I was just wondering if anyone with the vortech supercharger has tested the timing box to see if its working right.I just received a replacement box from vortech because i thought the first one didn't work properly.I connected the box and applied pressure to the vacuum line and nothing happened(of course while the car was idling).Now the replacement box is doing the same thing.Any ideas???

 

I've never checked into this. What are you expecting it to do? Have you had the car on the dyno to see if it is performing properly? That might be the true test of whether or not the thing is working.

 

Well xviper,my reason for concern is that i've installed one of these kits on a customers car and i tested the box by simply blowing into the vacuum line while the car was idling and it stumbled dictating timing reduction.On my vehicle it does no such thing.Possibly the box settings are slightly different from two years ago??I find it interesting that comptech does not use any sort of timing control unit.Thankyou for yore response xviper!!

 

Very interesting. I never knew this, but I guess it makes sense. I did know that Comptech's ESM is pretty much just a MAP clamp to hide boost from the ECU. Seems to work just fine. Perhaps after all the initial problems Vortech had with the early black boxes, they decided to change this element slightly.

Next time I'm under the hood of my car, I'll give it a try and see what happens.

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, but my guess is that Comptech runs less boost than Vortech does, that's why they don't need to run the timing retard box.

-Wallace

 

I think the difference in boost between the Vortech and the non-intercooled Comptech is only about 1 to 1.5 psi and many owners have gone to the higher boost pulley with only turning up the fuel pressure.

I just came back from an errand and I disconnected the boost line going to the black box. I used lung power and blew into it as hard as I could (several times) and nothing changed with the engine's rpm. Are you using something more powerful than your lungs?

ps. I have one of the first of the "revised" black boxes of the second generation of black boxes from Vortech. The first generation were the ones that didn't work with most of the cars they were put on. Those did not permit revving beyond about 3000 rpm. I've never had any problems with my kit in over 20 months of daily driving.

 

Considering the map in the timing box pulls a max of 2.8-2.9 degrees of timing retard at full boost, I wouldn't expect any drastic changes in idle speed from activating the timing retard.

 

Well you guys are making me feel better.The first time i installed one of these kits in an s2k was about 2 years ago.All i did was simply blow as hard as i could into the vacuum hose while the car was idling the cars idle dropped significantly,i repeated this a couple of times and had the same outcome.Possibly the box has changed now???Well thanks guys,once i finish installing the kit ill dyno it and post results!

 

disconnect the black box from the vac. line (and cap the end as to not distort the the fmu's fuel values. Then drive it. You should feel more hesiation down low.

Although there is another consideration for the comptech kit vs the vortech kit. The 3 ways to decrease detonation are: less boost, retard timing, and incerase fuel. Comptech kit runs more rich.

I remember when spool-turbo was trying to make there kit, they were running something like 10-11:1 A/F under full boost from 7k to 9k rpm's to avoid detonation without timing retard. This was before the emanage had the magic code figured out for timing on the s2k.

What ever happed to terry@spool anyway?

 

I've driven my car without the timing controller, and felt no change in performance. You will be very hard pressed to feel the difference in the amount of timing retard the controller pulls.

If the car starts and runs with no CEL the controller is wired properly. You won't be able to start the car,and stay CEL free with it wired incorrectly.