T-Trim Only making 5lb Boost

Need some help.
Ive got a Vortech T-trim that is only making about 5lbs boost at what I believe is full impeller speed.
I've got a 7.6 crank pulley and a 2.75 supercharger pulley.
This should give me 57000rpm at the charger impeller for 6000rpm engine speed.
This is already over the max rpm for the supercharger.
The engine is a 396 stroker.
Anyone ever heard of the T-trim making such low boost?
I was expecting about 22lbs.
Any ideas why I'm not making boost?
Thanks
John

do you have any leaks? Where are you reading the boost from, that is where do you have your boost gauge connected?

I'm not sure if there are any leaks.
The car is at the tuners right now.
He says there are no leaks.
It does have an intercooler. Very big so there is potential for leaks.
The gauge is plumbed into the intake manifold vacuum lines.
Its been in this place for a while and gave an accurate measurement while I had the Strim.

Aggie:
It doesnt sound like I shouldnt expect more boost then does it?
Something is wrong it should be higher? Right?
But not with the pullies?

You dont have any belt slip .....or any leaks....

with that pulley combo I would expect to see at least 15 psi on a 396ci.....


What heads do you have.....and what cam?

I'm being told there is no belt slip. Iv'e got an 8 rib pulley set.
I've got AFR heads 195's I believe.
The cam I'm not sure but the motor was built with the blower in mind.

Originally posted by JohnGuc
It does have an intercooler. Very big so there is potential for leaks.
>Do you have any info on you intercooler ... I have the Vortech T-trim and Aftercooler and don't know if I want to install this thing .

Its a custom intercooler about the size of the radiator.
Much bigger than the ATI nit havent seen the Vortech one.

I was hoping you would get some good info on this thread. I too have a 396, T-trim. I have the 227 AFR heads and was told not to expect too much boost with this combo. I am not running an inter or aftercooler (alky/water injection instead). Well I'm not running the SC'er yet. Just got the engine running without the charger. I will install it this weekend. I was hoping to get at least 10# of boost. I would think you could get 10# with the 195 heads. You may be loosing some boost from the cooler. Is it where you can bypass the cooler and see what you get then?

I'm thinking of asking the shop to see if they can bypass the intercooler and see what happens.
I had a 7/3.125 pulley set on my Strim and made 6 to 8lbs boost on the stock engine I'm only looking for 12 to 15lbs dont see why this would be a problem.

Maybe I shoulda mentioned that.
Its been on a dyno
400hp 480ft/lb
Pretty pathetic for all the time and money invested.

400hp 480ft/lb
Pretty pathetic for all the time and money invested>>>

Yea, you would think the 396 would do that NA.

Ronnie
Exactly what I was thinking.
Heck its doing that with 5lbs
what is it at 0? 350hp?

details on the combo? something is obviously wrong.

what intercooler? BIG doesn't mean anything. what cores? what end tanks?

heads?cam? compression? etc.. give us info :)

I know all the engine specs are important I just dont know all of them. I bought the engine as a complete package 396.
I know it has 8.9 :1 compression.
I'm pretty sure the heads are 195 AFR's
Dont know the cam I may be able to find out.
The intercooler is complete custom it is around the size of the radiator it was built to fit the car.

if its the size of the rad, its gonna flow horrible. there radiator is like 1.5" thick!

what cores was the intercooleer made with? sounds like it could be a HUGE restriction..

also, how do you know the belt isn't slipping?

He says no slippage no dust or tearing of the belt.
I put the belt on it was tight when I put it on.
He made another intercooler roughly the same size for a Firebird and had no problems with Boost.
He was using a Procharger with the Firebird.
Does anyone have any idea if a ATI Procharger would fit the same brackets as the Vortech?
Are the ATI cases about the same?

Are you using the regular bypass valve, or do you have the Mondo or something else? it sounds like that could be it.

I am using the race bypass valve I think thats the Mondo.
How could this be the problem?

it could be bleeding off boost if not set right tho i doubt it.

I would stay away from ATI. the blower you have is very good.. there is somethign wrong. who built the car, I woudl say its there problem!

Sounds an awful lot like the BOV is not set right and leaking.

With that pulley set-up, I really doubt the engine is flowing enough air to lower the boost all the way down to 5 psi.

I think that 10 psi would be the minimum I'd look for, probably more like 14.

Mike

The tuners gonna try tommorrow with the intake ductwork off the thinking is there could be a restriction in the tubing or filter somewhere.
I'm gonna mention the Mondo valve when I talk to him.

He is gonna talk to Vortech to see if the Ttrim is maxed out but I'm not getting that feeling here from the guys that have Ttrim's.

Unless something is physically wrong with the supercharger?

Most of the Corvette Forum guys seem to be high on the ATI it does seem to be able to spin much faster.
The Camaro guys here seem to be Vortech fans.
I'm just trying to look at all available options if the Ttrim is maxed which I'm hoping its not.

a maxed out t-trim will make over 700rwhp.. it is NOT maxed out.

and max impeller speed doesnt mean more power.

I agree 100% with Jordan.

A T-trim is a big blower. Hell, an S-trim is a big blower. It'll run 9's on the right combo.

Mike