Musing in boost land
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: South of the pier, Huntington Beach, CA
Musing in boost land
I've been stuck in the low 500 rwhp range for the year and was wondering if the Vortech intercooler might have flow and thus horsepower limits. It is only 2-1/2 inches in and out with a 36 square inch core.
I recently spoke with Gerhard Schruf at Bell Intercoolers. He assured me the only thing I will see as far as limits is a temperature rise when the impeller rpm go off the top of the compressor map. He felt the 2-1/2 inch diameter unit with a 36 square inch core could easily flow enough for 600 horsepower and beyond.
Other thoughts:
I've been fighting a boost problem since last summer and decided I needed to get serious and work through it.
Boost leaks were all over and I suggest everyone make a boost leak detector or use a shop that uses one.
After repairing the leaks by welding a bead on the intercooler intake, grinding the supercharger slightly for hose clamp clearance, replacing my stupid T-bar hose clamps that were designed wrong, and closing the boost leaking idle air bypass on the BDL throttle body the car was still dropping boost in the low 8000 rpm range.
A little research revealed (unconfirmed) the Vortech Race blow off valve was designed to release somewhere above 17 psi*. Mine was dropping off between 8000 and 8800 pretty consistantly. That is somewhere in the 17 to 19 psi range. The guys at Vortech also said the smaller blow off valve was not large enough for the boost I was seeing so I changed it out. Installed a tight fitting Vortech Mondo BOV with greater capacity. It also makes a lot more noise. Like dragging a chain down the street.
I took the car out for a spin and put my foot into it. My shift beeper is set to 8500, 8800, 9100 and 9400 rpm sound offs. I was hitting one beep and the power was just going away like I let off the throttle totally or shut down the engine.
If the power was going away, was it gas or spark related? I didn't smell gas and there were no back fires.
I ended up in the hot tub and started thinking about this. I do some of my best thinking while bringing up my core temp a degree or two.
It can't be a boost problem. Incorrect diagnosis, go back to square one. Plenty of fuel with an upgraded FB340. No intake restriction with larger air cleaner. The engine really feels like it is shutting down.....must be the EMS. It could be a bad EMS or a good EMS with interference.
Brain storm.........good ems with interference...NGK race plugs with no resistors. BINGO The interference is shutting down the EMS.
New resistor plugs were installed yesterday and it now leaps to 4 beeps and hits the 9650rpm limiter instantly. Dyno time again.
* My personal experience with the Vortech Race BOV saw boost levels of 21+ psi with out releasing.
I recently spoke with Gerhard Schruf at Bell Intercoolers. He assured me the only thing I will see as far as limits is a temperature rise when the impeller rpm go off the top of the compressor map. He felt the 2-1/2 inch diameter unit with a 36 square inch core could easily flow enough for 600 horsepower and beyond.
Other thoughts:
I've been fighting a boost problem since last summer and decided I needed to get serious and work through it.
Boost leaks were all over and I suggest everyone make a boost leak detector or use a shop that uses one.
After repairing the leaks by welding a bead on the intercooler intake, grinding the supercharger slightly for hose clamp clearance, replacing my stupid T-bar hose clamps that were designed wrong, and closing the boost leaking idle air bypass on the BDL throttle body the car was still dropping boost in the low 8000 rpm range.
A little research revealed (unconfirmed) the Vortech Race blow off valve was designed to release somewhere above 17 psi*. Mine was dropping off between 8000 and 8800 pretty consistantly. That is somewhere in the 17 to 19 psi range. The guys at Vortech also said the smaller blow off valve was not large enough for the boost I was seeing so I changed it out. Installed a tight fitting Vortech Mondo BOV with greater capacity. It also makes a lot more noise. Like dragging a chain down the street.
I took the car out for a spin and put my foot into it. My shift beeper is set to 8500, 8800, 9100 and 9400 rpm sound offs. I was hitting one beep and the power was just going away like I let off the throttle totally or shut down the engine.
If the power was going away, was it gas or spark related? I didn't smell gas and there were no back fires.
I ended up in the hot tub and started thinking about this. I do some of my best thinking while bringing up my core temp a degree or two.
It can't be a boost problem. Incorrect diagnosis, go back to square one. Plenty of fuel with an upgraded FB340. No intake restriction with larger air cleaner. The engine really feels like it is shutting down.....must be the EMS. It could be a bad EMS or a good EMS with interference.
Brain storm.........good ems with interference...NGK race plugs with no resistors. BINGO The interference is shutting down the EMS.
New resistor plugs were installed yesterday and it now leaps to 4 beeps and hits the 9650rpm limiter instantly. Dyno time again.
* My personal experience with the Vortech Race BOV saw boost levels of 21+ psi with out releasing.
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