[The Novice]

Ok so i have desided that if i get anything it is going to be a Supercharger i am leaning towards this one by Vortech. ( Link Posted Below )
Vortech 4FA218-040SQ - Vortech Centrifugal Supercharger Kits - summitracing.com+
And this S/C kit Says it comes with everything i need to install and go. But i was jw is there any way i could get a little more HP out of it? it says 8-10 PSI but Vortech says its holds upto 20 PSI. Also it comes with a 6-rib Pulley, cant you get more HP with an 8 or 10? ( i have no idea how that works ) Or is there a way i could increase the boost lvls without hurting anything on my car? Or ( finally ) Would a methonal kit be the way to go? I heard ya can get like 50 more HP from it, but does it run hotter, and if i do any of these thing or something else to add more HP what should i do, can i do them myself or no? And is it bad for my car? Anything helps thanks alot guys you know more than me about this stuff but thanks for the help! - The Novice.

[Squints]

depending on your current setup, i wouldn't run more than 8 psi or so. if you ran that thing at 20 psi, you wouldn't be running it for very long, i promise.

also, think about how much power you'll be making by adding 8 psi. use the formula (HP/14.7) x (14.7+ Boost in PSI) that will give you an estimate of how much power you'd be making. then you have to cross reference that to the limitation everything from the motor/trans and everything else all the way back to the rear end. a lot more to it than just slapping a blower on and throwing the most boost you can get at it.

[Chris951]

Originally Posted by Squints depending on your current setup, i wouldn't run more than 8 psi or so. if you ran that thing at 20 psi, you wouldn't be running it for very long, i promise. also, think about how much power you'll be making by adding 8 psi. use the formula (HP/14.7) x (14.7+ Boost in PSI) that will give you an estimate of how much power you'd be making. then you have to cross reference that to the limitation everything from the motor/trans and everything else all the way back to the rear end. a lot more to it than just slapping a blower on and throwing the most boost you can get at it.

Actually, with every pound of boost, you increase HP by 7%. That's what I heard and it seems to be true. Now with turbo's i don't know lol..

[nolife]

Originally Posted by The Novice But i was jw is there any way i could get a little more HP out of it? it says 8-10 PSI but Vortech says its holds upto 20 PSI. Also it comes with a 6-rib Pulley, cant you get more HP with an 8 or 10?

Changing the pulley diameter changes the SC's rpm which changes the boost. A smaller SC pulley or a larger crank pulley would increase the boost. Vortech has diagrams and equations so you can calculate the compressors rpm at certain engine rpms for what pulley combination you are using. The goal of knowing where the SC is operating is to prevent overspeeding the compressor and to balance the efficiency and power gains.

Would a methonal kit be the way to go? I heard ya can get like 50 more HP from it, but does it run hotter, and if i do any of these thing or something else to add more HP what should i do

The goal with any engine is to run without preignition or detonation. Anything that moves you further away from detonation is good. Retarding timing, increasing octane, and reducing air charge temperatures will put you further from detonation. Compressing air through a turbo or a SC heats up the incoming air a lot. Methanol kits are useful on boosted engines because they will raise the octane level AND reduce the air charge temperature. This should put you further away from detonation and will allow you run without retarding the timing as much. That is where the "power" comes from when using a methanol kit.

I run 10-12# with a Vortech and do not use methanol and use 1.5 degree per pound retard. It has been safe so far and putting out 440 rwhp. When I use 1 degree per pound boost retard, I peak about 470 RWHP. I don't like rolling around at 1 degree though because I am paranoid. If I had a methanol kit, I'd feel more comfortable running at 1 degree per pound and maybe even less.

If I were you and you want the Vortech, go with the standard 8-10 kit, get everything going and tuned and safe. Decide on increasing the boost and the meth after that. It is not going to cost any different to add the meth kit or change the pulley earlier than later. Keep in mind that the more boost you run, the more demand your gaskets and seals will have on them. Don't be surprised when you have to change some of them out.

[Squints]

Originally Posted by Chris951 Actually, with every pound of boost, you increase HP by 7%. That's what I heard and it seems to be true. Now with turbo's i don't know lol..

i'm going by things that i've read in literature and books. i don't have en exact knowledge of this stuff, as i've never boosted any cars myself. so, i could be wrong, but i'm pretty sure that formula works. it's not based on s/c or turbo. it's based on actual boost. boost is boost whether it's coming from a s/c or turbo. the efficiency of those two separate components may differ, but the air coming out of them shares the same properties. as long as the actual boost is the same, gains should be the same between the two. (in theory) allowing for differences throughout the power band due to operation differences in s/c and turbos.