the powerworks

 

^ what he said.

 

to answer your question - procharger versus vortech (not powerworks),

i believe the vortech is more efficient.

 

if you have the cash get the powerworks kit. i had the vortech and wish the powerworks was around when i got it. also the vortech is a pain to install unless you have lift

 

I am interested in this comparison too as I have not seen much info on the SVT Procharger kit.

I'm a huge fan of the simplicity of the Procharger kit. It mounts right by the belt w/no need for a shaft like the Vortech unit. You also don't have to run oil lines b/c it is a self oiled unit. If you needed to return the car to stock for whatever reason, this would be the best choice between the two.

The absolute worst part of the Procharger kit is the location of the intercooler. It sits parallel to the ground just under the radiator area...so it is very low to the ground. I'd be all over the Procharger kit if it had a non-intercooled option to save some cost off the kit and be able to use your own intercooler solution (i.e. front mount air-to-air or a water-to-air).

 

Simplicity of install Procharger


More power..... No clue. I would say Vortech in the long run

 

the vortech is a real pain to install unless you know someone who has installed one before to help..

 

the vortech is a time consuming installation, yeah.
i think the biggest pain in the ass with it is the relocation of the power steering unit and power steering line.

 

Not to mention with the procharger, if you decided to up the boost, it's easy to swap the pulley out.

 

Not to mention with the procharger, if you decided to up the boost, it's easy to swap the pulley out.

And retune it, Just like the vortech and anyother SC unit out on the market.

 

I know the procharger will make over 200wtq at the stock boost level with an aftermarket tune. Plus its cheaper, and the head unit is rated to 600hp.

 

Slickshoes is putting out 290whp on his vortech with an aftermarket tune and nothing else.

[edit]... this is on 91 octane.

 

I'd choose teh vortech simply based on its installation location in the engine bay.

that procharger thats hanging down real low, with that intercooler that sits horizontally...

I'd be real wary of having it get knocked off or severly dmged if you happen to run over to road debris or rocketse get kicked up.

 

I'd be all over the Procharger kit if it had a non-intercooled option to save some cost off the kit and be able to use your own intercooler solution (i.e. front mount air-to-air or a water-to-air).

I agree. If the Procharger kit came with a non-intercooled option it would be really attractive. The downfall of the Procharger is that its an incomplete kit - it comes with no aftermarket injectors (42 lbs is the suggestion) and no tuning involved. These are easily taken care of though by simpily buying 42 lbs injectors (about 250-300 bucks) and doing your own tuning.

As for the intercooler, I think this is easily taken care of by replacing it with a front mount intercooler. I was recently comparing the photos between a Precision Turbo intercooler and a Procharger intercooler location. The way the turbine is located on a Procharger kit placing a tubing and routing it a front based intercooler is no problem. Basically farbricate the tubing going from the turbine to the intercooler and then buy the intercooler along with the piping going to the TB from some like Turbo Tom. I bet you could do all this and still have as much HP/torque as the Vortech but the thing is that it'll be alot more work and might even cost as much as the Vortech SC kit (or even the Powerworks SC kit).

 

Hitokiri... but replacing an intercooler to a front mount requires new charge piping, how is this an "easy fix"?? Charge piping is expensive, unless you are a machinist with good welding skills.

 

Hitokiri... but replacing an intercooler to a front mount requires new charge piping, how is this an "easy fix"?? Charge piping is expensive, unless you are a machinist with good welding skills.

As I stated the only fabricating you'll probably need is from the Procharger turbine to the intercooler which is the hard part. I do agree that you'll probably need a machinist to do this which isn't always easy to find or easy to convince them to do. My other point is if you buy an intercooler from Focus-Power it already comes with he charge piping leading the from the intercooler to the TB. The second part is easy because the intercooler along with the charge piping is already there.

So in a sense it is an easy fix if you know a machinist and is ready to spend about an extra 1,000 bucks for the intercooler and piping from Focus-Power or some other maker. Yeah its expensive but if you want a unique looking SC kit without the hard hassel of relocating piping and drilling alot of holes - then this is the way to go. Alot easier then the Vortech and just would cost just as much.

 

And retune it, Just like the vortech and anyother SC unit out on the market.

Was thinking more along the lines that it can be done in 20-30 mins start to finish, if that. Not sure if the others need to have the pulley pressed on or something.

The procharger's low IC hasn't caused me any grief and has only scraped one time, and that was on a very steep angle. Speed bumps, etc...no problems thus far. There have been more issues scraping the front piping than the IC. This is with a 30mm drop too, I'd guess more aggressive lowering would see more issues.

 

The choice of the SC unit and IC I would think would have to do more of what kinda of weather the car will see. I live in northern IN and since my Vortech has been installed it has not and will not be driven in the snow and has seen very little wet weather driving. If ithe car is a daily driver and the owner lives somewhere that it rains/snow alot I would think the pro-charger would see alot more water then the Vortech blower. I belive after other bolt ons and tuning the power and perfromance would be about the same.

 

Fabbing up the piping for a front mount on the Procharger isn't that big of a deal. Looks like you can get away with modifying and adding onto the existing plumbing in the kit.

The easiest solution would be a PWR water-to-air. Just put a straight pipe where the stock Procharger intercooler was. I haven't seen many pictures of the Procharger plumbing, but it looks as though you could easily put a water-to-air in the portion of the plumbing just before it curves into the TB.


Another note...if you want a sleeper the Procharger is NOT the way to go. The blower whine at idle on a Procharger is quite loud, yet also quite sexy. I personally like the sound but I know many others do not.

 

I know you only asked about Vortech vs. Procharger, but the Powerworks kit is really second to none in the SVT boost category. If your serious about a supercharger...I don't see how you can not at least check it out. For example, no install or shaft issues like Vortech, no awkward intercooler location like Procharger...just really dependable, driveable, balls-on power. I've driven one of Powerworks' cars and the torque is just great. That same car that I drove had nearly 60,000 post-boost miles with no issues of any kind. Good luck getting that with Vortech.

 

the powerworks

:what:

1) That wasn't even listed in his question.

2) Both of the superchargers he asked about have the potential to make a lot more horsepower than the Powerworks.

 

That same car that I drove had nearly 60,000 post-boost miles with no issues of any kind. Good luck getting that with Vortech.

Ahem...it is standard for a Vortech supercharger to last well over 100,000 miles without any required maintenance. Just change your engine's oil every 3,000 miles just like you are supposed to do anyway, and you are good to go for basically the life of the car. If you are looking to point fingers about blower longevity, you are pointing them in the wrong direction.

 

Brian is right.

I've had my vortech blower for 20000 miles problem free.

And those 20000 miles have been in 8 months. So yah I beat it pretty hard.

 

I would go with the Pro-Charger. Looking at the Dyno numbers that Focus Fanatics pulled in there issues with a regular Zetec the Pro-charger numbers looked better and wanted to keep pulling way past 7500 RMP. SO I would assume that the same comparison could be made with the SVT motor.

I would go with the mounting and the simplicity of the Pro-charger install over the Vortech. I am not a fan of the long shaft, battery relocation, Water-to-Air (I am not a fan of them), and the whole power steering relocation.

Yes the Pro-charger does not come with injectors (wow a whole 220 bucks) and the tune is something to worry about but if you went to a dyno and got a custom tune it would be a whole lot better then any tune that will come on a chip. But that will run you some $$$ that you might not be looking at spending. I don’t know if SCT will run you a Chip for the Pro-Charger but if they will you’re looking at under 600 bucks for a custom tune that will also have your other mods included.

I know the power works kit is not in your question. It may not put as much HP as the Pro-charger or Vortech or be able to put as much boost But just look at the TQ Curve on its dyno runs. All I have to say is man that has to put you back in your seat.

Good Luck!