As many of you know (if you have followed my posts), i am doing a 355 build. I was planning on n/a with no intentions on forced induction. The thing is, I ran up on a deal for a vortec supercharger for $500. This is the polished system with aftercooler. I don't think i can pass this offer up. My question is, should i go with a different piston? I don't think i will be running major boost so your opinions are appreciated.

 

Now, with gasket matched heads ( no major porting or bigger valves), would the pistons i chose determine the compression ratio or would i have to go with a bigger combustion chambered head to lower it?

 

So, nobody can tell me if all I need to do is get a set of low compression pistons? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I am not being an ***,so you know. Your two post in this forum would get better responses in the forced induction forum,where the blower guys are.

 

i put it there and no responces. I know there are a lot of supercharged guys on here too. Just trying to get some info from anybody that has any

 

Yes, you can get just pistons to lower your compression. They are basically "shorter" pistons from the wrist pin up, so they do not rise as high in the cylinder at the top of the stroke. I say go like 8.5:1 and run some serious boost (like 15 would be good.) Just build your 355 to take it and slap a tiny pully on that blower, and you'll be in hog heaven.

 

I wouldn't go this route, You don't want a shorter piston with a blown application. You want to get a dished piston which JE or others make to lower your compression. I'm using a -16cc dished JE but I also had my combustion chambers opened up and am at 9.6:1 compression on my 385. They make a range of dished pistons to lower your CR. It's a lot more complicated than just slapping on the blower and letting it Rip, Do a search in the FI section and you will see what I am talking about such as upgrading fuel system, Injectors, and the most critical is tuning if you don't want ot blow it up.

 

You can run the blower just keep in mind you will need a rebuild sometime in the future...id buy and install the blower and start saving for a 355, etc

 

$500 for a vortech with intercooler is a very low price. If it's not stolen beware of a deal thats too good to be true. Hopefully you just found a super good deal or someone that has no idea of the value of this stuff. You would be better off to drop the compression to avoid problems and allow higher boost. Check with the vortech technical guys to see what max impeller rpm and boost pressure the compressor is capable of before changing pulleys.
Good luck with your project

 

The guy I am buying it from had it in his camaro that he wrecked. Now he is just parting it all out. He said he paid $3200 for the whole kit and it hasn't really been used that much.
I spun a bearing a while back so I already have to rebuild it. Now some rust has set in the cylinders so a .030 overbore is a must. I want to do a budget build so would the stock crank, stock rods, studded mains, and forged dish pistons hold under that kind of boost? Or do I absolutley have to have forged rods? Another question: I have a LT4 hotcam kit and gasket matched stock heads with stock valves. I know this is not the ideal setup for a blower, but will it still make pretty good power for now, until I do another cam/head swap?

 

How does this sound: .030 over forged dished pistons, h-beam rods, stock polished crank, balanced lower end

stuff i already have and reusing: lt4 hotcam kit, lt1 gasket matched ported heads, e-water pump, cloyes double roller timing chain.

I know the cam is not a blower cam but can it work for now until I save up for the head/cam setup i need?

 

still looking for info......anybody?

 

You would be better off to get a different cam. While the hotcam would work, you will lose boost because the hotcam is on a 112 lobe separation angle. Find you a good blower cam or even one with a 114 or 115 lsa.