC..(ret. NYPD).Now in CT Posts: 904	i ts picking a good combination and having realistic goals.... Then having Confidence in your tuner and his goal..... Some are in it for sheer Horsepower numbers others have your cars health in mind....and a few rare ones balance both... At the end of the day ....stick to what you said .... dont add anything else and Trust your tuner....You start tweaking without him ......and your begging for it..... This winter Ill be taking the next step and forging and Once again going to my tuner for his magic touch Brian