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While the rest of the world is clamoring over itself, dealing with price markups, allotment auctions, and order constraints on the anxiously-awaited Z06 Corvette, ProCharger has opened the door for any C8 Corvette Stingray owners to enjoy horsepower levels well above those offered by the much higher-priced Z-car. ProCharger’s new Stage-II system is now available, so current C8 Corvette owners can easily leap to the front of the horsepower pack with their current ride.
ProCharger’s latest Stage-II supercharger kit for the C8 Corvette boosts the base model’s horsepower well above that of the upcoming Z06 Corvette. There are several options to customize the installation, such as carbon fiber and durable coatings throughout the kit.
We now have a pure bolt-on system that produces far more power than a C8 Z06. That is major news, and our team worked extremely hard to make this happen. — Ken Jones, ProCharger
Cracking The Code
There’s no denying that today’s daily-drivable horsepower numbers directly result from the factory-installed technological advances manufacturers have been using as of late. That said, the complexity of getting all that technology to operate appropriately has been a hurdle for the aftermarket, especially when it comes to modifying the highly-encrypted architecture within the PCM of the popular C8 Corvette.
Factory ECUs are extremely fast and powerful. GM did an amazing job calibrating these cars for their naturally aspirated power levels… we just needed to do the same once the car was in boost. — Erik Radzins, ProCharger
The results speak for themselves. ProCharger is the only company that proudly offers the world’s first and only fully-calibrated Powertrain Control Module (PCM) for supercharged C8 Corvettes, which has led to the announcement of their 725-plus horsepower, Stage-II intercooled supercharger system for the C8 Corvette Stingray.
It’s like having your cake and eating it too… amazing power production, silky smooth driving, and peace of mind that all safety functions are still in place, all while enjoying 725 horsepower at your control. — Erik Radzins, ProCharger
What Is The ProCharger Stage-II System?
This brand new Stage-II system (PN 1KC412-SCI) is the company’s highest horsepower “turn-key” package for the C8 Corvette with 7.5 psi of boost. At the system’s core is a self-contained ProCharger head unit secured with heavy-duty CNC billet brackets. The included air-to-water intercooler keeps charge air temps in check. Combined with the calibrated PCM, this system provides a mind-bending 725+ horsepower!
The first dyno chart shows the Stage-II's horsepower increase at the rear wheels from the stock 2021 Corvette. The second chart shows the horsepower ratings of both the High-Output and Stage-II systems installed on the 2020 Corvette.
Easy As 1, 2, 3
The Stage-II system is designed as a bolt-on upgrade, and the vehicle has no permanent modifications. Installation requires only common hand tools and can be performed as a DIY upgrade. The best part, the C8 systems are far easier to install than the previous generation Corvette systems since no exterior body panels have to be removed. The C8 system only requires the removal of an inner fender liner, the rear trunk panel, and the car’s under panels from the vehicle to allow for installation.
These two underside panels will need removal to allow installation of the ProCharger C8 supercharger kits. ProCharger includes full-color, step-by-step instructions to guide you throughout the entire process.
Customers who purchase the Stage-II ProCharger system for their C8 Corvette will need to send their PCM to ProCharger for calibration. This process is necessary since there are more than just a few tweaks to the fuel and ignition tables. ProCharger has created a custom operating system that gives their team complete control of the PCM for tuning and calibration purposes. Doing so means there is no need for a laptop to do any tuning or uploading of files.
Once the supercharger system is bolted on and the PCM gets re-installed, all you have to do is turn the key on! The PCM will be tuned to work with the selected ProCharger system, so there is no need for dyno time unless you want proof of the car’s power output.
The engine in the C8 still “faces forward,” but the intake now breathes from the rear. ProCharger has created an ingenious jack shaft and mount system to supply the necessary connection between the supercharger and the crankshaft.
A ProCharger C8 Package For Everyone
ProCharger currently offers three supercharger packages for C8 Corvettes, so depending on what your goals are, several options are available. Such as the lower boost (5 psi) HO System or fully customizable “tuner kits” that allow the tuner shop to select the boost level, head unit (up to the F-1A-94), and even an aluminum sheet-metal intake with port injector bungs and a fuel rail for those needing additional fueling to support even more horsepower.
ProCharger offers several kits and systems for C8 Corvette. PCM tuning is available for the High-Output and Stage-II systems so dyno time is not necessary unless you want to document the increase in horsepower.
In addition, there are other upgrades, such as adding a black or polished supercharger and brackets, adding a helical gear set for noise reduction, and even carbon fiber covers to match the engine bays of these new C8s.
Building 725+ Safe Horsepower
The horsepower junkies at ProCharger have been boosting the performance of late-model and vintage vehicles for almost 30 years. And they hit the ground running when it came to designing a system specifically for the mid-engine Corvette and its highly secured computer. ProCharger invested in three company-owned C8s, years of track testing, hundreds of hours of dyno testing, and years of daily-driven duties to ensure its supercharger systems worked as intended.
ProCharger has dedicated years to developing its supercharger systems for the C8 Corvette. Thousands of hours have been spent testing on the track, the dyno, and the street to ensure their systems work exactly how they want them to.
PCM calibration is included in the Stage-II system, and calibration is for 91- to 93-octane pump fuel. ProCharger’s safe yet powerful tuning is engineered to offer optimum performance while keeping the power levels just below what the factory fuel system can safely support. This simplifies installation by eliminating additional piggyback fueling solutions and allows ProCharged C8 Corvettes to safely handle the E15 fuels that are becoming more prevalent.
Having full control of the calibration means we can run a completely custom operating system. We can add everything from sensors that read ‘boost’ as well as intercooler temperatures and more. So much more that we dived into everything from the clutch and trans controls to stuff like fans and the AFM system. — Erik Radzins, ProCharger
While they were at it, the ProCharger team listened to customers and added control of the displacement-on-demand system for the driver. With a quick push of the cruise control button on the steering wheel, the D.O.D. system can be toggled off or on.
Taking Advantage Of Technology
There is no denying that modern electronics have come a long way in their complexity and capabilities of making daily-drivable horsepower. ProCharger has capitalized on this potential and is using it to great effect with its new Stage-II supercharger kit for the C8 Corvette. The complete integration of electronics makes communication seamless, and ProCharger’s 100-percent bolt-in kit makes serious horsepower easier.
