Before you read this post, I want you to know that I have used the Search button to its fullest extent. That being said...

Within the next 3 or 4 months, I should be finished with the interior, audio, body, and possibly paint on my '89 Iroc. I'm thinking that I might take the forced induction route via a S/C. I'm not looking for anything too special or ridiculous, but a power adder such as a blower would be a fun toy to have in the Z.

So I'd like to find out what I can about superchargers on third gens. I was unable to find anything on the board about supercharger kits, so I want to know if there is any such thing for our lovely 3rd gens. If not, how difficult would you say it is to fabricate your own system?

Another aspect that I don't think has been discussed (didn't show up in my search anyways) was the pricing. How much could one expect to spend on the entire system? Not just the blower, but also the complete kit, brackets, parts, maybe tuning if necessary..?

I'd like to hear what you have to say. Also, for those of you who have blown third gens, how are they working out? How long has your car been blown? Do you have many problems? Was it hard to install? Etc etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

Check into Vortech or ProCharger. They both make kits for our cars. Many people have been very happy with either of these kits on their 3rd gens. I have a ProCharger myself and love it.

www.ProCharger.com

 

I find it hard to believe you couldnt find the information your looking for but, I will help anyway.

Heres the general concensus.


Procharger is a nice setup, and comes with an intercooler. A lot of stock pro-charged cars have no problem getting into the 12s.

PROS: Nice setup, intercooled
CONS: Blower efficiency not up to snuff, some cars need minor grinding/filing to fit.


Vortech is also a nice setup, however, in stock form has no provisions for an intercooler. It is also possible to get a stock car well into the 12s with a vortech.

PROS: Nice setup, VERY efficient blower.
CONS: Oil pan drain kinda a PITA, no intercooler.


Most setups are designed for serp belt TPI cars. Otherwise, customization would need to be done. A vortech setup CAN be adapted to run an intercooler (I know, I did it), but requires some fabrication skills.


-- Joe

 

The only part I have to disagree with is the effiency of the blowers. A ProCharger is as efficient if not more efficient to an equal sized Vortech. I have seen several side by side, non-biased comparisons done between these two blowers on the exact same cars, with equal amounts of cool-down time. The ProCharger came out on top every time. The cool part was, I was standing right next to Corky Bell, (chatting), during the testing.

 

Cool. Corcky wrote a great book on turbocharging.

However, a car is not involved with rating the efficiency of a blower.

ATI doesn't pubish the effiiciency of their blowers. Why? Because that would give something else for vortech to laugh at.

ATI consistantly bashes Vortech, because vortech says you don't NEED an intercooler. Vortech is right, with a vortech, you dont NEED an intercooler. With a hair dryer, err I mean a procharger, you'd be a fool to run without one.

-- Joe

 

I'm not sure why you would say that. Mechanically the blowers are practically the same other than with a Vortech, if the blower crashes, there goes your engine too. Go Vortech!

Anyways, going by what you are saying about Vortech being better than ProCharger because they don't need ant intercooler, then you are saying that Vortech is better than most turbos too, because most turbos use intercoolers also. Vortech is just mad about the intercooler thing because they didn't think of it first. Vortech recently lost 2 lawsuits because they were trying to claim that they're blowers were more efficient. Can you guess why they lost both of them? That's right, they were wrong. ProChargers produce less heat than Vortechs, that's why they are adding aftercoolers with some of their kits now. It's the only way they can be somewhat competive. Check this out
http://www.procharger.com/competitorhp/summary.shtml

BTW, I appreciate you keeping this as more of a debate than a name calling session like some other posts I've read on here lately by other people. It shows the maturity level we're dealing with.

 

If the blow crashes there goes your engine too? I don't get it ?

Anyway, ATI didnt think of intercooling first. OEM has been intercooling for decades.

Both of the lawsuits were lost? One was filed in 98 by vortech, another in 99 by ATI. I didnt see a conclusion to either suit, anywhere. ??

-- Joe

 

When you're blower shares the same oil source as your engine, the metal from the blower contaminates the engine oil which in turn trashes your bearings.

I didn't mean that ATI thought of it vefore OEM, I meant before Vortech. You're right though. OEM has been using it for years, so why not keep using it?

The link I posted earlier was a result of Vortech losing that last lawsuit.

I would like to point out that in my first reply earlier in the thread, I did say that either ProCharger or Vortech would be a good choice.