My eventful weekend in Chicago installing my Vortech Supercharger. I left Cleveland at 2:30 am and got to Chicago at 8:30 ( actually 7:30 Chicago time due to the time change ) Would have been nice if the guy told me the shop opens at 9:00 am. Started the install at 9:00 am then he left at noon for an hour and a half to take his wife somewhere. Yes I’m standing there wasting time. Came back to start again working just to realize he left parts at his house. He made 3 separate trips to his house to and parts store for things he needed for the install. Couldn’t finish it in one day so I spent the night at his house. Sunday morning he realizes he can’t find his 3/8 drill bit to tap the engine block for the oil feed line. Wasted another hour running around to 3 different stores looking for one of these. Finally found one at Napa. Finished the install around 4:00 pm Sunday. Took it for a test drive and everything was running strong!! Paid him and headed back to Cleveland. Drove for about 45 minutes and the temp gauge shot through the roof!! The car auto shutoff on a 6 lane highway in Chicago due to heat. Checked the engine and noticed a radiator hose behind the supercharger plate broke. Waited about 15 minutes started the car up and drove it to the next exit at around 10 mph. The guy showed up, looked at the broken hose and went to the parts store to get a new one. Came back to install the new hose but didn’t get anything to clamp the hose or cut it so he made a second trip to the store. ( what a surprise ) Got the hose on, refilled the car with coolant and it started blowing hot air. Go to go right? Drove down the street about 200 yards and the car shut off again. Pushed it into a parking lot since the car is completely shut down. He checked the split second box, fuses, and couldn’t figure it out. He told me to have it towed to a dealer. He left me in South Chicago, keep in mind it’s like 10 pm by now and 20 outside . Called a tow company and waited 2 hours for a truck. He never showed, called a second company and they showed up an hour later. Cost me $270 to tow the car to an Infiniti Dealer. He was nice enough to give me a ride to a hotel, maybe he felt guilty for raping me on a tow. Got to a Renaissance and asked how much for room? She said $199 for the night!! I asked can you give me a break my car broke down and I’m stranded. She said ok $109 for the night. Woke up the next day and called the dealer where the car was, they happened to have a Stillen rep in looking at another supercharger they were having issues with. They told me they will look at the car the first thing that morning. By 11 am I called for an update. Oh the car hasn’t been looked at yet!! I took a cab to the dealer to get the ball rolling. They told me its $135 to look at the car. As if I have a choice. I said please help me!!! They somehow got the car running and pressurized the coolant system!! It’s alive!!! I actually dropped to my knees and hugged the techs leg and said THANK YOU!!! I drove it hard all the way back to Cleveland with no issues. I left a few things out due to the fact I’m getting upset just rethinking this nightmare. I also wanted to thank the guys I called for advice when I was stranded.

 

Damn I can only imagine the frustration ! But as least the dude didn't just say forget you and ignore you lol

Must have been an expensive weekend

So u getting it tuned at slowmo ??

You enjoying boost ??? Lol I'm loving boost

 

What a nightmare weekend, Clint Eastwood would call that whole trip a "Clusterf^ck!" On a positive side you have a very cool Vortech system installed and I hope you're enjoying the extra HP....
Gary

 

get a new installer

 

The extra HP is amazing! Makes it much more fun to drive.

Brian, I'll take it to Slowmotion when I have a second. Running the SS Box with the other guy's tune temporarily. He had the same year and transmission as I do, so I figured I could run it this way for a minute. I still have to put the under engine cover and inner fenders back in since all those little plastic clips broke!! He did do one cool thing he has the intake coming out the front which looks mean as hell. The intercooler is at a bit of a slant so I want to get that cleaned up. I'll post pics once everything is touched up to my liking.

 

I am glad that everything worked out. I am curious to see what the dealer did to get it running... did you keep their report or what you paid for? I am glad that you made it home and I hope that everything from here on out runs great for you!!!

Welcome to the club! Make sure you tell corey you are in the club for the club discount!

I cant wait to see and hear it in person...

And I am glad that you made it back home safely.

 

WOW! What an adventure u had Brian...When I started reading i was thinking it was gonna end really bad, but glad u got it all worked out!

 

I talked to the tow truck driver, he wanted $2700 to tow it to Cleveland on a flat bed. A car transporter wanted $750 plus I would need a rental car to get back. Glad I didn’t have to go that route!!!!!! My nightmare did have a happy ending. The dealer told me once they charged the battery the ecu must of reset so starting the car wasn't a problem. I'm glad the SS box didn't fry my ecu.

 

I think we need pics of you hugging the techs leg for an OGC calender we have been talking about....

 

Probably the first guy ever caught hugging the techs leg, I was so grateful! I’m shameless

 

I'm glad that you made it home safe in one piece. I would of be so scary if my car shutoff in a 6 lane highway. Need some pics?

 

ahh...the always talked about, but never done anything about it Ohio G Club Calender!

 

i'm glad you made it through your ordeal and came out happy in the end.

as for the intercooler being slanted, its pretty common since vortech only gives you a bracket for the passenger side. just get a piece of angle iron, metal strap, or L-bracket from home depot...bolt it to your bumper brace or to the stock holes on the driver side of the core support.

 

From what you were describing to me on the phone, I knew you had a leak coming from somewhere. Goood to hear everything all worked out at the end. Have fun with the added power!

 

Congrats on the new set-up - i love my Vortech!! And i am finally getting my intercooler straightened out as we speak after almost 1 year of rocking the gangsta lean! Glad you made it back despite the frustrations - that would be enough to make me cry.

What made you decide to drive to Chicago for the install when there is sucha capable shop (Slowmotion) in Columbus? That is definitely where i'd take my car if i were still in Ohio...