Left: The stock 26-pound fuel
injectors won’t keep up with
fuel delivery needs under boost.
The remedy is a set of 60-pound
injectors from DeatchWerks
(PN 32D-00-00-0060-8). If this
supercharger is installed on a GM
pickup or SUV, the stock in-tank
electric fuel pump is safe for
reuse and will keep up. On older
cars with supercharged Vortec
engine swaps, a Walbro 255 (or
equivalent) fuel pump is required.H
A
N
D
S
O
N
Right: The stock drive belt is
replaced by a six-rib Vortech
item (PN 2A046-115) that
now runs the supercharger
and accessories. Shorter belts
are available from Vortech, if
smaller blower drive pulleys
are anticipated. Eric Buzzell
says, “I pull the belt as tight
as possible, then tighten
the pinch bolt.” Note how
the drive belt wraps nearly
75 percent of the pulley to
prevent slippage.Below: The Vortech kit is
compatible with factory
“low-mount” A/C equipment.
Don’t snub the 4.8L (LR4),
5.3L (LM7), or 6.0L (LQ9)
“truck” intake manifold; it’s
an excellent power-maker up
to 6,000 rpm. Only the fuel
injectors need attention.18 CAR CRAFT NOVEMBER 2019
PIN THAT PULLEY!
All Gen III crank pulleys are press-
fit onto the crankshaft snout
before being trapped by the
center bolt. To guard against
slippage with the additional load
of the Vortech supercharger,
NextGen Performance strongly
suggests pinning the pulley to the
crankshaft. Here’s how:Eric Buzzell whipped up this crank
pinning fixture using a hardened(^1) ⁄ 4 -inch steel washer with a precision-
drilled^1 ⁄ 4 -inch hole.
With the center bolt tightened in
place and the fixture immobilized, a
(^15) ⁄ 64 -inch bit drills into the crank snout
and pulley hub by equal amounts.
Maximum depth of drilling is 0.
inch, as marked by blue tape.
After the 0.800-inch-deep hole is
made, a^1 ⁄ 4 x^3 ⁄ 4 hardened-steel dowel
is driven into the void. A slight press-
fit retains the dowel. The pliers hold a
sample dowel.
A new GM center bolt (PN 12557840)
traps the dowel. The orange material is
jelled silicone that will liquefy and fill
leak paths when the bolt is tightened
to 240 lb-ft.
Left: The GM spring-loaded belt-tension
unit (and its 3.5-inch pulley) is replaced by
this pinch-type item. The 2.75-inch idler
has a smooth face, because it acts against
the back (non-ribbed) side of the accessory
drive belt.