ProCharger C6 Blower Install - Blasting Impressions

Next to go is the radiator-support cover. It will be replaced later onwith a piece that comes in the kit.

With the necessary factory hardware out of the way, the ProChargerinstallation bracket bolts onto the block where the factory belttensioner was mounted. This piece comes polished, which helps tobrighten up the Corvette's drab engine bay.

Get all the bolts started by hand, then carefully tighten them down. Forthis installation, a swivel-head 3/8-inch drive ratchet comes in handy.

With the bracket in place, slip the lower intake tube down into placebefore installing the compressor unit (blower). It can just rest therefor now, but putting it in place will save you a headache later on.

If you're new to the world of forced induction, a supercharger isnothing more than an air compressor. Special impellers inside thecompressor housing squeeze the air molecules together as tightly aspossible, supplying a higher concentration of oxygen in a given amountof air. The more oxygen you can feed an engine, the more horsepower it'scapable of making. The ProCharger unit is what's called a centrifugalblower, because of the way it compresses the air.

Before starting the bolts that hold the blower on, pull the newserpentine belt over the blower pulley. Once that's done, start thebolts by hand. That way, you can make adjustments to align the beltproperly, if necessary.

Once you have everything lined up, tighten down the bolts that hold theblower onto the tensioner bracket. Make sure the belt is lined up on allthe pulleys and grooves, then adjust the tension on the belt to tighteneverything up.

This surge-valve assembly's purpose is to prevent blower surge byreleasing boost from the system at times when the engine isn't using theextra air. The filter acts mainly as a muffler for the bypassed air, butit also eliminates the possibility of any unfiltered air entering thesystem.

With the blower in place up top, it's time to install the blower-intakehose. This job requires a fair amount of patience, as you're working intight quarters and have to make sure everything is aligned properly.

With the blower-intake tube situated, it's time to install the bracketthat holds the intercooler in place.

Next up is the intercooler. Install it loosely so you can get the intakehoses lined up correctly. This ProCharger kit uses an air-to-airintercooler, which is essentially a dry radiator. Instead of water, airruns through the tubes to exchange heat with the compressed air. Theresult is a cooler intake charge, which yields greater, more-consistentpower.

With the intercooler in place, it's time to get the intake hoses linedup and installed. Some spray lubricant, such as WD-40, can help here.