Topic: Supercharger Questions

[yojimbo17]

 I have a 98 Civic Ex.  It has a APC intake(crap) Hks exhaust, and DC sport headers.  I need to know alot about superchargers as you can see.  Can you help me? Thanks.


1: Is there a Supercharger system available for my car?
2: How much is a Supercharger system?
3: How much horsepower will it produce?
4: What kind of 0-60 and 1/4 mile times can I expect?
5: Is the Supercharger system emissions legal?
6: Can I install it myself?
7: Will my factory warranty be void?
8: How does the Supercharger affect the engine life?
9: Do I have to maintain the Supercharger after it's installed?
10: Are any gauges required for installation?
11: Do Chip and Cam upgrades help with the Supercharger?
12: Do intake, header, and exhaust upgrades help the Supercharger?
13: What parts, other than the Supercharger, do you recommend?
14: How does the Supercharger compare to a Turbo system and does it need an intercooler?


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[yojimbo17]

Hey thanx. Hell you know more than i do!

[Night Angel424]

hehe thanks, I try. I just sit there and ask a hell of a lot of questions, get dirty, and dont care if I look dumb... lol

[utahteg]

Hum I know a few of the answers
1.  Vortech and Jackson Racing make supercharges for your car, I am sure that Eaton does, but not positive
2.  The cost can range from roughly $2,000 to $3,000 and then you need to add on labor, could be anywhere from $500 - $1000 depends on the rates back there.
3: The vortech can produce between 50-100 hp depending on your mods.
4: 0-60 times ?? 1/4 times depends on your ability probably 15 seconds (also your elevation will play a part in your time, the lower elevation the better).
5: Yes, it is emissions legal
6: Can you install it yourself, depends on how mechanically inclined you are.
7: The factory warranty will be void for all engine components.
8: Any forced induction system is detrimental to the life of your engine, but you want a fast car right.
9: Maintenance is less for a supercharger than a turbo, but some maintenance is stilled needed.
10: Are any gauges required for installation, I never did reserch that when I was looking.
11: Performance upgrades will help.
12: Do intake, header, and exhaust upgrades help the Supercharger, yes, but it sounds like you are in good shape - get a different intake.
13: What parts, other than the Supercharger, do you recommend?  Not sure.
14: How does the Supercharger compare to a Turbo system and does it need an intercooler?  You don't use an intercooler for a supercharge - you can get an afterburner (I believe that's the correct name - correct me if I'm wrong)

[Mar_DC2]

just to expand on what twinner said:

gauges aren't "required" but a boost gauge and EGT will help a lot with tuning, although with a supercharger you dont really need to worry about the boost since there is no way to controll it other than changing pullies.

like any other car, "chip" and cams will help. although with your car, since its OBDII, you cant just buy a chip and have it soldered into your ECU. i would suggest getting a SAFC-II or VAFC and having it dyno tuned (prefferably SAFC-II, you dont really need to mess with VTEC and you have many more options with the SAFC-II). as far as a cam, i would suggest the Skunk2 stage I, best quality out there for your car, suggested retail is $530, but im sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere. there's also ZEX, Gude Bullfrog, etc...

Intake header and exhaust are some of the more important components of a supercharged honda, if youre trying to get more air into the car you wont get full potential till you get more air out. there are headers out there made especially for supercharged cars, but ive read that the Kamikazi header is great for SC'd hondas. you can find them on endyn's website at www.theoldone.com and probably a bunch of other sites for pretty cheap. mostly any exhaust will be okay for your car as long as its 2.5".

some supercharger system's like the vortech use a water-air intercooler. ive seen mercedes superchargers that have a side mount intercooler like a turbo system. i know jackson racing has an intercooler system for their supercharger, but it looks more like a coolant system that cools the supercharger its self, that might be the after-burner thing that twinner was talking about, but i dont know for sure.

i'd say with your car you'd probably see about 160-180whp, depending on what your set up is, how its tuned, etc...

[zula99si]

If I'm correct you mentioned you had a 98 EX which means you have the SOHC.  Vortech only makes its Centrifical Supercharger for the B-series engines.  Jackson Racing uses an Eaton style supercharger, and yes they do offer one for your application.

If you are planning on doing future tuning to the SOHC engine, I would suggest the 50-State legal Greddy Turbo Kit.  It is much more tunable and with an Intercooler you can safely run 8psi and expect horsepower gains of at least 180.

If you choose to go with the Supercharger set up, Btown gave you some good pointers, I'm just a guy who prefers turbos.  Happy tuning

[Night Angel424]

so A series engines are SOHC? and B series are DOCH?

[OverLord]

so A series engines are SOHC? and B series are DOCH?

The D series motors are SOHC. And the B series are DOHC?

I would go with the turbo kit as well. You will be able to crank up the boost without changing pullies.  

[yojimbo17]

hey thanx for the info  i found a greddy turbo kit for $1,595.00 online.  Thats not bad is it?  I plan on buying a new intake very soon :two_big_thumbs_up: Maybe an AEM cold air intake. I bought the crappy APC intake because it was cheaper and i didn't have much money to spare because of skool.

[Mar_DC2]

if youre getting a turbo or a supercharger, you dont really need to worry about the intake. most kits come with an intake thats fit for the turbo or supercharger.

1,595 isn't bad for the GReddy kit, i'd keep looking though, im sure you can find it for $100-$200 less. if youre getting that kit, i'd save some extra money for an intercooler. go to www.maxrev.com, they have a great intercooler for i think about $600, i may be wrong on the price so dont trust me on that. they also make one of the best turbo kits around for honda's, but the turbo's they use are much larger than the 15G in the GReddy kit, so you'll get a hell of a lot of lag with that.

[utahteg]

BtownCivic is correct the maxrev may be cheaper, but the GREddy kit is the only carb-exempt kit.  The GReddy kit comes with the 18G, well it did for my car, it may be different for your civic...haven't looked into it.

[OverLord]

I would save your money for the turbo and stay away from the intake. We could get the turbo for you if you are serious. I think our price was around 1300-1400 for that kit.

[Mar_DC2]

the maxrev isnt cheaper, i was just saying the intercooler is probably $600. the whole kit is about $2,500. but the kit is totally customizable and also comes with FMIC, 2.5" downpipe, maxrev BOV, maxrev manifold, DIY charge pipes, T3/T04E turbo, your choice of polish, etc...

[Mar_DC2]

BTW the D-series GReddy kit comes with a 15G.