Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Will an S/C Kill your Contour

Ok, Bret... here is my speculation... tear on me if you want to... I am only here to offer advice.
Putting the supercharger on Brads car gave him more horsepower. Providing his transmission gear ratio was the same, for him to go faster that means his car had to run higher engine speed. If this car did not have a modified oil system, such as running a windage tray, those prolonged higher RPM's most likely caused the crank to cavitate the oil pan. This starvation of oil combined with prolonged high RPM's is probably what caused the spun bearings. No, I did not personally work with him to tear the engine apart and no I am not a master of all that is in the automobile world. I am offering my best guess, and until I see Brad's engine firsthand that is all that it is.... an educated GUESS.
As for running NOS and S/C's on a car, remember that you are doing something to make the engine run faster, which means bigger explosions, forcing pistons harder and causing rods and bearings to be stressed harder as well as doing things such as cavitating the oil pan in prolonged extreme RPM cases. The engines we buy from the factories now are designed to only run about 70% of their potential HP, but when you modify you increase and can sometimes exceed that percentage. I do not believe IMHO that you can just stick something on a car to make it work harder and expect the same life out of it that you would get while driving it stock without giving the engine internals that are capable of withstanding the increased HP. You do not see NASCAR racers taking a crate engine out of the box and sticking it in their car and then running it 8k RPM. They take a bare block and beef up everything because they know that stock parts will not stand prolonged exposure to wear and tear. Even after a race is over, they examine and rebuild everything to make sure that the engine is fully reliable for the next race. The simple fact that it still starts, runs and drives does not cut it for them. Ever see a NASCAR driver running the car from his last race on the track with beat up fenders and a duct taped radiator hose? I think not. Just a few words to keep in mind. Whew, I am winded from typing all of this!

... I hate this sh*t...
-Mark

Mark,
If you disagree with something I said or someone else has said, I'm sorry.... I am not getting what exactly you hate. It is not my intention to make enemies here or to sour someone's day.... and if I have for you, I apologize.

Wouldnt it be more intelligent to say that his sustained 120+mph is what really killed it? at least thats what I think he posted before. (Someone said earlier, its more how you drive it....)

What I hate is all of the speculation and unwarranted comments about Brad's car and the SC in general.
Let me put something in perspective.
No matter what product you buy to increase performance you risk the chance of doing damage, anytime you increase your HP you also increase the strain on your engine resulting in more wear.
For all intensive purposes a Cat-back exhaust can kill your car, so can a KKM...

fenderman49- I am not directing anything towards you, but rather this whole thread in general.
-Mark

Hey Bret, what the hell you think we're all on here for jackass??? To offer opinions, suggestions, assistance, and to hopefully learn something about our cars. That means throwing ideas and theories around. Don't like it, GO AWAY!!!! JACKASS!!!

Two points...

1. I never got a UDP. It was in the plans, but after the SC came out and I found out it wouldn't work with the SC, that idea was left far behind.

2. I ran the NOS twice. Once just after setting it up and once down the track for a shake down run. It was running lean according to the EGT, so it came back off until I could do a fuel system upgrade which never happened until I got the SC kit. Sold the NOS for a little more money towards the SC.

My every day driving was always very blah with very little action. I had only a couple of races after the SC, only to third gear... To tell the truth, SZ01 was the first time I knew the speed limiter was off with the Vortech superchip. I strongly agree with the oil system upgrades for sustained high RPM running... Oh and BTW, it was 130+ MPH, not 120

The only correlation I see to Brad having the SC and his breakdown, was that the SC allowed him to reach 130+mph very easily, at very high engine speeds.

I will tell you what I think is absolutley stupid about this post. That if vortech had never built a supercharger for our car we would all be pissing and whining about why the hell won't they make one for us.Don't install these parts if your going to b!tch about it when something goes wrong there is always the possibility with any modification to a stock motor.

Brad, I had thought you put the UDP on, my bad. No I do not think th SC will kill a car as quick as yours died. They do put more wear and tear on the engine but as I said before 350hp is not a bad number from a stock D-engine.