supercharger

[Biz-z Z]

Originally Posted by threpwood

After talking to a rep from imagineauto (www.imagineauto.com), I feel close to being persuaded in ordering one despite voiding the engine warranty...There is a lot of 'higher end' Porsches but not Boxster with supercharger.

Before I decide to burn $8000 in my pocket, anybody has any thought about the supercharger? Any opinions are welcome.

Just a couple things I’d like to mention, and I’m no tech guy as you will see:

Superchargers sound good and it seems to me we all crave more hp/tq. This one’s a centrifugal s/c which means you will find the max power you are looking for at the upper end of the rpm band. Is that where you want to go to get it? Nothing wrong with that, mind you. I’ve got a similar non-intercooled s/c (7 lbs boost) on my daily driver, a ’99 Miata. It zips right along but the motor has to be cooking up around 4500-5000 before the difference really begins to be seen. I don’t know of any centrifugals that give you a lot of real low end pull, and typically that’s where most folks want the extra muscle. You may want to ask the proprietor for a dyno graph overlay depicting the hp and tq over the rpm band on the Box 3.2 litre with and without their s/c so you can see where/when the power is delivered and whether or not that meets your driving style.

Another thing that comes to my untrained eye is there is no mention of the oil/ lubrication system other than the s/c comes with “oil for the blower”. The charger will need continuous lubrication. That means periodically you will have to go in and unscrew something and check and add oil to whatever reservoir it has as opposed to having a constant feed/return from the engine’s oil supply like Vortec uses. Some folks say those s/c’s with the permanent oil line last longer.

Presumably, if the s/c serpentine belt breaks, you can limp on home as long as you don’t get the motor up in the area where the GIAC software changes things. That’s how it is with my s/c. I’m kind of a “belt and suspenders” guy so that would be important to me.

Not looking to dis anyone’s product here and certainly the rest of the ladies and gents on this board are free to disagree and hopefully correct me if I’ve stated something wrong.

Having said, the little boy in me keeps saying, "Go get it and come back and tell us how really really great it is, so I can get one too!"

Zib

[JP-s-in st. louis]

My 2000 S is at Imagine Auto right now having the S/C installed! I have dealt with Imagine Auto for a few years and find them to be a class A operation. Stephen is very well respected in the 996 and 930 group (see 6speedonline). Imagine also had one of the 996TT in the "High Roller Shootout" featured in Excellence last year.

For day to day driving the S/C does not factor in till you reach a higher RPM range. Stephen has assured me that this is safe HP and we will be running safe boost (4-6lbs). Please go to 6speedonline and check his reputation out I promise it is impeccable. I want to go fast but keep my 3.2 in one piece. I should see it in a few weeks and let you all know how scary fast it is. My first night I want to find a stock 996TT and see how I fair.

[threpwood]

Your bravery will not be forgotten

JP in St Louis, please post pictures and other info when you can (even while it's still in installation). I'd love to see how it fits!

[JP-s-in st. louis]

I have seen one installed on the 2.5 and the only way to see it is by being looking from under the car on the passenger side. A mirror alwo works if you put it under the car.

[Brucelee]

If it were me, I would sell the 2.5 and go with an S.

Simply a better car, IMHO.

[JP-s-in st. louis]

Bruce: Thats what I think also thats why I bought the 3.2. But damm I still want more. The location is the same on all the cars. I can tell you that the 2.5 with the S/C can run down a S (3.2) with ease.

I have my eye on my next toy a 930 or 964 turbo 3.6. But I cant swing that for about a year or two.

[Biz-z Z]

Originally Posted by JP-s-in st. louis

Bruce: Thats what I think also thats why I bought the 3.2. But damm I still want more. The location is the same on all the cars. I can tell you that the 2.5 with the S/C can run down a S (3.2) with ease.

I have my eye on my next toy a 930 or 964 turbo 3.6. But I cant swing that for about a year or two.

Are you going to dyno your car after the s/c installation? Are there any additional modifications needed like a clutch upgrade or strengthening the internals?

[threpwood]

Originally Posted by JP-s-in st. louis

My 2000 S is at Imagine Auto right now having the S/C installed! I have dealt with Imagine Auto for a few years and find them to be a class A operation. Stephen is very well respected in the 996 and 930 group (see 6speedonline). Imagine also had one of the 996TT in the "High Roller Shootout" featured in Excellence last year.

For day to day driving the S/C does not factor in till you reach a higher RPM range. Stephen has assured me that this is safe HP and we will be running safe boost (4-6lbs). Please go to 6speedonline and check his reputation out I promise it is impeccable. I want to go fast but keep my 3.2 in one piece. I should see it in a few weeks and let you all know how scary fast it is. My first night I want to find a stock 996TT and see how I fair.

Just want to bump this up. Is the installation now completed? Would appreciate some pictures! :dance: