I have had a Paxton SN-92-7960 on my 91 Firebird Formula 305 TBI since 1993. It has always had a whistling sound around 1800 to 22oo RPM. That is normal, but now, in addition to the whistling, I am hearing a whining sound that increases in pitch from idle to above 2500 RPM. I don't know what is causing the whining or if it is a serious problem. The seals are good. I still get 5 psi of boost at 4500 RPM. Unfortunatly Paxton does not support automotive superchargers anymore (since 1998). The supercharger has 37000 miles on it and the fluid has been changed every 1000 miles. No racing miles.

1. Has anyone had a problem like this?
2. Are there any service places for Paxton Superchargers?
3. Would another manufacturer's supercharger replace the Paxton with existing hardware?

Thanks,
Don

 

I'm not sure what you mean about paxton, they still make, rebuild, and sell thier car blowers, we are a dealer. hell even summit sell them.

 

B4Ctom1,

I called Paxton Products at 1-800-959-8884 in Camarillo, Ca and followed the recorded message and depressed "2" for automotive superchargers. The message states that Paxton is only in industrial superchargers and no longer sells or services automotive superchargers (since 1998). You are a dealer and apparently have different information. Would you please let me know where you got your info so that I can inquire about my supercharger? I purchased my supercharger from Summit in 1993. They no longer advertise Paxton Superchargers.

Thank you,
Don

 

THATS BS....You heard the message wrong or they changed it..... When paxton split apart in 1998.... One group had the INDUSTRIAL division the other had the automotive....They originally changed the company to Paxton Automotive...or at least thats what they called the company over the phone..... ANYWAY when that happened they had the same message but at the end it said...For automotive stuff call Paxton Automotive at (whatever the phone number was/is)

The reason you dont see your kit in a jegs or summit is because they no longer manufacture those blowers...They only ake the NOVI 2000 and larger Gear blowers...But they still had service parts and were rebuilding them 2 months ago when I was selling mine and got some info for the guy who bought it..

Kenwood

 

And PAxton and Vortech just merged companies Less than a year ago...So they were around after 1998

 

Kenwood,

I am simply trying to find out info to repair my Paxton Supercharger. Please call Paxton Products now, 1-800-959-8884 and respond to the recording, it's a free call. If you hear something different from what I stated earlier, please let me know. You seem to have info concerning Paxton service and repair of their automotive superchargers. Would please tell me the phone number, address or e-mail address so I can contact them.

Thank you,
Don

 

OK below is 2 links.... 1 is to the Paxton Automotive website...the other is to the article explaining what happened with Paxton/Vortech...

Paxton Automotive - www.paxtonauto.com

Infor on partnership.... http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/...1/vor_pax.html

hope this helps

Wait I just found some more on the Ball drive units....

Go to

http://www.paxtonauto.com/ball_drive.html

Apparently they have turned the repair over to a different company on the old units.....As I said in the earlier posts they only make the Gear driven ones now...

 

Thanks Kenwood. This is the info I need.

Don

 

Please post your experience with Paradise Wheels, I too need a rebuild and would like to know how much it costs and how quickly they return it.

 

I've got no idea on getting the thing rebuilt, but what struck me is that you've got a supercharged formula and you expect us to beleive that you have " No racing miles. "

How many racing 1/4 miles?

 

Well I CANT Comment on them.... Ive never used them or PAXTON....

I SOLD THE FREAK Paxton Blower I had.... I ran on it for MANY years and races....And never had ANY problems at all.... I did not have any need for a rebuild...Which is odd because I never even bought the oil cooler...

Sorry I could not help there but I just passed on what I knew from back when I was calling them and getting tips on more boost... :-)

 

Roger,

I called Paradise Wheels (1-760-740-0954) and spoke with Craig. He said Paxton asked him to take over the supercharger repair business. My supercharger is an SN-92. Craig will fax/mail you a one page repair order. A complete rebuild of the blower is $700 plus shipping and handling. Options are a modified impeller for $100 and an oil cooler kit for $200. Turn around time is 2-3 days. Craig also has a machine for testing the repaired supercharger. I removed my supercharger yesterday and I am shipping it today.

Good luck,
Don

 

Well then their prices are cheaper than paxton was...Hopefully the rebuild goes well for you....

 

I've been gone for a while and just saw this thread.

Paradise Wheels will fix you up. I have had mine done there and got excellent service! Which was a real treat after having dealings with Paxon directly back in the early to mid '90s. Paxtons service royally sucked eggs!

If you don't already have one, Craig might make you a good deal on the cooler too. If your duct coupling hoses are in need of replacement, he had those as well.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...aradise+wheels

 

Tracy,

What kind of problem did you have with your supercharger when you sent it to Paradise Wheels and how many miles was on it? Just courious. I have 37000 miles on mine. In the early years I used Paxta-Trac fluid twice and it ate the seals. I still have one unopened bottle, but I am afraid to use it. Paxton would not acknowledge their problem, so that cost me $250. J. R. Granatelli is a dishonest SOB.

Don

 

When I sent it to P W It needed a ball drive and seals. It had sat on a shelf for about a year and a half. Sitting that long in the same position caused flat spots on the ball drive bearings. Craig said that was a somewhat common problem with them after being stored awhile. When I was ready to put it back on the car, I noticed the seals where seeping and when you turned it by hand you could feel a faint catch or click.

The early life of this thing was a major pain.
I bought it brand new, and it locked up within two weeks, but even before it got that far it was a PITA.
Before the purchase I called Paxton directly to see if I needed any other equipment/parts to do the install. They said "Every thing you need is included in the kit, hoses, belts, anything you will need". Wrong, The kit was designed for 85-87 TPI. If you had the 85 or 86 you had to buy an 87 style alternator. So right off the bat, 2/3 of the years the kit covered needed a new alternator and new wiring harness pigtail for it (costing me $200) and I had to wait three days for it to arrive after ordering it, sending the advertised (supposed) installation time from one afternoon to over three days while I waited for extra parts that That were required and I was told prior to the purchase I would not need. The kit also relocated the alternater closer the the water pump, requiring a shorter belt, also not included. Some of the fasteners needed where not included either. None of that would be a big deal if I had been told when I purposely took time to call them directly and ask that specific question before the purchase.
Then one of the airduct coupling hoses was too short, about 3/4" shorter than the parts list said it was supposed to be. I called them about it, and they wanted me to ship the hose to them, then they would send me a new one. I'm on the other side of the country, so shipping time both ways would be about 1.5 - 2 weeks. Long damn wait for a $1 - $5 part that was incorrect in a $2400 dollar kit. I would have been a happier customer, if they had just dropped one in the mail and I had it in 4 - 5 working days or so. I just tracked one down localy and paid $15 for a foot of hose (I only needed 3" but 1' was minimum they sold).

So after all that I finally get the thing installed and run it for about a week and a half, and on the way home one evening on the interstate, the supercharger locks up and it shredds/melts it's drivebelt. Great. I call Paxton, and get a return number. I remove, drain, Plastic bag, and box the thing up and ship it to them. A few weeks (that's right, not days, weeks) went by and no word from Paxton. I call them up to see what's taking so long, and they say they are discussing whether they are going to cover it under warranty or not.
They then say, they are not sure if I had run oil (Motorcraft F type tranny fluid) or if I had run it dry!?!?! WTF??? I had drained it befor shipping it, so it wasn't full, but it had plenty of oil residue left in it, as well as metal shavings. When I drained it, the oil coming out of it looked like red paint with silver metal flake in it. I asked them about the oil residue that must have been in it, and they said they leave oil in it durring manufacture so it could have been there from that. After making me use a turkey baster to fill it, they say maybe I didn't, and maybe they won't honor the warranty?!?!? I politely threatened a call to the CA BBB and/or the CA attorney General and they decided to cover the supercharger but not it's drive belt that it ate when it locked up. So that would cost me $50 bucks to replace it. ******.
So they began to rebuild my expensive headache, and I began to wait, and wait and wait. Again after a few weeks wait I call and find out I am waiting for them to get more belts. Finally a box shows up at the door. I open it and there are no belts in it, with the supercharger, and wait just a minute, the supercharger isn't right either. The discharge is in the wrong place.
I opend the invoice, and discovered that I had the supercharger that belonged to a guy that lived in Texas. I called them up and they said "oh, that's where that went". They had sent him my supercharger, and sent his to me. Now, they wated me to ship it back to them (at my cost). I told them to do a UPS recall at their expense. After again waiting for weeks, no UPS truck showed up to pick the package back up. I again called to see what the hold up was. Maybe I should have called an pestered them every day from day one? They seemed surprised that I still had it, and that I hadn't shipped it back to them yet at my expense. I couldn't beleive this. I took it that evening to a UPS terminal, and shipped it to them at my expense just wishing the nightmare would end. About 3 weeks later I receive my supercharger and belt after months of waiting, and spending about $300 over the cost of the supercharger kit. To this day, I still cuss Paxton and their thoroughly lousy handlng of the situation. Hey Paxton, . I wish ATI had been around with their Prochargers back whe I bought this thing.

Craig at Paradise Wheels, was great.:hail: Completely the opposite of Paxton. Quick, Helpful, quick, accurate, quick I was thrilled. Unlike when dealing directly with Paxton, I did not feel That I had been conned, mugged and pi$$ed on.

 

Tracy,

Thanks for the info.
You could write a best selling book on nigthmares for what you went through with Paxton. There just isn't any justice when you have to deal with dishonest people like Granatelli.

Good luck from now on,
Don