Buy and alky kit or make one?

OneLethal87GN · #1 (**permalink**) November 12th, 2002, 12:19 PM

I've seen what they cost and also seen what others have made their own for. I just wanted to know what any of you have dealt with in making your own kits versus just buying one. Also, any steps you took in making it, parts needed, and final results would be appreciated. I've tried and tried to get in on the SMC group purchase, but something ALWAYS goes wrong with my car when I finally scrape up the money.

Thanks.

blackbuick87 · #2 (**permalink**) November 12th, 2002, 02:55 PM

Build your own. The experience you will gain and knowledge will be priceless when it comes time to dial it in. You should be able to do it for half the price of an SMC.

I have a 90psi inline fuel pump mounted below the o/f bowl. I have my Windshield washer reservoir converted to hold coolant. The o/f bowl will hold almost two gallons of alcohol, enough to last several weeks. The kit can be very stealthy also. Hell, put blue food coloring in it if you want

As far as results I am still tuning, running a .030 jet right now, but I am getting a little knock in 3rd gear, so I am going to try a .036, .040, and .045 jet in the spring. This is at 20psi in 3rd on the stock turbo

JaBoT · #3 (**permalink**) November 12th, 2002, 04:57 PM

I would recomend the SMC kit. It's the simplest to tune and it's done from in the car (no jet changing).
I just ran an 11.9 on 93 octane and 25lbs of boost with no knock with a single nozzle SMC kit. And i'm still not done tuning it yet.
Also I emailed Steve at SMC and he said he will have a progressive controller out by spring which will increase alky flow with boost. Can't wait to get that.

Red Regal T · #4 (**permalink**) November 12th, 2002, 05:47 PM

FOR ME, ALL THE CREDIT BELONGS TO STEVE MONROE FOR MY ALKY INJECTION KIT. JUST CHECK HIS DIY WEBSITE FOR PARTS SELECTION AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. I'VE BEEN RUNNING IT FOR TWO AND HALF YEARS, ALMOST IDENTICAL TO HIS INSTRUCTIONS, ON THE SAME PUMP, AND IT NEVER MISSES A BEAT. IMO, I SEE NO ADVANTAGE TO OTHER KITS. IN FACT, I SEE DISADVANTAGES. I SEE MORE GUYS HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING IT OUT AS EVIDENCED IN THIS SECTION OF tb.COM.

I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY WHEN ONE OF THE LOCAL TURBOGUYS TOOK ME FOR A RIDE IN HIS CAR. WHEN HE GOT ON IT, HE WOULD BE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE CONTROLS ON HIS ALKY KIT AS WE ACCELERATED THROUGH THE GEARS.

HE'S REPLACING HIS HEAD GASKET RIGHT NOW.

I NEVER BOTHER WITH MINE UNLESS I UPGRADE OTHER THINGS ON MY CAR AND WANT TO TRY SOME DIFFERENT STUFF. OTHERWISE, NO CHANGES ARE NECESSARY. JUST SET IT, AND FORGET IT.

blackbuick87 · #5 (**permalink**) November 13th, 2002, 09:58 AM

Uhhh, there ARE still jets to change in the SMC. Pump speed is the only thing that controls flow, and most people have that at 9 or 10 all the time anyways.

As RRT stated, too much adjustability for some people is dangerous

JaBoT · #6 (**permalink**) November 13th, 2002, 10:56 AM

I have to disagree. When I said I still have some tunning to do I ment that i'm running 25lbs of boost and my pump speed is only on 8, but with a stock ic there's no reason to go higher on the boost. I havn't touched my controller in months. But it's nice to know if I change the timming in my chip or change a part on the car I can easilly retune the on point and pump speed from inside the car without even opening the hood.
As far as changing jets, I still have the original one that came with the kit. There was no reason to change to a different size.
Don't get me wrong i'm not saying anything bad about the other systems, they work great too. I've used setups with hob switches too and the inital setup is anoying. You have to set it, take it for a ride, pull over adjust it under the hood and repeat till it feels right, and if you change something in your setup you have to do it all over again.
JMO

blackbuick87 · #7 (**permalink**) November 13th, 2002, 11:12 AM

OK, we are saying the same thing, once you get ANY system dialed in you should not have to make hardly any adjustments. Once I find the right size jet I wont be messing with it either. If you have to constantlyscrew with the settings something else is wrong.
Also if you like the SMC controller (too big for my tastes, but to each his own) you can purchase it from Steve by itself and have the adjustability it brings.
I may try one of Steve's dual nozzle add on's one day so I can use smaller jets, but that is a ways away

Red Regal T · #8 (**permalink**) November 21st, 2002, 06:59 PM

Just got my Northern Tool catalog and the Sureflo pump is still $60. The one on my car is almost three years old. I use the 60 psi. I thought I read somewhere that you can up the psi to 90. Is that true? Anyone?

yellow95 · #9 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 09:37 AM

Red Regal T- Yes you can. The kit you would need is the 94-375-15. You can order it at northern.

Blackbuick87- Are you using nitrous nozzles? Do they atomize well?

Gary

And NO, I havent run it yet.

blackbuick87 · #10 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 11:26 AM

Yes I am using nitrous nozzles, there are better nozzles out there, but for the price they get the job done well.

I have not found the "perfect" jet yet, but I know .030 isnt big enough

yellow95 · #11 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 11:38 AM

Blackbuick87- One more stupid question. How do you hook the nozzle up. All the nozzles I have seen need two hoses hooked to them. Do you just cap one side off?

gary

blackbuick87 · #12 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 12:25 PM

Not sure what you mean by two hoses, check out this site for some good info
http://home.att.net/~stevemon/AlcoholInjMod.html

Mine is a single braided steel line to the nozzle. It has a check valve between the pump and the nozzle to prevent siphoning when the engine is under vacuum

I may be able to email you some pics if you need it

yellow95 · #13 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 01:57 PM

pics would be great. ggant@usfdugan.com

Gary

Red Regal T · #14 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 02:51 PM

ARE YOU GUYS RUNNING 90 PSI? OR DID YOU STAY WITH 60.....

yellow95 · #15 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 03:23 PM

I stayed with the 60, but just because I have been to lazy to get the 90 lb switch.

Gary

blackbuick87 · #16 (**permalink**) November 22nd, 2002, 03:38 PM

My pump is not a sureflo, but it has "90psi" stamped on it. I think its a Bosch

Red Regal T · #17 (**permalink**) November 23rd, 2002, 07:42 AM

THANKS GUYS........60 PSI......NOT FIXIN' IT IF IT AIN'T BROKE.

YGETV8 · #18 (**permalink**) November 24th, 2002, 12:07 PM

Yellow95: the NOS fan nozzle #13500 has a single fitting to hook up to. I believe you can get them in an anodized blue or red. Utilizes the same jets, too. HTH...

yellow95 · #19 (**permalink**) November 25th, 2002, 11:40 AM

Ygetv8- Thanks for the info. I will try one. I currently have the Mcmaster Carr (SMC) nozzles, but the mounting is too limited due to the fact that they screw in from the inside. I have tried to find a reducer bushing that would allow me to change them from outside, but have not found one yet. If you would like to see my set up (non Buick), clickHERE . I set it up with a pressure gauge so I can see it spraying (pressure goes down and up), and I can see if the nozzle clogs (already happened once).

Gary

YGETV8 · #20 (**permalink**) November 25th, 2002, 06:03 PM

Gary: Nice car! I am wondering if the nozzle placement wouldn't be better off somewhere in your "discharge plenum" (pressurized feed from blower to lower manifold)? Even one nozzle in the front and one in the back right above the blower outlet.

Did you ever get something to vary the pump voltage/speed? That would eliminate changing the nozzles altogether, once you found a suitable size. I have the SMC control box on all mine... works great!

Just some thoughts!

Jay