Hello. Hope you guys can help me. I'm looking at supercharging my Camaro in the next couple weeks. I have a couple reservations/ concerns that I'm hoping can be answered.

First, I have a 97 Camaro Z28 with an automatic transmission and 75,000 miles on the odometer. I have added subframes and a stud girdle to the rear, but the trans is stock. Will it hold up to the added power of a blower? I can afford the supercharger, but not a S/C and a trans rebuild in one shot.

I was looking at the Vortech kit. The best quote I've found is $3280. Is that decent? Also, any other things that must be added not in the kit? I also looked at the Powerdyne and ATI kits. I wasn't sure about those. Any comments if the Vortech is best, or one of the others?

I appreciate any answers and help to my questions. Thanks in advance.

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28

 

You don't mention if you have anything done to the engine. If your engine is stock and you state you don't have enough money for the supercharger and tranny rebuild, I would not get into supercharging right now. Your tranny and rear will probably hold 6-8lbs of boost if you runs street tires and don't do a lot of launches on slicks.

The real problem is the LT1 engine and its high compression and weak pistons. It is also certain that you will need an engine rebuild at some time in the future. It could be as early as the day you put the kit on your car. I would not put a supercharger on unless you can afford the engine rebuild.

Also keep in mind that to do a supercharger kit "properly" there can be expenses above the kit, such as tuning (very important), fuel pressure and boost gauges. A scanmaster is a very good thing to monitor knock real-time. All of these can really add to the price of putting on a blower.

Both vortech and ATI kits are very good. ATI has the advantage of getting an intercooler for about the same price as a non-cooled Vortech kit. ATI head units hold up well, but Vortech seems to have had less failures of their head units.

Brent M.