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I'm doing a fun, what-if for my Locost. I've always planned to do a later phase of the project where I increase the power of the engine. One idea I've recently had is exploring the use of a compact, belt-driven supercharger. Back in the day, a Paxton supercharger would have been a candidate. What about now days? What are some similar kinds of units one might use today?

The V6 I'm using had a supercharger version in the Thunderbird Super Coupe, but those units are silly expensive if you can find one that isn't just a pile of junk. So, I'm thinking it worth exploring the current supercharger marketplace. In truth, I've got to think about it now as my engine compartment space is very limited and I need to decide where things will go.

Thanks in advance,

Lonnie

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

how about one of the GM supercharged 3.8 motors? Seems like they used a small roots type blower

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OOPS I did it again
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Blood Sweat and Beers
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Paxton and Vortech are still making the product you're thinking of. Check ZZperformance for roots blowers. For the 3800 engine they show a rebuilt M90 for $800 and a used M90 for $400.

Ford Motorsports sells a lot of kits for this. Not for your motor, but you might get some ideas and recognize some units if you look.

An interesting thing for our particular needs is that superchargers and turbochargers could help with space and routing issues for intake and exhaust manifolds. I'm sure they also cause their own problems (like making manifolds and/or headers, but in combination with taking a relatively normal older motor and perking it up too maybe it's a win.

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Rotrex is popular with the import crowd, though it's not a positive-displacement unit.

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The M-90 that came on the 3.8 Super Coupes is still out there. Magnusson makes a rebuild kit for them and upgrades the inlets and outlets also. I adapted one to the side of my Taurus SHO motor (made by Yamaha) that I have in my Dune buggy. I have one of the GM versions of the M-90, which has the built in by-pass valve, on the shelf in my shop. I also have a brand new in the box M-112 that Ford put on the 99-2000 Lightning.

In my opinion, the positive displace supercharger are more fun to drive than the centrifugal or turbo chargers. The PD blowers, both Roots style and Lysolm style, give you INSTANT cubic inch torque, so you can accelrate quickly through the gears without having to rev the snot out of the engine. The centrifugals and turbos give you more ultimate HP though.

Tom

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Thank you all. I've got some stuff to look into now. Appreciate it!

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

If you're looking into the GM M90, try to find a Gen V. They are a fair bit more efficient. 2004+
The intake is on the rear though, so would have to have room for it. M90 is probably going to be the cheapest to work with, and sized right. Centrifugals make life easier to get the compressed air through a intercooler and into the engine though.

Cheers.

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Build log: viewtopic.php?t=9291

i'd cut a hole in my perfectly good hood for a shorrock 142 and two big s.u. carbs, i'm sure i can get a tps switch on the side of an s.u. and dispense with the float bowls, using them just as throttle bodies.

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