I thought I'd post this question separate to get the attention of those with SC experience.

I'm having a new short block installed and am trying to convince the dealer to at least give me a 500 mile warranty on it if I run without the SC belt installed for the break-in period. I would do this anyway because I will be sticking to the break-in rules just like the first time. I would prefer to re-install the SC when the engine is put together rather than ship the stock airbox to the dealer (out of town) and then have to re-install the SC myself a few weeks later.

I assume the engine will run OK but just not perform as well, probably not as well as stock because of restricting the intake with the blower. Has anybody done this? Is it worth the effort to get a couple hunderd miles of warranty on the short block or should I not worry about it?

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One of the original SC owners (1RandyC, Hecash, or SilverSurfer) did this. His belt shredded and he drove it without a belt with no problems.

 

Why would you need the modify the intake or swap FPR?

The intake track should be fine except you might have some restriction from the blades of the compressor but air would still flow nicely.

And the Comptech FPR is set to a the stock pressure and stays there till it sees boost. With no belt won't it act just like the stock FPR?

 

You may want to build a short ram type setup with corugated tubing and the stock air filter, just zip tie it to the frame rail for the break-in.

Also, I'm not sure what negative effect (if any) there would be from having the oil pass through a non-functional SC. You may want to remove the line from the pan and put the stock drain plug bolt back in. Only problem with this is that you would have to change your oil twice.

I shredded my belt on my SC one day and had to drive it home. I didn't notice any major impact in performance, other than not having FI.

 

Thanks for the input, my only concern was if there were drive-ability issues. I didn't know how well the engine could pull air through the impeller but sounds like it's not an issue. I wasn't worried about the other components being a problem.

I figured the FPR would not be a problem since it does nothing unless manifold pressure goes above atmospheric, which will never hapen with the belt off. And I don't see where the rest of the intake plumbing would be a problem either, it works the rest of the time when there's no boost.

As far as break-in "under the same conditions", I don't see an issue there, but what do I know?. Break-in is suppossed to be no VTEC and no rev's above 5500 if I remember correctly, but the engine has no trouble running in that zone after break-in, which is certainly a different performance curve to say the least. Running boost versus no boost is not much different than running full throttle versus part throttle, so I dont see what's so different about running with the SC, especaily at low rpms when there is next to no boost anyway.

And I do know I MUST keep the oil line intact, since the impeller will be spinning. I know it won't be anywhere near the speeds encountered if it were crank-driven, but I think it still needs to be lubricated. And I don't see the tiny bit of oil flow it uses to be an issue.

I've read several people refer to vibrations from their SC, but I've never had any. If it weren't for the sound and power difference, I don't think I'd even know it was there.

 

I'd keep the oil line intact but I don't think the impellor will spin. The design is such that it accelerates air, but I doubt that air flow will turn it. Let us know. You'll see whether or not the upper pulley rotates (slowly mind you).

 

SilverSurfer ran it that way, even tracked it a couple times without problems.

 

I once asked here about the FPR setting as mine had been played with before I got it and I wanted to get it set to factory default. No one responded.

Is 63 how it came or something you set it to?

Comptech told me to set it to 47-51.

 

Dang you early adopters!

I guess I will get my answer when I go for tuning and we set it up correctly using a wide band O2 sensor. Bit late then as I'll probably end up pulling the FPR and just using the E-manage to control bigger injectors. It's all good!