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DeFormula
04-07-2008, 07:39 PM
Does every supercharger in the world eat belts? I got the supposed king of the C5 kits for reliability, and it's broken 3 belts in less than 2000 miles. It doesn't chuck them, they just go "pow" and break. And you cant fix it on the roadside, it has to be jacked up.

I think my new motto is...if you can't afford a turbo, stick with NA. I am really p/o'd at my SC right now. Or, "a slow car is better than a broke car". I really like my '97 Plymouth minivan right now. It has never left me stranded on the edge of the road.

Rant off.
1BADAIR
04-07-2008, 07:50 PM
8 rib upgrade
DeFormula
04-07-2008, 08:44 PM
8 rib upgrade

Yeah I thought about that, but heck, I'm running the stock low boost pulley. Everybody says I should be good. What da heck, I'm ready for heads/cam. I know I'll be slower, but I prolly won't be stranded.
1BADAIR
04-07-2008, 08:54 PM
yeah that shouldn't be breaking. 8 rib wouldn't leave ya stranded
Sean
04-07-2008, 09:18 PM
Picture of siad belt fialure and which kit is it ? Pictures please.
GPowrie
04-08-2008, 03:37 AM
Does every supercharger in the world eat belts? I got the supposed king of the C5 kits for reliability, and it's broken 3 belts in less than 2000 miles. It doesn't chuck them, they just go "pow" and break. And you cant fix it on the roadside, it has to be jacked up.

I think my new motto is...if you can't afford a turbo, stick with NA. I am really p/o'd at my SC right now. Or, "a slow car is better than a broke car". I really like my '97 Plymouth minivan right now. It has never left me stranded on the edge of the road.

Rant off.



I went through a summer of a belt allmost everyday I tried to make boost with my car last year. I was running an 8 rib setup but I was also tring to make 20+psi with a t trim. With a low boost combo that you have it should live for quite some time, I would expect to change a belt a year. Pulley mis-alignment can actualy brake a belt clean off. I would be willing to take a look at the car to see if I can help you out, I think it can be fixed.
DeFormula
04-08-2008, 10:10 PM
I went through a summer of a belt allmost everyday I tried to make boost with my car last year. I was running an 8 rib setup but I was also tring to make 20+psi with a t trim. With a low boost combo that you have it should live for quite some time, I would expect to change a belt a year. Pulley mis-alignment can actualy brake a belt clean off. I would be willing to take a look at the car to see if I can help you out, I think it can be fixed.

Thanks Greg for the offer. There are a couple of things we're going to try and if they don't work I'll get in touch with you. Supposedly these setups are rock solid and many have run them for years with zero issues. Dr. Phil says he is pretty sure I have the wrong pully/clutch on the alternater (manual trans type). That may be the sole culprit.
DeFormula
04-08-2008, 10:11 PM
Picture of siad belt fialure and which kit is it ? Pictures please.

Thanks Sean. We have a few things left to try and if I'm still stumped I'll get in touch with you.

Dave
riche
04-08-2008, 10:48 PM
I had one of the first d1sc kits on my 2002 vette and never had a problem with the belt for 20k miles. But maybe yours is a different setup. Good luck.
DeFormula
04-09-2008, 05:51 AM
I had one of the first d1sc kits on my 2002 vette and never had a problem with the belt for 20k miles. But maybe yours is a different setup. Good luck.


Thanks. This is the ECS Paxton kit, supposedly the most reliable centri on the market. I think once we get this figured out I'll be golden (I hope). It is probably because I have a manual alternator on an auto car. And I have no idea why. This has been an auto car since day one. I suppose maybe it was replaced with an incorrect unit before I got the car or was wrong from the factory (?)
P.F.M.
04-09-2008, 09:09 AM
Damn belts......
VTRauder
04-09-2008, 09:15 AM
I have a different paxton than you, but I have never had a belt pop... maybe the blower pulley isn't lined up right with the rest of the pulleys?
LITTLEMAGS
04-09-2008, 12:28 PM
I have a different paxton than you, but I have never had a belt pop... maybe the blower pulley isn't lined up right with the rest of the pulleys?

that is what I was thinking
LT1Pat
04-09-2008, 04:54 PM
Is this an HTD belt setup?
DeFormula
04-09-2008, 09:43 PM
Sorry, I don't know what HTD stands for. It is a 6 rib serpentine that runs everything. I do not believe there are any alignment issues, no real indication of that. Belts snap, they don't get chucked or shred. All indications so far point to the incorrect (manual tranny) alternator. I believe it does not respond to shifts as quickly as the automatic alternator and some trustworthy, experienced folks have seen this scenario snap belts, just like mine is doing. I will post what the deal is once (if) we get it ironed out. If it takes too long I'll convert to NA.
1BADAIR
04-09-2008, 09:48 PM
did you look at the alt pulley?
DeFormula
04-09-2008, 10:23 PM
Not in detail, but Phil did and said it is the manual tranny one. I trust him. He said his ZO6 did the same thing. It was a manual converted to auto and had the same alt / pulley as mine. All the guys we know of with this kit that have the correct alternator / pulley are not having issues.
Sean
04-09-2008, 10:36 PM
I would find a way to measure the tensioner travel. Sounds to me as if the tensioner is allowing the belt to slack up to much.
DeFormula
04-10-2008, 04:41 PM
I would find a way to measure the tensioner travel. Sounds to me as if the tensioner is allowing the belt to slack up to much.


Yes, we talked about this because it always happens under full throttle shortly after shifting into second gear. Definitley will be checked out. Thanks Sean.
igotaneed4speed
04-10-2008, 04:46 PM
If your breaking them not thorwing it off or chewing thru it from one side; just breaking them its prob to tight.
Sean
04-10-2008, 06:59 PM
I have seen tensioner recoil snap a belt faster then you can blink. There is also a way to modify the tensioner to keep it from pulling apart. It will pull apart if given the chance to do so.

If your breaking them not thorwing it off or chewing thru it from one side; just breaking them its prob to tight.
WhiteHawk
04-10-2008, 07:22 PM
Have you tried a solid tensioner Dave? I had to get one when I had my Powerdyne.

-Geoff
DeFormula
04-11-2008, 07:47 PM
Have you tried a solid tensioner Dave? I had to get one when I had my Powerdyne.

-Geoff


No I haven't. But I just finally tried to install a new belt and found some peripheral damage in the tensioner area and it's not pretty. I don't think it is too serious but it doesn't have to be to cost big $$ on a vette. I'm probably either going NA or selling the car. Maybe I'll be like everybody else and buy a Mustang.
DeFormula
05-31-2008, 09:50 PM
UPDATE..

Finally got the correct alternator on the car. This one has a clutch that allows for the faster shift of the auto trans. It has taken a fair amount of abuse with no issues so far. It looks like Phil may have been correct about the alternator. I'll have to see how it does over a whole season before I totally trust it.
Thanks again to everyone for their input.

Looking for mid to low 11s this year :)
1BADAIR
05-31-2008, 10:03 PM
I wish mine was that quick.
Maybe we can line them up
DeFormula
05-31-2008, 10:09 PM
I wish mine was that quick.
Maybe we can line them up

Well, if we decide to line 'em up, I may have to have Phil pull out my restrictor plate, retune, and shoot for high tens. But you still can't use your nitrous :)
1BADAIR
05-31-2008, 10:12 PM
It should be pretty even motor to boost
DeFormula
05-31-2008, 10:23 PM
It should be pretty even motor to boost

I know, but I don't want it to be even, I want to win :)

I'm just kidding anyway, I don't plan to pull the restrictor plate with my stock motor, which I plan to keep for a LOOONG time. I'll be happy to line em up, but I gotta find some drag radials. Traction is non existant.
RedXtcy
06-01-2008, 04:32 PM
It should be pretty even motor to boost
dang, mr. big cubes over there..
1BADAIR
06-01-2008, 05:43 PM
stock 5.3 liter cubes
RedXtcy
06-02-2008, 03:01 PM
stock 5.3 liter cubes
i have 5.7 cubed liters
1BADAIR
06-02-2008, 04:46 PM
yeah. mine is a 5.3 truck shortblock this year. My 383 is broked
BB71Mopar
06-03-2008, 12:22 AM
:893Poopy:
RedXtcy
06-04-2008, 12:41 PM
yeah. mine is a 5.3 truck shortblock this year. My 383 is broked
it will still whoop on me
DeFormula
06-04-2008, 06:14 PM
it will still whoop on me

Is your clutch issue fixed?
RedXtcy
06-04-2008, 10:51 PM
Is your clutch issue fixed?
at the doc's right now.. think hes waitin on a part.
1BADAIR
06-04-2008, 10:55 PM
cllutch? you don't need no stinkin clutch
RedXtcy
06-04-2008, 11:43 PM
cllutch? you don't need no stinkin clutch
i drove it back from the dirt way with no petal.. pretty much
QUASAR
06-05-2008, 02:57 AM
Glad to see it might be squared away Dave. Want to see you back on the roadcourse. :)
DeFormula
06-06-2008, 10:29 PM
Glad to see it might be squared away Dave. Want to see you back on the roadcourse. :)

Thanks. I'll get there eventually Johnny. It'll be a handful now between the blower, gears and the convertor. I should still be able to run the courses most of the way in 2nd gear, I'll just come out of the turns a bunch stronger.