Home Made Supercharger?? Need Advice

[roadierfl]

bump for status update

[x3m944]

Well no progress till I finish the Clutch as far as the 944 goes.

[x3m944]

Questions & Answers:
Yes I can help you with a other sources of power and boost, no I dont mind.
Yes I will sell just the SC with no kit.
Yes I plan on doing a discount for intial run of superchargers.
Yes I would do a group discount.
No I will not install it for u, You cant afford me and I dont want the headache or liability.
Yes I will talk to your mechanic or u, I will provide tech support.
Yes I do make my own Water Injection setups.
Yes I do my own Nitrous setups and that includes the 924 and 944.
Yes I do my own MAF conversions
Yes I do my own EFI conversion kit.
Yes I do a Individual runner/throttle body setup.
Yes I can provide you with or help you make your own water injection or 5th/Additional fuel injector setup.
No I dont own a shop or retail outlet and NO you cant come by and bug me or snoop around my shop.
Yes if you live locally sometime we can hook up. No you cant look under the hood. Yes when its done, No till then.
Yes you can drive my car if you live local, when its done, till then NO its my car get your own.
Yes I will visit orlando speedway and yes I will run the car down the 1/4.
Yes I would be willing to come to your Dyno when its done, if you pay my expenses (Gas, travel, etc - Florida only).
Yes I will bring the car to some events when she is done and yes I will bring some supercharger kits with me, provided they are some available.
No sorry will not do an install on your car at same show -- liability issues. I Might however do an install on my car if I have another one and can manage that.
Yes I really am that crazy and No Im not very user friendly, warm & fussy or politically correct.

If I missed your question, pm me or email me or post it here.

I use a 6 rib pulley, the 944 like my 84, uses a 5 rib belt. The 6 rib pulley is a common configuration. You can use a 5 rib setup on a 6 rib pulley, the end user can also switch to a 5 rib pulley or install a different Crank Pulley. Lots of option in that arena, all up to the end user. My intention is simply to supply a kit ready to go, I do intend to work with customer to optimize a kit for their application.

My setup uses high-tech modern turbocharger compressor wheel and modern compressor housings for ultra-high efficiency. Not some design from the 60's or 70's.

I use a standardized transmission and different compressor housings I build/tailor units to fit boost and cfm requirements of customer.

Construction is as follows: either a water jet cut or CNC machined transmission case made from 6016-t6 aircraft aluminum, drive shaft, compressor shaft, 6-rib drive pulley, internal drive pulleys, internal belt, etc all assembled and ready to go.

[sabbath]

Well its about darn time, I hope you dont mind selling me one, despite the issues.

I know you dont like it, but I posted an update over on the list.

In case no one else asks, can we do a group buy? I mean if a bunch of us got together could we get a bigger discount?

Dude, seriously I had my doubts. Now not so much and I am looking forward to getting one, maybe for a winter project.

Well I wish you the best. I am sorry for all the issues... really. No hard feelings?

[x3m944]

Sabbath, I dont care who buys one, all are welcome.

[CJFusco]

I can't wait to hear some testimonials!

[x3m944]

Well when someone buys one and builds it, I am sure you will... either that or you have to wait for me to finish my work and then listen to me rant about how great it is.

[x3m944]

. . .

[roadierfl]

Bump

[pokey]

It's looking tasty...
Do you have anyhing that has the capacity to feed 6-8 lbs to a 6.2 l diesel?

[The Chris]

Do you physically have a 944 in your possesion that you are testing with? If so, please take a few seconds and post a few pics of the progress thus far (in the 944 engine bay), I'm sure that will clear up some of the doubt.

[Brando]

It looks to me like that little rubber belt inside that oblonged plate would be THE failure point...

[x3m944]

The Chris... what doubt? I posted the dyno results from test on the first 944 prototype. Do I have a 944 I am testing with? Son where have you been, have you read the entire thread?

Yes I do have a 944 and its probably seen more power adders than you have made posts on the forum, the only thing holding off the finishing of this is replacing the cluthc, O2 sensor and control arms.

I am not attacking you, but I would have thought I was very clear about having a 944 that its installed on, not to mention one that it was tested on. In fact if that friend of mines 44 hadnt been totalled by some idiot on a cell phone, well... thats another story. Bottom line the initial install was rough and only served to test the alpha unit. The unit has changed since its initial design as have the mounts and all in the name of improving it. Now thats enough recap, want to know more go back and read the rest, not to mention 924.org.

Not attacking you, so dont take it that way. Just saying I have posted a lot already. As for proof, what do you call all those pics?

If you dont like th pics I posted so far, showing a prototype in the engine bay during mock up, well to bad.

Their are a ton of pics in this post of the unit, of its parts, good lord, do you need a picture of me holding the thing with a big stupid grin on my face? IF you do, go run around in circles.... you will get their faster.

Something you need to understand... I adressed this before, their are reasons I am not posting the install, their where reasons why you didnt get to see the complete unit itself. Even now, with pics of the unit I get people emailing me to sell them the parts to make their own... in other words people like to copy, steal, etc... always take the easy way out.

One big thing for me, is the finish of the product, no one likes to show prototypes, first impressions are everything sometimes. I already get emails from people saying my supercharger looks like $)#@$)@#&$@ and all that mess want to know if the finished product will look like a real supercharger...

Same thing applies to the install... I am not posting pictures of all kinds of roughed out work. Not happening. When its done, polished, painted, etc. I will post pictures of it.

If people at this point, looking and reading about everything both here and over on 924.org still think its BS well then they are not worth my time.

Its real, it works and it rocks!

Nuf said about that.

[x3m944]

Well I have sold a few of the basic units and a few kits, currently they are being or are currently installed on the following:
88 S10 Blazer 4.3 engine – no data yet – 5th injector supplied[color=dark red]
96 Berretta 3.1 engine – no data yet – Water Injection Supplied[/color]
69 VW Bug – 2332cc built motor, 207 HP/189 FT-LBS, counter shaft setup, with a 4 barrel carburetor in draw thru configuration. Had to modify housing to accept a setup similar to early Buick T-Type. Running rich, needs to be tweaked.
87 924S 2.5 engine – no data yet
80 Mercury Capri RS 2.3 engine - original non-turbo, NA pistons - 232 WHP/256 W FT-LBS, EFI 5 PSI – needs to adjust Belt Tension, using a spring loaded tensioner. - Water Injection and 5th Injector supplied.

That’s about it. No copies of dyno runs, no photos from anyone yet. I am hoping to get some.

So wait on a kit, like everything to mount and install the supercharger, Or get a supercharger and sort out your own fuel and timing.

I will also eventually offer a header, intercooler and other related options.

[x3m944]

To address the issue of the belt, sure it’s a weak link, so is the external belt, belts always are. Period!

Yet I haven’t lost an internal belt yet and that’s spinning the Supercharger up to over 80k for sustained speeds, something the end user isn’t likely to do. In other words the belt is more than adequate for the job, like everything else its over engineered. I could run a higher internal ratio and still not max out the bearing or the belt.

Any belt will wear out eventually. That’s why a spare belt is included with the Supercharger DIY kit. It will require replacement at some point, based on current tests and projections, you shouldn’t have to open the supercharger to replace a belt for quite some time. Can you say 2-3 years?

I am looking into using Kevlar or fiber belts, but that’s another expense. Come on now, this is back yard home brew stuff, not Fortune 500 stuff. I am no big manufacturer. I will say this: If I can make it better and cheaper I will and I will pass the savings on to the end user! Can I promise that, nope, have no clue how expensive stuff will get, considering everything I buy from raw materials on up has to be delivered to me or to who I buy it from and we all now how prices are rising do to gas prices, etc..

Look at the prices of a new Vortech, Paxton, Powerdyne, etc… only way you can beat my price is with a used unit! But this isn’t a sales pitch. I am simply saying, you buy used you get what you buy, you get something I built, you can bet its something I will use or am using on my car. Besides this is supposed to be a hobby for me not my life. Beauty in my eyes is that, I am real, you can reach out and talk to me, meet me at events in the near future, hands on kind of stuff. I am one of you, I didn’t come to the forum to advertise my ebay adds or some such, I been around a while and I am often to free with information.

If you think my supercharger is the cats meow, great if you don’t… so? I built it you didn’t so go suck an egg. Hahaha seriously your entitled to your opinion, if you can do it better then do it! If you can’t…

Still a belt failure is not catastrophic, it means you loose boost… that will not kill your engine only your fun.

Awh Shucks what are we going to do now…. You remove the unit and remove the cover, replace the belt and move on. In the event you some how hosed bearings, those are replaceable as well… more complicated as in you return it to me for service, but you would have to do something terrible to the unit to do that. Those bearings are way over spec for the application.

As for belts and bearings, I do not manufacture them after all. Belts are no different than replacing a AC or ALT belt. Simple and easy and for the end user who is rather anal about replacing belts, fine, replace it every year. Bearings should last the life of the supercharger, but should they fail or some one overdrives the unit etc, and yes some idiot will do that, well then eventually they could fail.

That’s why you see superchargers with busted blades on the compressor wheel or gauges on the lobes in a roots supercharger, people want more boost and go beyond anything practical for the unit. If you want 20 PSI, the idea is not to overdrive the supercharger, I will offer a high Boost application down the road, these initial units are designed for a max of 8 PSI, which is below tolerances, but that’s beside the point I like a safety margin.

If you don’t want belts, fine go buy a Vortech or something and enjoy your folly. Then again I am not the only one to use a belt drive in a supercharger. Belts are quiet, more so than gears, good or bad, I think that’s a plus, it also doesn’t cost as much to manufacture, but that doesn’t mean it’s a weaker or cheaper design, what I means is I don’t have to buy, build, design gears. Will I offer a gear drive, yes I will, I already have two different prototypes built, but that’s down the road.

I am constantly either redesigning or building something better, not just for me, but for everyone, I mean come on people. I want a supercharger or turbo under the hood of every car, I am a boost fanatic…. and everything goes better with BOOST!

[SlowToady]

I've heard about how the stock fuel rail is basically ****ty, design wise. I'm sure you know more about it than I do, but I was wondering what you would think of the Lindsey Racing fuel rail setup with 951 injectors and FP and your SC kit. Would one be able to forego the 5th injector you use with such a setup? Would it make better power?

Just curious what your thoughts would be.

I nailed it on an on-ramp last night and said to myself, "damn, I could go for a just a tad more acceleration..". Seemed like I had hit a brick wall at 60mph.

[Brando]

How close are you to having the kit complete...

You mentioned something about the cheapest kit... Does that mean you're offering more than one setup?

And maybe this has been answered already... Would your supercharger itself be adaptable to other cars?

[x3m944]

The complete kit isn't far away.

I will mostly likely offer more than one kit. Sort of different levels of completeness....

I am thinking at the moment two for sure: one with everything, timing, fuel,etc covered and a second that offers just the supercharger with mounts and all that, leaving the purchaser to figure out timing and fuel for themselves.

I am also thinking of offering additional options, as mentioned, Header, chip, etc...

All depends on supply and demand. Its a hobby not a buisness, so its not like I have a warehouse to store stuff and all that mess. I have my garage. But if I am lucky I might be able to secure wholesale pricing on items that I can pass along to everyone else.

I am also want to go back and finish my EFI conversion kit for the 924 and 944. For the true stand alone tuning experience.

Other options as mentioned previous would be thing like a MAF conversion. So lots of projects I have done to my car in the past, could be made into products for the end user.

AS FOR ADAPTABLE---- yes you can put it on any car with smaller displacement. It will suport up to a 5 liter, but I recommend below 5 lliters. As I continue to refine the supercharger my goal is make a smaller more compact unit. I have accomplished this to a point. I want to go a little smaller, but I am stalled with money for development. So I have to do things in stages.

Right now you can get a universal supercharger that you can bolt to any care yourself, it only requires you fabricating mounts.

I will be shortly offering the complete 944 kit, followed by the 924 kit.

Then I will offer higher boost options and then finally I will launch the second generation of superchargers, etc... always looking to improve the design and reduce cost, so that I can sell it cheaper.

I wanted something that is a good buy, something I can be prould of and something that doesnt cost a fortune to buy! I have that, but I am not going to rest on my behind, I will keep charging ahead finding ways to reduce cost. Make it better!

If you check the recent posts, you will see it has been installed on a few different platforms.

So email me or pm or post what car you want to put it on, if not a 944. Be glad to work out the details with you.

Oh and to everyone--- I might sound gruff in my responses... doesnt mean I am not approachable, I am just not a warm and fuzzy kind of guy on the forums. You want warm and fuzzy, read everything, think before you ask and then email me, be glad to go into all manner of details about how to make it work for you, etc... but not so much on the thread.

Here, if you dont read the thread and ask stuff that requires me to repeat myself or others to repeat themselves, well it eats up space. I know my posts are long, its easy to miss stuff. But I usually have a lot to say and most of it, tends to be good information, some of it you have to take with a grain of salt.

So sorry if it puts you off, its a BBS afterall everyone has an opinion.

[The Chris]

Originally posted by x3m944
Yes I do have a 944 and its probably seen more power adders than you have made posts on the forum...
...
If you dont like th pics I posted so far, showing a prototype in the engine bay during mock up, well to bad.
...
Their are a ton of pics in this post of the unit, of its parts, good lord, do you need a picture of me holding the thing with a big stupid grin on my face? IF you do, go run around in circles.... you will get their faster.

Well, my daddy can beat up your daddy!

Deep breaths, ok? I don't want to be responsible for you popping a blood vessel or something...

It's just a simple request for some installed pics.

I was referring to people who are skeptical of it all (you do of course realize that this is a poll thread about whether or not this is possible....right?). I'm sure pictures of parts aren't satisfying some because, no offense, anyone can take a picture of parts.

I just thought this might be a neat item, and a simple picture of it "in action" wouldn't be too much to ask.

Originally posted by x3m944
...their are reasons I am not posting the install, their where reasons why you didnt get to see the complete unit itself. Even now, with pics of the unit I get people emailing me to sell them the parts to make their own... in other words people like to copy, steal, etc... always take the easy way out.

From what I have read, the concept and plan has been disscussed in detail. Are you afraid of giving away the actual physical orientation?

Originally posted by x3m944
One big thing for me, is the finish of the product, no one likes to show prototypes, first impressions are everything sometimes. I already get emails from people saying my supercharger looks like $)#@$)@#&$@ and all that mess want to know if the finished product will look like a real supercharger...

I think we are all capable of looking at a prototype and not drawing final conclusions util the finished product is released.

Good luck with the project,
-chris

[x3m944]

Chris, yea....lots of laughing in between the deep breaths.. bahahaha....you can never read emotions in the forum.

Yea I know the thread was started about can it be done, by someone else. I sort of took it over, no point starting another one.

So you want to boost your car eh? Can you handle the power?

If you can, you are looking at a system that will install in the car with minimum fuss, self-contained and durable