Custom Supercharger Setup - Advice please :)
Discussion
Quick question to all.
I have had a fair amount of experience with turbo cars but im looking into some supercharger options for the new engine im putting into a car im building. It's a 4.1ltr V8 engine (VH45de) and im not looking for massive power (about 200hp up from standard)
Internals and management im sorted for, but i wanted to know if anybody has any experience with custom/bespoke supercharger setups? I know nothing about them or there efficency's, but im guessing i'll need a custom pulley and mount made up. But what's the deal with different types? Belts etc? Do people intercool the charge? Are the pulley's clutched? It's a car that will regularly hit the rev limiter and im worried about how that will effect the charger?
I have been looking at some from whipple which sit on a drive plate between the V of the engine and also some by rotrex that seem to be almost like mounted turbo compressor housings.
As i said, im pretty clueless on this subject but i think this option is going to be a lot cheaper than turbo charging
Any info or experience would be great!
Cheers
I have had a fair amount of experience with turbo cars but im looking into some supercharger options for the new engine im putting into a car im building. It's a 4.1ltr V8 engine (VH45de) and im not looking for massive power (about 200hp up from standard)
Internals and management im sorted for, but i wanted to know if anybody has any experience with custom/bespoke supercharger setups? I know nothing about them or there efficency's, but im guessing i'll need a custom pulley and mount made up. But what's the deal with different types? Belts etc? Do people intercool the charge? Are the pulley's clutched? It's a car that will regularly hit the rev limiter and im worried about how that will effect the charger?
I have been looking at some from whipple which sit on a drive plate between the V of the engine and also some by rotrex that seem to be almost like mounted turbo compressor housings.
As i said, im pretty clueless on this subject but i think this option is going to be a lot cheaper than turbo charging

Any info or experience would be great!
Cheers
The first fundamental choice seems to be between centrifugal and positive displacement blowers. Centrifugal tend to be more efficient (less charge heating issues) and generally smaller and easier to package. On the minus side the boost increases with revs and they are relatively ineffective at lower revs.
Whether you need charge cooling will depend on how much boost you're producing and how efficient the blower is. If you're looking at < 5 psi then water injection alone will probably be all you need. If you're going over 10 psi you'll certainly want some form of charge cooling. In between you've got a grey area where you will need to make a compromise between the pressure loss through the charge cooler, and the power gains from a cooler charge.
Whether you need charge cooling will depend on how much boost you're producing and how efficient the blower is. If you're looking at < 5 psi then water injection alone will probably be all you need. If you're going over 10 psi you'll certainly want some form of charge cooling. In between you've got a grey area where you will need to make a compromise between the pressure loss through the charge cooler, and the power gains from a cooler charge.
Okay, so after doing a bit of research on the two my thoughts are:
Positive Displacement
This is going to give me huge amounts of grunt right from the outset and because this car is designed to break traction this is a really good thing. However, the car spends the majority of it's time near the rev limiter between 5-7k rpm. I have read that the PD units run out of puff a bit up there?
Centrifugal
Sounds like a belt driven turbo. Power band at 3-4k and more revs = more boost. Im guessing that the V8's grunt should make up for any lack of low down power anyway? Im also guessing these are easier to fit because you don't need to fabricate a mounting/drive plate for the supercharger to sit on?
Does anybody have an answer to what the positive displacement units are like at 6000+rpm and how the handle being bounced off the rev limiter? Does anybody know a company experienced in making custom drive plates?
Positive Displacement
This is going to give me huge amounts of grunt right from the outset and because this car is designed to break traction this is a really good thing. However, the car spends the majority of it's time near the rev limiter between 5-7k rpm. I have read that the PD units run out of puff a bit up there?
Centrifugal
Sounds like a belt driven turbo. Power band at 3-4k and more revs = more boost. Im guessing that the V8's grunt should make up for any lack of low down power anyway? Im also guessing these are easier to fit because you don't need to fabricate a mounting/drive plate for the supercharger to sit on?
Does anybody have an answer to what the positive displacement units are like at 6000+rpm and how the handle being bounced off the rev limiter? Does anybody know a company experienced in making custom drive plates?
Go over to the Holden/HSV forum here.
There will be a couple of guys there with Magnassun or Harrop 112 blowers which are good for around 5-600bhp.
They are upgrading theirs. While the kits are intended for LS motors, Im sure you could adapt to fit anything. These are a conventional Rootes style PD blower.
As for pulleys. You design, and CDF Racing will be able to make any pulleys you need.
And being clueless ( no offence )..it will cost a fortune to have a custom kit made. far more than a cheap turbo kit IMO.
There will be a couple of guys there with Magnassun or Harrop 112 blowers which are good for around 5-600bhp.
They are upgrading theirs. While the kits are intended for LS motors, Im sure you could adapt to fit anything. These are a conventional Rootes style PD blower.
As for pulleys. You design, and CDF Racing will be able to make any pulleys you need.
And being clueless ( no offence )..it will cost a fortune to have a custom kit made. far more than a cheap turbo kit IMO.
Edited by stevieturbo on Monday 31st August 17:30
Bizzle said:
Thanks for your advice mate,
Ref the turbo:
LOL you haven't seen the car
Unless the sc kit it over £6000 it'll be far cheaper.
If you are paying for a lot of csutom fabrication, then the SC could easily add up.Ref the turbo:
LOL you haven't seen the car
Unless the sc kit it over £6000 it'll be far cheaper. Depending on the completeness and nature of the turbo kit. £6k sounds rather expensive.
It could be done on a budget for a LOT LOT less than that, but obviously it would require a lot of input from yourself.
There would be less fabrication for a turbo kit than a blower in many respects.
Also give Mike ( BoostedLS1 ) a shout here or over on the HSV section. This sort of job might be up his alley
Edited by stevieturbo on Monday 31st August 18:41
Take a read of this interesting article on Super charging by Dennis Priddle ..
http://www.jagweb.com/aj6eng/supercharging_article...
I've sure that will explain all and give you an insight on the various forms of super charging.
http://www.jagweb.com/aj6eng/supercharging_article...
I've sure that will explain all and give you an insight on the various forms of super charging.
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