thethirdeye88
Well-Known LVC Member
anyone out there think it would be possible to run a centrifugal supercharger in an LS?...i know we dont have any room hardly, but could it work?...
centrifugal sc on a LS...is it possible?...
- Thread starter thethirdeye88
- Start date
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
It was a pain in the ass putting a centri Paxton Novi in my '87 with a 5.0. Modifying stuff here and there to get it to fit right. And we all know that motor's got a huge aftermarket. I couldn't imagine adapting one to work in an LS. If you've got access to machinery to make your own bracketry and whatnot, that'll help big time as everything would be a one-off piece. Not cheap or easy, but if you've got deep pockets anything is possible.
thethirdeye88
Well-Known LVC Member
true true...but your pockets got to be hella deep...you really had trouble putting one on your 5.0?...wow...they make everything for those...i just wish there was more stuff you could do with the LS...like if they had the aftermarket availability of a 240, foxbody, f-body, or even a honda...the LS was just too under-appreciated...
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
Was a PITA because the Lincoln 5.0 uses different brackets for the accessories than the Musatng 5.0 does. Also, I had no AC in the car, so that was a problem, too. I have pics of it in the photo gallery,
I've also thought about a centrifugal. With the right access to fab equipment (such as CNC machine)... I think it would be do-able; Could install it near where the air filter is and locate the air filter in the fender... figuring out how to drive it would be the big trick I think...
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
There are a few things that will hinder a centrifugal s/c in a Lincoln LS.
1) First off is lack of room. The centrifugal head unit takes up a bit of room. It actually needs more room than most roots superchargers because it doesn't replace the intake manifold.
2) Take a look at the way the front engine cover laps overtop of the serpentine system where the cam gears are. Most cars do not do this which is why you can just build bracketry to attach the s/c head unit, buy an extra long serp belt and run it directly up to the s/c. A person could have a custom crank pulley built that will drive the regular front accessories and then have another pulley mounted further out to run to the s/c. The dual front crank pulley is how the 5.0's did it back in the day.
3) Then of course you have to attach it to the engine. This will not be too hard, but finding the room to not only fit the head unit but also route your intake piping while still keeping decent flow will be a challenge without extensive sheet metal work in the engine bay.
It is doable but for the work involved there are better alternatives out there.
1) First off is lack of room. The centrifugal head unit takes up a bit of room. It actually needs more room than most roots superchargers because it doesn't replace the intake manifold.
2) Take a look at the way the front engine cover laps overtop of the serpentine system where the cam gears are. Most cars do not do this which is why you can just build bracketry to attach the s/c head unit, buy an extra long serp belt and run it directly up to the s/c. A person could have a custom crank pulley built that will drive the regular front accessories and then have another pulley mounted further out to run to the s/c. The dual front crank pulley is how the 5.0's did it back in the day.
3) Then of course you have to attach it to the engine. This will not be too hard, but finding the room to not only fit the head unit but also route your intake piping while still keeping decent flow will be a challenge without extensive sheet metal work in the engine bay.
It is doable but for the work involved there are better alternatives out there.
Number 2 was pretty much what I had in mind. I just wish my engineer friends lived/worked closer; I'd have extensive amounts of help with fab work. I don't know that my pockets are deep enough to pay for the fab work, and I don't have the facilities to do it myself. Otherwise, I'd attempt it; I like the fact that it's really now the only FI route that isn't in use with the LS. Could you imagine a spread in MM&FF with a roots blower, centrifugal blower and turbo equiped LS's????? All throwing down better than 300 RWHP. That gives me wood...
97stscaddy
Dedicated LVC Member
Ditch the stupid hydraulic fan pump and mount it there. With that and all the piping and the fan motor out of the way there should be enough room for a longer pulley on the crank and a tensioner. It would definitely take some time and a lot of custom work though.
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
There is nothing 'special' about the LS - any power adder you read about in mags will work - the issue is you'll have to make it work vs buying a ready made bolt-on kit.
There is the fab work, the upgrading and then the tuning.
- fab work to make things fit, attach and work together. This is not too hard but you need the tools and materials. Some experience will prevent a lot of trial and error...
- upgrading injectors, fuel-pumps,...etc. This is not too difficult - you will have to match aftermarket to the LS although the LS is fairly standard fitment.
- Tuning - now possible with SCT - you learn it yourself or find someone with experience.
If you are the 'project' type - then anything is possible with some time and money. If you are looking for bolt-ons - there are very few (as you know)
There is the fab work, the upgrading and then the tuning.
- fab work to make things fit, attach and work together. This is not too hard but you need the tools and materials. Some experience will prevent a lot of trial and error...
- upgrading injectors, fuel-pumps,...etc. This is not too difficult - you will have to match aftermarket to the LS although the LS is fairly standard fitment.
- Tuning - now possible with SCT - you learn it yourself or find someone with experience.
If you are the 'project' type - then anything is possible with some time and money. If you are looking for bolt-ons - there are very few (as you know)
I am the project type... But the real issue is with the fab work. I've got a pretty extensive tool collection (enough where shy of machinists work, I can do virtually anything...) but that doesn't include much in the line of fabrication equipment. It would be do-able, but hand cutting everything, no ability to make accurate bends- it all adds up to extrodinary amounts of time, or trade the time off for large chunks of money. It's something I'm going to keep in the back of my mind; I do have some various resorces I could possibily tap into if I ask REALLY nice... I may do some evaluation.
http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/product.php?p=56&cat_key=6
Obviously there is no promise that would work, but it's a start!! And I believe the drive pulley would be the biggest issue to tackle. Bracketry can be managed with more common metal working tools. I think I'll take a serious look at this.
Just don't expect anything out of my looking!! :-D
Obviously there is no promise that would work, but it's a start!! And I believe the drive pulley would be the biggest issue to tackle. Bracketry can be managed with more common metal working tools. I think I'll take a serious look at this.
Just don't expect anything out of my looking!! :-D
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
They have come along way - but IMHO, if you are going to boost before the throttle plate - the turbo is a better system to tune for drivability.
thethirdeye88
Well-Known LVC Member
yeah, i really dont like the whole turbo under the car idea...mainly because of the 16 miles of plumbing, and the fact that the airfilter is behind the rear tire...unless there are shrouds all around it then...nah, still dont care for the idea, but if it works...
Well, the likely hood of something being pulled into the turbo with its location is most likely about the same were it located under the hood... maybe even less so. Keep in mind; it's tucked up into the rear 1/4 panel; the car is essentially a shroud in and of itself. The tires can not kick anything onto/into it due to the fact that there is the inner wheel well. Physics say it's impossible for anything to be induced into the induction system under normal conditions. You'd pretty much have to go through a 12-15" puddle of water at slow to moderate speed where the filter would end up just flooding. I'd be willing to bet that 8-12" of water at a faster rate of speed wouldn't even dampen the filter just due to the water dissipating effects of the tires and the fact that water will not fill that void fast enough to catch up to where the filter is located, then rise up to its location.
In reality, After I gave it some thought, I think the rear mounted turbo may have more benefits than an under-hood mount. Those include:
-better intake charge cooling
-lower under-hood temp
-lower operating temp for the turbo=longer life+more efficient
-Equal environmental protection (unless for some retarded reason you remove your inner fender-wells)
-Ability to be somewhat sneaky about your devious modifications
Under-hood seems to really only have two or three upsides:
-Faster spool
-No ground clearance issues (this does depend on the car though...)
-show factor (if that's what you want)
ILLS seems to know is stuff and I wouldn't doubt his choice. Honestly, if there were people who already had both types of superchargers on their cars, plus the turbo... I'd likely go for whatever is least expensive between the supers (clearance is my issue for my suspension). But as I said before; I like the novelty factor...