> I've installed and use the Powerdyne and Vortech on my vehicles (not a
Dodge
> though). I've researched and talked to owners of Whipple/Kenne bell
units.
> Just like the rest of the world it's a "give and take" situation. Forgive
me
> if I start to ramble on but I'll just do a brain dump.
>
> Kenne Bell/Whipple - These are twin screw blowers made in sweden or
norway.
> Kenne Bell has the rights to sell to the Ford (and apparently Chrysler)
> crowd. Whipple industries has the bowtie/GM guys covered. It's similar to
> roots blower only in terms of being a "positive displacement" charger,
> whatever that means. The important thing is these units out put tons of
low
> rpm boost. Don't need no stinking downshifts! Good for street driven
> vehicles and in my opinion great for trucks (if you have the traction). I
> think it matches magnum engines given the low redline and stock power
curve.
> There are several down sides. You tuning and fuel system better be ready
to
> handle it. It has to be ready to supply fuel and timing changes at an
> instant because full boost is there instantly. It's harder to tune for
than
> a centrifugal blower. Twin screws are heavy 50+lbs (vortechs are about
> 15lb). twin screws boost reach max at around 2500rpm and stays contant
from
> there on. However they tend to drop off the upper rpms due to lower
> efficiecy levels. Kenne bell do have 2 sizes of compressors but I don't
know
> which you will get. twin screws run hotter, period. so your air charge
will
> reflect that. Don't know how magnums will cope if they're already pinging
NA
> with 89 octance gas.
>
> Vortech - industry leader and bullet proof. The only time I've heard that
> they die is when the oil supply line gets clogged with debris or
> contaminated or when they use a cogged belt on a unit not beefed up for
it.
> Good efficiency. Can supply anywhere from 6lb to 15lb (s-trim) or more
> depending on pulley size, without super heating the air. You might think
> that you'll get more boost simply by spinning it faster, up to max
impeller
> speed but once you go beyond a compressor's efficiency level you'll just
> heat up the air (hello detonation!). Down sides are punching hole in pan
for
> drain (warranty?) and noise at idle. The boost will start building around
2
> to 2.5k and go up from there. This is good for you drag strip guys.
>
>
> Powerdyne - the guy who started this company used to work at Vortech.
Easy
> to install. The second time I installed one it took 2.5 hours. Quiet
> compared to a Vortech. I had a BD-10 and it lasted 17k miles before the
> internal belt broke. It was out of warranty so it cost $550 to rebuilt.
> Some people have NO problems at all with the BD-10 while others had
problems
> even with the newer spec BD-11. I think they just came out with the BD-12.
> Are they taking after Microsoft? Sure way to kill any blower is to
overspin
> it but powerdynes are especially prone to this. They claimed that the
sealed
> unit will run cooler than a oil-lubed unit. It's true to some extent but
> magazines have tested Powerdyne and Vortech side by side and measured the
> air charge temp per # of boost. The Vortech's air charge was only slightly
> warmer but the boost continue to climb while the powerdyne stopped at a
> certain level. Powedyne only need a 6-rib pulley. If you even spin one by
> hand you'll know why. I think it's because of the smaller compressor
wheel.
>
>
> Regardless of what you choose you'll need to be able to supply and control
> fuel and timing. The guys with centrifugal blowers like to advance the
> timing low in the rpm range and dial it back as the boost builds. This
give
> you the most power without detonating.
>
> OK. My fingers are tired but I'll be glad to answer some questions based
on
> my experience. Sad to say I might be off this list soon so I want to
> contribute to it as much as I got from it. Thanks.
>
> AKM
> '98 Dakota R/T
> '89 Mustang GT (347,Vortech S-trim, intercooler, Griggs GR-40, ...)
>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:14:48 EDT