I was always concerned that I wasn't achieving anywhere close to 8psi boost on my Vortech setup. Somewhere around 4.5 - 5.0 at 6500 rpm. I checked all connections and still 1/2 the advertised boost. The belts seemed tensioned correctly and then last week I heard the belt squeal, especially right at start up.I re-tensioned the adjuster and took it out for a drive to find that now I was getting somewhere around 6.5 psi of boost. After 1 hour of normal driving the squealing came back and boost dropped. I checked the tension, and no change in tension. How far can the belts be tightened? They are pretty tight now, around 1/2" deflection on longest belt run.

 

You might have a leak somewhere on the plenum. Make sure that your filter is clean. Triji had a dirty filter and he was loosing about 2-3 psi of boost. After cleaning it, he got back to 8-9 psi.

 

^^^Like he said, check for leaks and the filter first. How long have you had that belt? Sometimes belts stretch and tensioning it to the max won't help. Might be time for a new belt.

 

Yeah, it seems as though you have a belt that is too long to begin with or is stretched out. Get a new smaller belt so you have more room for tensioner to adjust and make sure the belt is TIGHT (toight like a toiger, LOL).

 

Don't you mean tight like a virgin?

 

Thanks for the tips, however, The unit was installed in may of this year, and has less than 1200 miles on it, so I don't think wear or dirty air filter is the culprit. I'll check the plenum. I myself put new extended length sleeves on all connections just to eliminate the possibility of leaks. I really do think the belt is the issue. I'll try to tighten a bit more, but just don't want to overtighten...

 

Is the tensioner close to maxing out? If so, time for a new belt. Just take a look at the filter anyway, you never know. A good test would be to run your car around the block with no filter and see if you make full boost.

 

That GoodYear belt seems to stretch very easy . Get a Gates belt on it and tighten it up real tight . Then get back to us on it .

 

A BIG +1!! The gatorback belt that comes with the kit is garbage. Go for the slightly smaller gates belt and tighten it good. Its what I did, and boosting is amazing now!!

 

i'm getting the pulley mod added tomorrow along with a new belt, clean filter, and even some sparco seats! i'll let you know how everything turns out as I have been having a belt squeal and low boost for a few months now i've been too lazy to fix it!

 

Do the Timrod method bc that thing works like a champ. I'm at 15psi and no SLIPPING at 6500 rpm.

 

Do this GTM pulley mod and say buh bye to belt slip....

 

GTM mod looks like it would work better than the timrod mod, but both are good.

Triji - What kind of strut bar is that and where did you get it? Will it clear the APS plenum?

 

Thanks for all thr input. Question...what exactly are the GTM and Timrod mods??

 

My Vortech is having the same problem. At first start up I'm getting a loud squeeling noise and especially now that its getting cold, its getting loud.